2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints

I do not know what component or system that failed or malfunctioned because I am not well versed on the different parts of an automobile. The problems started this past week around October 26, 2021. When the car is stopped at a red light or stop sign and I am ready to go and in the process of taking my foot off the brake pedal to move to the accelerator the car momentarily cuts off completely (no lights, inside or out, no radio). In the instant that it cuts off and I move my foot to the accelerator everything comes back on and at that point I can continue driving. I have noticed when this happens all programmed radio stations are deleted but the programmed stations return once the car has been turned off for a while and started again. I also noticed a message regarding steering assist, but I cannot get the entire message because it is only there for a second or so. In other instances which began around October 28, when trying to start the vehicle the message reads battery low start vehicle. I then try to start the vehicle a number of times before it actually starts. When it does start the message reads battery saver active. There have also been a message service stabilitrak. The engine light does come on from time to time and then goes off. I brought the vehicle in to a Chevy Dealership (Banner Chevrolet in New Orleans) and was told that a service technician would not be able to look at it and diagnose the problem for at least 3 weeks because of the backlog regarding COVID-19. I decided not to leave the vehicle at that time and will check with other dealerships.

Reduced power steering warning pops up for approximately 3-5 seconds then disappears. No noticeable operating issues while driving.

Car suddenly stops and takes several minutes to turn back on. During the time the car is off there is no electrical power. After a few minutes (5-10) electrical power returns and car is able to be started. This has happened everywhere from our driveway to a highway ramp and happens without warning.

“Engine power reduced” shows on dash after I’ve taken it to the dealership. I’ve been on the highway where the speed slow down drastically cars coming behind me! Very dangerous! Also “shift to park” displays when it is already in park! Have to either wiggle the gear shift or, turn car off/on several times for the message to go away. Also when backing up, there’s a popping noise in the rear. Dealership acknowledged I want the only customer with this issue. Claimed they didn’t find anything wrong. I purchased this vehicle in 2019 and it was only a year old. Issues started almost simultaneously at the end of 2019…Too new for all of these issues.

While driving, on October 16, 2021 my car shut off and stopped working unexpectedly, while I was still in traffic. It would not start up again, and the steering wheels locked. Luckily, some pedestrians helped push the car to a safer spot. However, the car would not start even after attempting to jump it. I had the car towed to a repair shop on October 18, 2021. The repair shop claimed to not know why it suddenly stopped while driving, however, they were able to get it started again.

I was at a red light and out of no where the Air bags on the driver side deployed, there was a passenger thanks god they did not go out.

The engine shut down while driving and about caused me to wreck. Luckliy traffic was light. Jack Schmitt Chevrolet said it was a factory defect in the turbo function of the car and Chevrolet would not pay for the repaires. $2290 I was charged. They also said it was not the software issue of the outstanding recall for this same car that was causing this same exact problem.

Recently my car had been shutting off at stops. I know chevys shut down when at stops but now it shuts down my radio lights go off locks on doors unlock then lock. then when it turns back on it says driving assist is reduced drive with caution. Then another alert pops up saying doors are unlocked. Now when I’m driving sometimes it slows down on its own and won’t let me go faster. It’s very scary when on freeway cause I’m worried it’s not going to speed back up and I’m going to get rear ended. Another alert With the first letter S comes on but it turns off so fast I can’t see what the word is. It been stalling when I’m at a stop. It does turn back on after a few seconds. The engine light comes on periodically and eventually turns off. Also when I go from drive to reverse it does not change gear smoothly sometimes it will jerk the entire car and make a loud noise as I’m putting into reverse. There has been two times my radio screen has gone completely black and won’t turn on for several hours. I use my car everyday to commute to and from work. I have two jobs so I do spend a lot of time driving and this is scary not knowing if my car is truly safe to be on the road. I trust the Chevy name that’s why I chose it but now I’m not so sure it is safe.

The contact's grandson owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his grandson was driving 65 MPH, the reduced engine power warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to stall. His grandson was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle off the highway. The contact then met his grandson in a parking lot where the vehicle would not restart, and the check engine and reduced engine power warning lights were illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer and he was informed that the failure was related to a defective camshaft. The contact did not believe the stated cause for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 61,030.

My shift to park came on my 2018 Malibu and was repaired by sands Chevrolet of surprise less then a year later it came on again. I called about them fixing it and was told that because my warranty expired I would be responsible for the cost of the repair. Because GM Doesn’t cover it , I told them it was less then a year that it was repaired and they should repair it because if it was fixed right it shouldn’t happen again less then a year after it was fixed,