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

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2017

Unknown Or Other

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THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A VEHICLE. IT IS TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT NHTSA SHOULD ADDRESS, AND THAT IS: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. MY QUESTION IS: WHY DOESN'T NHTSA REQUIRE THEM ON EVERY VEHICLE. JUST OPEN YOUR EYES ON A RAINY DAY, OR ANY DAY AT DUSK, AND NOTICE HOW MANY DRIVERS FORGET TO TURN ON THEIR LIGHTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME OUT OF A WELL LIGHTED SHOPPING CENTER ONTO A HIGHWAY AND HAVEN'T REALIZED THEY HAVEN'T TURNED THEIR LIGHTS ON. IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM, I CAN CITE FOUR INSTANCES WHERE IT HAS RESULTED IN CRASHES RESULTING IN DEATH AND THAT IS ONLY IN MY SMALL PART OF THE WORLD.

NHTSA ODI #10939498

92,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016

Steering

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STEERING WHEEL "SHAKES" AS OF 12/2016 VEHICLE HAS APPROX 92,000 MILES PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN NOV 2010 FOUR NEW TIRES JUNE 2015 FULL ALIGNMENT AUGUST 2016. BRAND NEW BRAKE PADS AND BRAND NEW ROTORS, ALL 4 WHEELS, NOVEMBER 2016. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT (AND CONDITION): STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN RATTLING NOTICEABLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (40 MPH TO 75 MPH) AND WHILE TRACKING A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE HIT THE 40,000 MILE MARK. CAN FEEL SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL COINCIDENT WITH THIS RATTLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO TRACK A STRAIGHT LINE WHILE MOVING. THE RATTLE ALSO OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS LESS THAN 40 MPH, BUT IT HARDER TO DISCERN SINCE THE CITY STREET ROAD CONDITIONS IN SE WISCONSIN ARE TERRIBLE. STARTING ABOUT DECEMBER 2016, I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE (NOT SURE IF THIS OCCURS WHEN IT IS IN PARK). THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE DOING SOME KIND OF "HUNTING" AS THE RATTLING IS RANDOM. APPEARS TO BE INDEPENDENT OF TEMPERATURE AS THIS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS -10 DEG F AND AS WELL AT ABOUT 50 DEG F. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS ARE NORMAL. I CAN NOT DISCERN WHETHER THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING WHILE IN MOTION, OR WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. END. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937823

159,000 miles · Dec 23, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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DROVE CAR THIS MORNING AND COUPLE MILES LATER THE CAR LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND SERVICE ESC LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS ENGINE LIGHT TOO. NOW CAR IS SLOWER AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO SHAKES REAL BAD WHEN STATIONARY. DRIVING AROUND 35-45 MPH. CAN'T DRIVE NOW DUE TO LOST POWER AND ESC ISSUES/ LOOKS LIKE IT IS A COMMON HISTORIC ISSUE WITH THESE MALIBU AS INTERNET IS POLLUTED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT AND LOOKS LIKE GM CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. AS WELL GM TELLS ME ON THE PHONE JUST NOW THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL NOTICE WHILE THE PROBLEMS GO BACK TO 2003 AND COVERS EVERY OTHER MALIBU EXCEPT MINE IT APPEARS. REALLY? BOUGHT IS LOCAL AS A PRE OWNED VEHICLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30K ON IT. SOUNDS LIKE GM IS TRYING TO SKIRT THE ISSUE OF OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ME ON HOLD FOR SOME TIME NOW. HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937209

69,500 miles · Dec 22, 2016

Air BagsCrash

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THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANOTHER PERSON ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT GO OFF. CLAIMS ADJUSTER DENIED THE REPAIR STATING THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2011 MALIBU'S AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WITHOUT CERTAINTY THAT IT WASN'T ON BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THIS LIGHT IS ANNOYING AND A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I AM DRIVING A FAULTY VEHICLE OF WHICH I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I AM INVOLVED IN ANOTHER CRASH BECAUSE MY AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937041

122,000 miles · Dec 21, 2016

Steering

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ON 12/19/2016 AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO A SURFACE STREET MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED A "POWER STEERING " MESSAGE. BEING UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR WENT FORWARD AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR ON MY RIGHT WHO WAS ALSO TURNING LEFT. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAK TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AND THE CARS BEHIND ALSO HAD TO SLAM THEIR BREAKS. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT EACH OTHER. RIGHT AFTER THAT DASHBOARD MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND MY CAR WAS ABLE TO TURN AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THE NIGHT OF 12/20/2016 THE SAME HAPPENED BUT AS I WAS EXPECTING A PARKING LOT. A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT I STARTED TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD POP LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN AT A STOP OR RED LIGHT. I READ THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO GM AND NHTSA AND THAT OWNERS IN OTHER STATES HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR THAT PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE AND IT'S NOT LISTED AS A RECALL ON THE NHTSA OR GM WEBSITE FOR MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936641

69,000 miles · Dec 17, 2016

Steering

AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I LOST MY ABILITY TO STEER. THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ESC" FLASHED ON MY DASH. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I MADE IT TO WORK. WHEN I LEFT WORK, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING JUST FINE.

NHTSA ODI #10936010

103,000 miles · Dec 16, 2016

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10935668

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2016

Seats

DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN AND LEANING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. SEEMS LIKE A BRACKET PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10934970

73,000 miles · Dec 2, 2016

EngineUnknown Or Other

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1. MY CAR IS 5 YEAR OLD AND 73,000 MILES. WE USE IT FOR COMMUTING TO WORK AND GROCERY. AND WE DO ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT DUBLIN CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON NOV 11TH, MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. THE FRONT TRUNK WAS SMOKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HAS NO QUALITY PROBLEM WITH SUCH FEW YEARS AND RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. 2. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE CAR MAKING COMPANY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL DONE. BUT THEY SAID THE PART HAS NOT ARRIVED AND ASKED US TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CALL US. WE NEVER GET CALL FROM THEM. THIS TIME, I CALLED THEIR RECALL DEPARTMENT AND LEFT A MESSAGE. NEVER HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10929554

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2016

Air Bags

WHEN I ENTERED MY CAR IN TURNED THE SWITCH TO START THE CAR AN THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI #10926307

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)