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2018 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 700 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
23/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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6
NHTSA Recalls
6 recalls on record
700
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
23
Crash Reports
4 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
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…
NHTSA #18V400000
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper
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…
NHTSA #18V576000
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
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…
NHTSA #18V358000
🔧 Electrical System: Software
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…
NHTSA #19V642000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission
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…
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…
NHTSA #20V668000
🔧 Seat Belts: Critical Fasteners
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…
NHTSA #21V649000
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Based on 700 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
162
Electrical System
125
Unknown Or Other
95
Engine
88
Vehicle Speed Control
68
Steering
42
Service Brakes
40
Fuel System
16
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Chevrolet Malibu — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

2013 923 complaints 2014 363 complaints 2015 270 complaints 2016 865 complaints 2017 725 complaints 2018 700 complaints 2019 192 complaints 2020 199 complaints 2021 90 complaints 2012 907 complaints 2022 99 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2013, 2016, 2012 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2019, 2020, 2021 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 6 recall campaigns and 700 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu are: Power Train, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu safe to buy?
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Chevrolet Malibu should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Chevrolet Malibu are: 2019, 2020, 2021. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2013, 2016, 2012.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.