2018 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Report

Reduced engine power is the main failure. The check engine light comes on and the car drops to 20 to 30 mph, in some cases from 75 mph on a busy freeway. A restart often clears the warning, so the light can be gone by the time a dealer looks. Replacing modules has not always fixed it. Other owners report hesitation when pulling out from a stop, and stalls at stoplights that can leave the car with no electrical power for 5 to 10 minutes. One driver hit a wall while rushing to the shoulder. One fire-related report describes smoke from the rear.

Power cuts out without warning, usually with the check engine and traction control lights and an "Engine Power Reduced" message. The car will not go past 15 to 30 mph on city streets or highways, and in some cases it stalls. A restart may bring back normal speed. Repairs cited include the accelerator position sensor, throttle body, mass air flow sensor, knock sensor, and ECM. Several owners say the ECM recall work did not fix the problem. Of 68 complaints, 3 involve crashes, including a rear-end collision after a stall and a crash with an injury.

After several miles of straight highway driving, the steering sticks in the straight-ahead position, often worse in cold weather. Turning then takes extra force, and when the wheel breaks free the car jumps toward the next lane. It shows up early, by 18,500 miles in one report, and dealers usually cannot duplicate it. A second pattern is "Steering Assist Reduced" or power steering fault warnings, often when auto stop restarts the engine or the car stalls. Some owners also describe the car jerking left at highway speed. One injury report involves a sudden stop.

The brake pedal suddenly goes hard and the car barely stops. Most reports trace this to a failed camshaft-driven vacuum pump. When it fails, brake assist is lost, and metal can get into the engine and damage the camshaft. Reduced engine power and code P1101 often come with it, and one owner replaced the pump 4 times. Some owners cite recall 18V576000, while others say their car was not covered. A warning light rarely comes on first. Of 37 complaints, 5 involve crashes with 3 injuries, mostly after the car failed to stop.

Stalling and power loss lead this small group of complaints. Cars shut down at highway speed or stall at stops, in some cases daily. Diagnosed causes include a failed fuel pump driver control module at 70,949 miles, failed fuel injectors, and an accelerator pedal sensor fault. Some power losses began after the ECM recall reprogramming, and one dealer said the recall fix was not yet available. A vapor canister vent solenoid was on backorder for over two months. Other reports describe auto stop cutting all power and a sharp drop in fuel economy.

Stalling at speed is the main complaint, and many reports tie it to recall 19V642000 for the ECM. Cars lose power, sometimes along with power steering and braking, and may not restart. Some owners were told their car was not part of the recall, and one dealer had no parts. Leaking fuel injectors cause a strong fuel smell and hard starts, with reports at 53,349 and 123,074 miles. One crash involved a car that kept rolling forward with low power mode on.

Most reports describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash. These include front and side impacts at 25 to 45 mph, and one owner says the air bag warning light was on before the crash. Injuries include a broken collar bone and broken ribs. The 10 complaints include 7 crashes and 10 injuries. Single reports describe a driver air bag deploying at a red light and a cracked steering wheel air bag cover that was not covered by warranty or recall.