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Your vehicleHome›Chevrolet›Malibu› 2018
Chevrolet · Midsize Sedan

2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Hybrid Gas
Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 6
Complaints24 crash · 4 fire · 17 injured reported 711
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 46 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Malibu Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 46 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 711 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Malibu — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Malibu · Photo: Benespit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Malibu HybridHybridFWD1.8L 4-cyl + 300V Li-Ion494346$1,450
MalibuGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo273630$2,250
MalibuGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223226$3,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39339, 38849, 38850.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Malibu Hybrid3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Malibu6–7 / 10California LEV-III ULEV50 / California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Malibu5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.5 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Hybrid, LS (1FL), LS (1LS), Premier (2LZ)). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length193.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.8 in
Height57.5 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Track, front62.6 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight3,086–3,386 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41 to 61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: L/Ls/Lt 4-door Sedan, Premier/Hybrid 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2018 Malibu
Other years The 2025 Malibu Recalls Chevrolet recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

N212333380
402 vehicles 78% reported repaired
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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V649000 reported Aug 20, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

N202313440
194,105 vehicles 82% reported repaired
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.
NHTSA campaign 20V668000 reported Oct 29, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Fuel System, Gasoline

N192221960
177,282 vehicles 86% reported repaired built Apr 25, 2017 – Sep 20, 2018
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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V642000 reported Sep 6, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

18279
210,628 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Mar 27, 2018 – Jun 19, 2018
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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V576000 reported Aug 30, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

18208
66 vehicles 78% reported repaired built Nov 20, 2015 – Sep 8, 2017
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.
NHTSA campaign 18V400000 reported Jun 14, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

18188 18268
895 vehicles 97% reported repaired built Jan 27, 2016 – Apr 27, 2018
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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V358000 reported May 31, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Malibu

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Chevrolet publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Chevrolet’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Malibu →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
711complaints filed

24 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 17 injuries · 0 deaths reported

38 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 185,178 Malibu built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 85 · 2020: 122 · 2021: 127 · 2022: 105 · 2023: 87 · 2024: 58 · 2025: 66 · 2026: 48

Most-cited components

Engine → 290
Electrical System → 196
Power Train → 176
Unspecified 154
Vehicle Speed Control 116
Fuel/Propulsion System → 104

In depth: engine problems → · electrical problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · fuel system problems → · brake problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to report a serious issue concerning the recall history of my vehicle and to request an investigation into what appears to be unresolved and inaccurately closed recalls.
Air Bags Jun 29, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11670074
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.
Fuel/Propulsion System Mar 9, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11647214
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.
Power Train Nov 22, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11626907
As I was driving with cruise control on a freeway at 70 mph the car suddenly displayed a warning to reduce speed. I continued to try to get to the next exit but almost instantly it started reducing my power and slowed me down to a crawl. I pulled over on the freeway and it would not restart.
Electrical System Feb 6, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11450678
Engine lost power on interstate highway. While this did not result in a crash/ rear end collision, the potential for such injury seems high. 1-2 days prior there were some warning lights (check engine light).
Engine Jun 15, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11421044
Noticed the rear center mounted stop lamp was cracked on the left side and found there was a substantial leak of water into the trunk from said lamp. This particular vehicle is the hybrid which makes this dangerous as the water is dripping over the high voltage battery. Vehicle has not yet been inspected
Exterior Lighting Aug 22, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11539968

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Chevrolet itself: 90 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 killed, 113 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 49 per 100,000 built. Every Malibu model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 46k

miles, typically

Half the 302 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 25,000 and 64,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 29
10k–20k 32
20k–30k 26
30k–40k 35
40k–50k 38
50k–60k 48
60k–70k 28
70k–80k 20
80k–90k 13
90k–100k 6
100k–150k 17
150k + 10

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine13750,0001.0×
Power Train8044,0001.27×
Electrical System6046,5602.06×
Vehicle Speed Control5752,2243.73×
Fuel/Propulsion System5240,0191.25×
Unspecified3838,000—
Service Brakes2575,0002.64×
Steering2018,5001.28×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: electrical system (2.06×), vehicle speed control (3.73×), service brakes (2.64×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 71 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 2.07× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 49,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,360
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1350 service bulletins, 6 service campaigns, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Unknown Or Other.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIP4902U Service bulletin
    2026-01-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5214G Service bulletin
    2025-11-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does no

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P1101
P1101 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine13 bulletins · 5 owner reports
P2138
P2138 on Chevrolet →		The two accelerator pedal position sensors disagree with each other.Engine4 bulletins · 12 owner reports
P050D
P050D on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine11 bulletins · 1 owner report
B3055
B3055 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
P0300
P0300 on Chevrolet →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →9 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0299
P0299 on Chevrolet →		The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.Engine7 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Chevrolet →		Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P0172
P0172 on Chevrolet →		The engine is running rich on bank 1: too much fuel for the air going in.Structure · Oxygen sensor →6 bulletins
P06DE
P06DE on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine6 bulletins
P0747
P0747 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train6 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu failed the emissions check on 6.7% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 6.7%

failed emissions

3,418 initial inspections of 3,313 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 MalibuEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check6.7%3.0%3,414
Failed the safety inspection2.5%1.9%3,418
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.23%0.22%3,418
Miles driven a year10,17610,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer84,31782,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Malibu by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 A 1 11 31 mpg2024 A 2 43 31 mpg2023 B 2 72 30 mpg2022 A 1 99 32 mpg2021 B 2 90 32 mpg2020 A 1 199 32 mpg2019 A 1 195 46 mpg2018 this page D 6 711 46 mpg2017 C 4 725 46 mpg2016 F 10 865 46 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Malibu

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The most serious on file is 21V649000, covering Seat Belts. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, the best EPA combined figure is 46 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Transport Canada measured it at 193.7 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 111.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,086–3,386 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Owners have filed 711 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about engine, electrical system, power train. Of those, 24 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 17 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu runs 3 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

The manufacturer has filed 1360 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu failed the emissions check on 6.7% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints711NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins1360NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2025 Malibu The Malibu model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every Chevrolet recall on file All campaigns filed against Chevrolet vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Malibu by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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