VehicleVerdict

2018 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 279 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 23% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

279

Engine complaints

23%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Malibu engine complaints by model year303 complaints1975: 1 complaints1978: 1 complaints1982: 1 complaints1989: 1 complaints1997: 77 complaints1998: 159 complaints1999: 151 complaints2000: 199 complaints2001: 198 complaints2002: 89 complaints2003: 91 complaints2004: 37 complaints2005: 66 complaints2006: 59 complaints2007: 35 complaints2008: 73 complaints2009: 71 complaints2010: 126 complaints2011: 172 complaints2012: 102 complaints2013: 215 complaints2014: 128 complaints2015: 70 complaints2016: 303 complaints2017: 256 complaints2018: 279 complaints2019: 62 complaints2020: 61 complaints2021: 12 complaints2022: 31 complaints2023: 12 complaints2024: 2 complaints
Malibu engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

19V642000EngineSeptember 6, 2019 · 177,282 units

Defect

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.

What owners report

“WHEN DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY MALIBU IT STALLS OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING REDUCING MY SPEED TO 20 MPH WHEN I'AM ON THE FREEWAY. AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME I SEEN A NOTIFICATION THAT SAID POWER REDUCE SYSTEM IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND AS A RESULT OF THE STALLING I WAS REAR ENDED FROM THE REAR AND IT IS VERY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 2, 2021 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA has 279 complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu engine — 23% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 19V642000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.