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

Power Train complaints

112 reports

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74,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BROKE AFTER 74K MILES WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MI AN HOUR. IT WOULD JUMP INTO 3RD GEAR AND THEN WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER REVERSE HAD ALREADY GONE OUT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD ANY PROBLEMS, THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION BROKE I RAN ACROSS MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR 2011 MALIBU'S. ALL OF THEM ARE 4 CYLINDER 6 SPEEDS WITH AN MH8 TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10836245

120,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015

Power Train

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SINCE PURCHASE BRAND NEW, MY CARS RPM'S HAVE FLUTTERED BETWEEN 2000 AND 2500, BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL RECENTLY. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY CAR STARTED SHUDDERED WHEN IT WAS IDLING IN DRIVE POSITION AND FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT SCARED ME, SO I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE. THEN I HAD TO TAKE IN IT FOR SOME BODY WORK, WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE ESTIMATE I STOPPED TO GET THE MAIL. CAR WAS IN PARK IDLING, I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT DID NOT MOVE! THE RPM'S STAY STUCK AT 2500 WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I PUT IN BACK IN PARK THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED IT, AND GOT IT JUST FAR ENOUGH TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT DOES NOT MOVE BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER IT BROKE DOWN!

NHTSA ODI #10809271

92,000 miles · Nov 16, 2015

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT92000MILES HARD SHIFTING REVERSE IS BAD DRIVE HOME FROM ON THE CITY STREETWORK TRANSMISSION STATED TO SHIFT HARD AND SLIP.UN SAFE TO DR

NHTSA ODI #10790678

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2015

EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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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

68,976 miles · Oct 13, 2015

Power Train

WHILE I WAS DRIVING/THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY GAVE OUT/STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVE GEAR NO LONGER WORKED AND NO WARNING WAS GIVEN. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY, CITY STREET AND NO ERROR CODE OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING WAS GIVEN AS WELL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2015…

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NHTSA ODI #10781825

89,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015

Power Train

HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AT DEALERSHIP. TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP.... THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURT AFTER 13000 MILES.. CAR JUST WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IS THERE ANYTHING YOU ALL CAN DO FOR ME

NHTSA ODI #10766683

105,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 11/06/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10760848

52,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015

Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET, WHEN I WENT TO PARK NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE SHIFTER BEGAN SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AND FELT AS THERE WAS NO CATCH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, BECAUSE COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I EXITED THE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL ROLLED IN REVERSE. SO I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLES AND APPLIED BRICKS BEHIND THE TIRES. I HAD A MECHANIC COME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND HE STATED THAT THIS HAD BEEN A RECALL ON PRIOR YEARS OF THIS MODEL, BUT NOT THE YEAR OF MY CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND I WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY NOTHING ABOUT THIS PART, BUT STATE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS UNSAFE WITH THIS DEFECT. THE CABLE COMES OFF THE HOOK AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY A SHIFT TO ANY GEAR AND THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE REGARDLESS. I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY INFANT IN THIS CAR KNOWING THAT IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CHEVY SHOULD FIX. NOT TO MENTION THE CAR SEATBELTS ARE A MALFUNCTION. CHEVY THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10760840

76,000 miles · Aug 21, 2015

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10750389

70,934 miles · Jul 9, 2015

Power Train

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PURCHASED MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU IN APRIL OF 2012 WITH 56K MILES, IN APRIL OF 2013 WITH 70K+ MILES, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT IT REQUIRED A TOTAL REBUILD AND ALL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, I DID NOT PAY FOR THE SERVICES. AROUND MAY 5 2014, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ ABS SYSTEM/ BODY CONTROL MODULE, ETC. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE SAME SHOP FOR REPAIRS, IN WHICH MY CAR WAS KEPT FOR 30 DAYS & RETURNED. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR BACK I'VE NOTICED MY CAR HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUCH AS THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT WHEN THE BULB IS STILL GOOD. MY RADIO CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN & RANDOMLY SWITCHES TO THE AUX. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING IS CONSTANTLY FLICKERING! NOT ONLY DO I HAVE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAKES THIS ODD NOISE & THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHENEVER I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 20MPH & OR TURNING A CORNER AND THIS ESC ICON APPEARS. I CONTACTED CHEVY & ASKED IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS MATTER & I WAS TOLD NO, THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED FOR ALL RECALLS FOR MY MODEL. THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR TODAY. ON/ AROUND JUNE 19 2015 W/ 115000 MILES, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF I95 HWY & I COULD NOT PUT IT INTO ANY GEAR! I KNEW IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE NO WARRANTY & I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $4,106.45 FOR A NEW TRANS! I HAVE BEEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THIS MATTER, ITS UNFAIR THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3/4 YEARS AND ITS ON ITS 2ND TRANSMISSION!! I WAS QUOTED FOR THIS $ AMOUNT AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OPENED THE TRANS YET! I WAS THEN TOLD TO COME TO THE DEALERSHIP & THEY WOULD TRY TO GET ME A NEW CAR AND IT WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. I WAS TOLD TO LET MY CAR GET REPOSSESSED BECAUSE IT WAS NO GOOD AND CANNOT BE FIXED! I LEFT IN TEARS!! UNPROFESSIONAL!!

NHTSA ODI #10733014

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)