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2018 Chevrolet Malibu L

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu L is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with an automatic 6-spd and front-wheel drive. It starts at $21,680 MSRP and is rated at 30 mpg combined.

EPA fuel-economy estimates are 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway (30 mpg combined).

The Malibu measures 193.8 inches long on a 111.4-inch wheelbase.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSedan
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$21,680
MSRP with Destination$22,555
Destination Charge$875
Engine
Engine Type1.5L I4 Turbo
Displacement1.5 L
ValvetrainDual-overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing
Bore and Stroke74.0 × 86.6
Injection TypeHigh-pressure direct injection with electronic throttle control
Drivetrain
Drive TypeFWD
Transmission
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd
Fuel Economy
City27 MPG
Highway36 MPG
Combined30 MPG
Recommended FuelRegular unleaded gasoline
Suspension
Front SuspensionMacPherson strut with dual-path mountings, specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar (hollow); hydraulic ride bushings
Rear SuspensionFour-link independent rear; hollow stabilizer bar
Brakes
Front Brake DiscFour-wheel disc with ABS and brake pre-fill; vented 11.8 in (300 mm) FNC-treated Duralife rotor
Rear Brake DiscFour-wheel disc with ABS; solid 11.3 in (287 mm) FNC-treated Duralife rotor
Tires & Wheels
Tires FrontP205/60R16 all-season
Tires RearP205/60R16 all-season
Dimensions & Weight
Length193.8 in
Width73 in
Height57.6 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Front Track62.6 in
Rear Track62.5 in
Cargo Volume15.7 ft³
Interior
Headroom Front40.1 in
Headroom Rear37.5 in
Legroom Front45.3 in
Legroom Rear38.1 in
Shoulder Room Front58.5 in
Shoulder Room Rear57.1 in
Hip Room Front54.1 in
Hip Room Rear53.4 in

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall ★★★★★
Frontal crash ★★★★★
Side crash ★★★★★
Rollover ★★★★★ (10.2 % risk)
Tested variant: 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD

Recalls

6 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet MALIBU. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Aug 20, 2021 · SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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 is N212333380.

NHTSA campaign 21V649000

Oct 29, 2020 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

NHTSA campaign 20V668000

Sep 6, 2019 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

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.

Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign 19V642000

Aug 30, 2018 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

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.

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

NHTSA campaign 18V576000

Jun 14, 2018 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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 air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign 18V400000

May 31, 2018 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

NHTSA campaign 18V358000

700 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet MALIBU

Owner Complaints

700 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet MALIBU (23 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 14 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Engine281
Electrical System192
Power Train171
Unknown Or Other151
Vehicle Speed Control114
Fuel/Propulsion System84
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Oct 8, 2026 · Power Train, Engine
“On 10/8/26 My vehicle failed in the middle of traffic as I was driving the car forcefully slowed down. When I proceeded to press the gas the car began driving in reverse putting me in immediate danger…”
Oct 4, 2026 · Steering, Vehicle Speed Control
“My chevy stopped while driving. The engine light came on and engine power reduced. The brakes locked up and I could not go anywhere. Code P1101, Vacuum Pump Failure and ECM came up. Financing this…”
Sep 26, 2026 · Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control, Service Brakes
“I was driving in town through a stoplight when I noticed my brakes stopped working. Also when I had stopped the car still in drive and the car had shut off completely in the middle of the road and was…”
Sep 21, 2026 · Steering, Vehicle Speed Control, Engine
“Examatory mark appears on the dashboard say that engine speed as reduced”
Sep 18, 2026 · Power Train
“The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle while in park(P), the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact shifted in and out of…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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