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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64,000 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Power Train

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE 2012. BY DECEMBER 2012 AS I PRESSED THE GAS TO GET UP A HILL ON A DARK BUSY WITH MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND PLENTY OF TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD. MY BOYFRIEND HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR IN REVERSE FOR SEVERAL MILES TO GET US TO SAFETY. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE CHEVYDEALER IN UNION CITY GA WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS AND AFRAID TO REALLY PRESS ON THE GAS WHEN ACCELERATING. ABOUT A YEAR LATER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WATER DRIPPING ON MY FOOT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER STANDING IN THE FLOOR BOARDS AND A LEAKY ROOF OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. NOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO STARTED HAVING REDUCED ENGINE POWER PROBLEMS. SO AFRAID FOR MY KIDS WHO ARE 15 14 AND 1. GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. GONNA HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY OUT OF POCKET SINCE I NOW HAVE 110000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671789

89,000 miles · Nov 29, 2014

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON AT 50 MPH AND VEHICLE REDUCED TO A UNSAFE SPEED WITH THE ERROR MESSAGES "SERVICE TRACTION" "ESC OFF" AND "ENG PWR REDUCED". THE UNSAFE DROP IN SPEED ALMOST CAUSED A CAR TO HIT ME IN THE BACK. THIS IS A VERY SCARY PROBLEM AND IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THIS OCCURRED SOMETHING VERY BAD COULD HAVE HA…

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NHTSA ODI #10661266

8,700 miles · Nov 14, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…

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NHTSA ODI #10655087

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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I WENT TO GET AIR IN TIRE. GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND STARTED IT UP. IT STARTED SHAKING REAL BAD AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND A THING ABOUT LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ONLY 5 MINUTES FROM HOME SO I WENT BACK HOME. IT WOULDN'T GET OVER 25 MILES AN HOUR. I CALLED EDWARD CHEVROLET IN BIRMINGHAM,AL. THEY TOLD ME TO GET CAR TO THEM BUT NOT DRIVE IT. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 ON IT. I READ ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY SAY IT'S NOT ON RECALL. WHY? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR CHILDREN? I DIDN'T READ OF ANY DEATHS JUST ALMOST. I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO GET SOMETHING DONE. I WAS LUCKY AND NOT FAR FROM HOME. IT COULD HAVE STOPPED ON ME IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. I'VE NEVER GOT ANY RECALL NOTICES. I TOLD THE LADY AT EDWARDS CHEV. THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643072

80,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638889

96,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10618589

29,666 miles · Jul 25, 2014

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT IN THE 45-55MPH RANGE, ( I'M GUESSING 5TH GEAR AS I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY GEARS IT HAS ) THEN AGAIN THE SAME ISSUE AT 25 MPH. REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH THE DRIVE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616382

31,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Power Train

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BOUGHT USED IN NOVEMBER 2013 WITH 23,000 MILES. CAR'S RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS, LOSES POWER AT VARYING SPEEDS FROM 30 MPH AND UP. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN, DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT, THAT IS TO SAY IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT THIS HAS LEFT ME IN A DANGEROUS SPOT WHILE CHANGING LANES OR PULLING OUT ONTO A STREET FROM A STOPPED POSITION; I CAN FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SLUGGISHLY ACCELERATES. THE RPM OFTEN RACES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER HAVING TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC ISSUES. THIS CAR DOES NOT GET CLOSE TO THE QUOTED FUEL MILEAGE THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO FOR AN LT; MY SOLE REASON FOR PURCHASING THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604814

60,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REDUCE POWER MODE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AS THE ACCELERATION DECREASED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THIS FAILURE RECURRED EVERY 22 MILES TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. …

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NHTSA ODI #10583347

317,322 miles · Apr 5, 2014

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 270 AT AROUND 50 TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED UPON BREAKING WITH A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN I WENT TO REACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED FREQUENTLY SO NOW WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAKE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION UNNECESSARY BUT THE CAR STILL CLUNKS OUT OF GEAR UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577600

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)