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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

56 reports

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148,300 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS WHEN NO KEY IN IGNITION.....CONTINUOUSLY!!!!! :I CAN NOT EVEN MANUALLY LOCK MY DOORS...THEY WILL JUST UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671765

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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THE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS( BOTH DOORS ) STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THIS MADE IT SUCH THAT THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED WITHOUT MANUALLY LIFTING THE LOCK BUTTON FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN A CHILD WAS IN A CAR SEAT THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR WAS TO GET BACK IN THE CAR, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN IT TO THE ACCESSORY, LOWER THE REAR WINDOW, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND REACH IN TO PULL UP THE LOCK BUTTON. FORTUNATELY WE NEVER HAD AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THE ACTUATORS REPLACED ( AT SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE ). MY CONCERN IS MANY INDIVIDUALS, PROBABLY CAN NOT AFFORD THE COST AND WOULD FORGO THE REPAIR, THUS LEAVING THE PROBLEM AND ITS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649240

81,000 miles · Sep 15, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE EMERGENCY STEERING CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START PROPERLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START PROPERLY, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED UNTIL THE VEHICLE RESET. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN WHAT COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10633279

42,335 miles · Sep 4, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

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FIRST BRAND NEW CAR I EVER PURCHASED FOR MYSELF- A BEAUTIFUL 2009 MALIBU. WITHIN LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR STARTED LOCKING/UNLOCKING WHEN IT WANTED TO. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE IT STOPPED UN/LOCKING ALL TOGETHER AND I WAS STUCK HAVING TO CRAWL ACROSS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. I PAID A PRETTY PENNY TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER FIXING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THIS TIME WHICH THE DOOR WAS RARELY USED BECAUSE IT WAS JUST MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THE BACKSEAT AND PAYING OUT OF POCKET AGAIN AND IT HAPPENING A 2ND TIME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT EVEN UNLOCK TO OPEN AGAIN. ALL OF MY PASSENGERS HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT OR CRAWL ACROSS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND NOW MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS STARTING THE SAME THING. ONE TIME ,MY HUSBAND GOT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED AND IT FLEW OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULDN'T CLOSE OR LOCK FOR SOMETIME. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR GETS CRUSHED IN, I WILL HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING MY YOUNG CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN NOT TO MENTION A COSTLY BURDEN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630676

32,000 miles · Sep 3, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING MY DOOR LOCKS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. NOW THEY WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE IN THE REAR WITH THE KEY FOB. I HAVE TO DO IT MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630510

61,000 miles · Sep 3, 2014

Equipment Adaptive/mobilityLatches/locks/linkages

BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. SHOULD BE A RECALL, KNOW OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630317

70,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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THE LOCKS WORKED FINE UP UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO NOW NONE OF THE POWER LOCK BUTTONS WORK, MY DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK RANDOMLY EVEN WHILE DRIVING ... THIS HAS BECOME A HUGE PAIN... I HAVE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL CHEVROLET DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEARING ON MY CAR. EVERYONE I HAVE SPOKEN TO WHO DRIVES THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS!! ALSO THEY SHOULD FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING IN THEIR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628159

50,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE REAR RIGHT DOOR WON'T UNLOCK UNLESS DONE MANUALLY .THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF AN EMEGANCY. THE LEFT DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED FROM THE BUTTON I HAVE TO REACH OVER DRIVERS SIDE TO LOCK THE REST OF THE DOORS. THE REMOTE WILL NOT LOCK DOORS OR REMOTE START BECAUSE THE POWER SWITCH WILL NOT LOCK ON DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627944

540,000 miles · Aug 24, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

LIVING IN ARIZONA, WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOTTER THAN 90 F, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK AND HAVE TO BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627885

42,100 miles · Aug 22, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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ALL FOUR (4) DOORS ON MY 2009 MALIBU WILL NOT ALWAYS LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM THE REMOTE. ALSO THEY WILL NOT ALWAYS LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR OR OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE HAD THEM TO NOT UNLOCK ALL THE WAY AND COULD NOT GET THE DOORS OPEN AT ALL. YOU HAVE TO KEEP USING THE REMOTE OR KEY TO KEEP LOCKING OR UNLOCKING UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO OPEN. ALSO, I HAVE HAD THEM TO NOT UNLOCK AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR, THIS IS THE WORST SITUATION TO BE IN. TALK ABOUT AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZZARD. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THIS HAPPENS, G.M. NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627494

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.