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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,469 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 7 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Dec 012020

Malibu

  • 41,200 miles

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

Vehicle is not registering in park, when gear shifter is in park. Started doing this approximately 2 weeks ago and is progressively getting worse

- Lebanon, MO, USA

problem #48

May 112018

Malibu

  • miles
2018 Chevy Malibu. First started with corroded wires under the car which has lead to the usb port melting my cellphone charger which was fixed but after that the ac/heater only would blow out the defroster that got fixed. Car had about 20,000 miles. My car had a recall for the ECM module needed updated but auto nation said it didn't need to be updated after getting my car back it wouldn't start I would have to lock it unlock it open the door a few times and then it would start, so my battery got fried because something was draining it paid 200$ for a new one because auto nation said they didn't touch the car because it didn't need an update but what gets me is they had to plug into it to find out it didn't need an update, then the car started saying (shifter to park) got GM corporate involved and they made an appointment 1/13/2020 at chapman for me to take my car in to figure out that I needed a new wiring harness from the shifter to the transmission and they updated the ECM module but yet auto nation said it didn't need the update, so basically the auto nation doesn't want to take responsibility for the car messing up. I sat at auto nation for 45 minutes and they didn't touch my car. Something isn't right and no one wants to take responsibility. Yesterday I picked my car up from chapman 1/27/2020, they replaced the wiring harness from the shifter to the transmission, today 1/28/2020 I'm getting the same message 'shift to park'. I'm getting tired of the run around with brittany and having 3-4 other people call that doesn't know the situation and don't know what to do with this situation. So now the miles are at 59,000 miles no warranty. This isn't a reliable car. GM said is our fault why this happen that is what taylor the advisor told us today 2/3/2020. Still having the same issue with the park to shift as of 11/24/2020.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #47

Nov 212020

Malibu

  • miles
Delayed eccel electrical steering an battery loss. Tire low warning reset for all tires continue to come on, battery dies brought car to dealer they sai it had only 1 recall an it was fixed

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #46

Nov 172020

Malibu

  • 53,000 miles

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

While I was driving on the road, the vehicle has shut off completely as I approached a complete stop at a red light. I attempted to turn on the hazard lights but unable to start the vehicle, until it is jump started it will start, I was able to continue driving. Once I arrived at home and I parked the vehicle, it completely shut itself off and I was unable to restart the vehicle. After several attempts to start the vehicle it just started again. Which I was able to lock the vehicle with the remote. This has happened several times now on different dates.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #45

Nov 082020

Malibu

  • 36,200 miles
When putting my car in park to turn off, the car doesn't recognize it's in park and thus won't turn off. As such, I cannot leave the vehicle.

- Inglewood, CA, USA

problem #44

Nov 042020

Malibu

  • 37,000 miles
The car says it is not in park when it is. It will not shut off because it is not in park.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #43

Sep 102020

Malibu

  • 53,801 miles

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

Car is stationary while waiting for red light to change, the car will shut off and reduced driving assistance error message will pop up before turning back on. The radio will also cut out in process of car turning back on frim auto shut off. It has been happening for over a month and seems to get worse. Engine light came on today aswell

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #42

Oct 202020

Malibu

  • 46,560 miles
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 #41

Jun 232020

Malibu

  • miles
Car won't shift to park, while it's already in park and car will not turn off. Chevrolet should recall this because there are a lot of people with the same issue. My car was brand new when I bought it and now I'm having this issue and I know it's nothing I have done to cause it.

- Milledgeville, GA, USA

problem #40

Aug 092020

Malibu

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

- Fultondale, AL, USA

problem #39

Sep 122020

Malibu

  • 24,000 miles

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

After turning on my heater and driving the car 10 minutes the car caught fire. I smelled something burning when I parked and got out of the vehicle, but thought it was coming from outside the vehicle. I came back to my car 2 hours later and the fire department had been out and the front end of my car was completely charred.

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #38

Aug 182020

Malibu

  • 36,400 miles
The power shifter in the car needed to be replaced. As with many of the other recent complaints I see on here, when I went to turn off the car it popped up the "shift to park" warning even though I was already in park and wouldn't power off the radio or lights. It appears this is a consistent problem with all of the 2018 Malibu's and should be recalled.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #37

Aug 152020

Malibu

  • miles
The locks will lock/unlock on their own. The battery has to be constantly jumped. The car rejected the ecw module update.

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #36

Aug 142020

Malibu

  • miles
My car was recalled for a reduced power issue in April 2020. The vehicle was experiencing low power when driving, causing sluggishness and turning off when stopped at traffic signals. The car was taken to ourisman Chevrolet in marlow heights, md on April 4th and the recall was addressed. As of this writing, I am experiencing the exact same issue of low power when driving/stopping and am concerned that the issue (1) was not properly addressed, or (2) was misdiagnosed by Chevrolet. What is my recourse here? I have another appointment to have the vehicle looked at, again, at a charge of $190, which I don't feel I should be responsible for.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #35

Aug 032020

Malibu

  • 53,000 miles
I put my car into park and turn the car off. The dashboard tells me that I need to 'shift to park' even though my car is in park. The radio and dashboard will not turn off until I get my car to register that it is in park. Have to turn the car on and off, shift into gears, and back into park to try and get it to register. Eventually after doing that multiple times it will register. Another issue is with the radio and blue tooth. I turned my car off and everything was off. My nephew came over later and asked why my radio was on. Radio randomly turns on when car is/has been off for periods of time. I have automatic start and I started my car from inside work one day and then my blue tooth (music &phone calls) would not play over my speakers. No music would play from the radio either. The volume would turn up and down by itself. Took it to the dealership for the radio issues and they said they couldnt find anything wrong with it. I take it in soon for the 'shift to park' issue.

- Wilmington, IL, USA

problem #34

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 #33

Jul 012020

Malibu

  • 39,000 miles
I have a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu and I have trouble putting the car into park. The problem is the gear selector switch. When you put the car from drive into park a metal bar pushes up onto a blue button which sends a signal to the car's computer that the car is now in park. I spoke to a dealer and they told me that 2017,2018 and 2019 Malibu's are known for this problem and it would be $900 to correct the dealer knew what it was before I even finished telling them about the problem.I never know if the is in park

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #32

Jul 182020

Malibu

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that gear selector was placed in the park position and the vehicle was turned off however, the electrical system remained in operation. The contact called wally edgar Chevrolet (3805 S lapeer rd, orion charter township, mi 48360) and the dealer was informed of the failure. The contact stated that the power train was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

problem #31

Jul 072020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
When I put my car in park, a message appear on the dashboard 'shift to park'. it won't let my car turn off completely

- Raeford, NC, USA

problem #30

Apr 152020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Car shut off in the middle of driving. With no engine light on. Engine light randomly comes on every other week. Tps doesn't function properly. Idles high some days then drives normally. Sensors was changed engine light comes back on a week later with same code vacuum sensor, maf,

- Miami Gardens, FL, USA

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