Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
840–25K
8425–50K
8150–75K
3275–100K
17100–150K
9150K+
307 reports with mileage · 388 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 279 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 169 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
695 reports
48,000 miles · Jan 27, 2020
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN SHE NOTICED THE BUG GUARD OF THE SUNROOF WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSE HAD MOLD AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN SHE NOTICED THE BUG GUARD OF THE SUNROOF WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSE HAD MOLD AND WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN LOCAL DEALER DEACON JONES GM OF SMITHFIELD LOCATED AT 1115 N BRIGHTLEAF BLVD, SMITHFIELD, NC 27577, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA ODI #11302344
51,174 miles · Jan 22, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
WHILE IN MOTION CARS REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS UP ON DASHBOARD AND CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA ODI #11301196
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2020
EngineCrash
FAULTY SENSOR ON MY CAR ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE NY LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY. WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I GOT THE MESSAGE ' ENGIND POWER REDUCED ' CAR WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE , HIT A WALL ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY RUSHING TO SAFETY I NOW HAVE A DENT IN MY CAR , SAD PART IS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM!…
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FAULTY SENSOR ON MY CAR ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE NY LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY. WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I GOT THE MESSAGE ' ENGIND POWER REDUCED ' CAR WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE , HIT A WALL ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY RUSHING TO SAFETY I NOW HAVE A DENT IN MY CAR , SAD PART IS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM! WE ARE ALSO GETTING A ' SHIFT TO PARK ' ERROR MESSAGE WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE , THAT THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR‼️ RIDICULOUS ABOUT TO CONTACT A LAWYER CHEVROLET HAS NO REGAURD FOR HUMAN LIFE.
NHTSA ODI #11299997
37,000 miles · Jan 14, 2020
Service BrakesCrash
WELL I GOT IN A WRECK YESTERDAY AROUND 4 PM IN CITY LIMITS IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC AND THE LADY HAD STOP SOMEWHAT ABRUPTLY SO I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME AT THESE BRAKES HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE JUST A SECOND WREAK I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE IN EIGHT MONTHS AND I DON'T HAVE…
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WELL I GOT IN A WRECK YESTERDAY AROUND 4 PM IN CITY LIMITS IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC AND THE LADY HAD STOP SOMEWHAT ABRUPTLY SO I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME AT THESE BRAKES HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE JUST A SECOND WREAK I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE IN EIGHT MONTHS AND I DON'T HAVE WRECKED VEHICLES THIS IS ALL NEW SO I WANT TO GET MY CAR CHECKED OUT SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONING WITH MY BRAKES BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME WHEN THEY SHOULD'VE STOPPED BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO FAST
NHTSA ODI #11299183
35,250 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Engine
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND ACCELERATION IS LOST. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ON A HIGHWAY AND ON A ROAD. GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY WAS VERY DIFFICULT. ONSTAR SENT AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION OF THE CRITICAL FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #11297847
18,500 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Steering
THE STEERING WILL "STICK" AT THE TOP AFTER TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AN IN THE CITY BUT IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER…
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THE STEERING WILL "STICK" AT THE TOP AFTER TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AN IN THE CITY BUT IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT RELEASES YOU OVER CORRECT YOUR STEERING AND WANDER AROUND IN YOUR LANE. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS ALMOST SINCE NEW AND IT NOW HAS 18,500 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA ODI #11296904
56,513 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Engine
THE EXCELLARATOR SENSOR IS BAD AND KEEPS POWERING DOWN ENGINE EVEN ON THE FREEWAY
NHTSA ODI #11296621
60,920 miles · Dec 29, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
FAULTY ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. PART IS SUPPOSE TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 60000 MILES ON IT. IT THROWS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCES POWER TO THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU CANT ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC OR TO GET ACROSS THE LANES. YOU JUST HAVE TO COAST TO SAFETY.
NHTSA ODI #11291871
56,000 miles · Dec 28, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control
I JUST GOT A 2018 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TODAY AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED AND A REDUCE ENGINE POWER MESSAGE FLASHED ACROSS MY SCREEN. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN I CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. I HAVE JUST SEEN ALL OF THE MESSAGES ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO…
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I JUST GOT A 2018 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TODAY AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED AND A REDUCE ENGINE POWER MESSAGE FLASHED ACROSS MY SCREEN. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN I CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. I HAVE JUST SEEN ALL OF THE MESSAGES ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUES SOONER THAN LATER, THIS COULD BE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR SOMEONE.
NHTSA ODI #11291786
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2019
Engine
I HAVE A CHEVY MALIBU 2018 AND I COMMUTE TO WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK 1 1/2 HOURS EACH WAY. DURING MY COMMUTE WITHOUT WARNING, A LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED", THE ENGINE LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE CAR SLIPPERY ROAD SIGN. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT MEARLE STONE CHEVROLET IN HOPES THIS KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE 2018 MODELS GE…
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I HAVE A CHEVY MALIBU 2018 AND I COMMUTE TO WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK 1 1/2 HOURS EACH WAY. DURING MY COMMUTE WITHOUT WARNING, A LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED", THE ENGINE LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE CAR SLIPPERY ROAD SIGN. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT MEARLE STONE CHEVROLET IN HOPES THIS KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE 2018 MODELS GETS FIXED WITHOUT PAYING OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN ON THE HIGHWAYS NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE LIKE NORMAL AND HAVING TO BUILD UP SPEED BY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR. I CANNOT PASS DUE TO THIS AND THE ENGINE IS WINDING OUT LIKE I NEED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE THE RPMS ARE GOING UP. I CANNOT GET PAST 60MPH EVEN WITH ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS MODEL BEING MADE IN APRIL OF 2018, AND THE CHEVY MALIBU CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE ON "ENGINE POWER BEING REDUCED". THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS KNOWING IT CAN GET WORSE IF THE DEALER DOES NOT FIX THIS. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR BARELY COMING UP FOR A YEAR. I NEED TO HAVE A RELIABLE AND SAFE CAR THAT I DON'T NEED TO WORRY IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Seat Belts:critical Fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Engine
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
Electrical System:software
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year