2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2018 Nissan Kicks
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 2018 Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 693 | 84 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,064 | 125 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–46 | 33 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,484 mi | 8,495 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 277 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 191 | 23 |
| Power Train | 168 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 111 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 84 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 60 | 14 |
| Steering | 40 | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 21 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 114 | 11 |
| Stalling | 56 | 12 |
| Loss of power | 55 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 16 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
2018 Nissan Kicks
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Kicks 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.