Car · Chevrolet problems

2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems

700 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (41% of them). NHTSA also lists 406 service bulletins and 6 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 17. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 700 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Engine and engine cooling285 · 41%
• Electrical system192 · 27%
• Power train (transmission and drive)171 · 24%
• Other or unknown153 · 22%
• Speed control and throttle114 · 16%
• Fuel system101 · 14%
• Service brakes69 · 10%
• Steering42 · 6%

14 smaller areas not shown (94 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 406 repair bulletins from Chevrolet for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. PIT5698FReceived September 30, 2026

   This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.

2. PIT5099JReceived July 29, 2026

   PI to help diagnose A/C concern.

3. PIT3271QReceived April 7, 2026

   Information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

4. 25-NA-156Received December 4, 2025

   Wheels

   Information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.

5. 00-06-01-026RReceived December 3, 2025

   Engine and engine cooling

   Information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.

6. PIT5214GReceived November 28, 2025

   This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer's vehicles that exhibit...

7. 23-NA-153Received October 25, 2025

   Engine and engine cooling

   The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is...

8. PIC5650MReceived August 12, 2025

   This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at a Chevrolet dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 19V642000September 6, 2019

   Electrical system

   An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.

2. 20V668000October 29, 2020

   Power train

   The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

3. 21V649000August 20, 2021

   Seat belts

   The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

See all 6 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Malibu will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Engine and engine cooling 285 complaints · 41%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 192 complaints · 27%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Power train (transmission and drive) 171 complaints · 24%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Speed control and throttle 114 complaints · 16%

• Throttle body cleaning$75 to $180
• Throttle body replacement$290 to $900

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Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Chevrolet Malibu: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Of the 700 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 285 (41%) name engine and engine cooling, and 192 (27%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 23 of the 700 complaints as involving a crash and 4 as involving a fire. They also reported 17 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at a Chevrolet dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 406 repair bulletins for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.

More

• 2017 Malibu problems
• 2016 Malibu problems
• 2015 Malibu problems
• 2014 Malibu problems
• 2013 Malibu problems
• 2012 Malibu problems
• 2011 Malibu problems
• 2010 Malibu problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Chevrolet recalls
• Chevrolet problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.