2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Owners have filed 1,228 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. After that come electrical system (16%) and drivetrain & axles (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,228 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 35 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 26 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 46,000 miles 519 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 121 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 93 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 156 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 79 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 24 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 14 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 7 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 519 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 46,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 50,000 miles (139 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 35 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 26 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 83% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2018 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 28 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu with enough data (964 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after her husband entered traffic at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was struck on the front driver's side by another vehicle at 45 MPH. The air bags did not deploy as a result of the collision. No warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 chevrolet malibu. While driving 4 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the driver's side. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered minor bruises and the contacts wife suffered head injuries. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to the insurance company for inspection. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Tl* the contact owned 2018 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while turning at a low speed into a driveway the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle independently accelerated to approximately 60 MPH and crashed into a tree. The air bags did deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a fractured right foot, whiplash, and several bruises which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to weil towing and storage. The vehicle was not repaired.
The engine light keeps coming on and says engine power reduce. I had a recall to NHTSA done, but the same problem, and vehicle stalls like its shutting off or won't pick up speed.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the "Reduced Engine Power," message was displayed before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired.