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

What owners actually said

1,509 reports

81,001 miles · Oct 28, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

I HAD PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION, AND MY GAS CAP IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE ONLY AVAILABLE PUMP THAT WAS OPEN, IN ORDER FOR ME TO USE IT I HAD TO PULL UP AND REVERSE TO GET ON THE SIDE OF THE PUMP TO WHICH I CAN FILL GAS ON. AS I WAS TURNING MY WHEEL BACK INTO PLACE, THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF GOT STUCK AND SEEMED REALLY HARD TO TURN. AS I TRIED TO MOVE MY CAR, I GOT AN ERROR ON MY DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER THAT MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. I PRESUMED TO PANIC, AS I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE. I THAN TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON THIS PART FOR THE 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S, SO I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN AND PAY FOR IT COMPLETELY OUT OF POCKET. I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE ABLE TO COVER THIS UNDER SOME SORT OF WARRANTY FIX, BUT I AM JUST BEING TURNED AWAY LEFT AND RIGHT AND BEING TOLD ALL I CAN DO IS PAY OUT OF POCKET WHICH THIS PARTICULAR PART AND LABOR WOULD COST ME $1000. THEY ARE ONLY BASICALLY TELLING ME THE HIGHWAY OR NO WAY, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT WITH THESE CARS BEING RECALLED WITH THIS ISSUE, AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL WHEN I AM HAVING THAT EXACT ISSUE FOR THE RECALL. I AM JUST REALLY HOPING TO FIND SOMEONE THAT WILL BE WILLING TO HELP ME GET THIS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY SEEING AS IT IS THE ISSUE OF THE RECALL BEING PLACED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHILE I HAVE TO WAIT 24 TO 48 HOURS TO SEE IF I GET A RESPONSE FROM GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP ME ON THIS ISSUE. ALL I AM ASKING IS THAT SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650701

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

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

110,000 miles · Oct 15, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ROLL AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10644886

100,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A CHIME SOUNDED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED INDEPENDENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000....UPDATED 11/17/14 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10641963

76,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014

Steering

EXITING AN OFF RAMP AT APRX. 15-20 MILES PER HOUR, MY POWER STEERING WENT. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO CALL MY HUSBAND. POWER STEERING BACK ON. DROVE TO MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HONE, IT WENT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10640547

90,000 miles · Sep 27, 2014

Seats

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE WHEN IT FELT LIKE ANOTHER CAR HAD CRASHED INTO ME , I LOOKED IN ALL MY MIRRORS AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS AROUND , I THEN NOTICE MY DRIVER SEAT HAD ME SITTING LOPSIDED AND SOMETHING WAS STABBING ME IN THE HIP, SOMETHING UNDER MY SEAT HAD BUSTED, SO I WENT HOME LOOKED AT IT FURTHER AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SEAT GEAR THAT HAD COME THRU THE FABRIC AND THAT'S WHAT WAS STABBING ME. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THAT I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE FRAME TO THE SEAT HAD BROKE AND GIVE ME A ESTIMATE $856.00 JUST TO FIX THE FRAME AND THAT DON'T INCLUDE THE SEAT THAT THE GEARS AND RIPPED HOLES THRU. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALLS ON THE SEAT SO THERE NOT COVERING ANY OF THE COST. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE IS A COUPLE HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SEAT IN THE MALIBU MODELS FROM 2004-2010.THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH OR I COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INJURING SEVERAL OTHERS. MY SEAT IS NOW UNSECURED AND UNSAFE RENDERING THE SEATBELT ALSO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE SEAT IS NOT PLACE PROPERLY. MY NAME IS[XXX] E-MAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX] MY PHONE # [XXX]S.S.N.[XXX] D.L. #[XXX]. VIN #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639509

158,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU, I ABRUPTLY GOT A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DASH BOARD WHICH CONTAINED THE PHRASE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION AT WHICH TIME MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD NO RESPONSE EVEN THOUGH ALL THE BATTERY OPERATED ITEMS WERE WORKING THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10644048

93,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR ONE MONTH. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP WAS MADE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, VIBRATED VIOLENTLY, AND STALLED. THE DECELERATION FAILURE BEGAN ONE WEEK AGO AND THE ACCELERATION HESITATION BEGAN TWO MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638658

68,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014

Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, HARD ENOUGH FOR HER PASSENGER TO HIT HER HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD AND DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, NO ONE WAS INJURED OTHER THAN HER HITTING HER HEAD PRETTY HARD. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638067

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2014

EngineSeats

Read full complaint

SEATS - FRONT DRIVER POWER SEAT, THERE IS A BRACKET OR BRACE THAT GOES ACROSS THE FRONT AND SUPPORTS THE SEAT, IT IS WELDED, THE WELD IS BROKEN, AFTER DOING FORUM AND GOOGLE SEARCHES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH THE BROKEN WELD, CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND ALLOWED TO ROCK WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE - THE FRONT ENGINE OIL SEAL OR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SEAL IS PRONE TO LEAKING, THERE IS SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A 6 CYL MODEL, APPARENTLY THE 4CYL MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIX IS TO HAVE THE SEAL REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED STYLE CONSTRUCTED WITH A BETTER SPRING AND SEAL WIPER. THIS CAN CAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL OIL LEAK, EVEN THOUGH THIS COULD NOT CAUSE (TO THE BEST I KNOW) A SERIOUS PROBLEM, IT DOES CAUSE OIL TO LEAK ALONG THE FRAME AND ONTO THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLY ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPING BEHIND THE ENGINE. IT ALSO CAUSE AN ENVIRONMENT ISSUE CAUSING MOTOR OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637931

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)