Worst 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Transmission / Drivetrain
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 267 | 3 | 1 | 46,563 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 180 | 2 | 2 | 47,377 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 155 | 3 | — | 43,929 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 107 | 3 | — | 48,574 mi | |
| Fuel System | 83 | 1 | — | 29,488 mi | |
| Brakes | 58 | 6 | — | 41,978 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 38 | — | — | 31,947 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 21 | 1 | — | 44,733 mi | |
| Airbags | 14 | 9 | — | 45,391 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 12 | — | — | 75,633 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 10 | 1 | — | 69,772 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | — | 800 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 7 | 1 | — | 87,714 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 6 | — | — | 20,400 mi | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 5 | — | — | 46,407 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17,680 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Other/I Am Not Sure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~583,378 vehicles.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
2018 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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