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

Engine complaints

160 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2015

EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

ON 3/28/15 I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU FROM RAINBOW CHEVROLET IN LAPLACE LOUISIANA. WHEN TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A VERY SMALL AND HARDLY NOTICEABLE JERK WHEN THE CAR CHANGED INTO 2ND GEAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND I TOOK HIS WORD FOR IT. ALMOST 7 MONTHS LATER, THE ISSUE HAS GOTTEN 1000 X'S WORSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL NOW. THE JERK IS VIOLENT AND IT NOW JERKS WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, DRIVE AND REVERSE. PULLING OFF SLOWLY, MAKES THE CAR JERK VERY HARD. IF YOU APPLY MORE GAS WHEN TAKING OFF,THE JERK IS NOT AS BAD BUT IT'S STILL BAD. THE CAR DID NOT COME WITH A WARRANTY BUT I WAS OK WITH THAT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED THOROUGHLY, THAT AN ELDERLY COUPLE PREVIOUSLY OWNED THE CAR, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND I HAD ALSO JUST GOTTEN RID OF A 2005 MALIBU THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN WHICH I HAD NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND ON THE CHEVROLET MALIBU FORUM IN REGARDS TO THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 53,803 MILES WHICH IS NOT VERY MUCH IN CAR YEARS AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES DOCUMENTED THAT I AM HAVING. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I AM UNABLE TO FILL UP THE CAR WITH GAS. IT STOPS AT ABOUT TANK AND STARTS TO SPILL OUT. THIS WAS NOTICED SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR ALSO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN COLLEGE AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPAIR A VEHICLE WITH ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI #10782470

63,237 miles · Sep 21, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10766691

90,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

Read full complaint

IN FEBRUARY 2015 MY CHEVROLET MALIBU HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A WIRING ISSUE. DURING RESEARCH IT SEEMED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. MORE RECENTLY ON 09/16/2015 MY VEHICLE HAD ANOTHER ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WOULD SHUTDOWN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPG. THIS ISSUE HAD HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT PREVENTED ME FROM STARTING MY CAR AND EVERY ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN THE CAR WOULD FLASH AND BEEP/CLICK OUT OF CONTROL. BUT IN THIS MORE RECENT CASE IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO AFTER MORE RESEARCH IT LOOKS AS IF OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, SOME STATING THAT THAT IS THE WORST YEAR OF THAT MODEL THEY EVER OWNED AND I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. AT THE TIME I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I COULD NOT STOP WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED MINUTES EARLIER WHEN I HAS IN A BUSY HIGHWAY UNDER AZ HEAT WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING WORKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. GM HAS NOT HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION WITH THE THE QUALITY OF THEIR VEHICLES, SPECIALLY WITH ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. IF THE CAR ENGINE AND ELECTRONICS SHUT DOWN, WOULD THE AIR BAGS ACTIVATE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT? CODES: P0113, P1668 MAF (MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR) HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW ONCE AFTER INCIDENT AND ISSUES HAVE CONTINUED.

NHTSA ODI #10764972

105,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015

Engine

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 5 MPH. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10733741

100,500 miles · Jul 8, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AV…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10732723

109,000 miles · Jun 11, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10724665

77,600 miles · Jun 10, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

6/6/2015 CAR WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT. UPON TRYING TO START THE CAR ERRORS FOR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER SHOWED UP. CAR WAS SPUTTERING AND RUNNING ROUGH. TURNED CAR OFF. WAITED A LITTLE WHILE AND STARTED CAR AGAIN AND NO ERROR MESSAGES. BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ERROR CODE THAT CAME UP WAS P2101. 6/10/2015 SAME THING HAPPENED. LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED TO START AGAIN. SMELLED HEAVILY OF GAS WHEN IT STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #10724582

50,000 miles · Apr 9, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

2011 MALIBU 2LT 3600 VVT. I HAVE MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL & ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGES APPEARING. THE LAST TIME, TODAY, ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED DUE TO THE ENGINE FLUCTUATING BETWEEN ABOUT 200 AND 1500 RPM. AFTER THE FIRST INSTANCE I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALER TO HAVE RECALL #14V252000 ADDRESSED. THIS SEEMED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IT ALL HAPPENED AGAIN TELLING ME THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. THROUGH ON-LINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ALMOST AS MANY SUPPOSED CAUSES. THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT ON MY CAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD A MECHANIC TO GUESS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704601

52,000 miles · Mar 23, 2015

Engine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10701129

71,783 miles · Mar 16, 2015

Engine

JUST GOT MY CAR BACK MID FEBRUARY AFTER THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE SIGNS AT THAT TIME WERE CK ENGINE LIGHT SERVICE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC. GM DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. ITS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. FORWARD 1 MONTH. NOW ALL LIGHTS COME ON...ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE E…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10694412

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)