Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 700 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V649000 Rear Seat Belt Retractor Not Secured Properly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V668000 Missing Bolts on Start/Stop Accumulator NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V642000 ECM May Disable Fuel Injectors NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V576000 Insufficient Coating on Rear Brake Caliper Pistons NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V400000 PPS Incorrectly Suppressing Air Bags NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V358000 Fuel Pump Flange Weld may Fracture NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 281 complaints
- Electrical System 192 complaints
- Power Train 171 complaints
- Unknown or Other 151 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 114 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 84 complaints
Of the 700 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 700 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu shows a below-average reliability outlook with 700 complaints and 6 recalls. Common issues include engine and electrical system failures, supported by high complaint counts. Additionally, multiple recalls across critical systems suggest recurring issues. The data indicates several potential problem areas, though specific mileage expectations for failures are limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | Unknown | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,200 | common |
| power train | Unknown | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Tire rotations
- Coolant flushes
- Transmission fluid change
- Cabin air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loss of power
- Transmission slips
- Unresponsive brakes
- Electrical malfunctions
- Engine misfires
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.