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

62,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUF…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10692915

91,500 miles · Mar 4, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A FAIRLY BUSY 2 LANE STREET. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST POWER. A MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE INFORMATION SCREEN INDICATING SOMETHING LIKE "REDUCED POWER TO THE ENGINE". ALSO, A MESSAGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING UNDER REDUCED POWER MODE BECAUSE I NEEDED TO SERVICE ESC, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED AS WELL ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND ESSENTIALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN "LIMP MODE". I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THIS TO BE A "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR CHEVY MALIBU MODELS. MY CAR WAS, OF COURSE, OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED UNDER ANY SORT OF RECALL, SO I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $500 FOR THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOST POWER. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO PULL ACROSS A HEAVY INTERSECTION OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY. FURTHER, I SEE REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I AM REPORTING THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN - HAD THIS SITUATION HAPPENED UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE. I SINCE FOLLOWED UP WITH CHEVROLET SERVICE AND THEY ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE "AWARE" OF THE ISSUE BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ETC... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692104

66,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015

EngineTraction Control System

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692094

92,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Engine

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT REDUCED ENGINE POWER WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10691925

57,378 miles · Mar 2, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO JUMP, SPUTTER AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY, WAS GOING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AS DID MANY OTHER LIGHTS. TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON BUT DID NOT START, WAITED A BIT AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR RUNNING. TOOK TO MY AUTO MECHANIC AND STATED IT WAS THE ECS AND THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE LOOKED AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING TODAY AT 70RPM WITH THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR GET OFF THE HIGHWAY PRIOR TO CAR COMPLETELY STOPPING. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WHY IS CHEVROLET WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURY OR WORST YET KILLED BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691575

50,987 miles · Mar 1, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

ON MY WAY TO WORK, I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CAR GOT ME TO WORK FINE. CHECKED GAS CAP JUST TO BE SURE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. OFF WORK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, BUT CAR RUNNING FINE. DID SOME RUNNING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME THE LIGHT WASN'T ON, SO IM THINKING MAYBE A SENOR BAD. DRIVING HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. ABOUT HALF MILE FROM MY EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON, ESC LIGHT POPS ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED FOLLOWS. THANKFULLY I MAD IT HOME. PRESSURED ON STAR FOR AN ON DEMAND DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND ITS MY THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. ITS AN 2011 MALIBU, NEXT MONTH MAKES A YEAR THAT IVE HAD IT. ALSO THE THIRD TIME ITS GOING TO THE SHOP. FIRST TIME WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THE U JOINT DISLOCATED LOST ALL POWER TO STEER, THANK GOD IT HAPPENED IN MY PARKING LOT AT HOME FRESH OFF THE HIGHWAY. CHEVY ONLY PAID HALF AND AFTER A MONTH BATTLE WITH THEM, KICKER WAS IT WAS A RECALL FOR THAT BUT MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED. SECOND TIME WAS FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION. SO DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY AND PAST FED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691306

55,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015

Engine

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC WARNINGS. CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, SLOWED TO 5 MPH MAX. PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. RESTARTED CAR, SEEMED FINE. SINCE I HAPPENED TO BE ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. AT STOPLIGHT, CAR DID SAME THING, VIOLENT SHAKING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS. THANKFULLY, I MADE IT INTO DEALER LOT. TURNED CAR OFF. HAD TO RE-START TO PULL TO SERVICE DOOR. AGAIN, DID FINE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. AGREE WITH OTHER COMPLAINANTS...IF THIS HAPPENS MID-INTERSECTION OR ON THE INTERSTATE LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10690064

59,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10689922

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

DRIVING 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ LIGHT CAME ON.GOT MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWERING DOWN.CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR.PULLED INTO CVS PHARMACY LOT.TURNED CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED.DROVE AROUND LOT FOR 1 MINUTE.JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF LOT AND ENTER EXPRESSWAY.CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.UNABLE TO R…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10689871

48,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHOOK AND THE TRACTION, THE ESC AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE APPRO…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10689476

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)