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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6,800 miles · Mar 17, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

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THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2011. THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WAS NO STEERING, SERVICE ESC,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. TODAY IS THE SECOND TIME THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. CHEVY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER, BUT NOW IT'S BACK. THE MALIBU IS BACK AT CHEVY FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER INCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO BUT AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE AND HAS NOT SURFACED UNTIL NOW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED THIS TIME FOR GOOD. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452080

6,801 miles · Nov 25, 2011

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SUBURBAN RD. THE MALIBU JERKED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN THE (SERVICE ESC) LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH OTHER LIGHTS AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. IT ALSO HAD A (CAR LOCKED) SYMBOL LIT ON THE DASH. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. WE PAY GOOD MONEY TO DRIVE A NEW CAR SO WE DON'T HAVE BREAKDOWNS, NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITIES OF GETTING HIT WHEN THIS FAULT OCCURS MAYBE EVEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE POPULATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437287

6,898 miles · Jun 21, 2011

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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FROM MY WIFE: AFTER TWO PRIOR TRIPS IN THE SAME DAY (36 MILES AND 16 MILES ROUND TRIP RESPECTIVELY), MY 3RD OCCASION TO START THE CAR WAS MET WITH A GLARING WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". IT WAS FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE ESC/TRACTION CONTROL". I WAS PUZZLED BY THIS WHEN AFTER THAT BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT HAD TO GO TO GET TO A PERFORMANCE. THE ENGINE HAD BARELY ANY POWER AND IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FROZEN. I HAD TO CREEP ALONG WITH DRIVERS TAILGATING ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 30 MPH. AS SOON AS I REACHED MY DESTINATION (ONLY 4 MILES AWAY), I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND SO HE COULD COME TO GET THE CAR WHEN HE GOT BACK FROM HIS ERRAND. FROM HUSBAND AND PRIMARY DRIVER OF CAR: I ARRIVED TO DROP OFF ANOTHER CAR FOR MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME SCROLLING MESSAGES AND SLUGGISH RESPONSE. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS SAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE. WHEN I CALLED TO ARRANGE A TOW BACK TO CHEVY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR SO THAT DRIVERS CAN'T INADVERTENTLY DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. TODAY THE BROOKDALE CHEVROLET (MN) DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD EITHER PICK THE CAR UP, OR THEY WOULD KEEP IT ONE MORE DAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM TO IDENTIFY AND FIX THE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IF MY WIFE OR I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, IT COULD HAVE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FURTHER. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10409448

550 miles · Jan 26, 2011

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

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I PURCHASED A 2011 MALIBU FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN AUSTIN, TX IN NOVEMBER 2010. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH A KNOWN DEFECTIVE EBCM (ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE). THEY HAD THE PART ON ORDER AND DIDN'T TELL ME. I FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHEN I HAD A TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE INDICATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO FAIL UNTIL THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND STILL HAD A TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FAILURE. LATER I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONNECTOR ON THE EBCM HAD A PUSHED PIN FROM THE MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS KEPT THERE A WEEK LOOKING FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FAILURE AND A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THIS LEFT THE BRAKES FEELING SOFT/MUSHY..MORE TRAVEL. TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BUT DEALER WOULDN'T HELP ME UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO TAKE A $6000 LOST ON THE MONTH OLD MALIBU. COMPLAINED TO GM BUT ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THE DEALER FIXED THE CAR. OFFERED SOME OIL CHANGES. IN JANUARY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE HIT ON THIS MALIBU AND BECAUSE OF CURRENT INCENTIVES TRADED IT FOR ANOTHER MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378714

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)