The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is associated with 694 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 6 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 74 reports (11% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.8L 4-Cyl hybrid, 1.5l 4-cyl, and 2l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 46 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 694 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 6 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (74 / 11%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 23 crash / 4 fire / 14 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 26–46 MPG (3 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Malibu Hybrid Hybrid | 1.8L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 49 MPG | 43 MPG | 46 MPG | — | $1,350 / yr |
| Malibu | 1.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 27 MPG | 36 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Malibu | 2L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 22 MPG | 32 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,900 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR FWD | | | | | 10.2% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Chevrolet Malibu models.
View complete 2018 Chevrolet Malibu crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems & component breakdown (129 categories) →
Affected Component: SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Defect Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
View all 2018 Chevrolet Malibu recalls & campaign history (6 campaigns) →