Car · Chevrolet recalls

2018 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, filed between May 31, 2018 and August 20, 2021. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.

Check my VIN for open recalls

Campaign	Filed	Part
21V649000	August 20, 2021	Seat belts: critical fasteners
20V668000	October 29, 2020	Power train: automatic transmission
19V642000	September 6, 2019	Electrical system: software
18V576000	August 30, 2018	Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper
18V400000	June 14, 2018	Air bags: occupant classification
18V358000	May 31, 2018	Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump

Seat belts: critical fasteners (21V649000)

Filed August 20, 2021

What is wrong. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

What could happen. An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix. Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

Power train: automatic transmission (20V668000)

Filed October 29, 2020

What is wrong. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

What could happen. Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

Electrical system: software (19V642000)

Filed September 6, 2019

What is wrong. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.

What could happen. Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.

Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper (18V576000)

Filed August 30, 2018

What is wrong. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

What could happen. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

Air bags: occupant classification (18V400000)

Filed June 14, 2018

What is wrong. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

What could happen. In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump (18V358000)

Filed May 31, 2018

What is wrong. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

What could happen. A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

Check that your car is on the list

Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN.

How to confirm the repair is free

Call any authorized Chevrolet dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.

If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, Chevrolet may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or Chevrolet customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.

Other model years of the Malibu

More: all Chevrolet recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu recall questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.

Is a recall repair on a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu free?

Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.

How do I know if my 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was already fixed?

Enter the VIN on our recall page. If a campaign is still open, it shows as open. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.

Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-28. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.