2018 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems
196 of the 709 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 302 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 196 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 3 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 36 · 2021: 32 · 2022: 25 · 2023: 37 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 15
Half of the 60 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 35,000 and 60,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
709 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 15 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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.
The car says it is not in park when it is. It will not shut off because it is not in park
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving and approaching a stop light, the vehicle stalled without warning and lost power. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road and power off the engine. The vehicle was repaired.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v642000 (electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. After the contact shifted the vehicle into park, the shift to park warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle was unable to be locked. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact stated that she never experienced the failure in the past.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22005 Pedestrian alert soundsopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
- 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 ele…
302 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P2138 P050D B3055 B3060 B3935 P0300 P0172 P0442
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems 289 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 175 complaints
- fuel system problems 104 complaints
- brake problems 72 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 196 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 302 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 6 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 46,560 miles; half of them between 35,000 and 60,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.