Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

93 reports

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47,560 miles · Jan 22, 2013

Air Bags

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I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON JANUARY 11, 2013 AND THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INFORMATION CENTER IN MY DASH. I TOOK THE CAR TO HORNE AUTO IN SHOW LOW, AZ, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, ON JANUARY 18, 2013 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $730 TO FIX. I WENT HOME AND GOT THE INFORMATION FROM MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO CONTACT GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN SENT OUT THAT I HAD UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2012, TO GET SAID PROBLEM FIXED. IN RESEARCHING THIS BULLETIN ON SAFERCAR.GOV, THIS BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT NOVEMBER 1, 2012. SINCE I NEVER RECEIVED THE BULLETIN AND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL JANUARY 11, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FIX OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I PUT IN A COMPLAINT TO GM AND WAS THEN TOLD I COULD GET IT FIXED FOR HALF THE COST SINCE GM WAS GOING TO COVER THE OTHER HALF. I PUT IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO GM TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM, SEEING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY KIDS THAT I DRIVE AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE, I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT. I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE EITHER. I AM STILL WAITING FOR GM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493809

2,700 miles · Apr 27, 2012

Air BagsCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND NECK, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN AND A SPECIAL ENGINEER SENT ON BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

NHTSA ODI #10456674

4,628 miles · Oct 12, 2011

Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A VEHICLE CRASH AT 55 MPH WHEN HIT BY LARGE PICKUP TRUCK HAULING EMPTY HORSE TRAILER WHEN DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL. IMPACT CAUSED 2011 MALIBU TO SPIN AT HIGH VELOCITY AND ROLL OVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. INJURY OF FRONT PASSENGER OCCURRED. THE SDM MODULE READING SHOWED "NO EVENT" OCCURR…

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NHTSA ODI #10429607

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.

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

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)