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Inspections & Reports / Chevy Malibu / 2018
Model-Year Guide2018 · Chevy Malibu

Pre Purchase Inspection for 2018 Chevy Malibu

Shift-to-park faults, stop/start battery drain, and turbo carbon. We check the known trouble spots before you pay.

Get this Malibu inspectedRequest online ↓

Buying a 2018 Chevy Malibu? Smart move to check it first. The engine it has changes what matters most.

Transmission: 6-speed automatic (9-speed on 2.0T). Check the shifter and the stop/start battery.

Engines for 2018
  • 1.5L turbo
  • 2.0L turbo
  • 1.8L hybrid
Known problem areas — what we check
Costly Safety Common Verify
"Shift to Park" faultCommon

On 2016 and newer cars a shifter switch can fail. The car says "Shift to Park" when it's already in park, and it can keep the car from locking or shutting down.

WE CHECK We cycle the shifter and watch the dash message and the door locks.

Stop/start and battery drainCommon

The auto stop/start system is hard on batteries, and a weak battery causes strange electrical faults.

WE CHECK We test the battery and charging system and watch for warning messages.

Turbo carbon and boost faultsVerify

The 1.5 and 2.0 turbo engines are direct-injection and can build carbon or set boost codes.

WE CHECK We scan for boost and misfire codes and drive it under load.

Transmission shudderCostly

The 6-speed automatic can shudder from tired torque converter fluid.

WE CHECK We road test at light throttle and check the fluid and records.

AC condenser leakCommon

The condenser can leak and the AC stops cooling.

WE CHECK We run the AC and check vent temperature.

eAssist hybrid batteryVerify

The 2013–2014 eAssist has a small hybrid battery that ages.

WE CHECK We check for hybrid system faults and how the stop/start behaves.

Before you look at a 2018 Malibu
  • Know which car you're looking at — 2016 was a full redesign
  • Cycle the shifter and watch for a "Shift to Park" message
  • Test the battery and the stop/start behaviour
  • Road test for torque converter shudder
  • Scan turbo engines for boost codes
Safety record (live from NHTSA)
2018 Chevrolet Malibu · Federal RecordsSource: NHTSA.gov
6
Recalls
694
Complaints
1531
Service Bulletins
Loading the latest federal safety records…
Common service bulletins (TSBs)

A TSB is a note the maker sends to dealers about a known fix. They are not recalls. We check the bulletins so we know what to look for:

Engine & Drivability335

Cold-start noise, drivability, and idle issues for this vehicle. We test for each.

Power Train · Automatic133

Shift quality and transmission fluid updates. We drive every gear.

Electrical & Body1063

Locks, wipers, infotainment, and trim items. Small, but good to know.

Counts are pulled from NHTSA's public Manufacturer Communications file. Full bulletins stay with the maker — we use the summaries to guide the inspection.

Common questions
What is the Shift to Park problem?
A worn shifter switch makes the car think it isn't in park. It's common on 2016 and newer cars, and it can drain the battery. We check for it.
Is the 2016 Malibu different from the 2015?
Completely — new platform, new engines, longer body. Don't compare them as the same car.
Where do you inspect?
All 48 states.
Do you pull recalls?
Yes, plus service bulletins.
Buying this one?

We'll check it first

Pre-tagged for the 2018 Chevy Malibu. One call and a tech is on it.

951-267-8500Call now
Other Malibu years
2013 Malibu First year of this bod…2014 Malibu Revised front end and …2015 Malibu Last of the shorter ca…2016 Malibu All-new and much longe…2017 Malibu The 2.0 turbo moves to…2019 Malibu Facelift, and the 1.5 …

Request a 2018 Malibu inspection

Pre-tagged for the 2018 Chevy Malibu.

Details

No payment now · We confirm scheduling before any work

Buying a 2018 Malibu? Let us check it first.

Engine-specific checks, a live recall pull, and a clear report.

Call 951-267-8500