Every 2018 Chevrolet Malibu recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Seat Belts · NHTSA 21V649000
Aug 20, 2021Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 21V649000 →Power Train · NHTSA 20V668000
Oct 29, 2020Power Train:Automatic Transmission
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 20V668000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 19V642000
Jun 9, 2019Electrical System:Software
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 19V642000 →Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 18V576000
Aug 30, 2018Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- Risk
- A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Full recall details for 18V576000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 18V400000
Jun 14, 2018Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
Full recall details for 18V400000 →Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA 18V358000
May 31, 2018Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
- Risk
- A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Full recall details for 18V358000 →
2018 Chevrolet Malibu complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 710 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, reporting 24 crashes, 4 fires, 17 injuries. Chevrolet has issued at least 1,066 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Engine283
- Electrical System196
- Power Train175
- Unknown Or Other154
- Vehicle Speed Control116
- Fuel/Propulsion System86
Service bulletins by component
- Equipment (449)
- Electrical System (290)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (215)
- Power Train (158)
- Engine (152)
- Unknown Or Other (141)
Read Chevrolet Malibu owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 710 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Crash
“The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her son was driving down the road at 35 MPH, he switched lanes into a blind spot and was t-boned by another vehicle traveling at the same speed.”
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBUMar 25, 2026 · AR
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11726975
Crash
“One of my first problems with this car is the "shift to park" error message. This message on the dashboard indicating that my gear is not in P (park) when in fact it is . This error will not allow me to turn off my car even though I am parked.”
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRIDMar 9, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11647214
Injury reportedCrash
“The brake booster unit, vacuum pump , brake light switch failed and malfunctioned and it is available. My safety and others on the road was at risk due to brakes being stiff and hard as a brick. Possibly nearly hit an other vehicles on the road.”
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBUDec 1, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11702328
“The car has a reoccuring problem where is stalls in the middle of driving the vehicle. A warning comes up to shift to park. The car then restarts, runs extremely rough and stalls out. It then signals to shift to park again. The car is extremely unsafe.”
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRIDNov 22, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11626907
“The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to restart. The contact stated while restarting the vehicle, the contact heard a rattling sound. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road.”
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRIDMay 24, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11590593
Check your Malibu by VIN
Not every 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Chevrolet dealer.
Run a free VIN recall check →