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)

99 of 689 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters · page 3 of 4

Apr 9, 2021Electrical systemEngineFuel system

I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK IN JUNE . I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS AND THINKING IT'S ONLY MY BATTERY BACK TO BACK . I'VE BEEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHERE MY CAR WOULD JUST COME OFF . ONE TIME JSO POLICE HAD TO GIVE MY CAR A JUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AT A LEFT TURNING LIGHT. MY CAR HAVE STOPPED ON BEACH BLVD WHICH WAS EARLY IN THE DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET . IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO GET A PORTABLE JUMP STARTER. I LOOKED INTO IT & GOT BRAND NEW PARTS FOR SO MANY THINGS AND ONE DAY IT JUST WOULDN'T CRANK ANYMORE . THE LIGHTS AND RADIO AND EVERYTHING COME ON AND EVERYTHING BUT IT'S NOT CRANKING ANYMORE . I CALLED MANY CHEVROLETS AND WAS INFORMED BY THAT MANY 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S WERE RECALLED AND NO DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN IS TRYING TO HELP ME . THE GAS GOES OUT THE CAR VERY FAST AND EVERYTHING. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR MONTHS BUT NOW IT'S FINALLY TO THE POINT WHERE IT WON'T COME ON AGAIN . I'M ONLY 19 AND WAS JUST 18 WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR ON MY OWN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NOW I'M STUCK WITHOUT ANYTHING TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11407203

Apr 5, 2021Speed controlEngineFuel system

THE CAR US UNDER 60,000 MILES THREE YEARS OLD AND ALREADY BREAKING DOWN. THE AIR FLOW SENSOR OUT OF SELF-TEST RANGE, TURBOCHARGE ENGINE UNDERBOOST PROBLEMS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR PERFORMANCE IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC, MAKING THE CAR STOP INSTANTLY AND SPORADICALLY CREATING A HIGH IMMINENT DANGER OF CRASHING AND SERIOUS INJURIES. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FAR ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE REAR-ENDING ME. HAD IT BEEN A SEMI-TRUCK I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED AND CORRECTED!!!

NHTSA ODI 11406521

Mar 28, 2021Electrical systemFuel system

WHEN THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL IS ON AND FOOT ON BRAKES THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD LIGHT UP AND WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TRY TO RECRANK A MESSAGE STATED NO GASOLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11405240

Mar 20, 2021Speed controlFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE COMES ON AND SPEED IS CUT TO BELOW 35 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11404055

Mar 16, 2021SuspensionEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN AND SAY SLOW ENGINE POWER

NHTSA ODI 11403346

Feb 16, 2021Speed controlEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND A SENSOR POPPED UP THAT READ 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY SPEED WAS REDUCED. I CAN'T AND COULD NOT SPEED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11396545

Feb 1, 2021Fuel system

MY 2018 MALIBU HAS A FEATURE THAT WHEN THE CAR STOPS THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND ENGINE WILL START BACK WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE MY CAR HAS SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN WHEN I'VE COME TO A STOP ALL POWER SHUTS DOWN THE HEAT THE RADIO EVERYTHING

NHTSA ODI 11391115

Jan 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

MY CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 62,000 MILES AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES THE WARNING WAS COMING ON REDUCED SPEED I'D BE ON THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD START SLOWING DOWN AND EVEN SOMETIMES ON THE INTERSTATE AND RECENTLY STARTED COMING ON AGAIN I COULD FEEL A POPPING LIKE IN THE GAS PEDAL. THEN THE OTHER DAY I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE CAME ON WHEN I WENT TO PULL OFF IT JUST JUMPED. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO BACK IT UP I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT FOR HOURS UNTIL IT DIED. THEN BEFORE THIS THE CAR MOVED SO SLOW IT HARDLY TOOK OFF. OTHER CARS HAVE TO GO AROUND ME. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND JUST SEEMS LIKE ISSUE AFTER ISSUE. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11389595

Jan 17, 2021Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHEN I'M SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AWAITING MY TURN TO PROCEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK THE CAR IS FINE. AFTER SITTING AT THE LIGHT AND IT'S TIME TO DRIVE, I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BREAK AND MY CAR SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF. WHEN I APPLY A LITTLE GAS THE CAR TURNS BACK ON AND IT MALFUNCTIONS EVEN MORE. MY DASH BOARD GOES HAYWIRE WITH DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGES. IT SAYS THE FUEL IS LOW WHICH IT IS NOT, I COULD HAVE A FULL TANK. THE BACK DOOR IS UNLOCKED, I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MESSAGE BEFORE UNTIL THE MALFUNCTION. MY BLINKER TONE EVEN CHANGES AND MY CAR IS RELUCTANT TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11388545

Jan 5, 2021EngineFuel system

TWO TIMES MY VEHICLE HAS DISPLAYED ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WELL AND MY VEHICLE SPEED WAS AUTOMATICALLY REDUCE TO ABOUT 20 MPH ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON THE ENTIRE DAY EVEN AFTER POWERING DOWN MY VEHICLE. ALSO THERE IS A LOUD WATER NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIKE WATER IS RUNNING THROUGH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS WATER NOISE OCCURRED WITH MY 2013 MALIBU AS WELL AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11386553

Dec 29, 2020Electrical systemEngineFuel system

IN MAY OF 2020 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN WOODBRIDGE,VA FOR A ECM RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING FOR THEM TO DO THE RECALL THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. FROM OCTOBER TO CURRENT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THAT WAS STATED IN THE RECALL WHICH LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY NEVER CHANGED THE PART. MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ALMOST CAUSING ME A ACCIDENT AND MOST DAYS NOW IT WON'T EVEN START. I GOT MY BATTERY CHECKED OUT AND MY BATTERY TESTED 100% SO I KNOW THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THAT PART REPLACED. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY WHEN IT'S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL, SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. -THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI 11385419

Dec 24, 2020EngineFuel system

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL LOSE PROPULSION AND POWER. AT ONE POINT IT ALMOST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE CAR FOR INSPECTION TO CHEVROLET DEALER BUT I WAS TOLD THEY WILL TAKE WEEKS TO FIND THE EXACT ISSUE. IT ALSO HAS A SAFETY RECALL WHICH WASN'T PERFORMED DURING MY APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IF I SEE ENGINE LIGHT WITHOUT IT THEY CAN'T DO MUCH. I USE MY CAR EVERY DAY TO GET TO WORK AND NOW I FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING IT. MY CHEVROLET MALIBU IS OF THE YEAR 2018 WITH ONLY 30K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11384885

Dec 17, 2020EngineFuel system

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME FOR HE SAME ISSUE. AFTER A COLD START THE ENGINE WILL START MISSING ON A CYL WHICH RESULTS IN A HUGE DECREASE IN POWER AND RUNNING ROUGH. THIS LAST TIME, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. JUST LIKE THE OTHER TIMES, IF YOU STOP AND RESTART THE CAR, THE ISSUE GOES WAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NO CODES AND THEY COULDNT REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11383966

Nov 18, 2020Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AS I APPROACHED A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUT UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, UNTIL IT IS JUMP STARTED IT WILL START, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. ONCE I ARRIVED AT HOME AND I PARKED THE VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY SHUT ITSELF OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IT JUST STARTED AGAIN. WHICH I WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW ON DIFFERENT DATES.

NHTSA ODI 11375211

Nov 12, 2020EngineFuel system

THE CHECK ENGINE HAS COME ON THREE TIMES ALREADY SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE... EVERYTIME THE CODE IS FOR EMISSIONS SYSTEM. WE HAVE REPLACES THE VALVE AND THE CANISTER FOR EMISSIONS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON.. ALSO THE SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11374358

Nov 5, 2020BrakesEngineFuel system

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

Oct 14, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

I WAS DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT 15 MPH. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WAS ON, AND AN ICON CAME UP SAYING THAT THE 'SERVICE STABLITREK.' I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND I FELT NO TRACTION WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR PROMPTS A SHIFT TO PARK, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11364304

Oct 6, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WEN YOU GOING AT 50 TO 60 IN THE FREEWAY IS DANGEROUSLY

NHTSA ODI 11363093

Jul 14, 2020EngineFuel system

MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING (AT A STOP OR IDLING) STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI 11339337

Jul 6, 2020WheelsEngineFuel system

THE CAR STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS REGULAR STREETS TURNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR FULL TANK PROPER OIL LEVELS ETC

NHTSA ODI 11337804

Jun 5, 2020Fuel system

THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT IT DOES IT SOMETIMES A FEW TIMES A DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327464

May 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

SINCE JULY 2019 MY VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY SHOWN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE MESSAGE, POWER ENGINE REDUCED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE RPMS INCREASE DRASTICALLY AND VEHICLE CAN NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAYS AND MAIN ROADS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN BE GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DROPS DOWN TO 30MPH. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE ATTACHED MULTIPLE SERVICE RECORDS WHERE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE WORKED ON, BUT YET THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS AT ANYTIME. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH HE DEALERSHIPS SAY THEY FIXED IT FOR MY VEHICLE, IT STILL OCCURS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER OR HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED AND IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM. THERE LAST REASONING FOR NOT GIVING ME A RESOLUTION WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING ON SERVICE RECORDS, YET I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS AND HAD THE SERVICE RECORDS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324770

Apr 18, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

ON 4/5/2020, WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, THE CAR LOST PROPULSION. IT READ ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND STABILITRAC HAD ACTIVATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR. MY VERY FIRST ENCOUNTER WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY (I-270) THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED (PER RECALL) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. IT HAS DONE THE VERY EXACT THING AT LEAST THREE (3) TIMES SUBSEQUENT OF THE RECALL MANDATE. EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR THE MOTOR WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE. I HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT TO GENERAL MOTORS, PRIOR TO THIS LATEST EVENT ON 4/5/2020, MY COMPLAINT HAD BEEN DISMISSED. I AM BEING FORCED TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE; KNOWING IT POSES A SERIOUS RISK OF ACCIDENT OR DEATH TO ME AND OTHER MOTORIST. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A SIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY RESIDENCE. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT THE ALWAYS THE CASE AND THIS IS A CONTINUOUS EVENT. I LIVE WITHIN A 3/4-MILE RADIUS OF BALTIMORE'S SEA-PORT, TRAIN & TRUCK TERMINAL AS WELL AS INTERSTATES I-895 & I-95'S (HARBOR AND FORT MCHENRY TUNNEL). I TRAVEL THE I-895 TUNNEL TO WORK EVERYDAY. AFTER SEVERAL RECALL ATTEMPTS TO FIX, THIS CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. WHEREAS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS, IT LOSES ENGINE POWER AND STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. INCLUDED ARE ONSTAR ONBOARD DIAGNOSIS REPORTS AND SERVICE RECORDS AFTER THE INITIAL RECALL SERVICING OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11321488

Mar 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ANTI SKID WARNINGS COME ON.

NHTSA ODI 11316562

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

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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 →