2018 Chevrolet Malibu transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 20V668000Oct 29, 2020194,105 vehicles
  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.

  Risk: 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.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 8, 2026NVEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   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 causing 2 different car to almost hit me from behind. I put the car in park , turned on my hazard lights and got out of the vehicle . I called my husband immediately luckily I was not far from home, and had him push my car out of the street . It’s currently still there.

   NHTSA complaint #11770015 · source
2. Filed Sep 18, 2026181,385 miGATransmission & Drivetrain

   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 park(P) and wiggled the gear shifter several times, but the failure persisted and the vehicle could not be started. The vehicle was diagnosed by three independent mechanics, and it was determined that the failure was associated with the transmission and the Transmission Control…

   NHTSA complaint #11765388 · source
3. Filed Sep 2, 2026180,000 miGAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The gear shifter was shifted back into drive and then back into park to turn off the vehicle. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, started to lose automotive power, and then continued driving; however, the vehicle operated at reduced power and failed to exceed 30…

   NHTSA complaint #11761662 · source
4. Filed Jun 9, 2026INElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Reduced engine light came on ticking noise stopped 2 times on the highway repair lot ran a diagnostic unable to find the issue car is not working found many codes stillunable to fix the issue

   NHTSA complaint #11743065 · source
5. Filed Jun 8, 2026NJDriver Assistance & Safety TechTransmission & Drivetrain

   The shift to park is a problem it killed my battery because the car stays on and when I was driving the car turned off in the middle of turning causing someone to almost hit me this is the 3rd time that happened to me but the shift to park has been a problem since I got this car and Chevy does nothing about it

   NHTSA complaint #11742798 · source
6. Filed Jun 3, 2026NYElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2018 Malibu is stalling, it is covered under Recall N192221960, and the dealer is refusing to properly scan or fix the issue. They did the recall and the car is still doing the same thing but worse.

   NHTSA complaint #11741758 · source
7. Filed Apr 28, 202689,992 miNCTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the gear shifter was intermittently stuck in park(P). The contact turned the steering wheel, engaged and disengaged the parking brake several times, per the Owner's manual instructions, and the gear shifter was able to shift out of park(P). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure recurred. The mechanic was able to move the gear shifter out of park(P) after several attempts. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11734298 · source
8. Filed Apr 22, 2026116,000 miOHEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after 20 minutes of consecutive driving, the vehicle drove sluggishly and lost power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the check engine warning light was reset, but the diagnostic result was not provided. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11733040 · source
9. Filed Apr 10, 2026150,842 miILElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was an oil leak coming from the engine. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Power Reduced" and "Service Stabili-trak" were displayed. Occasionally, the automatic emergency braking activated unexpectedly, and while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle also decelerated and stalled occasionally. Additionally, the volume on the radio was stuck, the…

   NHTSA complaint #11730437 · source
10. Filed Mar 4, 2026CAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionSteeringTransmission & Drivetrain

    In 2020, I received multiple red recall notices in the mail regarding a safety issue. I scheduled an appointment with a Chevrolet dealership in Los Angeles and have a voicemail confirming the appointment. At the time, I did not follow through with ensuring the repair was fully completed, which I take responsibility for. However, the vehicle has continued to experience the same dangerous symptoms. My vehicle continues to display sudden “Engine Power Reduced” warnings while…

    NHTSA complaint #11721889 · source
11. Filed Mar 3, 2026123,334 miCAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a failure near the fuse box. Additionally, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle while the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. The ECM and PCM were diagnosed, and DTC: P0689 was retrieved. The vehicle was undrivable. An appointment was scheduled; however, the vehicle…

    NHTSA complaint #11721715 · source
12. Filed Feb 11, 2026ILTransmission & Drivetrain

    2018 Chevrolet Malibu Premier with approximately 50,000 miles displayed a persistent “Shift to Park” message. The vehicle would not consistently recognize that it was in park, preventing the vehicle from shutting off properly and creating a safety concern. Dealer diagnosed a faulty transmission shifter assembly that was not sending a strong signal to the body control module (BCM). The shifter assembly was replaced at a cost of $611.31. This appears to be a known recurring…

    NHTSA complaint #11717394 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology