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

26,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617543

100,016 miles · Jul 29, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH OR OPERATE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAVE PLATE …

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NHTSA ODI #10617224

79,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014

Air BagsCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OVER AN ICE PATCH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SPUN IN A 360 DEGREE TURN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND PROCEEDED TO SLIGHTLY CRASH, AND SLIDE AGAINST A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED HOWEVER, THE FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND PROCEED NORMALLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617219

36,000 miles · Jul 25, 2014

Electrical System

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I WAS COMING UP TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND STOP SIGN TO TAKE A LEFT. THE CAR JUST QUIT. I KEPT TRYING TO START IT AND NOTHING HAPPENED, NO CLICK, NOTHING BUT ABOUT 5 MIN. LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM HOME SO I TOOK IT BACK HOME AND LATER, AFTER DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF, THAT DAY TOOK IT TO GEORGE GEE, WHERE I HAD BOUGHT IT AND HAD MY OIL CHANGES AND ANY ISSUES DONE, IT DIDN'T DO IT SO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.. I HAVE HAD THE CAR DO THIS 4 TIMES SINCE IVE OWNED IT AND BCUZ IT ISN'T ALL THE TIME THE DEALER SERVICE CTR SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WHEN I HAD ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS THEY SAID THE SAME THING.. THE LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE SOMETHING IN THE DRIVERS DOOR THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT 5/6 MONTHS STARTED DOING IT AGAIN BUT BY THEN MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND THEY WERE EXPENSIVE SO I TOOK IT TO A 'SMALL GUY GARAGE' THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 ACCUATORS IN THE DOORS. THERE ALSO WAS A PROBLEM IN THE TRANNY WHICH WAS UNDER THEIR 5 YR. TRAN. WARRANTY. IT HAS NOT RUN PROPERLY SINCE BUT THEY 'CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG!' OH YES AND I WAS ALSO TOLD BY ONE OF THEIR OTHER DEALERS IN POST FALLS THAT THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME BCUZ 'I DIDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP" WITH THEM. I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED ANY OF THE ISSUES CORRECTLY AND ALSO THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THESE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND STILL WOULD NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616365

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2014

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10616017

30,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC TRACTION CONTROL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 14V252000 (BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENTLY MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10615438

51,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

BEGINNING ON APRIL 15, 2014 MY CAR FLASHES ESC OFF, SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AND IT TURNS OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL IN MY CAR AND CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO CEASE FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615171

84,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND IN PARK. AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON, DOOR LOCKS CONTINUED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. THEN, THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH ON DRIVER'S DOOR STOPPED WORKING. LAST TIME THIS ISSUE STARTED AND CONTINUED WITH KEY FOB NO LONGER WORKING, AND ONLY WAY TO LOCK DOORS WAS MANUALLY AND UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR WITH KEY AND MANUALLY UNLOCK REMAINING DOORS. DEALER REPLACED DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND KEY FOBS TO FIX PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AGAIN AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF ALREADY HAVING BEEN FIXED ONCE? IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR SAME REPAIR REPEATEDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611407

100,400 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Power Train

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I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS WAITING FOR CUSTOMER TO CLOSE THEIR CAR DOOR WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS OUT IF GEAR. IT GRABBED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN. WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE THE STORE I HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND 25MPH THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, I WAS ALSO HAVING TROUBLE GOING INTO REVERSE. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR HOME AND I WAS UNSURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WHERE THEY RAN A TEST ON IT. I WAS TOLD THE WAVE PLATE WAS BROKE IN MY TRANSMISSION. WOW AN 2009 WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THE WAVE PLATE THAT WAS USED FOR THE MALIBU'S WERE BAD. THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THE MALIBU'S THAT ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DUE TO POOR DESIGN USING THAT STYLE OF WAVE PLATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611131

71,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCE;ERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE INPUT SPEED SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10610939

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)