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

Electrical System complaints

235 reports

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70,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH ITS VERY HARD TO HAVE STABILITY IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BALANCED AND ROTATED. I ALSO TOO VEHICLE TO BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO SAID EVERYTHING LOOKS OK TO THEM. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT THIS SPEED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL START SHAKING AND THE VEH WILL DROP FROM 65 MPH TO 20MPH CAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL TO DROP AUTOMATICALLY. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT HAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. 4 NEW TIRES AND EVERY 2 WEEKS THE AIR PRESSURE ON THEM IS LOW I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO SO WITH THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 2ND REVIEW ABOUT THIS CAR. I DON'T WANT HAVE A WRECK AND KILL ME AND MY CHILDREN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608557

39,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014

Electrical System

3 TIMES MY SONS CAR HAS JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604354

72,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK! THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN BUTTON WILL UNLOCK THE DOORS BUT WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I CAN'T EVEN USE THE POWER LOCKS ON THE DRIVER DOOR TO LOCK THE DOORS ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO LEAN OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO LOCK THE DOORS THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECK THE HANDLE TO MAKE SURE MY DOORS ARE LOCKED. THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS! ALSO, THE TRUNK RELEASE WILL NOT WORK ON THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN OR IN THE CAR. I HAVE TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596642

72,000 miles · May 27, 2014

Electrical SystemVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPR…

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NHTSA ODI #10594206

54,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,800.

NHTSA ODI #10593266

73,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR A SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE MESSAGE WAS "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC". THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THE FIRST TIME THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ATTEND AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON MAY 14, 2014 GM RECALLED CHEVROLET MALIBU'S FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2004-2014. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS DENIED HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I INFORMED THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL. GM INFORMED ME THAT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND MAYBE GET REIMBURSE AT A LATER TIME. I EXPLAINED MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD THAT GETS TRANSPORTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT CARE. THE LADY ON THE PHONE JUST KEPT REPEATING THAT I COULD PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT IT WAS ALL MODELS RECALLED FROM 2004-2012 BUT I AM STILL GETTING DENIED HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593003

36,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014

Electrical SystemSeat BeltsSteering

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I PURCHASED MY 2011 MALIBU IN APRIL 2012. INITIALLY, I WAS EXPERIENCING POWER SURGES UPON BREAKING. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND MY CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SENSOR. I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SURGES OCCASIONALLY. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE I WAS GETTING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON A ROUGH A SURFACE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS FINE FOR A YEAR, NOW THAT PROBLEM IS RETURNING. DURING THE WINTER 2013, MY REAR DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR FUSE BLOCK WAS MELTED AND IT WILL COST $535 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. AND ANOTHER $230 TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED---- IT DOESN'T CONNECT SECURELY WITHOUT FIDDLING WITH IT. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ISSUED ON ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAVE READ BLOGS AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, AND THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576876

36,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014

Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THE STEERING BEGAN TO SHAKE. I'M HAVING MY BOYFRIEND LOOK AT IT AFTER WORK BUT I FOUND THIS SITE SO I DECIDED TO POST THIS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573676

27,510 miles · Mar 10, 2014

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,510 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,913. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN *TR *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568206

46,640 miles · Jan 7, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAY TOO WORK , RUSH HOUR AND UNPLEASANT WEATHER. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SLOWED ITSELF DOWN, STARTED TO TREMBLE AND THE ;ENGINE POWER REDUCE / SERVICE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED SINCE CAR JUST DECIDED TO REDUCE ITS ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. CAR STARTED TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CALLED INTO WORK AND CAUTIOUSLY DROVE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD CAR WILL NOT BE LOOKED AT TIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT CALLS ME THE FOLLOWING MORNING , TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND NEEDS THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, DUE TO IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL DEFECT POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE COLD WEATHER. I ASKED WHY WOULD THE THROTTLE BODY DEFECT , BE THE CONSUMERS FAULT; I DIDN'T KNOW CARS CANT BE OUT IN THE COLD WEATHER. SO, I DECIDED TO LOOK UP THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU RECALLS/DEFECTS AND FOUND 22 OF 57 COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME CAR ISSUE/PROBLEM/DEFECT. SO, I ASK; WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN PUT UP FOR A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL, AND HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF??? THIS CAN CAUSE ALOT OF ACCIDENTS! AS IM SURE THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ENGINE POWER REDUCTION HAVE FELT AT THAT MOMENT AND TIME. SO NOW IM TOO PAY $546.00 (ESTIMATED) TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED TO USE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES. I THOUGHT CHEVROLET WAS A DEPENDABLE MAKER. ALL MY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND MY PARENTS HAVE PURCHASED CHEVYS- FROM TRAVERSE- MALIBU'S AND THEY ARE ALL SURPRISED THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558780

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)