2018 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 53owner reports
- 53,801median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Apr 20, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
315 of the 698 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 53 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 53 reports
Infotainment 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
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (21 reports) and the camera (6 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
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Malibu
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Windshield wiper failure. Closed jan 13, 2005.
Windshield wiper. Closed mar 6, 2001, led to recall 01V-068.
Windshield wiper. Closed jul 12, 2000.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 38,000 and 82,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 16 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 provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park.
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 technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with inspection and repair instructions for vehicles with Service Engine Soon lamp when locking, unlocking, going into gear, and when vehicle is running.
12 more on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“Back up camera display screen on the dashboard repeatedly fails to display a visual view of the vehicle when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The dashboard display screen only shows a solid blue image 90% of the time. (Image attached)”
Filed Jul 29, 2023
“When putting gear shift into park the driver display on dashboard said not in park. The car would not fully shut off causing a safety problem. Could not lock vehicle. Was draining the battery. My extended warranty covered $382.59. I paid $177.32.”
Filed Mar 13, 2023
“The stability track system comes on the vehicle slows down and stops in traffic. Then it says shift to park and will not start. The computer often displays reduce engine power.”
Filed Sep 24, 2022
“When going to shut off the vehicle the display comes on "shift to park" and will not allow the engine to shut down. Must turn car back on, place into a gear, place into park and turn off power again. This has occurred multiple times over the past few days. It will also take 3 or 4 cycles to finally get the car to shut down completely.”
Filed Aug 3, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 53 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
- Battery dies or the car will not start 30 reports