2018 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
695 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 307 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 279 of 695 complaints (40.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 98 | 14.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 86 | 12.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 68 | 9.8% |
| Steering behavior | 63 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 58 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 279 |
| Electrical System | 189 |
| Power Train | 159 |
| Unknown Or Other | 151 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 110 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 84 |
| Service Brakes | 60 |
| Steering | 40 |
Engine: 279; Electrical System: 189; Power Train: 159; Unknown Or Other: 151; Vehicle Speed Control: 110; Fuel/Propulsion System: 84; Service Brakes: 60; Steering: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 84 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 84 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 81 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 84; 25,000 to 49,999: 84; 50,000 to 74,999: 81; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (84). 388 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 120 |
| 2021 | 126 |
| 2022 | 104 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2025 | 64 |
| 2026 | 43 |
2017: 1; 2018: 12; 2019: 85; 2020: 120; 2021: 126; 2022: 104; 2023: 84; 2024: 56; 2025: 64; 2026: 43
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 98 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 86 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 68 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11064909 · 2018-01-25 (January 25, 2018)
MY RIGHT BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEP SHORTING OUT. IT WILL BE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN STOP WORKING. ALSO, THE INTERIOR CARPET IS TOO SHORT AND KEEP COMING OUT OF THE TRIM IN THE FRONT AREA S OF THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11064909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11195969 · 2019-04-13 (April 13, 2019)
I WAS RECENTLY GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2018 MALIBU AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NOOOO ENGINE POWER FOR ACCELERATION! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO THE MEDIAN BEFORE I WAS REAR ENDED BY THE FAST MOVING CARS! SIMULTANEOUSLY THE 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED', 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL', AND 'THE 'TRANSMISSION' SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON! THEN AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT, I WENT TO STOP AT THE LIGHT AND I HAD NOOOO BRAKES! LUCKILY I PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT MY CAR TO STOP WITHOUT A SECOND TO SPARE! I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT 99% OF DRIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078434 · 2018-03-09 (March 9, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY MALIBU LS THAT I HAVEN'T OWNED FOR MORE THEN 30 DAYS AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I STARTED IT UP TO LET IT WARM SINCE IT WAS WINTER SO I TOOK IT TO CHRISTENSON CHEVROLET IN HIGHLAND INDIANA AND THE CODE U01B0 CAME UP WHICH IS THE BATTERY SENSOR MODULE AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT AND ENGINEERING IS LOOKING INTO IT AND THE PAPERWORK THEY GAVE ME SHOWS THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2017 AND 2018 MODELS AND NO FIX YET. THEY ARE SELLING CARS WITH DEFECTS AND I TOLD THEM I…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11195764 · 2019-04-12 (April 12, 2019)
I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 54 DAYS AS OF TODAY AND AT 47 DAYS INTO OWNING THE CAR, IT IS STARTING TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE STATIONARY WHEN THE AUTO-OFF SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINS MINIMUM UNTIL THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD SAY BATTERY NEEDS RECHARGE/SERVICE STABILITRAK. SINCE HAVING THIS ISSUE THE A/C ALSO STOPPED WORKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155526 · 2018-12-03 (December 3, 2018)
BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST 2018. WHEN I DRIVE IT SOMETIMES IT LOOSES POWER WHEN I'M DRIVING FROM A STOP OR WHILE PICKING UP SPEED AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ON THE FREEWAY OR ON THE STREET. THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS IT'S LIKE THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN A HIGH GEAR AND SLOWLY BUILDS SPEED UP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11155526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11119999 · 2018-08-14 (August 14, 2018)
THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WAS CRUISING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, IT DID SO FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THE NEXT TIME WAS AT MY HOUSE, I NEEDED TO GO RUN TO THE STORE. I TRIED STARTING IT. IT SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" BUT I WAS IN PARK. THEN IT SAID "SERVICE STABILITRACK SYSTEM", AND THEN SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF "POWER STEERING SERVICE REQUIRED". I WAITED AND TRIED FOR HOURS AND THEN EVENTUALLY CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11119999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153184 · 2018-11-21 (November 21, 2018)
I RENTED A 2018 MALIBU (11K MILES) WITH THE 1.5 ECOTECH ENGINE FROM HERTZ IN LAKEVILLE, MN STARTING 10/31/18. NO VIN BUT IT WAS RENTAL RECORD #147556754, VEHICLE #02298, LICENSE #IL AW71337. WE PUT APPROX 1100 MILES ON IT THE FIRST TWO DAYS - ALL INTERSTATE DRIVING. ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME 'STUCK'. TO MAKE SMALL LANE CORRECTIONS OR CHANGE LANES, I HAD TO MODERATELY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN. IT WAS COMPARABLE TO HAVING A 'CATCH' IN THE STEERING. ONCE THE FORCE WAS MADE, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY MOVED 1/4 TO 1/2 A LANE LEFT…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,898 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099540 · 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC STOP FEATURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE IN MOTION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ZEIGLER CHEVROLET SCHAUMBURG (1230 E GOLF RD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60173, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11099540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11209631 · 2019-05-24 (May 24, 2019)
CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING. I WAS TURNING LEFT CROSSING TRAFFIC AND IT LOST POWER. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 3 SECONDS ESSENTIALLY IT FELT LIKE THE CAR STALLED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 OTHER TIMES AS WELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277890 · 2019-11-04 (November 4, 2019)
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING DISCONNECTED FUEL INJECTOR. CONSUMER ALSO EXPLAINS VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND IT NOT ACCELERATING. *AS *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11277890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430928 · 2021-08-29 (August 29, 2021)
Water leaking from under the glove box. Has passenger front and back floor soaked. Foul smell Car losing power in fuel injector. Stalling while driving.p0317 and other codes. Has been inspected by Gateway Buick in past, they charged me 200 dollars and the nhtsa issue said they would not. The vehicle is not running and will not crank.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430928 at NHTSA ↗