Steering. Review the 454 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 294 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 227 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 reports14 fire reports35 injury reports

Engine complaints

115 reports

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50,850 miles · Dec 9, 2014

Engine

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EXITING THE FREEWAY MY CAR DISPLAY FLASHED "ESC OFF" "REDUCE ENGINE POWER". MY CAR CONTINUED TO REDUCE POWER UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN CHICAGO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT PULL ALL THE WAY OVER BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. MY CAR WAS DISABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP IT WAS FINE, HOWEVER THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I CONTINUED TO TRY TO MAKE MY DRIVE HOME AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER. THIS TIME I WAS NOT IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. I DID MAKE IT TO THE PARKING LANE AND SET THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE CAR. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER ON ME AGAIN APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC AGAIN. THE FINAL TIME WAS AS I WAS PARALLEL PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY HOME AND I JUST LET IT SHUT OFF AFTER I PARKED. I DROVE THE CAR TODAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BUT IT HAS NOT STOPPED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND CONCERNING. HAVING YOUR ENGINE SHUT DOWN OWN A FREEWAY IS TERRIFYING AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT OTHER MALIBU OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS THUS FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663225

60,000 miles · Nov 15, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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WHEN THE CARS HAD ABOUT 60000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, GAUGES SHUT OFF , AC WOULD NOT WORK GAS MILEAGE WOULD DROP AFTER TAKING IT TO DIFFERENT DEALER SHIPS WE HAD DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM. ALL OF THE EXPENSIVE AND THEY WERE NOTE SURE IT WOULD HELP SON BY UNHOOKING THE BATTERY IT WOULD SOMETIMES CLEAR THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT IT WOULD ALWAYS RETURN. NOW WITH 100,000 AND ABOUT FIRST OF 2014 THE ENGINE STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, TRACTION CONTROL WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF AND LOWER POWER LIGHT WOULD COME ON PLUS ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TWO YOUR BOYS THIS CAN BE SCARY. WE HAVE HAD THE RECALL DONE WITH THE BMS CABLE WHICH DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS IN WEST JEFFERSON, NC LEFT THERE TOOLS IN THE CAR AND NOTE VERY PROFESSIONAL, MACK BROWNS IN BOONE SAID IT HAD NO RECALL WERE RUDE AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE CHANGED THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS AND WHEN WE GET HE MONEY ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF AN ASSEMBLY WHICH IS EXPENSIVE BUT WE HAVE NO CHOICE CAN'T TRADE IT IN LIKE THIS SO WERE STUCK. THIS IS THE WORST CAR EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD NO MORE CHEVROLETS FOR US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655163

55,255 miles · Oct 24, 2014

Engine

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HAD THE SPACER FOR THE BCM PUT IN FOR THE SAFETY RECALL ON OCTOBER 17,2104. TODAY OCTOBER 24,2014, I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN PARK, IT THEN BEGAN TO HESITATE AND WANT TO STALL. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR READ 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CAR STALLED AND THE CAR READ 'ENGINE DISABLED'. I TURNED THE KEY TO OFF, AND SINCE I WAS QUITE A DISTANCE FROM HOME I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND IT WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649727

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10640300

44,000 miles · Aug 23, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED (LIKE A TRANSMISSION ERROR) AND THEN THE MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY WOULD SHOW "SERVICE ESC" AND "TRACTION OFF". I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FIRST TO RUN AN ELECTRICAL TEST, WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED A SENSOR (COST=$158.95). A FEW DAYS LATER THE VERY SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AND AT THIS TIME WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND MY CAR HAD SHUT ITSELF OFF. I THEN BROUGHT IT IN WHERE THE FOUND CODES REGARDING THE MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (MAP) SENSOR PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE PLACE THEN MONITORED BOTH THE COMPUTER DATA FOR THE MAP SENSOR AND THE ACTUAL SENSOR DATA DURING TEST DRIVE AND FOUND THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE COMPUTER DATA DROPS OUT BUT THE SENSOR DATA REMAINS THE SAME, THEY SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE WIRING PROBLEM, AND I AGREED TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE SENSOR.(COST+$275.15). NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THE VERY SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. MY HUSBAND PLAYED AROUND WITH SOME WIRES AND HAD NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE WAY THAT CONDENSATE COULD GET INTO WHERE THE SENSORS WERE AND SO HE FIXED THAT ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THEN. JUST WANTING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND TO GET A PROPER FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627758

67,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNED THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR AND CAUSED SOME INTERIOR DAMAGE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622584

26,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014

Engine

THE ENGINE HAS AN ECO-TECH IT IS GETTING FUEL IN OIL , YOU CAN SMELL IT ON CAP. THIS IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BURN OIL , USE MORE GAS.THE CAR ONLY HAS 27000 MILES ON IT. EXCELLENT CONDITION. USING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE, YOU HAVE TO MONITOR OR VALVES CHATTER. THE MOTOR CANT LAST IN THIS STATE, PLEASE ADD TO RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621279

46,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618122

23,555 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,555. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 8/4/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10615791

81,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CLOCK WAS RESET, THE LOW ENGINE COMPRESSION, AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,401. UPDATED 10/23/14*CN THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/30/14

NHTSA ODI #10615416

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

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)