2018 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

The brake booster unit, vacuum pump , brake light switch failed and malfunctioned and it is available. My safety and others on the road was at risk due to brakes being stiff and hard as a brick. Possibly nearly hit an other vehicles on the road. No warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the failure.

After diagnostic troubleshooting from DTCs on a check engine light, it was discovered that the brake vacuum pump connected to the engine was completely nonfunctional. Previous symptoms included stiff brake, loss of brake power at random brake periods which could have cause and accident with other drivers, and finally malfunctioning sensors attributed to the exhaust system. This also led the vehicle to be unable to pass state regulated Emissions testing because of the inability to maintain proper emissions levels. Brake Vacuum pump that was removed from vehicle to inspect and diagnose is still available for inspection. Recent findings show that Chevrolet/GM is aware of the issue in their vehicles but refuses to address or replace faulty brake vacuum pumps. It is a common problem amongst 2013-2022 Chevrolet Malibus. Vehicle that is in question was inspected by a certified mechanic shop with failed emissions test. Solid check engine light appeared once the brake had become harder to push and stop the car. OBD scans show DTC codes that were pertaining to MAF and MAP malfunctions in readouts and communications to the ECM. After further inspection, the ABS module had been acting as "backup" for hydrolic brakes system that had zero vacuum to power the brake booster, this could have caused the engine to stall, longer than normal stopping distances (stronger risk of rear ending other drivers), and multiple components and sensors to fail, requiring them to also be replaced.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine was difficult to turn over. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the fuel injectors were leaking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,074.

The vacuum pump for the brake assist is made from bad metal which can break and screw up the camshaft, chevy knows of this problem they have a recall for the 2017 model but not the 2018 which they both have the same exact problem, they need to take care of this it is a major safety issue, I have no brakes and it could potentially ruin my engine.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking, and the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,605.

The back up camera cuts out while backing up. The lines vanish and leave only the picture. The check engine light comes on with the throttle body being the culprit.

When putting the car in park it and powering the car off it will say shift to park but car is already in Park. Then it will real stalibark and my wheel will sometimes lock.

Car not recognizing it is in park. Displays "shift to park" on information screen.

The backup camera for this vehicle is starting to fail and the view is blurry. Additionally, it seems that this also is affecting the rear traffic alert as I almost crashed into someone at a parking lot when trying to back out of a space. I will soon have no rear camera or cross traffic alerts.

Every so often I get an indication of engine power reduced, but every time I go in to get it checked it's off. I have recently just learned through research online that the issue is caused by a certain condition that gives false reading to the electronics. I have contacted GM and GM financial about the recalls on my cars of the same year. I have not been in a wreck but I have had the issue of engine reduced power in the middle of traffic. Cox Chevrolet in Bradenton has turn me away about the issue GM financial is giving me the runaround neither one mention anything about a recall instead I get a estimate $400 /$808.50/1900.41 all to fix ECM as I told the mechanic I was driving with no problem through the day me and the kids at the park when it was time to leave the car sounded like it just didn't have no gas. We was stuck tell 10:45 we waited two hours for the tow truck. I have OnStar and get monthly reports on my car. When the check engine light comes on OnStar has no indication that's why I believe it is the same ECM. I was told by Chevrolet Maher service manager of St Pete to get my car off their lot as I said before I got a estimate of 400 that went up to 800 and all I did was ask why

SHIFT TO PARK

I get a engine power reduced warning and check engine light is on for 3 start cycles and goes away. Auto Start/Stop after stopping, lights flicker and power is slow to come back on upon auto start and I get a power steering reduced warning.,

Purchased a car for financing from Barret Motors and 2300 Lakeview PKWY, Rowlett, TX and as soon as I drove it off the lot on [XXX] the engine light popped on. I immediately called and was told to just take it to Chevy/GMC for servicing but was not told why, but just because the engine light was on I was told to go. I couldn’t take an appointment asap because I just started a new job which they also knew. The car has had a recall since 09-06-19 for an engine control module. Which is a serious issue and this car never had it completed and sold me a car with possible engine issue and did not inform there’s a recall on the vehicle for almost 5 years now. I took the car to get serviced at Chevy for the recall on 09/09/2025 and now I am facing multiple issues with the car from it not being done years ago. The recall was N192221960 and it’s major so to sell a car before getting the properly service and I have been financing the vehicle for a year now. Never not once late and I am now being told there’s nothing can be done. I have photos of the car having the engine light pop on the same day u financed this vehicle. Barret knew a serious engine problem was effecting this car for 5 years and still deciding to sell it to me for financing on [XXX]. I need immediate assistance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I keep hearing a clunking noise in the rear of my car and it gets louder at low speeds and when I turn when stopped. I have been doing research to try to see what it could be and I am seeing that this is a common issue with this car and there's no recall. The parts alone are $200+ and then you have to pay for labor. This is ridiculous for a faulty assembly problem due to GM.

The rear knuckles on these cars are constantly going bad and the parts are expensive and so is the labor. So we have to pay a fortune to fix a common issue that GM should be recalling and fixing for the people who buy these vehicles. It's crazy how common this issue is and it's still not recalled. If you hear a clunking/rattling noise coming from the back of your car then it's almost certainly a knuckle problem.

SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE

Hello, I own a 2018 Chevy Malibu. I previously had the recall repair completed for ECM Malfunction. Unfortunately, I am still experiencing the same problem that the recall was for. Since then, the issue has returned, and I am concerned that the original remedy did not resolve the safety concern. Can you please advise me on the next steps to have this issue re-inspected and corrected? Thank you for your time and assistance. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Multiple components and/or system failures/malfunctions, exact cause is unknown. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risks include engine power reduction issues that result in unexpected deceleration, and/or sudden/dangerous loss of power/acceleration. Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Vehicle component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, representatives, or any others other than diagnostic trouble code testing at O’Reilly auto parts due to illuminated check engine light. Vehicle displays error messages “engine power reduced,” while driving and/or idle, and “shift to park” when vehicle has already been shifted into park. No obvious symptoms of the problem prior to failure, unknown when first appeared. Vehicle-2018 Chevrolet Malibu LT L4-1.5L 1490cc 91ci GAS DI Turbocharged vin T LFV-4 valve DOHC (Mileage-145000). Primary Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code “P0014 - Exhaust Camshaft Position System Performance (Code P0014 indicates that the Bank 1 Exhaust Camshaft Position timing was advanced beyond limits for a predetermined period of time),” with additional Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Codes “P0011 - Intake Camshaft Position System Performance,” and “P1101 - Intake Air Flow System Performance.” Also receiving ABS Diagnostic Trouble Code “U0422-71 - Invalid Data Received From Body Control Module - Invalid Data.” Suggested solutions included “Replace Variable Camshaft Timing (

1. This case refers to a 2018 Chevy Malibu. In October 2021, the (gear shift) transmission control system was found faulty and was replaced with an N-CONTROL in the gear shift. Again, in September 2025, the same issue happened, this time replacing the N-CONTROL again as well as the N-HARNESS. Yes, can be available upon an inspection request. 2. This component directly affects how the car recognizes when it is in Park. When it malfunctions, it can confuse the vehicle’s electronic systems and potentially prevent the car from shutting down properly, engaging the shift lock, or starting safely. This creates a safety risk for both me the driver and others around my vehicle. Since this is a recurring issue as well as other 18 Chevy Malibu's I don’t believe this is normal wear and tear. Having to replace the same system twice in such a short period suggests a recurring failure or a design flaw. 3. Yes, the problem has been confirmed twice by Chevrolet dealerships on both occurrences. 4. Yes, the component was inspected by two Chevrolet dealerships during both occurrences. 5. Had warning message "shift into park" both times in the month the car was taken in to be inspected.

Steering asst warning came on. This happened in 2022 when I got the vehicle and it’s now happening again. When stopped with foot on brake and auto stop engaged , you take foot off brake steering wheel jerks and steering asst warning comes on. There is also a problem with shift to park. Vehicle shifted into park vehicle doesn’t recognize that it in park and vehicle can’t be shut off until it recognizes that it’s actually in park. Chevy knows this is an issue and will cover it under bumper to bumper warranty but will not fix it under a recall or outside of bumper to bumper warranty. Vehicle has a p1101 code that comes and goes. Engine filter has been replaced, throttle body has been cleaned, MAF sensor has been replaced, and the issue continues to persist. There is no know way to fix this. Rear seat belt doesn’t work. Vehicle came like that. Vehicle has had multiple issues. Contacted Chevy they want me to pay for a diagnostic out of pocket and submit to them and possibly they will then help. These are all known issues that they are not addressing.

The car is saying “shift to park” on the dash panel as if the car is not in park. Sometimes this continues to read to the point it will not let you shut the car off and then you can’t get out of the car. This is a safety concern as well as an issue with the car wanting to continuously run.

Engine Reduced Power Light on dash. Vehicle stalling

The mechanic discovered that the Battery Control Module harness had been damaged by water intrusion inside the vehicle. This damage prevented the vehicle from powering on, rendering it completely non-responsive.

!Engine Power is Reduced

The dashboard displays “shift to park” when i try to turn off my car even though it’s in park

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure of the battery and fuel pump. The contact was informed that the ground wire and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact about a recall on the malfunctioning ECM. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,206.

I was informed the vacuum pump went bad and rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle would lose acceleration, shut off during auto stop and caused me to block traffic. The brakes also locked up, which almost caused me to crash in a residential neighborhood. I tried to see if there was a recall on this but I was told the recalls were handled in January of 2020 but I started driving the vehicle between July and August of 2020. This incident I'm reporting just happend 3 weeks ago. I realized there are many other issues regarding this matter and need this addressed because this almost caused bodily harm. The dealership wants me to pay for repairs on a vehicle that seem to have defective parts that jeopardise customer safety and is not being rectified.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the engine and entered the vehicle through the A/C vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicle and upon inspecting the exterior of the vehicle, the contact noticed gasoline leaking on the ground. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. An independent mechanic stopped by the residence and inspected the vehicle. The contact was advised that the fuel injectors and another unknown part had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concern. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle shuddered and jerked abnormally. On one occasion the vehicle stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission accumulator sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Vacuum pump stopped working and shattered into my engine. Breaks suddenly stopped working while driving.

When you put it in park it tells you to shift to park, even if it is already in park

[XXX] , hard brake vacuum pump something’s wrong car won’t push down break INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm while depressed, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 104,000.

Continuously receiving warning for "ENGINE POWER REDUCED," causing check engine light to stay on, as well as a loss of power.

I have searched the prior recalls and I’m having the same problem that were said to be fixed. I would like the car check again for the recalls that said to be fixed and checked for all reacalls . The car turns of unexpected without warning . At random times the low power mode is always on and when I push down in the pedal it doesn’t respond well at all . I have invested countless money into fixing issues with this car .

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and the turbo charger warning lights illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with turbo charger failure. The contact was informed that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was instructed to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing and provided the cost for the diagnostic test. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,741.

Ever since 2020 I’ve that shift to park issue. Luckily my car was under warranty the first time and was resolved only for the problem to reoccur again within 2 years. I then I got It fixed again in 2023 only for it to occur again less than a year later. I’ve had to buy a new battery because of this issue. What happens is I turn My car from the drive shift to park shift and push the shut off engine button. A message pops up on my screen stating “shift to park” the is in PARK. After 2-4 minutes of me waiting for he message to go off my battery is being drained. I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars again to get this fixed a third time only for it to return again. Please fix this issue. Myself and others with issue are seeking lawsuits for this defect

I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern with my 2018 Chevy Malibu related to the brake booster vacuum pump. My vehicle has exhibited dangerous symptoms, including a hard brake pedal and reduced braking power, which I’ve now learned may be connected to a known defect affecting 2013–2022 Malibu models. These issues have significantly compromised my safety and that of others on the road. I’ve had to deal with sudden braking difficulties, and the repairs have caused financial stress I was not prepared for. I am now aware of the pending class action lawsuit (Johnson v. General Motors LLC) that details this same problem.

Micro switch for Park is faulty. “Shit to Park” error message. Vehicle is completely disabled and is not drivable.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the messages "Engine Power Reduced", "Shift to Park", and an unknown message were displayed intermittently. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was pushed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Loud knocking or banging noises, the check engine light turning on and/or other driving performance issues, such as reduced propulsion cranksaft

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights were flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that there was no oil in the vehicle. The contact refuted the mechanics findings and had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The contact then stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle lost power with the message "Engine Power Reduced" displayed. The contact pulled over to the shoulder and turned off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the failure reoccurred. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there was a warranty on the vehicle that covered the failure; however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

My vehicle will randomly tell me to "shift to park". Happens at least daily. I bought my car in October 2024 I do plan to take it in with my limited warranty. I don't think I should have to cover a rental for however long it will take them to see it happen, diagnose the problem, possibly wait for part(s) to come in them fix it. On top of running the chance it'll happen again in the future and possibly have no warranty as well as rental fees. I think it's very wrong that GM won't recall this and refuses to just fix it all.

My breaks locked up on me pulling out of my driveway. The break pedal was hard to press down and I had to step on the braks really hard to stop .

On [XXX] while driving at highway speed on [XXX] in Columbia SC vehicle lost power and shut down. Was able to move to emergency lane. Car would not start. Called AAA for tow back to Chevrolet dealer in York SC. Dealer performed diagnostic test and found fuel pump driver control module had failed. Part was replaced and car returned to service. Car mileage at time of failure 70,949 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am filing a complaint regarding a brake vacuum pump failure in my 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The failure of the vacuum pump led to a complete loss of brake assist, making the brake pedal significantly harder to press. This issue directly resulted in a complete loss of braking ability, which posed a serious safety risk while driving. The vacuum pump in these models is camshaft driven, and its failure caused damage to the camshaft. This issue is documented under GM Technical Service Bulletin PIP5835 and is known to affect certain 2016-2022 Chevrolet Malibu models equipped with the 1.5L LFV engine. The brake failure due to this issue could have led to a life-threatening accident, and I am deeply concerned that other drivers may experience this same risk. Despite reaching out to GM and the dealership, goodwill assistance was denied for this known defect. I believe this is a major safety hazard that needs to be addressed immediately. Vehicle Mileage ~120,000 Repair Estimate: $2106 for camshaft, vacuum pump, and related components Incident: The brakes became unsafe leading to a dangerous life threatening driving situation

Car seat was inspected from the beginning of the purchase. The car seat through the seatbelt method was not sturdy enough and incorrectly leveled without the base even though the car seat claims to be for both uses (with or without the base). It claims to be for infants/ toddler (max 35lbs / max 32”) but my child outgrew after 1 year and was less than 30lbs / less than 30” I recently received a recall a few weeks ago. After years of purchasing. Plus the recall is before the expiration date of the car seat I own.

There was a recall recently for the car seat. I received a notification from Amazon.

I was going about 75 mph on the express way with one lane open due to construction. My car started losing power.I heard the chime and upon the dashboard were the words power reduced. My car slowed down in a matter of seconds to around 45 mph. A 18 wheeler was trailing behind me. I quickly jumped in the emergency lane to my right and took the next exit while riding the emergency lane. I shut the car off at the gas station, sat there for about 10 minutes, restarting my car helped temporarily. I was 3 hours away from home and had to drive back unknowingly if I will make it or not. I reached out to Chevrolet and was told to bring it in and leave it but they had no loaner cars for anyone at that time. I have replaced 2 sensors and now my start /stop has quit working. I spoke with 5 visitors at Chevrolet and we all were having the same issues. This is something ongoing according to my research on this particular vehicle and should be recalled asap.

It has been a known issue that chevrolet has issue with their shifter assembly creating "shift to park" messages and not allowing the car to turn off. My car has gone through this issue twice now and why should people who own chevys be penalized for their defective parts?