2018 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 122owner reports
- 50,000median miles
- $382median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
503 of the 698 complaints on this car are about the engine. 122 of those describe stalling. Only shift to park warning is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 122 reports
Stalling 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.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (16 reports) and the throttle body (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the engine cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
All 6 recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Malibu
Erratic fuel gauge. Closed dec 30, 2003.
Engine stall due to fuel starvation. Closed nov 3, 2003.
Engine coolant boils over. Closed sep 24, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 122 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $177 to $2,290.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 27,462 and 60,000 miles, from the 56 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 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 service bulletin advises the tech that the rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle.
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 service bulletin provides a procedure to inspect and possibly repair terminals that may be damaged to correct customer concerns of Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or Multiple Warning Lights/Messages ...
This Preliminary information communicates that a rotational clicking noise heard after engine shut down is a design characteristic and no repairs should be attempted.
3 more on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“Cam-driven Brake Booster Vacuum failure without warning. My engine died, my brake pedal and steering wheel stiffened, while in moderate traffic. I had use excessive brake force to slow my vehicle to a stop. Currently have 78,012 miles as it is sitting in the repairs shop. This is the first time it has happened, but I worry it may happen again because upon further research, it is a very common part failure.”
Filed Mar 9, 2023 · 78,012 miles
“Getting an error "shift to park" message when parking and trying to shut the vehicle off. Have to now apply the parking brake, shift into gear, and shift back to park to get the vehicle to register in that it is in park to shut off. This error does not allow vehicles to be shut off or even doors locked which could pose a risk of a small child getting into the vehicle in these hot temperatures.”
Filed Jun 29, 2022
“Warning: Reduced speed, car stalled in the middle of traffic. Took to dealer ship and they charged me $279 and said it was the battery, from the looks of everyone elseâs complaint, which we have the same complaint, I got ripped off. I deserve a refund and we all deserve our cars serviced.”
Filed May 11, 2022
“engine shuts off with out warning. shuts completely off sitting a stop light and has to be put in park and restarted. shuts of in drive through and scared it will begin doing while traveling down the highway. no warning lights or nothing on. was told at dealer if not doing all the time or there was no light on indicating a failure that there was nothing could be done. very dangerous problem”
Filed Feb 22, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 122 reports involved a crash and 3 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
- Check engine light or misfire 92 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 69 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 53 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 30 reports