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

101,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014

Engine

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I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MALIBU LT. IT WILL RANDOMLY READ "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND COME TO A STOP. IT IS UNPREDICTABLE AND VERY VERY DANGEROUS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING IT TO CHEVROLET. THEY HAVE THE CODES BUT SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLICATE IT. IF YOU GOOGLE MALIBU LOSES POWER, SERVICE TRACTION. YOU WILL SEE MANY COMING UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN FIX IT. VERY DANGEROUS!!! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT AND WISH I NEVER BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE APRIL OR MAY. TRUE LEMON!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10666978

80,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014

Electrical System

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THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS THE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC THIS APPEARS AT RANDOM SPEEDS AND EVEN WHEN IM SETTING AT THE BANK WITH MY CAR IN PARK IT HAS OCCURRED. THIS IMMEDIATELY REDUCES YOUR CARS POWER AND YOU CAN ONLY RUN ABOUT 30 MPH WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS USED TO START BY SAYING ICE POSSIBLE AND THEN ALL THE ABOVE WOULD BEGIN. NOW AFTER HAVING THE BREAK RECALL COMPLETED THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 RANDOM TIMES IN ONE WEEK. YOU CAN ONLY CLEAR THIS BY SHUTTING OFF YOUR ENGINE AND LETTING IT SET FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664461

48,000 miles · Dec 11, 2014

Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SEATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, THE SEAT BELT DETACHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEEL CABLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…

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NHTSA ODI #10663663

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2014

Steering

HAD ISSUES WITH STEERING PROPERLY, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL SOME ONE CAME OUT TO HELP PULL THE CAR HOME. THE SCARY PART WAS THAT THIS HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663600

30,000 miles · Dec 11, 2014

Engine

2011 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 30,000 MILES. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, I WAS AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THE CAR JUST QUIT! THIS IS A SAFETY DANGER. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET BADLY HURT OR KILLED. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!

NHTSA ODI #10663572

86,687 miles · Dec 11, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND CARBON BUILDUP FROM THE INTAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE CODES AND PERFORMED A FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG, THE BRAKES, THE SEAT BELT, AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT WAS UNAWARE IF THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FUSE BOX AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,687.

NHTSA ODI #10663558

60,000 miles · Dec 10, 2014

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ESC AND EPS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10663475

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2014

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10663438

85,656 miles · Dec 8, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SERVICE ESC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,656.

NHTSA ODI #10662890

87,000 miles · Dec 2, 2014

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONSTAR WAS CALLED AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING AN MALFUNCTION IN THE AIR BAG, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW COMPANY TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER 2 HOURS TO WHICH ALL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. NOTE, CAR WAS JUST IN THE SHOP 2 DAYS PRIOR FOR OIL CHANGE AND RECALL ON BCM. DEALERSHIP CAME BACK WITH A $1200.00 ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF AN AIRBAG. $858.00 FOR THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT AND $241.00 FOR A NEW BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY STATING SOMETIMES ELECTRONICS HAVE ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661630

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)