2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2018 Nissan Sentra
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 2018 Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 695 | 185 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,065 | 145 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–46 | 28–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 47,280 mi | 41,333 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 279 | 22 |
| Electrical System | 191 | 32 |
| Power Train | 169 | 46 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 111 | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 60 | 38 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 84 | 7 |
| Steering | 40 | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 24 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 115 | 9 |
| Stalling | 56 | 14 |
| Loss of power | 56 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 16 | 8 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
2018 Nissan Sentra
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Sentra 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.