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

119,200 miles · Feb 16, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

RECEIVED MESSAGES OF: SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE AIR BAG, ENG PWR REDUCED, ENGINE DISABLED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO TRY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON, UNTIL I RECEIVED THE ENGINE DISABLED MESSAGE AND AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO HAVE TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10836377

74,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BROKE AFTER 74K MILES WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MI AN HOUR. IT WOULD JUMP INTO 3RD GEAR AND THEN WOULDN'T COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER REVERSE HAD ALREADY GONE OUT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD ANY PROBLEMS, THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION BROKE I RAN ACROSS MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR 2011 MALIBU'S. ALL OF THEM ARE 4 CYLINDER 6 SPEEDS WITH AN MH8 TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10836245

88,258 miles · Feb 15, 2016

Electrical SystemEngine

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FIRST, I HAD TO JUMP THE CAR TO START IT. COLD MORNING BUT THE BATTERY WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD. DRIVING FROM DOWNRIVER MI AREA ALL EXPRESSWAY TO GRAND RAPIDS. JUST ENTERED GRAND RAPIDS AREA WHEN I HAD TO REDUCE SPEED FROM 75 TO 60. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BACK TO ORIGINAL SPEED. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED. PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF BUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WENT FROM 75 TO 25 MPH BY THE TIME I HAD EXITED THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON AS DID MESSAGES:REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ESC, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO TURN CAR BACK AND ACCELERATE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE ENGINE FELT LIKE IT CHUGGED A BIT. WHEN I STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS, THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. MILEAGE IS 88,258.

NHTSA ODI #10826110

119,000 miles · Feb 12, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, ENG PWR REDUCED. THIS MESSAGE HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES LATELY, MOST NOTABLY WHEN TRAVELLING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ENGINE LOSES ALL POWER NO MATER HOW FAR I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10825828

123,000 miles · Feb 11, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10825536

100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR STUMBLES ON DRY ROADS IN SHARP TURNS, LIKE CLOVER LEAF RAMPS GETTING ON AND OFF THE INTERSTATE, WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10825317

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2016

Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSU…

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NHTSA ODI #10825166

101,300 miles · Feb 7, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

GOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE GOING TO MPLS AND CAR FLASHES REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN PULLED OVER A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES TO GET HOME. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF WAIT A LITTLE WHILE START AGAIN AND CONTINUE. CHECK ENGINE STAYED ON. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY SO I AM REPLACING AND HOPEFULLY ABLE TO GET…

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NHTSA ODI #10824688

124,000 miles · Feb 4, 2016

Seats

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, I FELT THAT THE SEAT WAS LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WAS MOVING. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND EXITED, I FELT THE SEAT MOVE AWAY FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #10824190

103,000 miles · Feb 3, 2016

Vehicle Speed Control

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THE OTHER DAY MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD. THIS ISSUE WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I COULDN'T PROPERLY STOP THE CAR AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE DISPLAY INDICATED REDUCED ENGINE POWER/TRACTION/SERVICE ESC AND THE OBD2 CODES INDICATED P2135 (THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SW A/B VOLTAGE CORRELATION). THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. I HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY IN GETTING OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT UNSCATHED.

NHTSA ODI #10824035

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)