{"id":"2018_chevrolet_malibu","make":"Chevrolet","make_slug":"chevrolet","model":"Malibu","model_slug":"malibu","year":2018,"url":"/chevrolet/malibu/2018/","pts":["hev","gas"],"configs":[{"id":39339,"model":"Malibu Hybrid","pt":"hev","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (variable gear ratios)","cyl":4,"displ":1.8,"eng":"SIDI; Hybrid","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":49,"hwy":43,"comb":46,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"300V Li-Ion","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":194,"fe_score":10,"ghg_score":10,"fuel_cost":1350,"save_spend":4500,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"GMX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"},{"id":38849,"model":"Malibu","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":1.5,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":27,"hwy":36,"comb":30,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":292,"fe_score":7,"ghg_score":7,"fuel_cost":2100,"save_spend":750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"GMX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"},{"id":38850,"model":"Malibu","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic 9-spd","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":22,"hwy":32,"comb":26,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":344,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":3000,"save_spend":-3750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"GMX","modified":"Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2018"}],"vclass":"Midsize Cars","segment":"Midsize car","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"21V649000","component":"SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS","mfr":"General Motors, LLC","reported":"2021-08-20","owner_notified":"2021-09-17","units":402,"summary":"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.","consequence":"An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N212333380","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"20V668000","component":"POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION","mfr":"General Motors LLC","reported":"2020-10-29","owner_notified":"2020-12-15","units":194105,"summary":"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.","consequence":"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.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N202313440","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"19V642000","component":"FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS","mfr":"General Motors LLC","reported":"2019-09-06","owner_notified":"2019-10-16","units":177282,"summary":"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.","consequence":"Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N192221960","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V576000","component":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER","mfr":"General Motors LLC","reported":"2018-08-30","owner_notified":"2018-10-11","units":210628,"summary":"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.","consequence":"A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"18279","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V400000","component":"AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION","mfr":"General Motors LLC","reported":"2018-06-14","owner_notified":"2018-08-07","units":66,"summary":"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.","consequence":"In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"18208","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V358000","component":"FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP","mfr":"General Motors LLC","reported":"2018-05-31","owner_notified":"2018-07-02","units":895,"summary":"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.","consequence":"A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"18188 18268","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"}],"recall_count":6,"critical_count":2,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":38,"grade":"F","complaints":{"count":706,"crash":24,"fire":4,"injured":17,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Engine",282],["Electrical System",195],["Power Train",174],["Unspecified",154],["Vehicle Speed Control",113],["Fuel/Propulsion System",86]],"by_year":{"2017":1,"2018":12,"2019":85,"2020":122,"2021":127,"2022":105,"2023":87,"2024":58,"2025":66,"2026":43},"excerpts":[["2025-06-29","Air Bags","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. Vehicle Information: \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2Make/Model/Year: 2018 Chevy Malibu hybrid \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2Date of Purchase: 2018 (I have been the sole\u2026"],["2025-03-09","Fuel/Propulsion System","One of my first problems with this car is the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153shift to park\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd 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. My second issue is just recently I have been experiencing from idle nois\u2026"],["2024-11-22","Power Train","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. I took the vehicle to GM dealer and they said the car is \"confused\"\u2026"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"DP22005","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM","opened":"2023-01-27","closed":"2023-08-07","campaign":"22V063000","subject":"Pedestrian alert sounds","summary":"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 matt"}],"ncap":[{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":5,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.102,"seats":5,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":5,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.102,"seats":5,"fcw":"Optional","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":"hev"}],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":46,"ncap":5,"complaints":706},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}