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 · Feb 15, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

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THE ESC TURNS OFF PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. LAST MONDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING M. THE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT AND THE SOLENOID IS STUCK OPEN WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. PROMPTING THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND SELL ME A WHOLE NEW $5,000 TRANS. WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN RUNNING SLOW ON ACCELERATION BUT HAS NEVER BEEN STUCK IN FIRST GEAR LEAVING ME LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR HELP TO COME GET ME. THE HEADLIGHT BURN OUT LIKE EVERY 6 MONTHS RESULTING IN TAKING OFF THE BUMPER OR PAYING $200 FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR A $5 BULB. I HAVE NO PICTURES SINCE MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR ME TO EITHER GO GET OR PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11309420

65,674 miles · Feb 15, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

PER ONLINE REVIEWS FROM RECALLS FOR 2011 MALIBU THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THIS RECALL WAS NOT SENT TO ME, HOWEVER, MY CAR IS AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11309401

96,000 miles · Dec 21, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlInjury

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THE ABS, ESC, AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE SUDDENLY MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND AS MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND THE BREAKS LOCKED UP SO I COULDNT STOP. IT ONLY STOPPED ROLLING AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, HITTING THE EMERGENCY BREAK, AND QUICKLY GETTING THE KEY OUT BEFORE HITTING THE FAMILY BEHIND ME. I TRIED TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND THEY WOULDNT COME ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND THE WHOLE DASH WAS FLICKERING. AFTER TRYING THIS 3 TIMES IT STARTED, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WENT TO 7/8 RPM AND DID NOTHING. THEN IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AGAIN BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN PARK I WAS THRUSTED FORWARD INTO THE CENTER OF A ROUNDABOUT. AFTER THAT IT BEGAN TO DRIVE. I WAS LESS THAN 5 MINUTES FROM A FAMILY MEMBERS HOME SO I TRIED TO MAKE IT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR GOING 30 MPH FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO ZERO, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AGAIN. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE OF THE JOLT WHICH RESULTED IN FACIAL BRUISES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENED ALL OF THE ELECTRIC IN THE CAR STARTED GOING CRAZY. I WAS ON A BACKROAD, AND LUCKILY A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED TO HELP ME. I CALLED MY UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC WHO TOWED ME BACK TO THE HOUSE. THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME IVE HAD ISSUE WITH THESE WARNINGS COMING UP AND THEN I HAVE TO SUDDENLY START FIGHTING TO SURVIVE BEING TRAPPED IN A CAR TRYING TO KILL ME. SINCE THIS LAST INCIDENT I HAVE NOT TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFTER SEEING MULTIPLE MECHANICS THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING THIS. THIS KIND OF ISSUE COULD KILL SOMEONE. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND GM NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING UNRELIABLE, UNSAFE, DEATH TRAPS TO CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI #11290630

121,000 miles · Dec 17, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL START SHAKING, THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR COMPLETELY DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND 70 MPH ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. WE HAVE HAD IT IN MULTIPLE SHOPS AND BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE NOBODY HAS FOUND A RESOLUTION FOR. VERY DANGEROUS AND AFRAID TO PUT OUR KI…

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NHTSA ODI #11289657

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2019

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Seat Belts

THESE ARE RECALLS THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11278274

140,899 miles · Nov 3, 2019

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)WheelsCrash

TIRES GO FLAT REALLY FAST. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT READY MY TIRES NO MORE AND DON'T SHOW IF THERE'S AN ISSUE INCLUDING AIRBAGS. THE LIGHT WAS ON FOR A MONTH AND WEN TAWAU I GOT HIS IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11277748

70,000 miles · Oct 11, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL JUST STOP MOVING FORWARD ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. WE HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR POWER STEERING / ESC COME ON AND THE CHIMES RING 3 TIMES. UPON STOPPING THE CAR, IF THE ENGINE REMAINS OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THEN THE CAR WILL START BACK UP AND RUN NORMALLY FOR UP TO 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IN ST. LOUIS 4 TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF PARTS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING BUT THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE. WE ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CLEANED THE CABLES WITH NO RESULTS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. WE CANNOT BELIEVE OUR 2011 MALIBU IS THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11267965

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE LIGHTS DIM, LOSS OF POWER, ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, ILLUMINATES ON DASH. CAR SPUTTERS WITH NO ACCELERATION. CAR IS UNABLE TO TURN. THIS HAPPENED AS I BEGAN TO LEAVE MY SUBDIVISION, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT BACK. I HAVE A NEW BATTERY NO CAR WILL NOT CRANK UNLESS I HAVE A JUMP.

NHTSA ODI #11256487

90,000 miles · Sep 7, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

ESC LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON HEADLIGHTS BURNOUT AFTER MAYBE A FEW MONTHS OF BEING CHANGED FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11253899

106,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND DISABLED MY ENGINE TWICE! 1 TIME ON FEBRUARY 14,2019 WHICH I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY GOT THAT REPLACES IN MARCH. COME JUNE SAMETHING HAPPENED SERVICE ESC ENGINE DISABLED AND WE HAD TO BE TOWED OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY IN JUNE OF 2019. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC TO GET IT SERVICED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS A SHORTAGE IN IT AND FUSES IN MY FUSE BOX HAD MELTED TO THE FUSE BOX AND CAUSED A SHORTAGE ! THE CAR STOPPING ON THE EXPRESSWAY COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY MOM!!!

NHTSA ODI #11243805

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)