2018 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 30owner reports
- 46,407median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 2, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
192 of the 698 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 30 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Dead battery on other Malibu years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (27 reports) and the module (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 28,000 and 53,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of a crank no start or extended crank condition due to exhaust cam reluctor being out of position.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a no start or another concern after swapping an Engine Control Module or other modules from one vehicle to another.
This service bulletin provides diagnostic/repair information to correct customer concerns of a Crank No Start or Extended Crank, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
5 more on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Aug 2, 2025
“Car keeps giving a âShift To Parkâ message when vehicle is already in park. Leaving the vehicle running and draining the battery, let me stranded a few times because it was dead. Tried almost everything to get it to go away but it keeps giving the same message everytime I go to park it and vehicle wonât shut off. Very inconvenient and unsafe, Doesnât seem to be a recall or fix for this issue.”
Filed Nov 20, 2024
“When I turn my vehicle off, it displays âshift to parkâ I am trapped in my car because it does not turn off all the way and the door will not lock. I have to wiggle and re-crank several times to attempt to get my vehicle to shut off. My battery has gone dead several times because I simply couldnât turn the car off with the shift to park displaying.”
Filed Aug 12, 2024
“My car keeps saying please put in park, even after the car is parked. If I donât turn on and off the car multiple times shifting from park to reverse to get it to not say put in park, my lights in my car stay on and the battery will eventually die. Seems electrical, and afraid of it says please put in park, is it really in park if it says that?”
Filed May 6, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 30 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 123 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 122 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 92 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 69 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 53 reports