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Buying a used 2018 Chevrolet Malibu? Check these 6 recalls first
Six recalls, the heaviest list of these Malibu years: critical fuel pump leak fire risk and transmission fluid leak, high-rated items for a wrongly configured passenger airbag sensor and a software glitch that can stall the 1.5L turbo engine, plus weak rear brakes and loose rear seat belt fasteners. NHTSA holds 695 unverified complaints (23 crashes, 4 fires, 17 injuries), dominated by engine at 279, electrical at 191 and power train at 169.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Check the VIN for the fuel pump, transmission leak and airbag sensor recalls
- If it is the 1.5L turbo, confirm the stall-related software update and ask about stalling
- Ask about transmission behavior and electrical faults, and test rear brakes
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Chevrolet dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac fuel pump leak fire risk | Fuel System, Gasoline | critical |
| Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac: Transmission Fluid Leak Risk | Power Train | critical |
| Chevrolet Malibu passenger airbag sensor set up wrong | AIR Bags | high |
| Chevy Malibu software glitch can stall 1.5L turbo engine | Electrical System | high |
| GM cars, SUVs may have weak rear brakes | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | medium |
| Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XT4 rear seat belt fasteners loose | Seat Belts | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
695 complaints filed for this model year, including 23 mentioning a crash, 4 a fire and 17 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 279 | None found |
| Electrical System | 191 | Yes |
| Power Train | 169 | Yes |
| Speed Control | 111 | None found |
| Fuel System | 84 | Yes |
| Brakes | 70 | Yes |