2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems and complaints
Owners have filed 697 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The most-reported areas: Engine (280), Electrical System (191), Power Train (170).
Key takeaways
- 697 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 | 280 | 40% |
| Electrical System | 191 | 27% |
| Power Train | 170 | 24% |
| Unknown Or Other | 151 | 22% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 112 | 16% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 84 | 12% |
| Service Brakes | 70 | 10% |
| Steering | 41 | 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.
Steering,vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2026-09-21
Examatory mark appears on the dashboard say that engine speed as reduced
Power Train - filed 2026-09-18
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle while in park(P), the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact shifted in and out of park(P) and wiggled the gear shifter several times, but the failure persisted and the vehicle could not be started. The v...
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-09-02
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The gear shifter was shifted back into drive and then back into park to turn off the vehicle. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH...
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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.