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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155,000 miles · Feb 2, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE SITTING IDLE MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ERRATICALLY. SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR THE SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING SHOWS ON MY DASH, WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN IT WILL NOT APPEAR AGAIN AND THE STEERING IS BACK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE DRIVING IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE IT …

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NHTSA ODI #11306534

128,900 miles · Jan 31, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

DRIVING AND ESC COMES ON AND POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF. PULLED TO SAFE PLACE, WHICH WAS HARD WITHOUT POWER... AND TURNED CAR OFF BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN SHORTLY THERE AFTER.

NHTSA ODI #11306248

90,000 miles · Jan 20, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING HAS QUIT WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING.. ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL HAS QUIT WORKING ALSO AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11300534

126,000 miles · Jan 14, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, STABILITY CONTROL SHUT DOWN, LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL

NHTSA ODI #11299241

175,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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DRIVING ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. NOT ALLOWING ME TO STEER OR CONTROL THE DIRECTION THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN. HEART RACING, I SHIFTED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE STILL TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE ABILITY TO STEER CAME BACK. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER,S CAR . THE CAR HAS SAT WHILE SHE REPAIR THINGS THE DEALER SUGGESTED TO REPAIR, BEFORE THE STEERING COULD BE CHECKED. A MODULE CONTROL SENSOR WAS JUST REPAIRED THIS WEEK. JAN.6,2020

NHTSA ODI #11298360

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART MY CAR. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MINUTES THE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS ESC AND I LOSE POWER STEERING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11297863

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2020

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY HARD TO STEER

NHTSA ODI #11296744

95,100 miles · Dec 27, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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OVER THE PAST WEEK, MY VEHICLE WAS SENDING ME A ESC SERVICE MESSAGE AND I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY CAR IS TURNED ON. THE POWER STEERING TURNS ITSELF TO MANUAL STEERING MAKING IT HARD TO TURN. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF RESETTING IT TO MAKE THE POWER STEERING WORK AGAIN. WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE STEERING WHEEL IS PULSATING AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL GO INTO MANUAL STEERING. I BROUGHT IT DOWN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME IT WAS A TORQUE SENSOR. HE THEN SAID HE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN 2014 (BULLETIN 14116B.) THIS BULLETIN EXPLAINS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS MY CAR IS HAVING. HE CALLED HURD CHEVY IN JOHNSON RI AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL. I THEN CALLED HURD AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE (DIAMOND CHEVY, AUBURN MA) AND SPOKE TO AN ADVISOR NAMED SEAN. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE SPECIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 3/25/19 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN CONTACTED GM ON THEIR WEBSITE AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE PROBLEM IS, I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING NOTIFYING ME OF THIS RECALL. IT SOUNDS LIKE DIAMOND KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL BUT THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME OR FIX IT THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE FOR MAINTENANCE. NOW I'LL HAVE TO PAY OVER $500 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED. I HAVE PROVIDED BULLETIN 14116B AND THE PAPERWORK MY MECHANIC RESEARCHED AND GAVE ME.

NHTSA ODI #11291471

149,000 miles · Dec 23, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING WILL WORK WHEN IT WANTS TO SOME DAYS IT WORKS ALL DAY OTHER DAYS IT WONT WORK AT ALL AND SOME DAYS I LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING LIGHT AND SERVICE ESC LIGHTS COME ON WHEN POWER STEERING FAILS THIS IS A SCARY PROBLEM TO HAVE WHEN TRANSPORTING MY 4 KIDS

NHTSA ODI #11290843

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THE CAR WILL DISPLAY AN ESC SERVICE LIGHT AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT ONCE THAT HAPPENS. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON THE LIGHT GOES AWAY AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AGAIN AND THE ESC SERVICE WILL DISPLAY AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11290132

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)

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.

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

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

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

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

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

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

Electrical System:wiring

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

14V153000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 31, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

12V460000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Sep 18, 2012

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

09V073000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Mar 6, 2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V634000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

Dec 2, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 77 MY 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEM." THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIRCONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE BLOWER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE MODE SELECTOR WOULD REMAIN IN THE LAST KNOWN SETTING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG OR FROST, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE HVAC CONTROL HEAD MODULE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.