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

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166,000 miles · Jan 24, 2020

EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU BURNING OIL I KEEP HAVING ADD OIL TO CAR ON TOP THAT TIMING BELT BROKE CHANCES OUT EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSSIBLE SENSOR OUT 2-3 TIMES AND CODE REMAIN LATER CHAIN GUIDES BROKE SEEN 2.4L EQUINOX HAD RECALL DUE TO BURNING OIL NOT SURE TIMING CHAIN BRAKE BUT HEARD ALOT COMPLAIN ABOUT CHAIN GUIDES BREAKING ALSO SEAT BACKING KEEP CALLING OFF LATCHES FOR THEM FAIL EVERY TIME CAR JUST GAVE ME ALOT OF PROBLEM CONTROL ARM GOING OUT. CAR WAS MADE CHEAP AND WASN'T MEANT TO LAST. CAR BROKE DOWN TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED.BURNT OIL SMELL WHEN TURN CAR ON COMING THROW AC WHEN ON. 2.4 L ECOTEC MOTOR IS PROBLEM AS WELL POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION BREAK REVERSE WAVE GEAR MAKING IT A COSTLY REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11301512

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

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

136,000 miles · Oct 3, 2019

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OZARK CHEVROLET (1020 N 18TH ST, OZARK, MO 65721, (417) 297-0091) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE TO SIX MONTHS FOR NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11265935

5 miles · Aug 19, 2019

EngineStructure

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TAKATA RECALL... THE UNDERCARRIAGE FELL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT I HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY GETTING AN ERROR THAT MY ENGINE REDUCED/ENGINE DISABLED AND IT SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE STREET. I MAY GET A FEW SECONDS OF MOTION TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPS COMPLETELY. IT'S HAPPENED WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND THAT SCARES ME MORE TO THINK IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME IN THE PAST 5 WEEKS. I'VE HAD A TUNE UP AND A NUMBER OF THINGS REPLACED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND ONE OF THE SAME SENSORS ON THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11244869

48,332 miles · Jun 20, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON LATELY. SO I TOOK IT TO A PLACE SO THEY COULD CHECK IT. THE RESULTS STATES THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY LIGHTS ARE DIMMING, THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS SYMBOL COMES ON IF I AM SITTING UNDER A VIADUCT, THE RADIO IS DISAPPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, AND MY HEATING SYSTEM IS ON WHEN IT'S OFF. THEN THE CAR IS JERKING ERRATICALLY WHEN I PROCEED TO DRIVE AFTER A STOP. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER 50,000 MILES. IT'S AT 48342 NOW. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS BECAUSE 3 YEARS AGO I,WAS UNDER 35000 MILES AND HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS ACT, AND I HAD TO PAY $800 FOR THAT, PLUS GETTING DISRESPECTED BY THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING COMES UP CONCERNING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11221609

89,865 miles · Jun 13, 2019

Air BagsEngineSeat Belts

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DICK GENTHE CHEVROLET (866-874-7380, LOCATED AT 15600 EUREKA RD, SOUTHGATE, MI 48195) AND THE CONTACT WAS ASKED IF SHE WANTED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT APPROVED THE RECALL REPAIRS. SIX DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT READY AND SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE OR RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CALLED TWO HOURS LATER TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO AIR BAG FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A $250 DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE REPAIRS ("TAKE OR LEAVE IT"). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,865. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *AS *TR

NHTSA ODI #11219813

129,000 miles · May 30, 2019

Electrical SystemEngineSeats

THE WIRING ON MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MESSED UP CAUSING MY CHECK LIGHT ENGINE TO STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE MACHINISTS LOOK OVER MY VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT LOTS OF MONEY TRYING TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11210886

60,000 miles · Apr 29, 2019

Engine

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EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION. 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR THIS CAR HAS JUST DIED ON ME. HAVE ALL POWER TO DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND RADIO BUT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND WONT RESTART. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS LOW ON OIL. SECOND TIME IT SAT FOR 2 DAYS AND CRANKED RIGHT UP. 3RD TIME THE PLENUM ON THE EGR VALVE WAS CLEANED. IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT THESE 3 THINGS WOULD ALL CAUSE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THANKFULLY IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI #11204345

67,000 miles · Mar 21, 2019

Engine

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MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 2.4 ECOTEC JUST BROKE A TIMING CHAIN GUIDE. 67,000 MILES. WAS GETTING THE P0016 AND P0017 CRANK / CAM CORRELATION CODES. MAN AM I TICKED!! I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 18,000 MILES ALWAYS CHANGED OIL. GM WILL DO NOTHING!! I HAVE OWNED A 2001 SATURN L200 THAT BROKE A TIMING CHAIN WITH 106,000 MILES AND CRASHED THE HEAD. GM WOULD DO NOTHING!! I HAD A CUTLASS SUPREME AND CUTLASS SIERRA IN THE 90'S. BOTH OF THESE CARS HAD THE OUTER HARMONIC BALANCER RING JUST COME UN-GLUED AND FALL OFF! GM DID NOTHING. THIS IS THE LAST STRAW FOR ME , I AM NOW FOCUSED ON HONDA WHO ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT RELIABILITY!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11190432

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)