2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems: 14 Known Issues

On the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 1.5L LFV I4 Turbo, gM recalled 2018 Chevrolet Malibus built with the 1.5L turbocharged engine between April 25, 2017 and September 20, 2018 because an error in the engine control module software can allow stored data to become corrupted. When it does, the ECM commands the fuel injectors off: the car will crank but not start, or — the dangerous case — the engine stalls after it has already started and is being driven. A stall in traffic with no warning is a crash risk, and unlike a mechanical fuel-delivery fault there is nothing an owner can inspect. This is engine-code specific: it applies to the LFV 1.5L turbo calibration only, not to the 2.0L LTG or the hybrid.

On the 2016-2023 Chevrolet Malibu, p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire) shows up frequently on the 2016-2018 Malibu 1.5L turbo (LFV) and is discussed heavily on the Malibu forums. The direct-injected 1.5T is prone to carbon buildup on the intake valves, which disrupts airflow and causes lean/rough combustion and misfires; a GM service bulletin describes misfire conditions from significant carbon buildup due to incomplete fuel burn. On top of that, a weak coil or worn spark plug at cylinder 3 is the classic ignition-side cause. Fuel injector #3 problems and PCV/vacuum leaks can contribute. Because the difference between a plug and a valve-carbon repair is large, proper diagnosis matters.

On the 2016-2024 Chevrolet Malibu 1.5L Turbo I4 (LFV), the 1.5L turbocharged engine in 2016+ Malibu has a PCV system integrated into the valve cover that commonly fails, causing excessive oil consumption, rough idle, and check engine lights. The PCV orifice in the camshaft cover can become plugged, raising crankcase pressure and pushing oil past the front or rear crankshaft seals. This is the same engine family as the Equinox 1.5T. GM addressed this in service bulletin 20-NA-047, which covers 2016-2020 Malibu with the LFV engine.

On the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, gM recalled 2018 Chevrolet Malibu sedans because the endcap on the start/stop transmission accumulator may have been assembled with bolts missing. The accumulator is part of the hydraulic circuit that keeps the automatic transmission pressurized while the engine is shut off by the auto stop/start system, so an unsecured endcap can let transmission oil escape. NHTSA warns that the resulting leak can grow to the point where the Malibu loses propulsion, which raises crash risk, and that transmission fluid escaping near an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. The campaign covers several GM cars and crossovers built over 2018-2020; for the Malibu only the 2018 model year is listed.

On the 2017-2022 Chevrolet Malibu 2.0L Turbo I4 (LTG), the 2017-2022 Malibu with the 2.0T (LTG) engine uses a GM 9-speed automatic that can exhibit shudder, harsh shifts, and delayed engagement. The 9-speed is sensitive to fluid condition and requires proper DEXRON HP fluid. GM has released multiple TCM calibration updates. The 1.5T Malibu does not use this transmission (6-speed automatic through 2018, CVT from 2019).

On the 2013-2024 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2013+ Malibu uses an electric power steering (EPS) system with a column-mounted motor that is prone to failure. The motor develops internal faults causing intermittent or complete loss of power steering assist, making the car extremely difficult to steer at low speeds. GM issued Preliminary Information PI1521B covering loss of power steering assist and the "Service Power Steering" message on 2013-2015 Malibu and 2016 Malibu Limited, noting a blown power steering fuse as one cause. The steering column module and torque sensor can also fail, triggering a "Service Power Steering" message on the DIC.

On the 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu, gM recalled 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu (and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4) vehicles because the rear seat belt retractors may have been assembled with loose or missing fasteners. A retractor that is not properly bolted to the body structure cannot lock and restrain the occupant as designed in a crash, so a rear-seat passenger — often a child in a booster — may not be held. The defect is invisible in normal use: the belt extends and retracts normally, so no owner symptom exists other than, on some cars, a rattle or a retractor that moves when pulled on. This affects the ninth-generation body across the whole engine range.

On the 2016-2020 Chevrolet Malibu, ninth-generation Malibus with the 8-inch MyLink screen suffer a well-reported blank-display failure: the screen goes completely black while audio continues playing, which means the head unit is alive and only the display path has dropped out. With the screen dead the owner loses the backup camera image, navigation, climate readouts on screens that route them there, and any ability to change source or station. Forum diagnosis converges on two hardware causes rather than a software bug — a failing or intermittently seated LVDS cable between the display and the Human Interface Unit behind the dash, and failure of the HMI module itself. It is not a fuse: pulling fuse 42 to force a hard reboot revives it temporarily on some cars, which is why owners chase it for months. The loss of the backup camera image makes this a functional safety concern, not just an infotainment annoyance.

On the 2016-2023 Chevrolet Malibu, a Shift to Park message can occur when the electronic park-status circuit does not report correctly even with the lever in Park. GM documents different procedures for 2016-2019 and 2020-2023 Malibu applications. The message or B000A does not by itself identify an internal switch or prove the cause of a discharged battery.

On the 2008-2019 Chevrolet Malibu, sunroof-equipped Malibus drain through a trough around the glass panel with four hoses — the front pair routed down the A-pillars and out into the wheelhouse area, the rear pair down the C-pillars. Two distinct failures are documented by owners who have traced them: the hoses clog with pollen, needles and roof grit, and — the one that surprises people — the hose simply falls off its nipple at the corner of the sunroof module and hovers loose behind the trim, dumping every bit of roof water directly into the headliner and down the pillar. The result is a soaked driver's or passenger's front and rear floor, a stained headliner, and a persistent musty smell. On this platform the floor is where GM put connectors and, on some builds, modules, so a long-running leak produces corrosion-driven intermittent electrical faults that get chased for months before anyone finds the water. Reported across the seventh, eighth and ninth generations.

On the 2008-2024 Chevrolet Malibu, the trunk latch mechanism on the Malibu fails due to a worn release cable, broken latch spring, or faulty trunk release actuator motor. Owners report the trunk will not open via the key fob, interior button, or the trunk release button on the lid. In some cases, the trunk will not latch closed and pops open while driving. Water intrusion into the latch mechanism accelerates corrosion and failure, especially in northern salt-belt states.

On the 2012-2023 Chevrolet Malibu, p0442 flags a small EVAP leak (roughly a 0.020-0.040 inch hole). On 2012-2016 Malibus with a conventional threaded gas cap, the most common cause is a cracked or flattened cap O-ring. On the 2016+ ninth-gen cars with the capless fuel filler, the culprit is usually the filler-neck seal or debris holding the spring-loaded flap slightly open. On all years, a leaking or weak EVAP purge valve — a well-known failure across GM platforms of this era — is the next most likely source. Cracked charcoal-canister hoses round out the list.

On the 2012-2023 Chevrolet Malibu, p0455 indicates a large EVAP leak (a hole ~0.040 inch or bigger). On the Malibu the leading cause — more than half of cases across GM cars of this era — is a loose, missing, or failed fuel cap (or, on 2016+ capless cars, a bad filler-neck seal). The second most common cause is a failed EVAP purge valve stuck open, a notoriously common GM failure shared across the Impala, Camaro, and others. Cracked or disconnected canister/vent hoses can also let enough vapor escape to trip the gross-leak monitor.

On the 2008-2020 Chevrolet Malibu, the A/C compressor clutch on the Malibu fails due to a burned-out clutch coil, worn clutch plate, or bearing failure in the compressor pulley. When the clutch fails, the A/C blows warm air because the compressor cannot engage. A squealing or grinding noise from the serpentine belt area is common before total failure. The compressor clutch can also seize, which will shred the serpentine belt and cause a loss of all belt-driven accessories (alternator, power steering, water pump).