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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

174 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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THE VIOLENTLY SHAKES ALMOST AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO DIE. IT DOESN'T GO OVER 23-30 MPH. THE CAR ACCELERATES WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKES. A MESSAGE DISPLAYS SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCING, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE STREET AND HIGHWAY. I'M SCARED OF HITTING SOMEONE WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE! MY CAR IS AT 103K MILES ON IT. I'M OUT OF A CAR THAT I'M PAYING A NOTE ON. ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR A WHILE YEAR YET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. THE CODE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS C0242. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! MANY CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #10820573

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2016

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Seat Belts

I WAS STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND MY DASH READ SERVICE AIRBAG. I STARTED TO DRIVE OFF AND THE DASH STARTED FLASHING SERVICE AIRBAG. WHEN IN MOTION AND AS I START IGNITION. ALSO MY SEATBELT SOMETIMES LOCK OR NOT LOCK AND IS VERY LOOSE AS I ADJUST SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10820339

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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AFTER READING THE MANY MANY COMMENTS HERE, I CAN SAY I'M LUCKY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THINGS WENT HAYWIRE. I RETURNED HOME FROM WORK TODAY AND MY VEHICLE WAS FINE. I HAD TO RUN A FEW ERRANDS BUT WHEN RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED THIS: VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. FAST CLICKING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER. DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED BY THEMSELVES DURING THIS TIME. SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ESC OFF APPEARED. VEHICLE HAS YET TO START AND NOW HAVE NO POWER WHATSOEVER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. VERY ODD THAT THIS IS NOT A CURRENT RECALL. HELP?'

NHTSA ODI #10819085

123,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE ESC LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10818458

72,000 miles · Jan 4, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

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BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2013. IN JUNE 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED SAYING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL . CAR STALLED AND STOPPED. IT DID THIS 3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. CHANGED TIRES . IN JULY 2015 ON THE HIGHWAY IT DID THE SAME THING. GOT THE FULL BODY THROTTLE CHANGED. IN NOVEMBER 2015 HAD TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP. LANGS TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. THEY CHANGED THE FULL BODY THROTTLE AGAIN. NOW JANUARY 4, 2016. THE CAR IS STALLING TRY PUSH GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT IS ON NOW.. I ALSO HAVE 3 KIDS AND A GRANDBABY THAT RIDES IN THIS CAR. I'M JUST SO IRRITATED. THEN TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. THEY SHOULD REFUND EVERYONE THEIR MONEY BACK ON THESE CARS. EVIDENTLY THEY WERE NOT MADE RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

NHTSA ODI #10817719

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE HOOD ONTO THE BRAKE LEVER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10816730

105,000 miles · Dec 23, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH "HICCUPS" (TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER) WHILE DRIVING FOLLOWED BY FLASHING WARNING LIGHT OF TRACTION CONTROL THEN FOLLOWED WITH "SERVICE ESC... SERVICE ECM... ESC OFF". SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. BY THE TIME WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GM SERVICE THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GET A CODE BUT RECOMMENDED A NEW ECM. PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND RETURNED BACK TO GM SERVICE WITH SAME RESULT AND RECOMMENDATION. MY WIFE COMMUTES 1.5 HOURS PER DAY AND ALSO DRIVES OUR 3 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL EACH DAY. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE CONTINUE WITH THESE ISSUES, THE VEHICLE FINALLY STALLED COMPLETELY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY START AND RUN AGAIN. SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE AND WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR SO I DROVE THE VEHICLE ONE WEEK EACH DAY TO WORK TO WITNESS THE PROBLEMS MYSELF. EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD FLASH THE SAME ERROR CODES ON EACH TRIP TO AND FROM WORK FINALLY, ON THE WAY TO THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. A NEW ECM WAS INSTALLED (WITH A COST OF $650+) AND WITHIN TWO DAYS OF DRIVING, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. GM SERVICE SENT A TOW TRUCK AND I AWAIT THEIR NEXT ATTEMPT AT FIXING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10811913

115,100 miles · Dec 23, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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ON 12/23/15 APPROX 8:40 AM, I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON KELLY DRIVE APPROX 40 MPH. I WAS HEADING INTO A SOFT CURVE, WHEN THE ESC CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, JERKING AND SWERVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, GOING INTO THE LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND THEN JERKING BACK INTO THE LANE I WAS ORIGINALLY IN. THE CAR JERKED AND SWERVED BACK AND FORTH, APPROX 4 TIME. THIS LASTED ROUGHLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THE ESC LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD DECREASED ENGINE POWER AFTER THAT. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SHOOK, SHUDDERED AND THEN SETTLED DOWN. I CONTINUED ON FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES TO WORK AND PARKED THE CAR. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I COULD'VE HIT ANOTHER CAR, CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE WALL, OR ANOTHER CAR COULD'VE CRASHED INTO ME

NHTSA ODI #10811870

62,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEED DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03/18/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $500. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10810926

100,000 miles · Nov 14, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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I WAS DRIVING AN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN A LARGE CURVE. 8 HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT LUCKILY WAS NOT INJURED. GM RECENTLY SENT OUT AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON TH POWER STEERING MODULE ONLY. THIS WAS REPLACED. IN MAY OF 2014 GM SENT OUT RECALL 13036 THAT INCLUDED MY CAR. THIS RECALL IS NOT PULLING UP ON MY VIN. THE LETTER STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR A FIX. I HAVE LIGHTS AND BELLS THAT MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. THEY FOUND AT YHE DEALER THAT AT LEAST ONCE I HAVE HAD A BRAKE ERROR. IN THE RECALL LETTER IT STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY FUNCTION WHEN I AM NOT BRAKING OR THEY MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN I AM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR! PLEASE PUSH FOR A RESOLUTION TO THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10790368

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)