2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems and complaints
Owners have filed 700 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The most-reported areas: Engine (281), Electrical System (192), Power Train (171).
Key takeaways
- 700 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 23 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 17 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 281 | 40% |
| Electrical System | 192 | 27% |
| Power Train | 171 | 24% |
| Unknown Or Other | 151 | 22% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 114 | 16% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 84 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 71 | 10% |
| Steering | 42 | 6% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 21 | 3% |
| Fuel System | 17 | 2% |
| Gasoline | 17 | 2% |
| Air Bags | 14 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-10-08
On 10/8/26 My vehicle failed in the middle of traffic as I was driving the car forcefully slowed down. When I proceeded to press the gas the car began driving in reverse putting me in immediate danger causing 2 different car to almost hit me from behind. I put the car in park , turned on my hazard lights and got out of...
Steering,vehicle Speed Control - filed 2026-10-04
My chevy stopped while driving. The engine light came on and engine power reduced. The brakes locked up and I could not go anywhere. Code P1101, Vacuum Pump Failure and ECM came up. Financing this vehicle. Have not been able to drive it in 3 weeks.
Electrical System,vehicle Speed Control,service Brakes - filed 2026-09-26
I was driving in town through a stoplight when I noticed my brakes stopped working. Also when I had stopped the car still in drive and the car had shut off completely in the middle of the road and was not able to turn back on. The car would keep trying start but none were successful. My car also stated that there was r...
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More for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.