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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,973 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #20

Oct 202020

Malibu

  • 46,560 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When car is stationary waiting for red light to change, the car will shut off and power cycle showing stabilitrak error message before turning back on. This also occurs when the car is stationary and engine is off for several hours.

- Largo, MD, USA

problem #19

Sep 292020

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
I was driving in a neighborhood about 15 mph. My car began to shake, the engine light was blinking, stability track light was on, and an icon came up saying that the 'service stablitrek.' I had little control over the steering and I felt no traction while trying to pull over. I also have a problem where the car prompts a shift to park, even though my car is in park.

- Farmingdale, NJ, USA

problem #18

Aug 092020

Malibu

  • miles
Engine power is reduced wen you going at 50 to 60 in the freeway is dangerously

- Fultondale, AL, USA

problem #17

Sep 242020

Malibu

  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle ECM fails when accelerating. Loses power/shuts down. Cannot enter freeways, pass, or perform other maneuvers requiring sudden increase power demands. ECM fails to record incident. Every time. Every day. Updated ECM software does not work. Reset check engine mode shuts down other vehicle functions. Have been too close to being run off the interstate, hit when entering from on-ramp, rear-ended in heavy traffic. NHTSA does not investigate because death and injury cannot be linked to failures because the module does not record issues/failures. There is no fix. Every day you get in your car and wonder if today is the day you die because your vehicle failed to perform at a critical moment. Now vehicle shut downs while driving on level surfaces, at constant speed, with no additional demands. Am installing cams to record traffic conditions and vehicle warnings displayed on dash since ECM does not record failures. I believe a thorough investigation into all rear end collisions involving 2018 Malibu should be conducted since the vital link, the ECM record, has been disabled by manufacturer.

- Benton, IL, USA

problem #16

Jul 202020

Malibu

  • 59,610 miles
When my car cut off at the light and when it try to start back up it stale for a second and says stabilize then start up. When I start the car up it says the same thing. It erase all my favorite on the radio and reset everything. Been doing this for about two weeks now

- St Ann, MO, USA

problem #15

May 022020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
Auto stop just stoped working also when I put it on park it shows 'shift to park' but the vehicle is on park already.

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #14

May 202020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 32,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving down the street I got an alert on the dash indicating 'engine power reduced' check engine light and what I believe is the traction control light came on. Can't accelerate. Can't go more than 30 mph. No open recalls in my vehicle, but seems a lot of people having same issue?

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #13

May 052020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 35,210 miles
Was driving the car on the highway the speed control was on the car powered down almost made us wreck and the check engine light came on followed by the power down alert the car was dragging in speed and could not accelerate. There is only 35000 miles on this vehicle.

- Black Jack, MO, USA

problem #12

May 042020

Malibu

  • miles
It keeps giving the shift to park when the vehicle its in full park already.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #11

Apr 052020

Malibu

  • 68,914 miles
On 4/5/2020, while driving on a side street, the car lost propulsion. It read engine power is reduced and stabilitrac had activated. This has occurred several times prior. My very first encounter was on a major highway (I-270) the car has been serviced (per recall) on two separate occasions. It has done the very exact thing at least three (3) times subsequent of the recall mandate. Every time I attempted to restart the car the motor will violently shake. I have made this complaint to General Motors, prior to this latest event on 4/5/2020, my complaint had been dismissed. I am being forced to operate this vehicle; knowing it poses a serious risk of accident or death to me and other motorist. Luckily, I was on a side residential street a few blocks away from my residence. However, this was not the always the case and this is a continuous event. I live within a 3/4-mile radius of baltimore's sea-port, train & truck terminal as well as interstates I-895 & I-95's (harbor and fort mchenry tunnel). I travel the I-895 tunnel to work everyday. After several recall attempts to fix, this car is still doing the same thing. Whereas, without any warning signs, it loses engine power and stalls while in motion. Included are onstar onboard diagnosis reports and service records after the initial recall servicing of the car.

- Baltimore City, MD, USA

problem #10

Mar 142020

Malibu

  • 51,555 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car engine will not turn over. System says 'engine power reduce' and 'service stabilitrak.' Brake clicks and locks when been pressed down, steering wheel also locks.

- Biscoe, NC, USA

problem #9

Feb 272020

Malibu

  • 50,447 miles
The contact called on behalf of the vehicle owner/driver her daughter. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu at approximately 50 mph, the stabilitrak warning light suddenly illuminated as power was reduced causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into the center median causing damage to the vehicle. No injuries were reported and no police report was filed. The contact stated received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V642000 (electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, engine). The vehicle was towed to the local body shop. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,447.

- Fellows, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 102020

Malibu

  • miles
Warning messages light up "steering power is diminished, drive with care", something pertaining to brakes and battery, the warnings flash so quickly I can't read them all. The car goes dead when I stop, shuts down completely with dash lights going completely out, then a very slow restart as the lights brighten very slowly. After the third time yesterday and today I had to put the car in "park for it to restart at a stop light and now it will not start at all,

- Addison, TX, USA

problem #7

Sep 012019

Malibu

  • 27,000 miles
Vehicle experienced reduced power before learning about and addressing the recall. A couple of months following my vehicle began to shut off and restart while giving various error messages. This occurred while going speeds less than 35 mph and while stopped. The dealership determined it was a faulty battery censor and was not covered under the warranty. I have had the part replaced and did not experience any issues for roughly 2 weeks. My vehicle today gave a error message that engine power is reduced and the check engine light is on. It is also hesitating/jumping when switching from drive to either reverse or park.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #6

Feb 052020

Malibu

  • 57,000 miles
Check engine light, traction control light both on, reduced engine power, speed and transmission shifting limited, cant go pass 3 gear. Started randomly on numerous occasion while driving. Very dangerous.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #5

Feb 212020

Malibu

  • 10,000 miles
Low fuel, engine light, service stability track, shift to park lights come on. The low fuel light comes on first. The next day the engine light comes on sometimes it stays on then goes off. This happens when I'm driving. I've had all the recalls done. ECM replaced. 2 weeks later the same thing. All dials go to zero. Slow take off after I've stopped at red light or stop sign. Is as if the transmission is going out. If I put on brakes they will throw me in the dash like I've crashed into something. When I take it dealership-no codes are found. Trying to turn car off, it says shift to park. It's already parked. I've taken it back to the dealership several times for this same problems-no codes. I've gotten a rental (for a week)so they can keep the car to try and recreate it- they can't. this car was bought new in August of 2018.Chevy malibuls 4dr sdn black. The date below "when did this happen" outs the latest date.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #4

Feb 032020

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
Power steering reducing and the car will shut off temporarily I had my car serviced for this already 2 weeks ago for the same problem now it's happening again

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #3

Aug 172019

Malibu

  • 16,467 miles
During operations while turning car locked up; lost power, lost steering. With engine running the radio and ac shut off. Drifted to shoulder of road. Illuminated dash lights: Power steering drive with care, traction control, emergency brake, ABS light, temp showed cold, no gear indicator light. Operated car less than 5mph approx. 1/4 mile and shut engine off. During operations it sounded as though brakes were on (screeching/clanking). Once engine shutdown stabilitrak light illuminated intermittently with power steering. Doors would not unlock, windows would not go down (trapped in vehicle 10 min). Brake pedal locked, car would not start. 45 min later car started. All illuminated lights cleared, check engine light illuminated. Vehicle towed to dealership. Dealership investigated. Several fault codes were present. Each fault code pertained to vehicles communication. Vehicle lost communication with everything. Dealership stated difficult/impossible to follow any sort of direction for fix. Dealership drove car and could not replicate incident. Asked me to drive and recreate problem then to bring back. Car is unsafe. Instantly locked up during operation, trapped me inside, left me stranded and scared me. Refuse to drive. GM was contacted; awaiting guidance.

- Havre De Grace, MD, USA

problem #2

Mar 012019

Malibu

  • 15,000 miles
I was recently getting on the highway in my 2018 Malibu and had absolutely noooo engine power for acceleration! luckily I was able to get onto the median before I was rear ended by the fast moving cars! simultaneously the 'engine power reduced', 'service traction control', and 'the 'transmission' service lights came on! then as I was getting off the highway at the next exit, I went to stop at the light and I had noooo brakes! luckily I pushed as hard as possible and got my car to stop without a second to spare! I have no doubt that 99% of drivers would have either been seriously injured, or seriously injured someone else in the process of crashing their car! I have a pretty good knowledge of cars, from racing multiple C5 and C6 corvettes, but this problem had me stumped for a while. I took the Malibu to multiple GM service departments, and none of the mechanics could come up with a reason why all those systems failed simultaneously, and multiple mechanics all said it was either the brake booster or the master cylinder. I just didn't see either of those parts being the reason for that much of an effect on the car, and luckily I remembered that GM trucks were having a major issue losing brakes due to the vacuum pump. So after an inspection I felt pretty confident that was my brand new Malibu's problem, so I went to the parts counter and dropped $330 on my warrantied Malibu, and sure enough the car was fine after that! however, a major concern of mine is that the oe vacuum pump was missing chunks of metal, and clearly those chunks of metal are floating around in my engine! so despite my regular maintenance, and even extra maintenance, my confidence is not very high, and I'm constantly waiting for the car to have another problem with the new vacuum pump, engine or brakes!

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 132018

Malibu

  • 1,700 miles
The first time the vehicle shut off was cruising out of a parking lot, it did so for a split second. The next time was at my house, I needed to go run to the store. I tried starting it. It said "shift to park" but I was in park. Then it said "service stabilitrack system", and then something along the lines of "power steering service required". I waited and tried for hours and then eventually called for a tow truck.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

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