U.S. vehicle reference
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Specs, MPG and Recalls
2018 Chevrolet Malibu oil capacity, oil type, tire sizes and service specifications by engine, with EPA ratings and NHTSA recall records below.
At a glance
2018 Chevrolet Malibu reference
Use the summary to orient yourself, then open the exact engine, drivetrain and source record below.
OE tire size
Not published
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Oil Capacity and Oil Type
Oil specification
GM dexos1 approved, second generation
Source
1.5L Turbo manufacturer referencesAccessed 2026-09-05Oil filter
Not published
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Wheel Torque Specs
Lug nut size
Not published
Fluids
Transmission capacity
Not published
Transmission fluid
DEXRON-VI automatic transmission fluid
Source
1.5L Turbo manufacturer referencesAccessed 2026-09-05Power steering fluid
Not published
Differential fluid
Not published
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Towing Capacity
Towing capacity
Not published
Payload capacity
Not published
Service Intervals
Compare service intervals| Item | Months | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Brake fluid | 60 | Not published |
1.5L Turbo manufacturer references
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual — Capacities and Specifications Accessed 2026-09-052018 Chevrolet Malibu oil capacity by engine
These are the compiled configurations. An engine name alone may not identify the tire package or transmission. Read the configuration label and source before choosing parts.
| Configuration | Oil with filter | Oil type | Source | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L Turbo | 4.2 US qt | SAE 0W-20 full synthetic | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual — Capacities and Specifications Accessed 2026-09-05 | Use this capacity |
| 1.8L Hybrid | 5.3 US qt | SAE 5W-20 | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual — Capacities and Specifications Accessed 2026-09-05 | Use this capacity |
| 2.0L Turbo | 5 US qt | SAE 5W-30 | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual — Capacities and Specifications Accessed 2026-09-05 | Use this capacity |
2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG by engine and drivetrain
EPA combined ratings run from 26 to 46 mpg across 3 configurations. Match the engine, transmission and drivetrain in the table before comparing fuel costs.
| Engine / transmission | City | Highway | Combined | Annual fuel | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cylinder turboAutomatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · Regular Gasoline | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,050 | 292 g/mi |
| 2.0L 4-cylinder turboAutomatic 9-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · Premium Gasoline | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,900 | 344 g/mi |
| 1.8L 4-cylinderAutomatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · Regular Gasoline | 49 mpg | 43 mpg | 46 mpg | $1,350 | 194 g/mi |
Annual fuel figures are the EPA snapshot at the source date. The calculator below uses the separately dated fuel-price record and your inputs, so the estimates may differ.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu annual fuel cost calculator
Start with the combined MPG for 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Front-Wheel Drive. Replace it with your measured gas mileage and local pump price for a personal budget.
Formula annual miles ÷ MPG × gasoline price
Fuel cost per mile equals gasoline price divided by MPG. Multiply by your annual mileage for a yearly fuel budget. Add maintenance to estimate cost per mile.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu recall campaigns
NHTSA returned 6 model-level campaign records as of 2026-09-04. A campaign record does not establish whether your vehicle is affected or whether a repair is outstanding. Check your VIN through NHTSA.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · 18V400000
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.
Remedy: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER · 18V576000
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.
Remedy: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · 18V358000
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.
Remedy: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 19V642000
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.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 20V668000
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.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · 21V649000
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.
Remedy: 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.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA safety ratings
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Confirm the engine, tire package and service procedure
Match your engine and transmission with the configuration selector. Check the door-jamb tire label for your installed wheel package and cold pressure. A capacity is not a substitute for the filling procedure in the owner's manual; transmission change quantities and total system capacities can describe different jobs.
Fields marked Not published have no compiled value here. They do not mean zero capacity, no maintenance requirement or permission to substitute a part. Request a specification correction with the exact year, engine and manufacturer reference.
Frequently asked questions
How much oil does a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu take?
1.5L Turbo: 4.2 US qt with filter; SAE 0W-20 full synthetic. 1.8L Hybrid: 5.3 US qt with filter; SAE 5W-20. 2.0L Turbo: 5 US qt with filter; SAE 5W-30.
What tire size and wheel torque does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu use?
1.5L Turbo: tire size not published; 100 ft-lb. 1.8L Hybrid: tire size not published; 100 ft-lb. 2.0L Turbo: tire size not published; 100 ft-lb.
What is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu gas mileage?
EPA combined ratings run from 26 to 46 mpg across 3 configurations. Match the engine, transmission and drivetrain in the table before comparing fuel costs.
Are these real-world MPG figures for the Malibu?
These are EPA ratings, not owner-reported mileage. Use your measured MPG in the calculator to estimate your own fuel budget. The configuration table keeps city, highway and combined ratings separate.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
NHTSA returned 6 model-level campaign records as of 2026-09-04. A campaign record does not establish whether your vehicle is affected or whether a repair is outstanding. Check your VIN through NHTSA.
Does annual fuel cost include servicing or insurance?
No. The EPA cost and the calculator cover fuel only. Use the cost-per-mile calculator to add a maintenance allowance. Insurance, depreciation, finance costs and registration are separate ownership expenses.
Compare similar vehicles
Sources and record dates
U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov vehicle dataset Accessed 2026-09-05U.S. EIA public gasoline price table Accessed 2026-09-05NHTSA Recalls API Accessed 2026-09-04NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API Accessed 2026-09-052018 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual — Capacities and Specifications Accessed 2026-09-05Last updated