2018 BMW 540I vs 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 BMW 540I | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 29 | 693 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 286 | 1,064 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24 | 26–46 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 46,484 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 540I | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 277 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 191 |
| Power Train | 2 | 168 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 111 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 0 | 84 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 60 |
| Steering | 0 | 40 |
| Air Bags | 14 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 0 | 114 |
| Stalling | 0 | 56 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 55 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 16 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 13 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 7 |
2018 BMW 540I
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all BMW 540I vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.