What 689 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle shifted into Limp Mode. The contact stated that she pulled over and when the gear was shifted to park (P), the brake vacuum pump failed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to her residence. The contact stated that an independent mechanic went to her residence and diagnosed the vehicle. The independent mechanic retrieved DTC: P0365 for the camshaft position sensor. Additionally, the contact was informed that shattered pieces of the brake vacuum pump dispersed into the camshaft. The contact stated that pieces were also found in the oil lines. The contact stated that the brake vacuum pump was repaired; however, the camshaft sensor was not yet replaced due to the part not being available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11485891

8 months ago brakes failed, you could stop but they were hard and stretched stopping distance, vacuum pump failure was the cause, when it failed it broke apart and sent parts into the engine, (valve cover ). Replaced vacuum pump removed valve cover and fished out the broken pieces, was lucky on this occasion, fast forward 8 months later , the mother of my kids was on freeway and car completely died,, got it to dealer and was informed, vacuum pump failed again sending metal fragments into the valve cover but this time pieces destroyed the cam and caused the reluctor to slip thus causing ecm to shut down engine. I’m concerned with there not being some sort of housing inside the valve cover cupping the side of cam that meets vacuum pump to shield engine components from metal pieces incase vac pump broke into pieces since vacuum pump isn’t part of the engine itself and the torque of cam shaft up against the gear on vac pump is very high, the expectation of parts braking off is highly likely, and there nothing protecting your engine from those fragments.. I’m not the smartest but I would not think a $100 external part could destroy and engine and take your braking function without any warning. I guess if I happen once I wouldn’t think to much into it but for the third time and being extreamly lucky on the first two occasions and taking responsibility for repairs are totally uncalled for , so now I have to replace and engine, WOW... I hope this can be addressed before someone actually gets hurt, I’m so lucky that my kids mother was able to coast off the highway b/c it could have been bad..

NHTSA ODI 11481316

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the brake pedal depressed and it traveled to the floorboard as the vehicle failed to stop without warning. After the failure occurred, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart upon parking the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where they discovered that both the vacuum pump and camshaft sensor were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11478592

The vacuum pump on my vehicle has gone out for the 3rd time in 2.5 years. This creates a safety issue as that the brakes stop working and it takes an extreme amount of pressure for the car to stop. This has occurred once on the freeway and twice in heavy traffic areas. This could cause an accident and potentially seriously hurt or kill someone. This has occurred once before the engine was replaced and twice since it's been replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11452088

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the contact had to pump the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. Additionally, the "Shift to Park" warning message was displayed even after the vehicle was in PARK. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer initially diagnosed that the brake pedal needed lubrication. The dealer lubricated the brake pedal; however, the failure recurred with a chemical odor detected. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the brake pump system and shift gear were faulty. The dealer replaced the brake pump system however, the chemical odor was still detected and the "Shift to Park" warning message was displayed. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11443350

MY VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT DOESNT WANT TO START AFTER BEING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WHEN MY FEET IS RELEASED OFF THE BREAK IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO START BACK UP. ALSO I HAVE ISSUES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY RECEIVED A CODE DEALING WITH THE WIRING ON THE BATTERY NOT THE ACTUAL BATTERY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11442667

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up. Additionally, the brake pedal was applied but was hard to depress. The engine power reduced message was displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V642000 (Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline, engine) was completed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424740

ON DECEMBER 2, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 545PM I WAS LEAVING THE BILOXI CSPIRE STORE AND AS I DROVE ABOUT HALF A MILE, THE CAR COMPLETELY WENT HAYWIRE. ALL THE INSTRUMENTS WENT CRAZY AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER.. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN A SAFE SPOT AND MYSELF OUT OF DANGER SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN AND GET OFF ROAD AND CAR HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL AND NO POWER. THEN ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET IN A PARKING LOT THE CAR AND SAFE. I TRIED CRANKING THE CAR 2 OR THREE TIMES AND ALL IT WOULD DO IS TURN OVER ARE MAKING A STARTING NOISE AND WOULDNT STOP. THE BRAKES WERE HARD AS A ROCK AND WOULD NOT DEPRESS AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11383971

CAR WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP MONDAY BECAUSE OF PROBLEM I HAD LAST YEAR. LIGHTS COMES ON IN DASHBOARD : STABILTRACK, ENGINE ICON, REDUCED STEERING, LOW FUEL. ON MY WAY TO WORK MONDAY JUST MADE IT OUT MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED UP THE HILL AND THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. BRAKES HAD TO BE PUSHED ASK THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR IT TO STOP ROLLING BACK DOWN THE HILL. I LET IT ROLL BACK TO GET THE CAR OUT OF STREET. THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OFF WHEN I PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON. PRESSED THE BUTTON AGAIN THE CAR TURNS OFF BUT ALL LIGHTS ARE ON IN THE DASH. PRESS BUTTON AGAIN AND LIGHTS GO OUT BUT THE START BUTTON IS LIT. SHIFT TO PARK COMES ON DASH. IT'S IN PARK. COULDN'T GET ENGINE TO TURN ON. COULDN'T MOVE GEAR SHIFT THAT HAS NO LIGHTS ON COLUMN OR DASH TO TELL WHAT GEAR IT'S IS IN. GOT CAR TOWED TO GREENWAY IN TUSCUMBIA, AL. HAD TO FIND A RIDE TO & FROM WORK BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LONER .PICKED CAR UP TUESDAY(THEY SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO CHARGED & THERE WAS A RECALL THEY FIXED) MADE IT HOME OK. WENT TO STORE, NO PROBLEM. GOT IN CAR TO GO TO WORK WEDNESDAY AND IT STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AT WORK, THERE WAS SMELL LIKE THE BRAKES WERE REALLY HOT. CALLED DEALERSHIP DIDN'T GET THROUGH TO SERVICE BUT GUY SAID HE WOULD GET MY NUMBER & HAVE SOMEONE CALL, NO ONE DID. GOT IN CAR TO LEAVE WORK THE LIGHTS STARTED AGAIN BUT I WAS ABLE TO COME HOME WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. THE ENGINE ICON WAS STILL ON THOUGH. I'M SICK OF THIS CAR! AND I'M TIRED OF GOING TO THE DEARSHIP EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS OR EVERY 2 WEEKS! BUY THIS LEMON BACK!

NHTSA ODI 11373103

RECEIVE INTERMITTENT 'SHIFT TO PARK' LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ONCE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK AND WILL NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. DRIVER MUST PULL SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE, THEN NEUTRAL THEN REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK BEFORE THE 'SHIFT TO PARK NOTICE SHUTS OFF' . IF NOT REPAIRED THIS CAN ULTIMATELY DRAIN BATTERY OR EVEN DAMAGE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11338321

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A REPORT WAS GENERATED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE PELVIC AREA AND AROUND HER WAIST FROM THE SEAT BELT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,500.

NHTSA ODI 11271586

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT'S STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, BUT IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND LOW POWER MODE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND IT CRASHED INTO A BOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH CRAIN CHEVROLET (9911 I-30, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72209, (501) 436-4484) AND WAS INFORMED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO THE COLLISION DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO HER APARTMENT FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALER SO THAT IT COULD BE ASSESSED BY AN INVESTIGATOR. AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GWATNEY CHEVROLET (1301 T P WHITE DR, JACKSONVILLE, AR 72076, (501) 295-4448) WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT WITH THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,196.

NHTSA ODI 11270641

DURING OPERATIONS WHILE TURNING CAR LOCKED UP; LOST POWER, LOST STEERING. WITH ENGINE RUNNING THE RADIO AND AC SHUT OFF. DRIFTED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. ILLUMINATED DASH LIGHTS: POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE, TRACTION CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKE, ABS LIGHT, TEMP SHOWED COLD, NO GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT. OPERATED CAR LESS THAN 5MPH APPROX. 1/4 MILE AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. DURING OPERATIONS IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH BRAKES WERE ON (SCREECHING/CLANKING). ONCE ENGINE SHUTDOWN STABILITRAK LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITH POWER STEERING. DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN (TRAPPED IN VEHICLE 10 MIN). BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED, CAR WOULD NOT START. 45 MIN LATER CAR STARTED. ALL ILLUMINATED LIGHTS CLEARED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED. SEVERAL FAULT CODES WERE PRESENT. EACH FAULT CODE PERTAINED TO VEHICLES COMMUNICATION. VEHICLE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH EVERYTHING. DEALERSHIP STATED DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW ANY SORT OF DIRECTION FOR FIX. DEALERSHIP DROVE CAR AND COULD NOT REPLICATE INCIDENT. ASKED ME TO DRIVE AND RECREATE PROBLEM THEN TO BRING BACK. CAR IS UNSAFE. INSTANTLY LOCKED UP DURING OPERATION, TRAPPED ME INSIDE, LEFT ME STRANDED AND SCARED ME. REFUSE TO DRIVE. GM WAS CONTACTED; AWAITING GUIDANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11245972

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT A LOW SPEED INTO A DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOOT, WHIPLASH, AND SEVERAL BRUISES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WEIL TOWING AND STORAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V576000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11245197

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