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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

29 reports

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77,657 miles · Aug 21, 2017

Fuel/propulsion System

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I HAD BEEN NOTICING THE SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF MY 2009 MALIBU AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTOR. I COULD NOT DETECT ANY LOCATION OF WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. ADDITIONALLY, AT TIMES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN GO OFF. THIS COINCIDED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING "ODDLY". SO, I TOOK IT IN TO MICHAEL'S CHEVROLET IN FRESNO, CA FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $350. LATER THEY CALLED ME WITH A REVISED ESTIMATE OF $1950 TO COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE "CRACKED FUEL PUMP MODULE REED LINE, AND, REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR PUMP.... I REFUSED TO LET THEM DO THE WORK AFTER BEING EDUCATED ON THE PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET. THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT FOR THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSIS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP?

NHTSA ODI #11016521

216,000 miles · May 5, 2017

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

CAR TURNED OFF WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVE THRU LINE. CAR TURNED OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SOMETIMES WILL START BACK, SOMETIMES WILL NOT START BACK AND HAS TO BE TOWED. AFTER WAITING A FEW DAYS THE CAR WILL DRIVE AS NORMAL AND THEN THE NEXT TIME THE CAR WILL TURN OFF AGAIN. THE CAR WILL TURN OVER, BUT NOT CRA…

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NHTSA ODI #10983658

67,000 miles · Nov 26, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

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SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR., BUT SAW NO LEAKS. LAST WEEK I NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND DRIPPING ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO FOLSOM CHEVROLET AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND ESTIMATED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP TO BE ABOUT $1,200. HOWEVER, I WENT TO THE CHEVROLET FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED TO GM BY USERS, BUT GM HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. THE COMPLAINTS BEGIN IN 2012 WHEN THE CARS WERE ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND CONTINUE TO BE FILED. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS SIMPLY TOLD "THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY". THERE HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED RECALLS FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FUEL PUMP AND PROBLEM AND THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. PLEASE HAVE THESE VEHICLES RECALLED BEFORE A FAMILY DEPARTS TIS EARTH IN A BALL OF FLAMES BECAUSE OF THE UNCARING ATTITUDE OF GM. FOLSOM CHEVROLET, 916-985-5600, HAS DIAGNOSED MY MY VEHICLE AND CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS. BUT FOR THIS PROBLEM TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SO MANY VEHICLES OVER SO MANY YEARS AND GM TO HAVE IGNORED IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I BELIEVE ONE THAT ONLY YOUR AGENCY CAN ADDRESS.

NHTSA ODI #10928068

160,000 miles · Nov 9, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK THAT PROGRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10925167

73,200 miles · Nov 7, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

GAS SMELL IN CAR, NEAR REAR OF CAR, AND IN GARAGE. HAVE CHECKED FOR LEAKS HAVE NOT FOUND GAS ON FLOOR BUT SOME DAMPNESS TOP OF TANK AREA OF WHICH I COULD REACH. I HAVE READ THERE'S A CONNECTION THAT BREAKS AT FITTING. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY G.M. WITH A RECALL BEFORE A FIRE OR DEATH …

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NHTSA ODI #10924604

63,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

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AFTER SMELLING GAS FUMES FOR ABOUT A WEEK, I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE GAS TANK CLOSE TO FULL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW A 4 TO 5 INCH DIAMETER WET GAS STAIN ON THE DRIVEWAY. OVER THE NEXT 3 TO 4 MINUTES I OBSERVED SEVERAL DRIPS OF GASOLINE FROM BELOW THE GAS TANK FALL TO THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY AND EMISSION PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND I PLAN ON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED ASAP. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON LINE AND HOPE THERE WILL BE A RECALL. SOMETIMES EMISSION COMPONENTS ARE COVERED UP TO 100K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10910878

101,000 miles · May 15, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE OF A LEAK IN ONE OF THE LINES THAT ARE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE PUMP. THE PUMP WAS FINE. BUT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE LEAK IN THE LINE WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUMP. IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD AND EMITTING CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE CAB OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN F…

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NHTSA ODI #10865024

105,000 miles · Feb 8, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE SERVICE TRACTION/ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND STARTES JERKING THE RPMS SHOOT UP TO 4000 AND MAKES A RATTLE NOISE. WHEN DOING THIS THE SPEED DOES NOT CHANGE TO REFLECT THE RPMS. WHEN AT A IDLE THE RPMS REST AT ABOUT 2200. THE CAR DOESNT FULLY WANT TO STOP WHEN COMING TO RED LIGHT OR WHEN BREAKING. I HAVE HAD…

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NHTSA ODI #10824969

144,228 miles · Dec 6, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

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ON 11/07/15 MY MALIBU FAILED SMOG CHECK DUE TO P0013/P0014 CODES & LIQUID FUEL LEAK CHECK. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS OBVIOUSLY GAS LEAK & NEED TO FIX RIGHT AWAY. I DROVE & LEFT IT TO MY MECHANIC SHOP THE SAME DAY (SATURDAY PM). HE SAID TRACE OF FUEL LEAK IS COMING FROM TOP OF TANK, AND HE TOOK DOWN THE TANK TO CHECK FUEL LINE AND PUMP.I CALLED GM TO FIND OUT SAFETY RECALL ON MY MALIBU & ALSO ASKED HIM FOR HELP TO LOCATE THE LEAK AS THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SIMILAR TO OTHER GM CARS. GM SAID MY MALIBU IS NOT UNDER FUEL LEAK RECALL LIKE SOME OTHER GM CARS AND HE DIDN'T KNOW EASY WAY TO LOCATE GAS LEAK,BUT OFFERED ME FREE TOW TO GM DEALERSHIP. I TOLD GM MY MALIBU IS INSIDE MY MECHANIC SHOP AND HE ALREADY WORKING ON IT SO I CAN'T TOW IT OUT FROM HIS SHOP.MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE WHOLE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY (LEAK WAS FROM PLASTIC LINE CONNECTION TO FUEL PUMP) AND REPAIRED ALSO THE OTHER CODES.I CALLED BACK GM AND DISCUSSED TO HER([XXX])THE SAFETY ISSUE OF PRESENCE OF GAS LEAK CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION EVEN IN MINOR ACCIDENT,OR EVEN JUST PARK INSIDE MY GARAGE, THE ACCUMULATION OF GAS VAPOR CAN RESULT IN EXPLOSION SINCE MY GAS FURNACE IN THE GARAGE WHICH IS JUST NEARBY THE CAR, IS ALWAYS BEING USED AT NIGHT. SHE SAID NOTHING GM CAN DO SINCE THE CAR WAS ALREADY REPAIRED AND GM CAN'T REIMBURSE MY REPAIR COST SINCE MY MALIBU IS OUT OF WARRANTY ALREADY. UNDER RECALL OR NOT, UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT I THINK A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY SHOULD AT LEASE INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF GAS LEAK IN CAR TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT, IMPROVED THE MATERIALS OR DESIGN IN THEIR FUTURE CARS.THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT THAT LIVES WERE LOST DUE TO GAS LEAK DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED SOONER. IF THEY WANT ME TO BRING THE FUEL ASSEMBLY PARTS TO DEALERSHIP (WHICH I SUGGESTED TO [XXX]) FOR INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE MATERIAL OR DESIGN FLAW, JUST LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10808655

105,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

THERE IS A GAS LEAK AT THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS VAPORS. THIS IS NOTICEABLE ANY TIME IT IS PARKED AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI #10786324

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)