Home · 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Limited · Complaints

What 690 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Limited

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 (690)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)

275 of 690 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 7 of 11

May 19, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

There was an issue with the Engine and Transmission System. My Engine light came on and I received a warning that the Engine Power is Reduced and I had to pull over because the speed of the car reduced to 20 miles an hour. This happened a month again and then the car would not start. We bought a new battery and everything was fine until today were it happened again. I have to travel on the highway a lot and cannot have that happen again or I can be in trouble by causing an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11417763

May 16, 2021Speed controlEngine

MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED SIGNAL ON MY 2018 MALIBU LT COMES ON ON MY DASH. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP. I HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE ENTIRE GAS PEDAL REPLACED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE TOO CHEAP TO DO A RECALL ON IT. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE ONE DAY BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT WILL FALL ON THE HANDS OF THE CAR COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI 11416774

May 2, 2021Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DOING 70MPH AND A WARNING POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 20MPH. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON A REGULAR CITY STREET WHILE GOING 40MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED

NHTSA ODI 11414791

Apr 25, 2021Engine

ENGINE GOES INTO POWER REDUCED MODE REGULARLY AND PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AS WELL. ONCE I RESTART THE CAR, I AM ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN, BUT IT IS HAPPENS MORE AND MORE OFTEN.

NHTSA ODI 11413843

Apr 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY I RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. AFTER ALL OF THOSE WARNINGS MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 20 MPH AND WOULD NOT SPEED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11413530

Apr 17, 2021Speed controlEngineCrash

WHEN DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY MALIBU IT STALLS OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING REDUCING MY SPEED TO 20 MPH WHEN I'AM ON THE FREEWAY. AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME I SEEN A NOTIFICATION THAT SAID POWER REDUCE SYSTEM IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND AS A RESULT OF THE STALLING I WAS REAR ENDED FROM THE REAR AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11408517

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 22, 2021Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

I TURNED ON MY CAR AND IT SAID 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' ON THE SCREEN AND I COULD ONLY ACCELERATE UP TO 35MPH. I WAS GOING UP HILL IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. TURNS FELT MUCH SLOWER GOING UPHILL WHEN DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

NHTSA ODI 11404383

Mar 16, 2021SuspensionEngineFuel system

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

NHTSA ODI 11403346

Mar 8, 2021Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER REDUCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SLOWED DOWN WITH NO POWER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AGO. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A RECALL ITEM, BUT I HAVENT SEEN ANY.

NHTSA ODI 11399687

Mar 1, 2021Engine

THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/ WITCH D/E

NHTSA ODI 11398401

Feb 19, 2021Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE GAVE A WARNING OF 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. MY CAR QUICKLY DROPPED TO 20MPH AND I WAS UNABLE ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND I WAS SCARED I WAS GOING TO BE REAR ENDED. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PARKED MY VEHICLE. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON WHICH ALLOWED ME TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AGAIN BUT ONLY AT A CAPACITY OF 40MPH. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED LATER THAT DAY IT NEEDED SOMETHING WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF AND FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO RECALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. THERE'S NO REASON A VEHICLE SHOULD BE DROPPING TO 20 MPH UNEXPECTEDLY ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11397019

Feb 16, 2021Speed controlEngine

AFTER PULLING OUT OF A CONVENIENT STORE, ONTO A MAIN ROAD FOR ABOUT A HALF A MILE MY CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST SPEED AND A DISPLAY APPEARED IN MY DASH ENGINE POWER REDUCED , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED. I COULDN'T DRIVE NO MORE THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR .. SCARY MOMENT, SO GLAD NOTHING WAS COMING BEHIND ME. CAR IN SHOP! THIS NEED TO BE FIX IT'S A MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR KIND OF CAR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE GMC

NHTSA ODI 11396538

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 10, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULDN'T RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER ON DASH CLUSTER WAS VISIBLE WHEN IT RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP PLACED NEW BATTERY & IT WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT A WEEK THEN RETURNED WHILE DRIVING IN THE 45 MPH RANGE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THEN SLOW ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN. SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS FOR THIS ISSUE WITH NO RECALL IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11395587

Feb 8, 2021Engine

ENGINE POWER REDUCED

NHTSA ODI 11395281

Feb 3, 2021Engine

CUT CAR OFF WOULDNT START UP REPLACED VVT SOLENOIDS AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS HAD BATTERY TESTED HAD IT TESTED ON COMPUTER ALL CODES CLEAR AND BEING TOLD IT MAY BE ONE OR MORE CRACKED PISTONS CAR WAS IDLEING NORMAL IN PARK

NHTSA ODI 11394415

Feb 2, 2021Electrical systemEngineDriver assistance

THE ONSTAR SYSTEM SHOCKED MY HUSBAND. THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES. THE DASH BOARD READS DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD WITH NOTHING PLUGGED UP TO DRAIN THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11394318

Feb 2, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WAS ON MY INFORMATION DISPLAY AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES ON MY MALIBU. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET AND NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS, IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY. THEN AFTER I LIMPED THE CAR HOME I TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT SEEMED NORMAL, BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. I AM GETTING RID OF THIS CAR HAS HAD 5 RECALLS OF VARIOUS PROBLEMS SO FAR. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS...TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA ODI 11394349

Jan 28, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE IN MOTION THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED THEN THE CAR SLOWED TO A SPEED OF 20 MPH. UPON STARTING M VEHICLE A WEEK A LATER THE ENGINE REDUCTION WARNING CAME ON AGAIN. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED NOW I'M BEING TOLD IT'S THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR . WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11390436

Jan 27, 2021Engine

REDUCE ENGINE POWER CAME ON

NHTSA ODI 11390242

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 15, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOUNTAIN VIEW CHEVROLET, INC. (1079 W FOOTHILL BLVD UPLAND, CA 91786, (909) 353-7103) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11388353

Jan 13, 2021SteeringSpeed controlEngine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACKING LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP , LOW ENGINE AND CAN'T EXCEED 45 ~ 50 MPH ALL HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 11387956

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Working with the data? Download all 690 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 Limited verdict →