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

Clear category filter

101,000 miles · Feb 13, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, NEARLY CAUSING A SECOND VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEFECT WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AS THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564276

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

I CALLED AND MADE A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY REGARDING MY VEHICLE DROPPING FROM 60 MPH TO 30 MPH IN THE MIDST OF MORNING TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO LET THE CAR SIT IDLE WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN IT SHOULD RESET AND BE FINE. WELL, THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES THIS MORNING, 3 OF THOSE TIMES MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE ROADS WERE SLICK THIS MORNING WITH RAIN/SNOW AND MY CAR FIRST DID THIS AT INTERSTATE 35 AND ILLINOIS, I PULLED OVER FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. IT DID IT AGAIN AT INTERSTATE 35 AND REGAL ROW AND HAD TO AGAIN SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 MINUTES. I REACHED CARROLLTON AND IT DID IT AGAIN ON BELTLLINE ROAD AND THEN ON 161 AND TRINITY. MIND YOU, THE FIRST TWO INCIDENCES HAPPENED BEFORE DAYLIGHT. THE SECOND INCIDENT ALSO PUT US IN DANGER OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS AN 18 WHEELER WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AS THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND DECREASING SPEED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MOVE TO THE MEDIAN BEFORE I WAS SIDESWIPED. THE FIRST THREE INCIDENCES THE CAR DECREASED TO 30 MPH AND WOULD NOT INCREASE. ON THE FOURTH INCIDENT MY CAR WOULD NOT INCREASE PAST 25 MPH. THIS VEHICLE PUT ME IN MUCH DANGER THIS MORNING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER (SNOW) CONDITIONS IN OUR AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563241

87,000 miles · Jan 31, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Read full complaint

I HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING AT A RATE OF 65MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGINS SHAKING TERRIBLY, MY SPEED DROPS BACK TO 20 MPH AND LIGHTS LIGHT UP INDICATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER", "ESC OFF", AND SOMETHING REGARDING STABILITY CONTROL SERVICE. CAN I SAY SCARED OUT OF MY MIND AND TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT THE THE SAME TIME AS THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO PRETTY MUCH SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. I HAD ONSTAR TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO BE INFORMED THAT IT IS MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. I CALLED THE OURISMAN SERVICE DEPT IN BOWIE, MD AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, WHICH I FIND TO BE TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!! I WILL BE CALLING GM TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK THAT THIS REPAIR BE COVERED OR I WILL HAVE TO TAKE OTHER STEPS TO SEEK SOME SATISFACTORY ASSISTANCE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT, AS IT IS NOT A FAULT OF THE CONSUMER BUT EVIDENTIALLY DEFECTED PARTS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED BY GM COMPANY...WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR BEFORE THEY TAKE ACTION...I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE!! SIGNED: NOT A HAPPY CHEVY OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562323

42,532 miles · Jan 8, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LUCKILY I WAS STUCK IN WALL TO WALL TRAFFIC DUE TO BAD WEATHER ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE GAS TO INCH FORWARD AND MY CAR STARTING SHAKING AND SEEMED TO BE IDLED UP. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY DASH READ ENGINE POWERING DOWN,SERVICE TRACKING SYSTEM AND MY CAR WOULD GO NO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. THE PART…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10559125

46,640 miles · Jan 7, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

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

63,800 miles · Jan 4, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON ONE OF THE MAIN HIGHWAYS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL LIGHTS APPEARED FIRST IT WAS THE SERVICE ESC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT, ALONG WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHT, THE CAR THEN DROPPED FROM A SPEED OF 65 TO A SPEED OF 20 AND WOULD NOT GO ON THE HIGHWAY THIS ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, I WOULD RATHER MY LIFE BE SAVED THAN DRIVING IN A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558491

18,000 miles · May 13, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN SPEED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICL…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10511641

51,000 miles · Mar 29, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MILES PER HOUR AND THE ABS,TRACTION CONTROL, AND ESC SERVICE LIGHTS WENT ON THE DASHBOARD. FELT A SMALL JERK IN THE CAR AND THEN IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY LIGHTS REMAINED ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504942

42,568 miles · Mar 16, 2013

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

Read full complaint

DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND SERVICE ESC AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED. I HAD TO MANEUVER 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT IN RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. "FAULTY ALTERNATOR" RULED TO BE AT FAULT. NO WARNING THAT MORNING PRIOR TO EVENT. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON A LITTLE LONGER (5 MINUTES) THAN USUAL AND THEN WENT OFF. IT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN TO WARN OF SOMETHING WRONG. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INDIFFERENT SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE'S BBB AS THIS IS THE THIRD, AND MOST SEVERE ISSUE, I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT TWO YEARS QUITE YET. I DID RECEIVE A CALL BACK FROM GM. THEY ARE WORKING ON THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS LIFE THREATENING EVENT AS WELL AS THE OTHER PROBLEMS, WHICH WERE THE EXHAUST SOLENOID DIED ( SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE COVERING CAME OFF EXPOSING THE SHARP METAL IT IS MADE OF). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503271

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

Read full complaint

SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONSTANTLY SAY "SERVICE ESC" AND "SERVICE TRACTION". PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR AT LEAST THE FIFTH TIME IN THE SHOP FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. BY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 5,500 MILES ON IT SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF IT MARCH 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, THE SYSTEMS (TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ARE DISABLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FINE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ARE AN ENHANCED SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE (AND ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN) THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO ME BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462567

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)