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

152,000 miles · Dec 18, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

Read full complaint

AS I WAS DRIVINGDOWN THE STREET, THE POWER STEERING/SERVICE ESC LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON MY CAR. IT ALSO SAID ESC OFF. I GOT PULLED INTO A PARKUING LOT AND TURNED OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER WORK IT DID IT TO ME WHEN I STARTED IT. I KILLED IT AND RESTARTED IT AND JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND IT WORKED FOR AROUND FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY YEARS OF THE MALIBU AND OTHER CARS. GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES BUT MOST OF THEM ARE OVER THAT LIMIT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10811210

86,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015

Steering

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING AND A "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASH. FOR NOW, I DIDN'T FEEL ANY DIFFERENCE IN STEERING, BUT TO BE HONEST, IT'S BEEN ALWAYS A BIT HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS GETTING COLDER IN MY STATE AND I AM WORRIED FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I CALLED MY LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I AM NOT COVERED, HOWEVER IF I BRING MY CAR, THEY MIGHT COVER SOME EXPENSES. I ONLY HAVE 86.000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I DON'T SEE WHY IT SHOULDN'T BE FULLY COVERED BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN MALIBU CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10810903

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2015

Steering

Read full complaint

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POWER STEERING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WITH NO WARNING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET. ONCE SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RE-STARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING RESUMED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, THE CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE AND THE LETTER TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, SHE WAS DENITED. GM STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. 8JB

NHTSA ODI #10807065

90,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015

Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10810546

120,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015

Electrical System

DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING THEY MAY UNLOCK MAY NOT UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS NOT IN MOTION THEN RANDOMLY THEY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION CONSTANTLY AT SLOW SPEED LESS OFTEN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING THEY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE CONSTANTLY MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET INVOLVING THE SAME IS…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10810218

108,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY WORKS, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS RECALL. CHEVY DEALER TRIES TO TELL ME LIGHT IS "FRIED" WHEN IT ACTUALLY WORKS, INTERMITTENTLY. GM HAS YET TO CONTACT ME ON WHETHER THEY WILL COVER THE COST

NHTSA ODI #10809587

100,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808823

144,228 miles · Dec 6, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

ON 11/07/15 MY MALIBU FAILED SMOG CHECK DUE TO P0013/P0014 CODES & LIQUID FUEL LEAK CHECK. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS OBVIOUSLY GAS LEAK & NEED TO FIX RIGHT AWAY. I DROVE & LEFT IT TO MY MECHANIC SHOP THE SAME DAY (SATURDAY PM). HE SAID TRACE OF FUEL LEAK IS COMING FROM TOP OF TANK, AND HE TOOK DOWN THE TANK TO CHECK FUEL LINE AND PUMP.I CALLED GM TO FIND OUT SAFETY RECALL ON MY MALIBU & ALSO ASKED HIM FOR HELP TO LOCATE THE LEAK AS THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SIMILAR TO OTHER GM CARS. GM SAID MY MALIBU IS NOT UNDER FUEL LEAK RECALL LIKE SOME OTHER GM CARS AND HE DIDN'T KNOW EASY WAY TO LOCATE GAS LEAK,BUT OFFERED ME FREE TOW TO GM DEALERSHIP. I TOLD GM MY MALIBU IS INSIDE MY MECHANIC SHOP AND HE ALREADY WORKING ON IT SO I CAN'T TOW IT OUT FROM HIS SHOP.MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE WHOLE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY (LEAK WAS FROM PLASTIC LINE CONNECTION TO FUEL PUMP) AND REPAIRED ALSO THE OTHER CODES.I CALLED BACK GM AND DISCUSSED TO HER([XXX])THE SAFETY ISSUE OF PRESENCE OF GAS LEAK CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION EVEN IN MINOR ACCIDENT,OR EVEN JUST PARK INSIDE MY GARAGE, THE ACCUMULATION OF GAS VAPOR CAN RESULT IN EXPLOSION SINCE MY GAS FURNACE IN THE GARAGE WHICH IS JUST NEARBY THE CAR, IS ALWAYS BEING USED AT NIGHT. SHE SAID NOTHING GM CAN DO SINCE THE CAR WAS ALREADY REPAIRED AND GM CAN'T REIMBURSE MY REPAIR COST SINCE MY MALIBU IS OUT OF WARRANTY ALREADY. UNDER RECALL OR NOT, UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT I THINK A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY SHOULD AT LEASE INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF GAS LEAK IN CAR TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT, IMPROVED THE MATERIALS OR DESIGN IN THEIR FUTURE CARS.THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT THAT LIVES WERE LOST DUE TO GAS LEAK DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED SOONER. IF THEY WANT ME TO BRING THE FUEL ASSEMBLY PARTS TO DEALERSHIP (WHICH I SUGGESTED TO [XXX]) FOR INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE MATERIAL OR DESIGN FLAW, JUST LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10808655

78,798 miles · Dec 4, 2015

Power Train

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSING AND TORQUE CONVERTER SEALS. WHY WAS THE TRANSMISSION NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS REPAIR. I PURCHASED THE CAR AT 36,045 MILES, AT 78,798 MILES THIS TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKAGE OCCURS. THIS RESULT IN 3RD GEAR SHIFT SLIPPING. RENDERING ME TO PAY A TOTAL TO ROGER DEAN OF 1,234.15, MIND YOU THE SEALS WERE 30.00 AND THE LABOR 1086.40. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE SEALS FOR THAT SITUATION TO OCCUR IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. PURCHASE CAR FROM ROGER DEAN ON 7/30/11 AT 36,045 MILES. HAD REPAIRS DONE ON 1/28/14 AT 78,798 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10808370

19,850 miles · Dec 1, 2015

Structure

REAR DOOR POWER LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO ACTUATE. FAILS TO LOCK PASSENGER DOOR WHEN DRIVING, FAILS TO UNLOCK IN THE EVENT OF NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT. LOCKS ARE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MANUALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10807668

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)