Tuesday, September 22, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2018 Toyota Prius

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.

Metric2018 Chevrolet Malibu2018 Toyota Prius
NHTSA complaints69536
Recall campaigns61
Service bulletins (TSBs)1,065201
Investigations01
Crash reports235
Fire reports40
NCAP overall rating5/55/5
EPA MPG (combined)26–4652
Median reported incident mileage47,280 mi17,550 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentChevrolet MalibuToyota Prius
Engine2792
Electrical System1912
Power Train1692
Vehicle Speed Control1114
Fuel/propulsion System842
Service Brakes603
Steering400
Electronic Stability Control (esc)210

Symptoms owners describe

Check engine light1150
Stalling560
Loss of power560
Won’t start160
Brake problems130
Vibration / shaking130
Hesitation / surging120
Clunking / rattling70

Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Prius 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.