NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 712 owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: seat belts, powertrain, electrical system, brakes, and 2 more. Most-described problem: loss of power or limp mode (198 complaints, 28%). Most-reported area: engine (285 complaints, 40%; median mileage when it happened: 50,000).
One of the Malibu years to avoid
The 2018 drew 220 owner complaints in its first three years, against 65 for a typical Malibu year (43 for a typical year since 2016): 3.3 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2013 and 2016 to 2018; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles.
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 2018-2019 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.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N202313440.
An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Risk: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 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.
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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 18188 18268.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
What owners report
Owners have filed 712 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Malibu. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Loss of power or limp mode198 · 28%
Median 52,500 miles at failure, from 95 reports with mileage
Shifter errors or stuck in gear175 · 25%
Median 38,500 miles at failure, from 50 reports with mileage
Check engine light139 · 20%
Median 51,200 miles at failure, from 74 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off77 · 11%
Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 38 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration43 · 6%
Median 29,500 miles at failure, from 34 reports with mileage
Won't start34 · 5%
Median 53,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Median 50,000 miles at failure, from 134 reports with mileage
Electrical system197 · 28%
Median 46,500 miles at failure, from 60 reports with mileage
Powertrain175 · 25%
Most named: automatic transmission, lever and linkage, floor shift (7) · Median 43,200 miles at failure, from 80 reports with mileage
Speed control116 · 16%
Median 51,700 miles at failure, from 60 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system86 · 12%
Median 26,400 miles at failure, from 40 reports with mileage
Brakes69 · 10%
Most named: power assist, vacuum (3) · Median 62,500 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Steering42 · 6%
Median 15,500 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Unknown or other154 · 22%
Median 37,400 miles at failure, from 39 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Malibu recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2018 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Malibu drew the most (220).
Owner complaints
2018: 712 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Complaints
2010
1,365
2011
978
2012
907
2013
924
2014
363
2015
270
2016
865
2017
727
2018
712
2019
195
2020
203
2021
90
2022
100
2023
73
2024
46
2025
12
Safety recalls
2018: 6 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
11
2014
6
2015
3
2016
10
2017
4
2018
6
2019
1
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 712 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (198), shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (175), and the check engine light coming on (139). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
How do I check if my Malibu has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MALIBU, MALIBU HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.