Model year guide

2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 86 on record.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Chevrolet Malibu at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints686
Combined28 mpg
Typical price$16,375

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu recalls 6

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #18V400000 · 14/06/2018

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 ai…

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper NHTSA Campaign #18V576000 · 30/08/2018

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.

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 serv…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #18V358000 · 31/05/2018

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.

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 1-800-22…

Electrical System:software NHTSA Campaign #19V642000 · 06/09/2019

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.

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #20V668000 · 29/10/2020

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.

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 custo…

Seat Belts:critical Fasteners NHTSA Campaign #21V649000 · 20/08/2021

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.

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…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 686 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG & running costs

Combined28 mpg
City25 mpg
Highway34 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,475

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu worth?

Low
$12,900
Typical price
$16,375
High
$19,995

From 64 comparable 2018 Chevrolet Malibu listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,375
Depreciation (5 yrs)$4,200
Total$16,575
Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($16,375) with the same model 5 model-years older ($12,177), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu trims & engines on record

Trims
LT (1LT) · LS (1LS) · Premier (2LZ) · LS (1FL) · Hybrid
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl · 1.8L 4-cyl

2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles on record

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

2018 Chevrolet Malibu — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Based on 686 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu at about 28 mpg combined (25 city / 34 highway).

How much is a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu worth?

Comparable 2018 Chevrolet Malibu listings run roughly $12,900–$19,995, typically around $16,375 (from 64 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.