Steering. Review the 768 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 368 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports9 fire reports31 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

255 reports

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107,000 miles · Feb 10, 2026

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringTraction Control System

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The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The failure reoccurred every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The power steering, ESC, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated who was a retired independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #11716945

104,000 miles · Oct 25, 2022

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that in 2017 the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) however, the brake lights would illuminate randomly without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the brake lights would fail to illuminate whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who added di-electric grease to the harness, replaced the brake harness, replaced the position sensor, and inspected the brake light. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer approximately 7 times since the recall repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #11490852

130,000 miles · Nov 2, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

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I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE REGISTERING WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THE GEARS SHIFT HARD, AND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY JERKS BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, IT SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WHEN IT FINALLY DID, IT JUST TAKES OFF WITH NO WARNING. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE ON PARK, AT TIMES IT WOULD STILL ROLL.. THERE IS ALSO THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS THAT ARE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING STIFFENING IN THE VEHICLE IS AN ISSUE ONLY SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, IT STILL WORRIES ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH MY TODDLER IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I DID RESEARCH RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN EACH AREA I'M HAVING TROUBLE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN I SPOKE WITH A CHEVROLET ASSOCIATE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE AND I'M AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT TAKING PLACE.

NHTSA ODI #11372618

80,000 miles · Oct 26, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DASHBOARD WILL SAY "TRACTION OFF, ESC OFF" AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GAIN POWER STEERING AGAIN. MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED IT AS TORQUE SENSOR/STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY OTHER MALIBUS, BUT NOT MINE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE SEVEN YEARS AGO AT 80,000 MILES (ABOUT ONCE PER YEAR) AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE RECENTLY AT 170,000 MILES (MULTIPLE TIMES PER MONTH). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE.*DT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11366516

188,000 miles · Oct 24, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMP OR TURNING THE FRONT END SHAKES AND MAKES A CLACKING NOISE. ESC IS OFF. TRACTION CONTROL IS ALWAYS OFF. ERROR CODES READ P0010 P0449 P0013 P0722 P0011

NHTSA ODI #11366176

175,000 miles · Oct 15, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND SENSOR LIGHT SERVICE ESC/POWER STEERING STARTED FLASHING. THE STEERING FELT NO DIFFERENT PRIOR TO LOSING, NO NOISES. DROVE IT THIS WAY UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY. CAR SAT FOR 4 HOURS, TURNED IT BACK ON AND HAD REGAINED ALL STEERING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT FOR ABOUT THE PAST 4 YEARS, DURING THE COLDER MONTHS, THE SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION NOTIFICATION WILL RANDOMLY POP ON FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN THE COLD AND I LOSE TIRE TRACTION. PRETTY POSITIVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED ME TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD 2 YEARS AGO. WHENEVER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BECAUSE THE LIGHT POPS OFF AS QUICK AS IT COMES ON. I HAVE ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT AND LOOKED UP A RECALL FOR THIS, AND WHEN MY VIN IS ENTERED IT SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT NEEDED. I FOUND THE RECALL FROM 2014 FOR THE POWER STEERING ISSUE, SO EITHER THE PRIOR OWNER HAD IT FIXED AND IT DIDN'T LAST, OR IT WAS NEVER DONE TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG HERE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR ISSUE AND THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOST MY STEERING. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 7 YEARS, STAYING ON TOP OF ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND THEN SOME. GM NEEDS TO GET A FIX FOR THIS!!!

NHTSA ODI #11364504

67,050 miles · Oct 13, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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OUR 2009 MALIBU JUST TURNED 67,000 MILES TODAY AND THE ECM STARTED FLASHING SERVICE STEERING AND NO TRACTION CONTROL ON A TWO-HOUR DRIVE HOME. AFTER LIMPING HOME BY PHYSICALLY MAN-HANDLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN, WE MADE IT HOME. SEARCHED ON-LINE FOR POSSIBLE ISSUES AND FOUND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER 2009 MALIBU OWNERS FACING THE SAME IDENTICAL ISSUE. CHECKED THE GM WEBSITE FOR ANY POSSIBLE RECALLS AND NONE WERE FOUND. THE SAME WAS TRUE WHEN CONTACTING A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT, WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN IF NOT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11364175

246,672 miles · Oct 4, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrash

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I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU AND IT'S VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE A 4 CYLINDER CAR WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND IT WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. YET IT'S HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL CARS. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR PUSHED OUT OF A DITCH YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON, AND PRESSING THE BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. I SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE CONTROL TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND HAVE TO CALL SOMEONE TO PHYSICALLY OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, ALSO MY BATTERY LIGHT. AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD AND UP TO DATE. MY TRACTION AND SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON TOO. AND MY HEAD LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY DRAINED AND GOING OUT. IT'S HARD TO FIND REASONABLE PRICE'S FROM AUTO SHOPS, AND THE DEALERSHIP PRICES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO TURN AND WORK MY CAR BECAUSE OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT'S OUT. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I'M GOING TO UPLOAD A PICTURE OF MY CAR AFTER IT WAS PUSHED OUT THE DITCH. BUT MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN HARD TO TURN AND I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE JANUARY OF 2020. AND IT MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11362633

180,000 miles · Sep 21, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING FAILS OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER BUT HAS GROWN TO HAPPEN IN WARMER WEATHER AS WELL. GETTING WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 3 YEARS. HAPPENS BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BUT NOT ALWAYS. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH OLDER MODEL MALIBUS AND OTHER GM VEHICLES BUT …

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NHTSA ODI #11360239

113,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I BOUGHT IT WORKED GOOD FOR BOUT 2 DAYS AND I STARTED NOTICING A LIGHT WOULD BE BLINKING LIKE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND A LIGHT WITH LIKE A EXCLAMATION MARK IN SIDE OF LIKE A BOWL AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE AND THEN IT WOULD JUST QUIT EVEN WHILE YOUR IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT ,GOING UP A HILL IT WOULD DO IT JUST WHEN IT GOT RE…

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NHTSA ODI #11355033

Official recalls

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)