2018 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 34owner reports
- 79,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Aug 3, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
34 of the 69 reports of brake wear on the 2018 Malibu describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (69 reports)
Tick what matches of 34 reports
Brake booster failure 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.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (26 reports) and the brake booster (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Malibu
Brake backing plate. Closed nov 28, 1988.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 34 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $330 to $3,536.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 75,000 and 107,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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 service bulletin informs dealers that a new Power Brake Booster Vacuum Cap will need to be replaced when installing the revised Power Brake Booster Vacuum Pipe to correct DTCs being set due to misrouting of brake booster vacuum pipe.
What owners wrote
“Vacuum pump stopped working and shattered into my engine. Breaks suddenly stopped working while driving.”
Filed Jul 14, 2025
“[XXX] , hard brake vacuum pump somethingâs wrong car wonât push down break INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed Jul 2, 2025
“Defective vacuum pump damaged camshaft, reduced engine power, and caused loss of brakes while driving.”
Filed Sep 13, 2024
“Brake pedal became hard to press down and could not stop car without having to jam down on the pedal. Per dealership the vacuum pump malfunctioned causing metal to enter engine”
Filed Sep 12, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 34 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 53 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 30 reports