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 · Jul 31, 2015

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 ISSUE…

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NHTSA ODI #10745203

82,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745100

54,860 miles · Jul 17, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

CAR STARTS AND THEN DIES.WILL THEN CRANK BUT NOT FIRE.AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT STARTS BUT JUST SPUTTERS TIL YOU STEP ON GAS.IT HAS DONE THIS ON 4 OCCASIONS.THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP,PURGE VALVE AND CAM SHAFT CONTROL SOLENOID.IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10734843

105,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 5 MPH. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10733741

72,824 miles · Jul 9, 2015

Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND A LADY REAR ENDED US AND HER SEATBELT NEVER CAUGHT AND SHE HIT THE DASHBOARD HEAD ON AND Y SEATBELT CAUGHT AND RELEASED AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HEAD ON.

NHTSA ODI #10733035

70,934 miles · Jul 9, 2015

Power Train

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PURCHASED MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU IN APRIL OF 2012 WITH 56K MILES, IN APRIL OF 2013 WITH 70K+ MILES, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT IT REQUIRED A TOTAL REBUILD AND ALL PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, I DID NOT PAY FOR THE SERVICES. AROUND MAY 5 2014, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ ABS SYSTEM/ BODY CONTROL MODULE, ETC. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE SAME SHOP FOR REPAIRS, IN WHICH MY CAR WAS KEPT FOR 30 DAYS & RETURNED. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR BACK I'VE NOTICED MY CAR HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUCH AS THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT WHEN THE BULB IS STILL GOOD. MY RADIO CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN & RANDOMLY SWITCHES TO THE AUX. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING IS CONSTANTLY FLICKERING! NOT ONLY DO I HAVE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAKES THIS ODD NOISE & THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHENEVER I SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 20MPH & OR TURNING A CORNER AND THIS ESC ICON APPEARS. I CONTACTED CHEVY & ASKED IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS MATTER & I WAS TOLD NO, THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED FOR ALL RECALLS FOR MY MODEL. THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR TODAY. ON/ AROUND JUNE 19 2015 W/ 115000 MILES, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF I95 HWY & I COULD NOT PUT IT INTO ANY GEAR! I KNEW IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE NO WARRANTY & I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $4,106.45 FOR A NEW TRANS! I HAVE BEEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THIS MATTER, ITS UNFAIR THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3/4 YEARS AND ITS ON ITS 2ND TRANSMISSION!! I WAS QUOTED FOR THIS $ AMOUNT AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OPENED THE TRANS YET! I WAS THEN TOLD TO COME TO THE DEALERSHIP & THEY WOULD TRY TO GET ME A NEW CAR AND IT WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. I WAS TOLD TO LET MY CAR GET REPOSSESSED BECAUSE IT WAS NO GOOD AND CANNOT BE FIXED! I LEFT IN TEARS!! UNPROFESSIONAL!!

NHTSA ODI #10733014

100,500 miles · Jul 8, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AV…

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NHTSA ODI #10732723

5,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015

Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10731825

49,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015

Seats

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT ANCHOR MOUNTING BRACKET WAS DETACHED, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING SAFELY AND LEGALLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000(SEAT BELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE CONTACT ON A LATER DATE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10731792

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2015

Seat Belts

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10731190

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)