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

103,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014

Latches/locks/linkagesSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE UNLOCKING AND LOCKING INDEPENDENTLY SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 10/09/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE STEERING, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. 3/25/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10610783

8,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE PEDAL THE LIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE ON THE SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT WORK. SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH THE BCM. GM ANNOUNCED A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE ON MAY 15, 2014 BUT THE NHTSA WEBSITE LETTER ON THAT DATE LETTER NVS-215KS / 14V-252 STATED THAT GM MUST NOTIFY THE OWNERS WITHIN 60 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN 60 DAYS AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A NOTIFICATION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP UNDER WARRANTY APPROX. 5 TIMES AND I HAVE HAD TO ALSO REPAIR THE SAME ISSUE. NOW THE CAR IS NOT DRIVE ABLE BECAUSE IF I PLACE IT IN PARK IT WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THIS IS ALSO DUE TO THE SAME BCM PROBLEM. IF THEY (GM) HAS 60 DAYS, WHY HAVE THEY NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE? I TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER AND GAVE THEM THE RECALL NUMBER FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT IT. HOW CAN I GET THIS INFORMATION BUT THEIR OWN DEALERS CAN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610501

53,694 miles · Jul 14, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD DIM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,694.

NHTSA ODI #10610394

88,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014

Fuel System, Gasoline

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WOKE ONE MORNING AND NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO NOTICED THAT GAS IN THE TANK WAS AT A MUCH LOWER LEVEL THAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LAST OPERATED. I BELIEVED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK SO I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AT NISSAN BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. NISSAN SAID THAT FUEL PUMP IS CRACKED AND EMITTING GASOLINE VAPORS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE WAY CHEVROLET BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVED THAT THEY MAY HAVE MORE INFORMATION POSSIBLY CONCERNING A RECALL. ALEXANDER IRIZARRY (A SERVICE ADVISER) SAID THAT FUEL PUMPS FAIL ALL THE TIME AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY IT CRACKED. HE ALSO CLAIMED THAT WHEN PARTS FAIL IT IS NORMAL TO PUT THE DRIVER IN DANGER SUCH AS IF BRAKES GO OUT OR A TIRE BLOWS FROM POOR MAINTENANCE. ASKED FOR $1200 TO REPLACE THE PART. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF HE REPLACES IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT LATER ON THE PUMP WILL FAIL AND EMIT GAS VAPORS LEADING TO A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. THREE WAY RELEASED THE CAR TO ME WITH NO WARNING OF NOT TO DRIVE IT. VEHICLE OPERATES FINE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609838

51,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014

Exterior Lighting

SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENTS RE TURN SIGNALS FAILURE TO AUTOMATIC DISENGAGE -2009 CHEVY MALIBU. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10609383

52,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL REQUIRED THE DRIVER TO HOLD THE TURN SIGNAL HANDLE WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

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NHTSA ODI #10609243

59,575 miles · Jul 8, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

WHILE LUCKILY DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AROUND 35MPH THE "POWER STEERING NEEDS SERVICING" LIGHT CAME ON. THOUGHT IT MIGHT NEED POWER STEERING FLUID AND WAS TOLD MY MODEL DIDN'T USE FLUID - IT WAS ALL ELECTRICAL IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK IT THE NEXT DAY TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME …

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NHTSA ODI #10608949

94,965 miles · Jul 8, 2014

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO SAFELY GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR WAS PRACTICALLY UN-DRIVABLE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY OR ANY RECALL (SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE), WHICH THEY RESPONDED IT WAS NOT. TO MY DISMAY, I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC AT A COST OF $760. WITH THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, THE CAR IS WORKING WELL AND THERE ARE NO CURRENT SAFETY CONCERNS. WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU REPAIRED (RECEIPT DATED 3/25/14, I READ THAT 2004-2009 CHEVY MALIBUS WERE BEING RECALLED BECAUSE OF A POWER STEERING ISSUE. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE SITUATION I EXPERIENCED WITH OUR 2009 CHEVY MALIBU. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT A FEW WEEKS FOR THE LETTERS FROM GM TELLING ME OF THE RECALL AND DETAILING HOW TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL WEEKS WITH NO LETTER, I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, ONLY CERTAIN VINS OF THE 2009 MODEL YEAR WERE RECALLED. I TAKE EXTREME EXCEPTION TO THIS. THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED WITHIN THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPAIR COVERED UNDER THE RECALL IS THE EXACT WORK THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE COMPLETED TO MAKE MY VEHICLE SAFELY OPERABLE AGAIN. EITHER GM HAS MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT INCLUDING MY VEHICLE WITHIN THE RECALL, OR THE EXTENT OF THE CURRENT RECALL IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS ALL 2009 CHEVY MALIBU?S THAT HAVE THE PART(S) THAT LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK FOR FAILURE AND HENCE, INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608928

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2014

Electrical SystemCrash

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OF TWO OCCASIONS, HE LOST POWER TO THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, HE SIDE SWIPED A PARKED VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10607346

113,421 miles · Jul 5, 2014

Exterior LightingService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 70 & 75 MPH. I HEARD BRAKES SCREECHING BEHIND ME. I THEN REALIZED THAT MY CRUZ HAD ALSO WENT OFF. I KNEW THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAD COME ON FOR NO REASON AGAIN AS THEY HAD IN THE PAST. I WAS SURE CARS WERE GOING TO START REAR ENDING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I HAD SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES. WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING WITH MY VEHICLE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OFF WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES. THE CAR WILL JERK LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STALL. THE RPM'S WILL SURGE TO 4000 WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN. THE CRUZ WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON. THESE PROBLEMS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608367

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)