2018 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 687 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.
What owners report
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING 74 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE DISPLAY…”NHTSA complaint 11289975 — filed 12/18/2019
“ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR CORRELATION (P2138). ENGINE POWER REDUCED”NHTSA complaint 11287727 — filed 12/08/2019
“WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND GO TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT THROWS A "SHIFT TO PARK" CODE ON THE DASH WHEN…”NHTSA complaint 11281467 — filed 11/20/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu: 158 of 687 complaints on file (23%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?
687 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
