What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

The engine group has the most complaints at 288, followed by the electrical system at 196 and the power train at 175.

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?

Yes. The pack lists 6 recalls for 2018. The Recalls section on this page lists them.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Owners filed 711 complaints, with the engine group the largest at 288. See the by-year section to compare it with other model years.

What mpg does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu get?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA has 711 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 711 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu^[1]. The engine group is the largest, with 288 complaints^[2].

711owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

26–46MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owner complaints on file fall into these groups, biggest first.

Engine. 288 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car losing power while pulling away or speeding up, a reduced power warning on the dash, and the stop-start feature letting the engine die at a stop.
Electrical System. 196 complaints^[6]. Owners describe warning lights and messages on the dash, the car shutting off, a battery sensor fault, and smaller things like a brake light that keeps cutting out and power windows that stop responding.
Power Train. 175 complaints^[7]. Owners describe the car not accelerating when asked, gears that seem stuck, a jolt when shifting back into drive, and a shift to park message that stays on.
Unknown Or Other. 154 complaints^[8]. These reports do not name one clear part, so we do not summarize them.
Speed Control. 116 complaints^[9]. Owners describe the pedal getting no response for several seconds, and the car refusing to pick up speed from a stop, sometimes on the highway.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 86 complaints^[10]. We did not read enough of these to describe them.
Brakes. 69 complaints^[11]. We did not read enough of these to describe them.
Steering. 42 complaints^[12]. We did not read enough of these to describe them.

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 Malibu is necessarily included.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Retractor (21V649), August 2021. About 402 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Power Train › Automatic Transmission (20V668), October 2020. About 194,105 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Engine (19V642), September 2019. About 177,282 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (18V576), August 2018. About 210,628 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification (18V400), June 2018. About 66 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (18V358), May 2018. About 895 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Malibu, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	27 / 36 / 30	$2,250
Malibu, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 9-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	22 / 32 / 26	$3,150
Malibu Hybrid, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	49 / 43 / 46	$1,450

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	10.2%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 1.5L 4-cylinder^[21]	160 hp
2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 1.8L 4-cylinder^[22]	122 hp
2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[23]	260 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
MALIBU L/LS/LT 4DR SEDAN^[24]	194 in	73 in	57 in	111 in	3,086 lb
MALIBU PREMIER/HYBRID 4DR SEDAN^[25]	194 in	73 in	57 in	111 in	3,386 lb

How 2018 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Malibu model year. The 2018 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1997	446	4
1998	981	3
1999	793	1
2000	933	3
2001	734	2
2002	583	2
2003	585	2
2004	1,697	7
2005	1,393	4
2006	1,387	6
2007	1,036	3
2008	1,017	4
2009	1,534	5
2010	1,365	3
2011	978	3
2012	907	2
2013	924	11
2014	363	6
2015	270	3
2016	865	10
2017	725	4
2018	711	6
2019	195	1
2020	199	1
2021	90	2
2022	99	1
2023	71	2
2024	43	2
2025	11	1

NHTSA's counts for the Malibu show 711 complaints and 6 recalls for 2018^[3]. Among the 29 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 16 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (11) and the most are for 2004 (1,697)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2018 Malibu?

The 2018 Malibu has a long complaint list, with 711 on file^[1]. The engine, electrical and power train groups lead the list^[2]^[6]^[7]. Owners in the stories we read keep coming back to power loss and dash warnings. Crashes are named in 24 complaints and fires in 4, and no deaths are reported^[1]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so check the recalls and other sections before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?: The engine group has the most complaints at 288^[2], followed by the electrical system at 196^[6] and the power train at 175^[7].
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?: Yes. The pack lists 6 recalls for 2018^[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
How many complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?: NHTSA has 711 owner complaints on file^[1].
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?: Owners filed 711 complaints^[1], with the engine group the largest at 288^[2]. See the by-year section to compare it with other model years.
What mpg does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu get?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu

2004 1,697 complaints, 7 recalls
2005 1,393 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 1,534 complaints, 5 recalls
2010 1,365 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 978 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 907 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 924 complaints, 11 recalls
2014 363 complaints, 6 recalls
2015 270 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 865 complaints, 10 recalls
2017 725 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 this page

Compare all model years of the Chevrolet Malibu

Other Chevrolet models from 2018

2018 Chevrolet Colorado 183 complaints, 1 recall
2018 Chevrolet Cruze 109 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Equinox 410 complaints, 5 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 524 complaints, 7 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 105 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Traverse 464 complaints, 2 recalls

All Chevrolet models

Similar cars from 2018: midsize cars

2018 Nissan Sentra 185 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 Toyota Camry 778 complaints, 8 recalls
2018 Volkswagen Passat 46 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 Ford Fusion 508 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 Lincoln MKZ 37 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 Mazda 6 58 complaints, 2 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 711 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (24 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 17 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
288 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Malibu model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Malibu Hybrid, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 49 city / 43 highway / 46 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
196 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 46,483). NHTSA vehicle records
175 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,300). NHTSA vehicle records
154 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,403). NHTSA vehicle records
116 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,670). NHTSA vehicle records
86 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,350). NHTSA vehicle records
69 complaints name the brakes component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
42 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 15,483). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 21V649, filed August 20, 2021: Seat Belts › Rear / Other › Retractor. NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V668, filed October 29, 2020: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V642, filed September 6, 2019: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V576, filed August 30, 2018: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V400, filed June 14, 2018: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V358, filed May 31, 2018: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Malibu, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 36 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Malibu, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 9-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 1.5L 4-cylinder: rated 160 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 122 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 260 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MALIBU L/LS/LT 4DR SEDAN: length 194 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,086 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MALIBU PREMIER/HYBRID 4DR SEDAN: length 194 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,386 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu: problems, recalls and fuel economy