Model year
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 700 complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 11 complaints under MALIBU HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (281), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (190), POWER TRAIN (160). NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 26–46 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,450–$3,150, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 922 complaints
- 2001 721 complaints
- 2002 567 complaints
- 2003 569 complaints
- 2004 1,147 complaints
- 2005 975 complaints
- 2006 1,117 complaints
- 2007 977 complaints
- 2008 989 complaints
- 2009 1,509 complaints
- 2010 1,363 complaints
- 2011 978 complaints
- 2012 907 complaints
- 2013 837 complaints
- 2014 351 complaints
- 2015 270 complaints
- 2016 841 complaints
- 2017 703 complaints
- 2018 700 complaints
- 2019 193 complaints
- 2020 199 complaints
- 2021 90 complaints
- 2022 99 complaints
- 2023 72 complaints
- 2024 43 complaints
- 2025 11 complaints
Recalls
21V649000 · Aug 20, 2021
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR; SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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.
20V668000 · Oct 29, 2020
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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…
19V642000 · Sep 6, 2019
ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
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.
18V576000 · Aug 30, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
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…
18V400000 · Jun 14, 2018
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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…
18V358000 · May 31, 2018
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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…
Complaints
700 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 23, fire flag on 4, injury field 17, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| MALIBU HYBRID | 0 | 11 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.102 | NHTSA photo |
| HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.102 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu · 1.5L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 | 36 | 30 | — | — | $2,250 |
| Malibu · 2L · Automatic 9-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 22 | 32 | 26 | — | — | $3,150 |
| Malibu Hybrid · 1.8L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 49 | 43 | 46 | — | — | $1,450 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2018 Chevrolet Malibu at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.