general problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

151 problems related to equipment have been reported for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2018 Malibu.

1 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/04/2025

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. ,.

2 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/23/2025

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 (vct) solenoid,” and “replace variable valve timing (vvt) solenoid. ” believed to be related to NHTSA id numbers 11643630, 11586483, 11581989, 11569471, 11568501, 11565871, 11564692, 11635526, 11457416, 11420146, 11416774, 11325303, 11561528, 11559451, 11555493, and approximately 30 other related NHTSA id numbers for same error message(s), and/or problem code(s), NHTSA campaign number 19v642, NHTSA campaign number 19v642000, gm special coverage number n182188250, and gm recall number n192221960.

3 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/28/2025

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.

4 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/08/2025

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.

5 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2025

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

6 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/13/2025

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

7 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/03/2025

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.

8 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/05/2025

Shift to park.

9 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2025

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.

10 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/30/2025

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.

11 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/17/2025

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

12 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/10/2025

Shift to park issue.

13 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/28/2025

Shift knob found grounding inside shifter. . Had to pay out of pocket. $1087 to have shifter replaced!.

14 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/25/2025

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.

15 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/25/2025

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.

16 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/03/2025

While driving 65 mph on the highway my car displayed a message saying reduced engine power. The car dropped down to 40 mph and continued to drop down. I was able to navigate to the shoulder of the road and turn the car off. It started back up but the check engine light was on and remained on for the remainder of the drive.

17 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2025

I'm getting shift to park error messages on my dashboard when I have already shifted my car to park. The gear shift is locked until the message clears or you wiggle the gear shift. According to gm authority. Com, this is a known issue for 2020-2023 chevy Malibu cars that can cause the car not to start. My car is a 2018 Malibu so this issue has been occurring for at least 7 years now and has not been part of any recall, which it should be since it may leave people in a dangerous situation without being able to car their car.

18 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 02/03/2025

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?.

19 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 12/18/2024

I repeatedly get a “reduced power to engine” alert on my dash which causes my car to decelerate and I lose my power steering. This last time, the alert popped up on my dash, my car decelerated, and then my brakes would not work. I could not push the brake down to stop my car and ended up in a ditch. My brakes are now hard and I cannot start my car because of it. I have already had the recall for this issue fixed in the past but this will be the 3rd time I have brought my vehicle in for the same problem. I had diagnostic codes ran on my car soon after the accident happened and have attached the pictures to this form.

20 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 12/09/2024

When I turn off my vehicle the shift to park indicator pops up.

21 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 11/13/2024

The gear shift keeps saying shift to park when it is in park and there is no recall on this issue on my car but other Malibu vehicles and mine is doing the same thing as others.

22 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 09/04/2024

Purchased this vehicle and within first days display said "shift to park" even though I put the car in park. Next problem, put the car in reverse, display said "service rear vision camera. " these are significant safety problems for driver and others.

23 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/26/2024

Service battery charging system note came on, just replaced the alternater and got a new battery put on. Everything else is good and this keeps coming on.

24 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 08/21/2024

Unknown - when try to park, the shift to park fails. The car will notify me to shift to park when it is already in park. All electrical is still on when I walk away.

25 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 07/08/2024

To whom it may concern, chevy has had major recalls on their “shift to park” error. This is a very common recall according to much research and they are refusing to fix mine. They are claiming my vehicle is not one of the recalled. However, I’ve found many others across social media and internet forums that are experiencing the same error. When parked my car will say “shift to park” even when it is in park. I am afraid that this will cause major issues with my vehicle.

26 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 06/15/2024

Car does not recognize when the shift is on park. States to put car in park despite it being in park. Could take up to 10 minutes for the system to finally recognize the gear.

27 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 05/01/2024

Reduced power to engine . Previously had recall for this issue, which was replaced by chevy service center. About a year later I had the same problem but had to pay out of pocket because there were no active recalls on the issue. As of today, I am receiving the same “reduced power to engine” error and check engine light keeps coming on. This happens randomly but frequently almost every single day. Error will shut off after restarting car and then happens again not long after. I’ve had this issue with multiple chevy Malibus that I have owed and there is currently a class action lawsuit against gm for this exact issue.

28 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 04/02/2024

Shift to park coming on every time that I am trying to park. . . And I have to start and stop about 4 or more times before it will go off . . .

29 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/26/2024

While driving my check engine light comes on and then I have a warning come on my screen on the dashboard that my car is shutting down power. So while I’m driving, at any point in time my car shuts down the power and I have to quickly pull over wherever I am so that I do t get into an accident then shut my car off and wait a little bit and then turn it back on and keep driving. I looked into my car and my car was part of a recall in 2019. Supposedly the recall was completed but my car is doing the exact same thing again with the ecm that was supposed to be fixed.

30 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 03/12/2024

Sunroof…I was driving down the road on March 12,2024 at 2pm and was doing 35 mph and had my sunroof open and all of sudden the glass cracked and broke a little at me a little going into my eyes while driving I was the only one on road and nothing was around nothing flew and hit it it just broke and was like what the hell. . I’ve had sunroofs in all my cars and never shattered at me. . So I’m filling this app out to see for answers because that just don’t do that out of nowhere. .

31 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 01/26/2024

I put the car in park and got a message shift to park. I then wasn’t able to shut my car off. The car is only 6 years old! this should not be happening!!!.

32 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 01/22/2024

On Jan 22,2024 while driving on the interstate the speed was unexpectedly instantly reduced, the car would not accelerate over 60 mph and the service engine light came on, the car was safely driven off the highway then towed to the dealership. My safety as well as the safety of other drivers on the highway was at risk when the car suddenly decreased to 60 mph from 75 mph which could have caused a collision. The inspection at the dealership confirmed that the issue was the intercooler for turbo found moisture/oil frozen in charge air cooler causing restriction in induction system, and the part design has been updated to help prevent the issue from happening again. My issue is that if the part has been updated that means that gm is aware of the issue and should be responsible for the cost of the part or there should have been a recall on the part. The consumer should not have to be responsible for the cost of the part or the repair to the vehicle. It is unknown if the part was inspected by an insurance representative but it was inspected by the dealership where the car was purchased. There were no prior warnings, lights or lamps occurring before the date of the incident. I feel like gm should cover the cost of the repair, the total cost should no fall on the consumer and the vehicle manufacturer should take responsibility for the defective part.

33 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 01/04/2024

While driving on highway, check engine light came on as well as message saying "engine power reduced". Car immediately decelerated on the highway and brakes pedal became rock hard and unable to press.

34 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 11/01/2023

The car's reduced engine power light comes on and the engine drops power. It just happens at any time while driving. I've had oil changes done, engine cleanings done but nothing changes.

35 Equipment problem

Failure Date: 10/30/2023

Service stabilitrak warning will pop up on my dash. The car loses power. Push on the gas and it sputters. Had it serviced by GMC 2 years ago and now it is happening again. More frequent in colder weather. There are thousands of reddit posts about this same issue from other 2018 chevy Malibu owners. GMC refuses to acknowledge it is a quality or performance issue on their end.


Other Equipment related problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu


Malibu Service Bulletins
Malibu Safety Recalls
Malibu Defect Investigations