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 9 of 11

Sep 4, 2020Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY READ ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT MEANT SO I PULLED OVER. I TRIED TO PULL OFF AND I HAD NO BRAKES. APPARENTLY SOMETHING IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM BROKE AND MY ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. I TALKED WITH GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WITH THIS MODEL CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11353134

Aug 24, 2020Electrical systemEngine

THE LOCKS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY JUMPED. THE CAR REJECTED THE ECW MODULE UPDATE.

NHTSA ODI 11350847

Aug 18, 2020Electrical systemEngine

MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A REDUCED POWER ISSUE IN APRIL 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING SLUGGISHNESS AND TURNING OFF WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD ON APRIL 4TH AND THE RECALL WAS ADDRESSED. AS OF THIS WRITING, I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OF LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING/STOPPING AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE (1) WAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, OR (2) WAS MISDIAGNOSED BY CHEVROLET. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE HERE? I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AGAIN, AT A CHARGE OF $190, WHICH I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11350068

Jul 18, 2020Engine

THE VEHICLE ENGINE REDUCED POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ABRUPT DROP IN SPEED TO LOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND A BUMPER TO BUMPER COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11340090

Jul 14, 2020EngineFuel system

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

NHTSA ODI 11339337

Jul 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON EVERY OTHER WEEK. TPS DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. IDLES HIGH SOME DAYS THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. SENSORS WAS CHANGED ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON A WEEK LATER WITH SAME CODE VACUUM SENSOR, MAF,

NHTSA ODI 11339208

Jul 8, 2020Electrical systemEngine

CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF AS WELL AS NO LIGHTS WERE ON. SO I COULD NOT PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE ROAD. I HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHERE IT COULD HAVE GONE BADLY. ALSO, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CAR STILL TURNS OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON

NHTSA ODI 11338289

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 28, 2020Engine

WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE CAR WILL SAY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND WILL NOT LET ME ACCELERATE. THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY OR MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT HAS DONE THIS ONCE BEFORE AT A STOPLIGHT WHERE THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11331374

May 29, 2020Electrical systemEngine

ONCE MY CAR IS STOPPED AND I SHIFT TO 'P'(PARK) AND I TRY TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE IT STILL GIVES ME THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE. THE SHIFT GEAR HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN. IT HAS UNDER 36,000 MILES ON IT AND WE THOUGHT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN FIXED ALREADY BUT IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN LESS THEN A YEAR LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326517

May 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

AUTO STOP JUST STOPED WORKING ALSO WHEN I PUT IT ON PARK IT SHOWS 'SHIFT TO PARK' BUT THE VEHICLE IS ON PARK ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325558

May 20, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON THE CAR POWERED DOWN ALMOST MADE US WRECK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE POWER DOWN ALERT THE CAR WAS DRAGGING IN SPEED AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE IS ONLY 35000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325254

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

Apr 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS SINCE I'VE GOTTEN MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO GO IN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE THEY FIXED THE TRANSMISSION BUT ONCE I GOT IT BACK IT INSTANTLY HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT HAS ALSO HAD THE SHIFTER REPLACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11320143

Mar 25, 2020Speed controlEngine

MY CAR REDUCED ITS ENGINE POWER AND SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MILES DOWN TO 20 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY WITH A TANK TRUCK BEHIND ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. THE ENGINE REDUCED ITS POWER THREE TIMES NOW! I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THE ISSUE WAS FIXED BUT CLEARLY IT WASN'T! I HAVE CHILDREN AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW BECAUSE OF THIS!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11319284

Mar 16, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAR ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. SYSTEM SAYS 'ENGINE POWER REDUCE' AND 'SERVICE STABILITRAK.' BRAKE CLICKS AND LOCKS WHEN BEEN PRESSED DOWN, STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS.

NHTSA ODI 11318200

Mar 10, 2020Engine

MY WIFE PURCHASED A NEW 2018 CHEVY MALIBU ON JULY 3, 2018. IN OCTOBER 2019, WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE (N192221960) INFORMING MY WIFE THE MALIBU HAD A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NOTICE STATED: "THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AT SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' CONCERNED, I HEEDED THE WARNING. SINCE THEN THIS CAR BUT OUR LIVES AT RISK TWO TIMES. EACH TIME ANOTHER PART WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TERROR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO GM AND THE DEALER TO NO EFFECT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN.

NHTSA ODI 11317296

Mar 9, 2020Electrical systemEngine

AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND STOPED ON THE OFF RAMP, I TRIED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO BUT MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, MY BLUETOOTH CUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY. I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, I DROVE TO TH E NEAREST PARKING LOT AND PUT IT IN PARK. ONLY THIS TIME, THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" POPPED UP. MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SHIFTED TO PARK BUT THE SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T COMPREHEND. MY CAR ONLY HAS 61,845 MILES!! IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES SO SOON!!

NHTSA ODI 11317101

Mar 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED POWER BEFORE LEARNING ABOUT AND ADDRESSING THE RECALL. A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART WHILE GIVING VARIOUS ERROR MESSAGES. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING SPEEDS LESS THAN 35 MPH AND WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CENSOR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES FOR ROUGHLY 2 WEEKS. MY VEHICLE TODAY GAVE A ERROR MESSAGE THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT IS ALSO HESITATING/JUMPING WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO EITHER REVERSE OR PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11316787

Mar 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

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

NHTSA ODI 11316562

Mar 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BOTH ON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SPEED AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LIMITED, CANT GO PASS 3 GEAR. STARTED RANDOMLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11316252

Mar 4, 2020Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11316163

Mar 2, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED INDEPENDENTLY. THE 'ENGINE POWER' REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW ROCHELLE CHEVROLET (291 MAIN ST, NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE GAS GASKET WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE ECM FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11315612

Mar 1, 2020Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, I LOST POWER AND RECEIVED MESSAGE IN MESSAGE BOX THAT STATES, ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS ONLY DOING 30 AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BUT THE ENGINE BOGGING DOWN WHILE GOING UP HILL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DEAR [XXX], AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS MESSAGE IF YOUR VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN FOR SERVICE. INACCURATE NOTIFICATIONS CAN BE GENERATED DURING SERVICE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DEALER FOR SERVICE. TASCA CHEVROLET 114 FORTIN DR WOONSOCKET, RI 02895 +14017693000 ACCOUNT INFORMATION ACCOUNT NUMBER: 015-9743-802 VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11315368

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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 →