2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,196
- 779 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 272 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 35 reported crashes · 26 injuries · 6 fires
What owners report fails — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
- ENGINE 272
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 187
- POWER TRAIN 158
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 148
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 109
6 recalls on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 21V649000 · 2021 · SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 20V668000 · 2020 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of
- NHTSA 19V642000 · 2019 · ENGINE Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 18V358000 · 2018 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 18V576000 · 2018 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COM A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 1,196 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (272 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (272), electrical system (187), power train (158), unknown or other (148). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.