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 27 of 28

Jul 17, 2019

I PURCHASED MT 2018 CHEVY MALIBU IN OCTOBER 2018, BRAND NEW. MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOW POWER/HESITATION AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT WHEN TURNING/PULLING OUT ONTO AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP. THERE IS NO ACCELERATION AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & TEST DROVE IT WITH THE MECHANIC. DURING THE DRIVE, THE CAR DISPLAYED THE SYMPTOMS AND I WAS TOLD IT IS BECAUSE OF THE '6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALSO THE AUTO STOP'. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO PULL OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WHEN SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR BARELY RESPONDED AND THE CAR CONSTANTLY REVVES OVER 5,000 RPM'S.THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN WHEN I PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR AND SEEMS LIKE THE CAR HAS NO POWER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A RECALL DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RELEASED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. CURRENT PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD SINCE DAY 1 OF OWNING THE VEHICLE: 1.GOING AT A STEADY PACE THEN PRESSING THE GAS, THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO. 2.TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO. 3.PULLING INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, I TRY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO. 4.GOING NORMAL SPEED AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO. 5.REVVING OVER 5000 RPMS 6.REVVING OVER 5000 RPMS AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE. 7.MAKING A TURN, THE CAR IS TRYING TO 'COAST' AND DOES NOT GO WHEN I PRESS THE GAS.

NHTSA ODI 11232806

Jul 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

REGARDING BULLETIN NO.: 18-NA-297: HISTORICALLY, IF A VEHICLE IS NOT IN "PARK" THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. IN THE CASE OF THE CHEVY MALIBU, AND SIMILARLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. WHILE THE DISPLAY READS, "SHIFT TO PARK," THE OPERATOR CAN STILL START THE VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT A DEAD BATTERY AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION IS AN INCONVENIENCE, BUT IF LEFT UN-REPAIRED, THIS COULD LEAD TO VEHICLE LUNGING IF THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN ANY FORWARD GEAR, OR REVERSE. I BELIEVE THAT THE TERM "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH," HAS BEEN REPLACED BY GENERAL MOTORS IN ORDER TO AVOID USING THE WORD SAFETY. RATHER, THEY USE TERMS LIKE "BCM," AND "SHIFTER ASSEMBLY," TO CIRCUMVENT CRITICISM OF A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. AS THE AVERAGE MILEAGE APPEARS TO BE JUST SHORT OF THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, GM IS LEAVING A SIZABLE REPAIR BILL TO CONSUMERS THAT CAN AFFORD TO PAY IT, AND FORCING "BACK YARD WORK AROUNDS" TO THOSE WHO CAN NOT. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA LOOK FURTHER INTO THE ISSUE, AS WELL AS THE SEMANTICS EMPLOYED BY GENERAL MOTORS. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ODI 11231742

Jul 10, 2019

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR STALLS WHEN I'M AT THE LIGHT. IT TAKE ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE IT GET IN FULL SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11230859

Jul 6, 2019Engine

TAKATA RECALL - WHEN I PUT IN PARK AND TURN OFF ENGINE, IT IS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE PARK SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT GOES OFF. THIS IS REOCCURRING MORE AND MORE. BAYSIDE IN PRINCE FREDERICK, MD HAS SAID OTHERS HAVE COME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11229733

Jul 5, 2019Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHISWELL CHEVROLET OF THURMONT (111 FREDERICK RD, THURMONT, MD 21788) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 11229628

Jul 2, 2019Speed controlEngine

MY CAR IS LAGGING WHEN I COME FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT SPUTTERS AT TIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE. MY CAR IS ALSO MAKING A VIBRATION NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATE, SLOW DOWN, TURNING, ON HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS AND WHEN I'M COASTING. THIS START HAPPENING WHEN MY VEHICLE REACHED 13,000 MILES. I ALMOST GOT INTO FOUR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THERE NEED TO BE A RECALL ASAP! I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE UNTIL SOMEONE DIES BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI 11229048

Jun 18, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 MALIBU WITH ONLY 7500 MILES ON IT, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND I ALMOST WAS IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. A LOT OF LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHERS ACTED LIKE THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS TRAFFIC IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA IS VERY HEAVY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 10 MINUTES. WHEN IT DID RESTART THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CAR STILL HAD VERY LIMITED POWER. THIS NEEDS FIXED ASAP. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE POWER PROBLEM WHEN I HAD THE FIRST SERVICE OIL CHANGE DONE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS PRODUCT THAT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX. PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS LIFE THREATENING.

NHTSA ODI 11220833

Jun 5, 2019EngineFuel system

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2019 WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOW POWER/HESITATION AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT WHEN TURNING/PULLING OUT ONTO AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP. THERE IS NO ACCELERATION AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & TEST DROVE IT WITH THE MECHANIC. DURING THE DRIVE, THE CAR DISPLAYED THE SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE IT HIMSELF, HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. I MENTIONED THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #19NA-032. ACCORDING TO THEM, THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN. IN DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, MY VIN FALLS WITHIN THE TSB'S RANGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A RECALL DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RELEASED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11218059

May 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

MY CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2018. STARTING IN APRIL OF 2018, WITH A LITTLE OVER 3000 MILES ON THE CAR, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I DROVE THE CAR WITH A COLD START (MORNINGS AND AFTER A FULL DAY OF WORK) THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ME PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WOULD PUSH DOWN, AND IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR NEARLY A MONTH. MULTIPLE TIMES, I HAVE PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY CROSS TRAFFIC BECAUSE MY CAR LITERALLY WOULDN'T GO. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER TWICE NOW, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL ANY CODES OR FIND ANY ISSUES WRONG WITH IT. THESE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 2018 ##

NHTSA ODI 11217007

May 28, 2019Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPM GAUGE INCREASED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS FAILED TO CHANGE OVER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY TO PREVENT A CRASH. INITIALLY, PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET (1005 W EHRINGHAUS ST, ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909, 252-338-9100) WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITH THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PROVIDED. A DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPACER PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LOANER VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED FOR TWO DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE BOUGHT BACK BY THE DEALER IF THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11210305

May 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

PURCHASED 2018 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 4,200 BUT NEW DUE TO IT BEING A DEALER COURTESY CAR ON 12/18/18, ON 1/7/19 THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WHEN SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO GEAR AND THE ACCELERATOR BARELY RESPONDED AND THE CAR REVVED TO OVER 5,000 RPM'S. I TOOK INTO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET ON 1/8/19, ON 1/11/19 THEY STILL DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. ON 1/4/19 THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE CONNECTING THE CAR TO A MACHINE THAT WOULD SUPPLY THE SMALLEST SPECS OF THE CAR TO SEND TO GM ENGINEERS, ON 1/16/19 THE GM ENGINEERS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). TCM WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 1/18/19. ON 5/22/19 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND AGAIN AND REVVED TO 5,500 RPM'S. IT TOOK APPROX ONE MINUTE FOR THE ACCELERATOR TO RESPOND IN THE MEANTIME I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET ON 5/23/19 REPORTING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT RESPOND AGAIN AS IT HAD IN JANUARY. THE TECHS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AGAIN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE CAR HOME TO SEE IF IT WOULD DUPLICATE, IT DID NOT. ON 5/24/19 I WAS ADVISED THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER AND THAT SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THIS TIME. THE FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED AT APPROX 4,700 MILES. THE SECOND OCCURRING AT APPROX 11,700. THE CONSUMER STATED UPON THE 3RD FAILURE THE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11209997

May 24, 2019Engine

CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING. I WAS TURNING LEFT CROSSING TRAFFIC AND IT LOST POWER. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 3 SECONDS ESSENTIALLY IT FELT LIKE THE CAR STALLED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 OTHER TIMES AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11209631

May 24, 2019Engine

I BOUGHT MY CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND OFF I HAVE A CERTIFIED WARRANTY. THE WARNING THAT POPS IS WHEN I START MY CAR SAY 'REDUCE ENGINE POWER' AND IT MESSES WITH MY LIGHTS AS WELL AS MY GAS PEDAL TO WHERE I CAN'T GO. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11209720

May 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND SHIFT LEVER SET TO 'PARK', THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN DISPLAYS A 'SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE EVEN WITH THE LEVER SET TO THE 'PARK' POSITION. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE IN 'PARK' HOWEVER, BATTERY POWER TO THE VEHICLE REMAINS AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINS ON AND HONKS THREE TIMES IF THE KEY FOB IS NOT IN RANGE. IT IS CONCERNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NEVER FULLY IN 'PARK' MODE OR THAT THE VEHICLE IS NEVER FULLY TURNED OFF AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF UNATTENDED.

NHTSA ODI 11208790

May 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER WARMING UP. VEHICLE SPUTTERS DURING ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AS I PULLED OUT AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS OR CODES PRESENT. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS (19-NA-32); IT NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL...THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11208830

May 10, 2019Speed control

MY VEHICLE OFTEN DOESN'T NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. RPM WILL READ BETWEEN 3 AND 4 RPM SPEED WILL NOT GO ABOVE 5 TO 10 MPH. THIS IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE BUT HAS BECAME MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. IT'S HAPPENING ALMOST DAILY. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS THIS MORNING ABOUT 8:30AM. IT HAPPENS WHEN COMING FROM A STOP. I CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STILL WILL NOT GO ABOVE 5 TO 10 MPH. RPMS WILL STILL SHOW NORMAL RANGE FOR ACCELERATION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH TIME ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED JUST YET BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR HAS NOT FAILED COMPLETELY, ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER STATED REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE, INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT NORMAL SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11206921

Apr 27, 2019Electrical system

MY VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND THE RADIO. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL STOP WORKING IF I TRY TO ADJUST THEM TO THE PERFECT HEIGHT FOR ME, FORCING ME TO HAVE TO PRESS BUTTONS ON ANOTHER WINDOW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE WINDOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADJUST. THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN ALL FOUR WINDOWS. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR HAS SOME SORT OF POWER ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BUT IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE CAR LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD AT A REGULAR PACE AND BEGINS TO STRUGGLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE RPM'S BUILD UP BRINGING IT CLOSE TO REDLINING. AT THAT POINT IT WILL BEGIN TO MOVE AND JERK WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND WILL DO IT A SECOND TIME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRST JERK AND BEGIN TO DRIVE NORMAL. IT HAS NEARLY KILLED MY PREGNANT WIFE AND MYSELF MULTIPLE TIMES. IT HAS NEARLY GOTTEN MY YOUNGER COUSIN AND I KILLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY BY STRUGGLING TO DRIVE WHILE PLACING IN THE PATH OF A ONCOMING SEMI. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN LATE DECEMBER OF 2018 AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT A FEW DAYS SHORT OF A WEEK INTO THE NEW YEAR. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE DRIVERS OF THE CHEVY CRUZE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11204114

Apr 13, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

I WAS RECENTLY GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2018 MALIBU AND HAD ABSOLUTELY NOOOO ENGINE POWER FOR ACCELERATION! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO THE MEDIAN BEFORE I WAS REAR ENDED BY THE FAST MOVING CARS! SIMULTANEOUSLY THE 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED', 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL', AND 'THE 'TRANSMISSION' SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON! THEN AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT, I WENT TO STOP AT THE LIGHT AND I HAD NOOOO BRAKES! LUCKILY I PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND GOT MY CAR TO STOP WITHOUT A SECOND TO SPARE! I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT 99% OF DRIVERS WOULD HAVE EITHER BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED SOMEONE ELSE IN THE PROCESS OF CRASHING THEIR CAR! I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF CARS , FROM RACING MULTIPLE C5 AND C6 CORVETTES, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAD ME STUMPED FOR A WHILE. I TOOK THE MALIBU TO MULTIPLE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD COME UP WITH A REASON WHY ALL THOSE SYSTEMS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND MULTIPLE MECHANICS ALL SAID IT WAS EITHER THE BRAKE BOOSTER OR THE MASTER CYLINDER. I JUST DIDN'T SEE EITHER OF THOSE PARTS BEING THE REASON FOR THAT MUCH OF AN EFFECT ON THE CAR, AND LUCKILY I REMEMBERED THAT GM TRUCKS WERE HAVING A MAJOR ISSUE LOSING BRAKES DUE TO THE VACUUM PUMP. SO AFTER AN INSPECTION I FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WAS MY BRAND NEW MALIBU'S PROBLEM, SO I WENT TO THE PARTS COUNTER AND DROPPED $330 ON MY WARRANTIED MALIBU, AND SURE ENOUGH THE CAR WAS FINE AFTER THAT! HOWEVER, A MAJOR CONCERN OF MINE IS THAT THE OE VACUUM PUMP WAS MISSING CHUNKS OF METAL, AND CLEARLY THOSE CHUNKS OF METAL ARE FLOATING AROUND IN MY ENGINE! SO DESPITE MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND EVEN EXTRA MAINTENANCE, MY CONFIDENCE IS NOT VERY HIGH, AND I'M CONSTANTLY WAITING FOR THE CAR TO HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE NEW VACUUM PUMP, ENGINE OR BRAKES!

NHTSA ODI 11195969

Apr 12, 2019Electrical systemEngine

I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 54 DAYS AS OF TODAY AND AT 47 DAYS INTO OWNING THE CAR, IT IS STARTING TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE STATIONARY WHEN THE AUTO-OFF SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINS MINIMUM UNTIL THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT WOULD SAY BATTERY NEEDS RECHARGE/SERVICE STABILITRAK. SINCE HAVING THIS ISSUE THE A/C ALSO STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11195764

Mar 25, 2019Steering

I RENTED A 2018 CHEVY MALIBU. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE AND HANDLE GREAT IN TOWN, HOWEVER WHEN I BEGAN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT FOR A FEW MILES THE STEERING WOULD 'STICK' MEANING I HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO TURN THE WHEEL, ONCE IT BROKE FREE IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL BUT AFTER I'D DRIVE STRAIGHT FOR A FEW MILES I'D ENCOUNTER THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY FIRST DESTINATION (ABOUT 750 MILES) I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD TURN IN THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WAS CLICKING. I WILL BE RETURNING THE CAR TO THE RENTAL AGENCY AS I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SAFE. UNFORTUNATELY YET ANOTHER REASON NEVER TO BUY A GM CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11191498

Mar 20, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, "REDUCED POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SERRA CHEVROLET (28111 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (248) 354-6001) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TEST COULD NOT READ THE CODES. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SYSTEM UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,036.

NHTSA ODI 11190206

Mar 7, 2019EngineFuel system

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC WITH THE GAS PUSHED DOWN IT SLOWS AND THEN LUNGES. IT ALSO CAN HAPPEN WHEN GOING WITH THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. (FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING). THE FIRST TIME THEY FOUND PUMP PLUNGER DAMAGE AND LOOSE PIN IN FUEL CAM FOLLOWER. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED EXAM WITH LATEST CA LIBERATIONS. I AM HERE NOW FOR THE 3 TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I WORRY FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND KIDS WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11184780

Mar 6, 2019Fuel system

I PURCHASED MY 2018 MALIBU IN AUGUST 2018. I WAS GETTING AN AVERAGE 28 MPG UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE IN DECEMBER 2018. AFTER THAT, I STARTED GETTING 20-27 MPG CITY AND 14-20 MPG HIGHWAY. THIS CAR WILL USE AN ENTIRE TANK OF GAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO A CERTIFIED GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE CAR HAS NO SERVICE CODES. I HAVE SPOKE TO A GM MANAGER, AND SHE TOLD ME BASICALLY THE SAME THING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY I GOT EXCELLENT GAS MILEAGE FROM THE CAR DURING THE FIRST 6000 MILES AND NOW IT FLUCTUATES ON CITY ROADS AND IS AWFUL ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE NEVER DROVE A CAR THAT GOT BETTER CITY MILES THAN HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS ALSO VERY HESITANT AND SHIFTS HARD AT TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS IS NOT AN EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE, BUT HAPPENS 6 OR 7 TIMES A WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11184486

Mar 6, 2019Speed controlEngine

CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING WOULD NOT GO PAST 20MPHTOOK TO DEALER SHIP TOOK 2 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT IT WAS THE KNOCK SENSOR AND ALSO THE ECM WERE OUT MIND YOU MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 6K MILES I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER OF IT! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM DON RINGLER WITH 4 MILES. MY CAR WAS ON THE HIGH WAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11184634

Feb 2, 2019Lights

WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHTTIME:HEADLIGHTS LIGHTBEAM REACHES ONLY 12 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR. LEVEL ADJUSTMENT IS AT MAXIMUM HIGH. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST LIGHTS TO A HIGHER LEVEL

NHTSA ODI 11173660

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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 →