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

What owners actually said

977 reports

112,680 miles · Feb 28, 2019

SteeringCrashInjury

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EARLY MORNING OF OCTOBER 17TH 2018, MY TIE ROD END SNAPPED IN MY VEHICLE, CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE COUNTY ROAD INTO A TREE HEAD ON GOING 60 MPH. I ALSO WAS NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT SO FORTUNATELY I AM STILL HERE TO WRITE THIS. ITS BEEN A ROAD TO RECOVERY AND STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO BUT THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKED INTO SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANY ONE ELSE. I UNDERSTAND ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BUT THIS IS PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIVES IF THIS IS A FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11183177

123,220 miles · Feb 27, 2019

Unknown Or Other

DRIVING CAR AND THE SERVICE ECS AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED THEN 3 WEEKS LATER ALL THE SAME LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED, ONCE AGAIN GOT CAR TO DEALER. REPAIRED IT, THE A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR S…

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NHTSA ODI #11182846

145,000 miles · Feb 25, 2019

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

CAR CONTINUES TO GO INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND WILL NOT DRIVE/RUN LONGER THAN FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD ALL RECALLS FIXED ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE ONE THAT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11182421

173,000 miles · Feb 19, 2019

Seat Belts

THE CABLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. EVIDENTLY, OTHER MALIBU'S THIS YEAR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. BUT, MY VIN # IS NOT ACCEPTED. CHEVY IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN THE OUTCOME IF THIS HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT CAME …

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NHTSA ODI #11181115

126,000 miles · Feb 18, 2019

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

SERVICE ESC MESSAGE - ESC OFF MESSAGE - AND POWER STEERING MESSAGES COME ON AND I CANNOT TURN MY CAR. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON DAILY COMMUTE AND CAUSES ME TO BE PUT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY ON THE EXPRESSWAYS. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A PLACE TO PULL OVER. THESE INDICATORS HAPPENS WHETHER DRIVING OR SITTING S…

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NHTSA ODI #11180952

87,700 miles · Feb 17, 2019

Power Train

TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (TCM) FAILED AT 87,700 MILES. PART HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED.

NHTSA ODI #11180698

150,000 miles · Feb 17, 2019

Seats

"TAKATA RECALL".... WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, POSITION GOT UNCOMFORTABLE HAVE TO SIT VERY VERY LOW WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES SEAT KIND OF LIFT UP WHEN MOVING. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND TELLS ME MY SEAT IS BROKE AND IT REQUIRES A NEW ASSEMBLY. HOW DOES A SEAT JUST BREAK? THIS IS A SAFETY…

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NHTSA ODI #11180565

81,180 miles · Feb 16, 2019

Power Train

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THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN 2016 AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY STAY ON TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY AND WHEN IT WOULD COME ON IT KEPT SAYING IT WAS DIFFERENT SENSORS. AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL SENSORS THAT WERE DIAGNOSED TO BE INCORRECT AND CHANGING SPARK PLUGS AND ALL FILTERS AND FLUSHING SEVERAL PARTS OUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS IT DID IN THE PAST AND SEEMED TO BE SHIFTING DIFFERENTLY. THE CAR PROGRESSIVELY KEPT GETTING WORSE AND LOOSING POWER AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I HAD TAKEN IT TO 3 MECHANICS IN THE NASHVILLE AREA AND EACH OF THEM COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM ALSO BUT ALL HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE ISSUE AND HAD RELAYED THAT THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN FROM PREVIOUS CLIENTS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER BECAUSE IT HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND I WOULD BE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE UNTIL CATCHING AND IT WOULD SIT THERE IDLING AND ALMOST STALL OUT AND THEN AFTER 60-160 SECONDS THE VEHICLE WOULD FINALLY CATCH AND TAKE OFF. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE REALLY NEEDED TO SHIFT IT TENDED TO JUST SIT AND IDLE UNTIL THE CHAIN CAUGHT EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDED TO WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CHAIN WAS MISSING IN CERTAIN SPOTS SO ONCE IT FINALLY CAUGHT THE CORRECT SPOT IT WOULD TAKE OFF BUT MADE IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU NEVER KNEW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO CATCH ON AND TAKE OFF OR IF IT WAS GOING TO COMPLETELY BREAK AT SOME POINT AND JUST NOT MOVE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE ALSO DID NOT WANT TO START KEPT ROLLING OVER MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO CHEVY TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11180471

101,000 miles · Feb 14, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

ESC OFF "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHTS FLASHED ON UPON START OF VEHICLE, POWER STEERING WAS OFF/NOT WORKING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ERRORS DISAPPEARED AND IT WAS DRIVEABLE. THIS HAPPENED 7-8 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS, AS IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE STEERING COLUMN REP…

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NHTSA ODI #11180127

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2019

Engine

IT IS NOTED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON THE 3.3 L FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINES FOR YEARS HAVE A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD THERE BY LEACHING CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CAB INTERIOR OF SAID AUTOMOBILES. PARTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE HAVE BEEN NOTED TO BE 20 TO 30 PPM WHEN READINGS HAVE BEEN DONE

NHTSA ODI #11180096

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)