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

Service Brakes complaints

38 reports

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70,450 miles · Aug 17, 2014

EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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ON AUGUST 6,, 2014 I HAD TAKEN MY 3 KIDS TO THE LAKE @ DREHER ISLAND STATE PARK. UPON GETTING READY TO LEAVE I PUT ON BRAKES TO SEE WHAT MY SON ASKED ME.FOR NO REASON THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD & I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP GET THE WHEELS TO TURN AS IT WAS VERY HARD & PUSHED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES & IT KEPT GOING TILL IT WENT IN THE DITCH ON A CONCRETE TERRACOTTA CAUSING IT TO BEND A PIECE OF WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME THE A FRAME & UNDER THE FRONT END! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP & TOLD IT WASN'T POSSIBLE. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I COULD PARK MY CAR & THE ENGINE WOULD ACT IS IF IT WAS TRYING TO GO W/O ME MASHING THE GAS OR ANYTHING THEN IDLED DOWN REPEATEDLY ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF! I'VE EVEN HAD 2 BUY 2 NEW BATTERIES, FIXING TO BUY ANOTHER! THEY SAID A CONNECTION WAS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED & CELLS KILLED. ON THE INTERSTATE 2 DAYS AGO I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, FOR NO REASON IT STARTED LOSING SPEED THEN WOULD START CATCHING BACK UP ON IT'S OWN & I TURNED IT OFF! THE MOTOR MADE A SCREECHING NOISE! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON! EVEN MY TAIL LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON LAST NIGHT UNTIL I MASHED THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES, CUT OFF THE LIGHTS, & RESTARTED THE CAR! MY MAJOR ISSUE IS NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR THE INCIDENT & I HAD NO PART OF BEING @ FAULT & CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED! IT STILL IDLES WRONG & THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON @ TIMES W/O ME TOUCHING IT! I'M BEGINNING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AS WELL AS MYSELF, BUT ESPECIALLY MY KIDS! WHAT CAN I DO? PLEASE HELP ME AS THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL! SO FAR THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON, POWER STEERING LIGHT, AIR PRESSURE LIGHT, & @ ONE POINT A RED LIGHT CAME ON & WENT OFF BEFORE I COULD SEE WHAT IT WAS! IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING@ ALL TO HELP & ASSIST ME I WOULD BE TRULY GRATEFUL! ALL I'M TOLD IS PARTS AREN'T IN TO FIX SOME KIND OF RECALL, BUT WHAT I DON'T KNOW! THANKS & GOD BLESS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10625805

80,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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CURRENTLY THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 13036 ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS DIRECTED BY GM TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN ON THE VEHICLE FOR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE THERE WERE NO ISSUES FOUND IN REGARDS TO CODES BEING DISPLAYED. THIS TEST WAS NOT THE TEST THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE ACCORDING TO A GM REPRESENTATIVE SINCE THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE RECALL ITSELF, OTHER THEN WHAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER. WHEN I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES SINCE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THEM ALL ALONG I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, REGARDLESS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RECALL. I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE TEST THAT WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY THE GM REPRESENTATIVE WAS ALSO INCORRECT. II WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY A GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PARTS WERE ALSO AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE LETTER STATED AND THAT I SHOULD DISREGARD THAT PORTION OF THE LETTER. THIS WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO BE FALSE AS THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL MID AUGUST ACCORDING TO A GM REP AT A LATER DATE. AS OF YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUES I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED. THESE ISSUES INCLUDE THE INCREASED TRAVEL NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ECS BEING DISPLAYED AS NOT FUNCTIONING WHILE PARKED AND DRIVING. ALTHOUGH MY WIFE AND I BOTH HAVE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS WITH THE VEHICLES SAFETY AND ITS CURRENT ISSUES GM HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OR THE ISSUE WITH THE RECALL, WHEN THEY COULD SIMPLY AUTHORIZE A RENTAL OR SERVICE LOANER ROM THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616127

60,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014

EngineService Brakes

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I HAD MY 2011 MALIBU SERVICED AT MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET FOR ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE IN JULY 2013.IN NOVEMBER 2013, I BEGAN HEARING THE SAME NOISES THAT LEAD ME TO HAVE MY ROTORS REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. I WENT TO SERRA CHEVROLET WHO STATED I NEED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. I EXPLAINED I HAD JUST HAD THAT WORK DONE. AFTER PROVING WITH MY PAPERWORK THAT I HAD THE WORK DONE, SERRA CHEVROLET STATED THEY COULD REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET SALES MANAGER STATED I COULD BRING IT BACK THERE; HOWEVER, DUE TO CONVENIENCE I ALLOWED SERRA CHEVROLET COMPLETE THE REPAIR WORK. A WEEK LATER MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVEN TIMES BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME; IN FEBRUARY THE NOISE FROM THE ROTORS RETURNED. BECAUSE I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 40+ MILES BACK AND FORTH (SEVEN TIMES) TO HAVE THE ENGINE LIGHT REPAIRED; I WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER CONTACTING GM CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND NOT SETTLING FOR A NO ANSWER; SERRA CHEVROLET STATED THEY GAVE ME NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, IN APRIL, THE NOISE RETURNED AND NO-ONE IS WILLING TO ADDRESS MY PROBLEM OR CONCERN. I HAD MY ATTORNEY PREPARE AN OFFICIAL LETTER TO SEND TO SERRA AND MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET. NO COMMENTS AS OF YET. I AM PURSUING OTHER MEANS TO GET THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND TO GM HEADQUARTERS. I PAY MY CAR NOTE EACH MONTH AND I HAVE HAD CAR PROBLEMS SINCE JULY 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606914

29,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Service BrakesCrash

CAR SLID ON SLUSH AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK THOUGH PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN; CRASHED INTO A SNOWBANK DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALREADY HAD DONE THE RECALL ON THE PART IN OCTOBER 2013 BUT WAS THE PART THEY REPLACED IT WITH FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604801

2,300 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

BRAKES FAIL EMERGENCY STOP WITH ABOUT 150 FEET FROM ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG WAS DELAYED IN DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604663

44,700 miles · Jun 3, 2014

Service BrakesCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,850..... UPDATED 08/05/14 *BF UPDATED 08/18/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10595758

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2013

Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK UNLESS I USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547855

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONSTANTLY SAY "SERVICE ESC" AND "SERVICE TRACTION". PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR AT LEAST THE FIFTH TIME IN THE SHOP FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. BY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 5,500 MILES ON IT SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF IT MARCH 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, THE SYSTEMS (TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ARE DISABLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FINE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ARE AN ENHANCED SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE (AND ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN) THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO ME BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462567

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)