TAKING MY FIANC TO THE AIRPORT SO THAT HE CAN REPORT FOR DUTY AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY COMES TO A SPEED OF 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSE A VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO COME TO A CLOSE CONTACT WITH MY CAR. REPLACED SENSOR AND PEDAL AS INSTRUCTED BECAUSE I AM FRESH OUT OF MY WARRANTY AND A MONTH LATER. THE ISSUE RETURNED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY 200 TO 500 EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MO THE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. CHEV…
2018 Chevrolet Malibu powertrain problems
moderate 156 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
156
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
MY CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYED A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" TRACTION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND IT BROUGHT MY SPEED LIMIT TO AROUND 20 WHILE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT THE POWER BACK BUT HAS DONE IT 3 MORE TIME IN 2 DAYS. VERY SCARY WITH 2 BABIES IN THE CAR.
ANY TIME I'VE USED MY CRUISE CONTROL AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE INITIAL RECALL FOR THE ECM OVER A YEAR AGO, I KEEP GETTING THE 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' NOTIFICATION. THIS ISSUE DIDN'T BEGIN UNTIL AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED. I'VE TRIED TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY CAN'T FIX ANYTHING WHEN THE LIGHT ISN'T ACTIVE. I'VE JUST STOPPED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE BUT I'VE BEEN ON T…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 156 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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