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

44,000 miles · Jan 21, 2015

Electrical SystemPower Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOST POWER INDICATOR, THE ABS, AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10677099

40,800 miles · Jan 19, 2015

Air BagsElectrical System

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NOTHING WAS HIT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. I TURNED THE CAR ON A HALF HOUR LATER AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND MESSAGE WERE GONE. 90 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND HAS STAYED ON. I CALLED CHEVY, THE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND CONNECTED ME TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF A DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676525

69,000 miles · Jan 16, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT LAOS STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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NHTSA ODI #10672910

35,000 miles · Jan 13, 2015

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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DURING THE DEEP WINTER WE HAD IN DETROIT STARTING LAST JAN - THE CAR REDUCES SPEED AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED/SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION MESSAGE COMES- THIS HAPPEN ENDLESS TIMES AND STOPPED IN FEB 2014 THEN BEGAN THIS PAST WEEK JAN 8TH, 2015 AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. THE CAR WILL START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND DROPS SPEED AND POWER ENG REDUCED MESSAGE COMES - EVEN TRAVELING AT 70 MILES WITH 2 CHILDREN INN THE ICY, SNOWY ROADS OF MI . I HAVE BEEN LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT LOOKING AT THE CHEVY FORUMS AND OTHERS, THIS IS A CHEVROLET/GM DEFECT THAT NEEDS A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE BUT WE ALL CAN DO IS INCUR THE COST TO DIAGNOSE HOW EXACTLY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES ON THE ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672255

61,573 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPR…

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NHTSA ODI #10671994

82,305 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

WAS IDLING AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND THE CAR DASH LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON. ECS OFF NOTIFICATION, TRANSACTION SYSTEM OFF WARNING LIGHT . CAR ENGINE WAS STUTTERING, THAN REVVING UP TO FASTER SPEED. HAD CAR BRAKE ON, TRIED PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STILL DID THE SLOW DOWN/SPEED UP ENGINE SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS, TURNED CAR…

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NHTSA ODI #10671846

46,500 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

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I WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE SNOW AND MY TRACTION CONTROL KEPT GOING ON. THEN SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG AND SUDDENLY MY SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 5-10 MPH AND MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND COULDN'T GET A GRIP ON THE ROAD AT ALL. THEN THE CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, ESC OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING. NORMALLY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 55MPH! AND I HAVE 2 KIDS! LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AND EXHAUST CAM ACTUATOR WHICH COST ME ALMOST $1000 AND WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. MY CAR IS ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD WITH 47000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671798

64,000 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Power Train

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE 2012. BY DECEMBER 2012 AS I PRESSED THE GAS TO GET UP A HILL ON A DARK BUSY WITH MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND PLENTY OF TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD. MY BOYFRIEND HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR IN REVERSE FOR SEVERAL MILES TO GET US TO SAFETY. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE CHEVYDEALER IN UNION CITY GA WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS AND AFRAID TO REALLY PRESS ON THE GAS WHEN ACCELERATING. ABOUT A YEAR LATER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WATER DRIPPING ON MY FOOT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER STANDING IN THE FLOOR BOARDS AND A LEAKY ROOF OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. NOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO STARTED HAVING REDUCED ENGINE POWER PROBLEMS. SO AFRAID FOR MY KIDS WHO ARE 15 14 AND 1. GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. GONNA HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY OUT OF POCKET SINCE I NOW HAVE 110000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671789

36,825 miles · Jan 9, 2015

Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CAM SOLENOIDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671291

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY OR ON THE STREETS THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER CUSTOMERS AS WELL. WHEN I WENT IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670606

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)