Home · 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 689 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (689)Crash / fire / injury (29)Engine (275)Electrical system (190)Transmission & drivetrain (168)Speed control (110)Fuel system (99)Brakes (67)Steering (40)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (21)Airbags (14)Suspension (13)

Newest first · 689 complaints · page 24 of 28

Feb 25, 2020Speed controlEngineFuel system

AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, PRESSED ACCELERATOR, "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGED FLASHED, ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 25MPH, RPM WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 3. RECALL MAINTENANCE FOR ECM WAS COMPLETED ON 01/11/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11311510

Feb 21, 2020Fuel system

AFTER MY 'RECALL' REPROGRAMMING UPDATE ON THE ECM... A MONTH OR 2 LATER, I STARTED TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. GOT HOME IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINS, THEN WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD MY CAR SCANNED TO SEE WHAT THE CODE WAS, AN 'APPS' P2138 CODE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN IT HAPPENS CRUSE CONTROL TURNS OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC... THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES... FIRST TIME WAS AFTER A LONG DAY DRIVING, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER A VERY COLD NIGHT. THEN NOTHING, SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES NO ISSUE. THEN DROVE 120 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 2-13-2020. AND TWICE TODAY 2-21-20202. IT ONLY HAPPENED TWICE DURING A TURN.

NHTSA ODI 11310548

Feb 21, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

LOW FUEL, ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, SHIFT TO PARK LIGHTS COME ON. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON FIRST. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON THEN GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD ALL THE RECALLS DONE. ECM REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING. ALL DIALS GO TO ZERO. SLOW TAKE OFF AFTER I'VE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. IF I PUT ON BRAKES THEY WILL THROW ME IN THE DASH LIKE I'VE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. WHEN I TAKE IT DEALERSHIP-NO CODES ARE FOUND. TRYING TO TURN CAR OFF, IT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. IT'S ALREADY PARKED. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEMS-NO CODES. I'VE GOTTEN A RENTAL (FOR A WEEK)SO THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR TO TRY AND RECREATE IT- THEY CAN'T. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST OF 2018.CHEVY MALIBULS 4DR SDN BLACK. THE DATE BELOW "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" OUTS THE LATEST DATE.

NHTSA ODI 11310588

Feb 19, 2020Fuel system

PULLING INTO TRAFFIC CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE KNOCKING BIG TIME, ENGINE LIGHT ON, STABITRAK OFF. ALMOST REAR ENDED. PULLED OVER IN TRAFFIC RESTARTED. CAR HAS HAD SOFTWARE DONE. FILLING OUT AT DEALERSHIP. THES CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR

NHTSA ODI 11310032

Feb 13, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC SOUTHPOINT DEALER, (127 KENTINGTON DR, DURHAM, NC 27713) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11308923

Feb 9, 2020Engine

ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING. THREE TIMES. 2/9/20, 1/24/20, 12/8/19

NHTSA ODI 11308089

Feb 4, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING REDUCING AND THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ALREADY 2 WEEKS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11307008

Feb 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlFuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC

NHTSA ODI 11306640

Jan 30, 2020Speed control

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CONTROL PANEL SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE.THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11306211

Jan 27, 2020Visibility & wipers

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

Jan 22, 2020Speed control

WHILE IN MOTION CARS REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS UP ON DASHBOARD AND CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11301196

Jan 16, 2020EngineCrash

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

Jan 14, 2020BrakesCrash

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

Jan 8, 2020Engine

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

Jan 3, 2020Steering

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

Jan 2, 2020Engine

THE EXCELLARATOR SENSOR IS BAD AND KEEPS POWERING DOWN ENGINE EVEN ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ODI 11296621

Dec 29, 2019Speed 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

Dec 28, 2019Speed controlEngine

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

Dec 27, 2019Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11291596

Dec 24, 2019Engine

WHILE DRIVING, THE MESSAGE 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED' APPEARED. MY CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I HAD TO PRESS REALLY HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET BACK UP TO THE SPEED I WAS AT. IT IS SAID TO BE A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN MANY OF THE 2016-2018 CHEVY MALIBU'S. *BF

NHTSA ODI 11291127

Dec 19, 2019Engine

MY ACCELERATOR SENSOR DEFECTS AND MY SPEED CHANGES RAPIDLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11290033

Dec 18, 2019Steering

2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 15, 300 MILES. SINCE THE LAST RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD AN INCREASE OF TENSION THEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASES ALL TENSION WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A RAPID OVER CORRECTION. THE PROBLEM FEELS SIMILAR TO A MAGNETIC BREAK RELEASE. NO FAULT CODES TRIP AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE ON WHILE STATIONARY OR SHORT DRIVES BUT IT'S FELT ON LONGER DRIVES GREATER THAN 15 MIN. PROBLEM HAS REMAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11289870

Dec 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING 74 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE DISPLAY SCREEN SHOWED A MESSAGING SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE AND HAD SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO 50 MPH. I SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE AND WAS GOING TO TRY TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER THERE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS MORE THAN 10 TIMES SINCE THIS DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11289975

Dec 15, 2019Steering

AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR A WHILE, THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT, WHERE IT IS HARD TO TURN AND THEN IT JERKS SLIGHTLY.. MORE FREQUENTLY THE COLDER THE WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 11289104

Dec 11, 2019Fuel system

THE ECM AND BATTERY SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED ON DEC 9. I FOUND OUT THAT GMC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOMETIME. SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 IS DOCUMENTED ON YOUR SITE. I WAS NOTIFIED FROM ONSTAR AFTER I PASSED THE MILEAGE FOR GMC TO HAVE PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11288522

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Working with the data? Download all 689 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →