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

3,400 miles · Jan 5, 2015

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THE ENGINE KEEPS REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CAR ENGINE POWER REDUCES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR SITS IDLE WARMING UP .THE THROTTLE BODY MUST BE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT PART OF THE CAR I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE CODES SAID THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670148

72,520 miles · Jan 5, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BEING OUT OF TOWN ON 10/15/13 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 80MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE THEN THE "TRACTION LIGHT ,SERVICE ESC,ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF AND CAR WENT FROM GOING 80MPH TO 10MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE A BIG DIESEL TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME IN WHICH I WAS TO BE ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY THE DIESEL, IN WHICH I HAD MY (XXX) YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. ON DECEMBER 23,2014, THE SAME THING OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 60MPH IT REDUCES SPEED TO ALMOST ZERO MPH,SHAKES WITH THE "TRACTION SENSOR LIGHT AND "SERVICE ESC ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF COMES ON AND THE CAR STALLS! LEAVING ME STRANDED AND HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN! THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON ANYMORE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE!? I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE SECOND INCIDENT! I CALLED 2 CHEVROLET DEALERS IN FRESNO,CA I WAS TOLD THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS ASTOUNDING BECAUSE AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME CAR IS UNBELIEVABLE UNTIL THERE'S A LAW SUIT! *TRPARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10670017

80,263 miles · Dec 31, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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I WAS DRIVING TO MARYLAND FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK ON I95 GOING 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR MADE A NOISE AND SHOOK. THEN THE ESC MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL "SERVICE TRACTION ESC."THEN MY CAR SWITCHED TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 25 MPH. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO INCH MY WAY TO THE NEXT EXIT. WHEN I GOT TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR WAS SHAKING LIKE IT WOULD STALL OUT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY MADE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER I FINALLY MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. I WENT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT THE PART AND SERVICE WOULD COST ME 825 TO FIX AND THAT THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669424

58,000 miles · Dec 31, 2014

Electrical System

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ONCE LAST WINTER I STARTED MY CAR AT 4:30 AM TO TRAVEL TO WORK. I NOTICED MY DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING. MY CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 15 MINUTES AND WAS WARMED UP. I CHOSE NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD. THIS SUMMER, MY CAR DID THE SAME THING AFTER WORK ONE DAY. THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT WORKING. I GOT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND IT STARTED WORKING. IT GREW MORE FREQUENT AND I ASKED THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE IT. WE PAID $90 FOR THAT. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD BE $500 SINCE IT HAD TO HAVE A SPECIALIZED KIT INSTALLED. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR THE LAST 2 DAYS WITH NO HEAT WHATSOEVER IN 15 DEGREE WEATHER. IT HAS NOT SNOWED OR SLEETED SO I AM ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY EXCEPT WHEN MY WINDSHIELD STARTS TO FOG UP. GMC INSTALLED A FAULTY MOTOR BLOWER IN MY CAR AND NOW I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE ME TO WRECK AND DIE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669410

60,000 miles · Dec 31, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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SINCE MARCH 2014, I HAD INSTANCES WHERE THE CHEVY MALIBU I WAS DRIVING WARNED ME ON THE DASH THAT I NEEDED TO SERVICE THE ESC. IT WOULD TELL ME ESC TURNED OFF AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF. THIS MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. IT STARTED DOING IT MORE FREQUENTLY SO I CALLED GMC ON AUGUST 2ND. I HAD TO WAIT 2 WEEKS UNTIL THEY COULD GET ME IN TO THE DEALER. THIS WHOLE TIME MY CAR WAS SHUTTING OFF MY TRACTION CONTROL. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON SOLID AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. THEY PAID TO DIAGNOSE AND FOUND THAT MY 4TH CYLINDER WAS MISSING AND WAS LEAKING 45%. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, THEY SUGGESTED $140 FOR A CARBON COIL FLUSH TO SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLE FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 25TH THEY DID THE COIL FLUSH AT 10 AM. AT 1:06 I GOT THE MESSAGE THAT ESC ACTIVE. I WENT ON A 2 WEEK VACATION AND DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR. ON OCTOBER 12TH, AT 2:08PM ESC WARNING AND SHUT TRACTION CONTROL OFF. OCTOBER 13TH, AT 5AM THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON SOLID. ON OCTOBER 27TH, THEY REPLACE MY INTAKE/EXHAUST VALVE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WARNING LIGHTS SINCE THEN, BUT I DROVE FROM AUGUST TO THE END OF OCTOBER WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL. I CAN IMAGINE TRYING TO DRIVE IN HEAVY RAIN AND DYING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669408

59,356 miles · Dec 29, 2014

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A WIRE CONNECTION THAT FAILED AND THE WIRING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10668662

43,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI #10668659

71,000 miles · Dec 27, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU HOME TO TULSA OK FROM ARKANSAS MY CAR DROPPED SPEED, I LOST MY POWER STEERING, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON, SERVICE TRACTION ESC LIGHT CAME ON TOO. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH AND THEN THE CAR LOST SPEED DOWN TO 15 MPH. I WAS ALMOST HIT ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A STORE BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I MADE IT HOME BARELY AND THE NEXT MORNING MY CAR STARTED AND I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MONDAY DEC. 22ND WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK TO GO HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I STOPPED AND TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS FINE. HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN MY FIANCE AND I WERE HEADED TO TEXAS TO BE WITH RELATIVES. WE HAD TO PULL OVER ABOUT 5 TIMES DUE TO THE CAR HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. MY FIANCE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF HE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG AND ALL HE FOUND WAS THAT OUR BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE ON ONE SIDE. WE FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP AND BUY A NEW BATTERY CABLE. WE MADE IT TO TEXAS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL WE WERE HEADED BACK HOME FROM TEXAS. WE MADE IT ABOUT HALFWAY HOME WHEN WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ABOUT 15 TIMES TOTAL. EACH TIME WE JUST TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A MOMENT. WE WOULD GET BACK IN THE CAR AND MAKE IT ABOUT 10MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE SAME ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. MY FIANCE FINALLY THOUGHT MAYBE OUR BATTERY WAS GOING BAD. WE STOPPED AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR $120 AND REPLACED IT. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY MADE IT ABOUT A MILE WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. WE WOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR EOFF AND IT WOULD RUN GOOD FOR A MILE OR TWO AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AGAIN. WE DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HOME BUT WE FINALLY DID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668477

66,163 miles · Dec 22, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TOLD ME THAT I LOST ENGINE POWER. THE ERROR MESSAGE SAYS "ENGINE POWER REDUCED/SERVICE TRACTION/SERVICE ESC". MY CAR LOST POWER FROM EX: 40 MPH TO 30 MPH, AND COULDN'T GO ABOVE 50 MPH DEPENDING ON THE GRADE OF THE ROADS. IT WOULD CLIMB SPEED VERY SLOWLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON UNTIL I PULLED OVER SAFELY. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T TOTALLY RESET; SOMETIMES IT WOULD. IT COMES BACK ON UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667721

70,000 miles · Dec 21, 2014

Electrical System

WHEN CAR IS AT STOP LIGHT THE ESC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH. THE CAR STARTS SHAKING FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667496

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)