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

Visibility/wiper complaints

12 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 19, 2022

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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Just bought the car and it started acting funny. The windshield wipers haven't worked almost the whole time we've had the car. We have attempted to fix them and we think the problem is fixed all for them to stop working again. So needless to say we either can't drive while it's raining or we attempt to risk ours and others lives by driving with no windshield wipers at all. Now the temperature gauge, and ac are randomly deciding to stop working. Plus the check engine light would randomly come on and off. Found that there was a recall out for these exact problems. So we took it to the dealership and they told us there's nothing they can do the recall has expired almost 3 years ago. Now we just bought the car and all this stuff started and now we're being told it's pretty much our problem because the last owner didn't stay up to date on the car and it's recalls. so I'm trying to figure out how we can still get this fixed specially since we have kids and even grandkids that ride in this car. But now as of these last few days we haven't been able to drive it at all. So we're trying to figure out how we can get the problem that is now ours and shouldn't be fixed.

NHTSA ODI #11465246

130,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021

Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility/wiper

HAS A PROBLEM WITH COLD START NEEDS A JUMP ALOT, SERVICE ESC COMES ON WITH LOSE OF TRACTION AND POWER STEERING, SENSOR IN WHEELS GO OUT OFTEN WHEELS SOUND WEIRD WHEN TURNING, HEADLIGHT GOES OUT OFTEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE OUT ,GEARSHIFT LINKAGE HAS BROKEN WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS PROBLEM OCCURS BOTH NON-STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI #11399436

153,000 miles · Feb 20, 2020

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) ON MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU SHORTED OUT.. CHEVY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE ON THE HYBRID MODEL. I HAVE NO HEAT NO DEFROSTING NO CLIMATE CONTROLS WORK AT ALL.. ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS ARE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI #11310398

130,000 miles · Apr 13, 2019

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

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I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH 14, 2019 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE PRIOR OWNER STATED THEY HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE LIGHT REPAIRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN SINCE 2009. APRIL 2, 2019 I TOOK THE CAR TO CLINT NEWELL CHEVROLET TO HAVE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRE THAT PLUGS INTO THE LIGHT WAS MELTED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $172.33. ON APRIL 4, 2019 THE REAR PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING. I REPLACED THE BULB. APRIL 9, 2019 THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT QUIT WORKING. APRIL 11, 2019 I REPLACED THE BULB. AS SOON AS THAT WAS DONE THE FRONT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I CHECKED THE LOW BEAM FUSE AND IT WAS FINE. I CANNOT AFFORD 172.00 AGAIN 9 DAYS LATER FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE ALSO FOUND ONLINE IN CHEVY FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN CHEVROLET MALIBUS.

NHTSA ODI #11195957

120,000 miles · Dec 18, 2018

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON THE LOW SETTING. THEY WILL MAKE APPROXIMATELY ONE FULL PASS TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE STOP HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLIMATE WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI #11162170

119,000 miles · Aug 8, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVisibility/wiper

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DOORS LOCK AND YOU CANT GET OUT OF OR IN THE CAR EVEN IF YOUR HOLDING AN INFANT CHILD AND ITS 3 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I CAN'T USE THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO GET IN AND THE [XXX] KEY WONT EVEN OPEN THE DOOR. ITS JUST STUCK AND WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG SOMETIMES IN LAST JUST 3-5 MINS OTHER OTHERS GOING ON 40 MINS. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES COUNTLESS TAIL LIGHTS. I HAD TO PUT REPLACE THE WINDHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY THAT ONE SUCKED I COULD NOT OPERATE THE CAR FOR A WEEK UNLESS IT WOULD RAIN AND THIS WAS HAPPENING THIS APRIL WHEN ITS ALWAYS RAINING THEY ACTUALLY QUIT WORKING ON FOURTH OF THE JULY GOING 70MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 79 IN POURING RAIN. I PURCHASED AS MANY RAIN DETERRENTS AS I COULD TRY OUT WHICH NONE LAST BUT A FEW MINS.. THEN BETWEEN GETTING PULLED OVER BY POLICE COUNTLESS TIMES FOR HEADLIGHT BEING OUT AND I FIX IT THEN THE SAME ONE OR EVEN THE OTHER SIDE THE NEXT WEEK WILL GO OUT JUST 1 MONTH LATER IT GOES BACK OUT AND THAT SAME COP STOP YOU AGAIN AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE YOU THAT IT WAS JUST REPLACED. THEN THE INTERIOUR LIGHTS ALL OF THEM FROM GAUGES AND HEADLAMPS TURN ON. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY TELLING ME TO SERVICE SVC TIRE SENSORS AND OTHER ABBREVIATED SENSORS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. ALSO AND MAYBE THE MOST DANGEROUS IS THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS WHICH RANGE FROM ONLY WORKING OCCASIONALLY TO ACCELERATION ENGAGES IF YOU SCROLL THREW SCREEN OPTIONS AND USE CRUISE CONTROL SIMULTANEOUSLY . AND SOMETIMES MY TRUNK WILL JUST POP OPEN WHEN THE CAR STARTS. THE PLASTIC HUB CAPS CONSTANTLY FALL OFF AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT PLASTIC BACKING HAS BROKEN LOOSE THE STEERING COLUM IT SOUNDS LIKE U JOINTS THAT HAVE WORN OR A HYDRAULIC ISSUE PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11013603

39,250 miles · Jun 13, 2017

Visibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, BUT THE AIR FAILED TO FLOW CORRECTLY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD AS IT FOGGED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN-PARKHILL AUTOMOTIVE CHEVROLET & CADILLAC (440 W ANTHONY DR, CHAMPAIGN, IL 61821 (217) 352-4275) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V634000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,250.

NHTSA ODI #10994938

67,000 miles · May 12, 2017

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FROST. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE DEFROSTER, BUT THE HVAC DEFROSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD BECAME FOGGY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTROL HEAD MODULE FAILED TO FUNCTION AND FAILED TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10985093

75,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

**LOW BEAM ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE** WHILE OFF - UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY FOB ILLUMINATES THE HEADLAMP (STATIONARY) WHILE ON - HEADLAMP DOES NOT WORK (STATIONARY & IN MOTION) IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, SO IT WAS REPLACED, AND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10783245

59,645 miles · Dec 12, 2014

Visibility/wiper

OBSERVED THAT BOTTOM HALF OF HEATED DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD BECOME SCORCHED - LIMITING VISIBILITY IN BOTTOM HALF OF MIRROR. COULD THIS BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663842

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.