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

Steering complaints

213 reports

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39,100 miles · Apr 14, 2015

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL A SHORT DISTANCE AND TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AGAIN, THE STEERING WAS RESTORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,100.

NHTSA ODI #10705588

78,000 miles · Mar 31, 2015

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILAB…

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NHTSA ODI #10702849

88,500 miles · Mar 11, 2015

SteeringInjury

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2/28/15 TWITCH IN STEERING AT 55 MPH. (5 TWITCH/8 MI.) HAD BEEN SNOWY WITH SUBZERO TEMPS, AND SUSPECTED ICE IN STEERING LINKAGE. FOLLOWING DAY EXHIBITED SAME TWITCHES, BUT FEWER. BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE WHEN STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. MESSAGES ON DRIVER INFORMATION: POWER STEERING FAILURE, ESC REQUIRES SERVICE, AND A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH WAVY MARKS WAS ILLUMINATED. DROVE 2.25 MI TO RELATIVE'S HOME. TURNED CAR OFF & RESTARTED; POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. NEXT DAY CHECKED FUSE CONNECTIONS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CONSOLE, AND UNDER HOOD NEAR BATTERY. 80A POWER STEERING FUSE WAS LOOSE ON ONE SIDE. NUTS SECURELY TIGHTENED, BUT RIVETS ON FUSE BODY WERE LOOSE; LUG COULD BE MOVED APPROX 1/32". REPLACED FUSE, AND WORKED BETTER. THEN NOTICED THAT TWITCHING HAD RETURNED; WAS PREVALENT WITH VEHICLE STOPPED AND RUNNING. ON WED DROVE VEHICLE TO PICKUP LUNCH,; STEERING WHEEL WAS TWITCHING WITH CAR IN PARK AND ENGINE RUNNING. USED REMOTE START SYSTEM TO LET ENGINE RUN AS IT WAS NEAR 0 F AND HAD ONLY DRIVEN 3 MI. RETURNED TO CAR WITHIN 10 MIN REMOTE START RUN TIME, INSERTED KEY; POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK & SAME MESSAGES DISPLAYED. STOPPED & RESTARTED CAR; POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK. ARRANGED FOR REPAIR, AND DROVE CAR TO SHOP LATER THAT AFTERNOON; POWER STEERING WORKED, BUT LOTS OF TWITCHING. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR CODE C0545. POWER STEERING FAILED AND FOUGHT ME AS EVIDENCED BY UNEVEN JERKY TURNING FORCE. SYSTEM ALLOWED STEERING WHEEL TO RUN ABOUT 1/8 TURN, AND THEN DAMPENED TURNING. HAVE A SORE RIGHT SHOULDER. FORCE REQUIRED TO STEER WITHOUT POWER STEERING IS INEXCUSABLE. SYSTEM DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN IT FAILS, AND INTERMITTENTLY INTERACTS WHILE DISPLAY INDICATES IT'S OUT OF COMMISSION. SYSTEM IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS DUE TO FUNCTION DURING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693743

80,578 miles · Mar 6, 2015

SteeringCrash

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO SO. ONCE I MADE THE TURN I COULDN'T TURN WIDE ENOUGH BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692676

99,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS VIBRATING AND TURNING ON ITS OWN WITH LITTLE OR NO INPUT. RANDOM LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL. POWER STEERING COMES BACK EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND SAME THING OCCURS. IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS TO OLDER MODELS WITH RECALL F…

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NHTSA ODI #10691730

59,700 miles · Feb 23, 2015

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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NHTSA ODI #10690099

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…

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NHTSA ODI #10689871

119,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ODI #10681100

24,354 miles · Jan 25, 2015

Steering

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SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED VEH THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO NOT WORK. AT FIRST IT RARELY HAPPENED. I WOULD JUST RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN. NOW IT ALMOST NEVER WORKS. MY VEH WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. AND THE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. BY THE TIME THEY REALIZED IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE OTHER VEHICLES MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I AM STILL UNABLE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. SO I AM NOW DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND NO POWER STEERING. IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN REPORT THIS TO IN HOPES OF GETTING MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678747

3,400 miles · Jan 5, 2015

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THE ENGINE KEEPS REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CAR ENGINE POWER REDUCES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR SITS IDLE WARMING UP .THE THROTTLE BODY MUST BE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT PART OF THE CAR I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE CODES SAID THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670148

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)