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

60,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014

EngineService Brakes

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I HAD MY 2011 MALIBU SERVICED AT MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET FOR ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE IN JULY 2013.IN NOVEMBER 2013, I BEGAN HEARING THE SAME NOISES THAT LEAD ME TO HAVE MY ROTORS REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. I WENT TO SERRA CHEVROLET WHO STATED I NEED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. I EXPLAINED I HAD JUST HAD THAT WORK DONE. AFTER PROVING WITH MY PAPERWORK THAT I HAD THE WORK DONE, SERRA CHEVROLET STATED THEY COULD REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET SALES MANAGER STATED I COULD BRING IT BACK THERE; HOWEVER, DUE TO CONVENIENCE I ALLOWED SERRA CHEVROLET COMPLETE THE REPAIR WORK. A WEEK LATER MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVEN TIMES BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME; IN FEBRUARY THE NOISE FROM THE ROTORS RETURNED. BECAUSE I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 40+ MILES BACK AND FORTH (SEVEN TIMES) TO HAVE THE ENGINE LIGHT REPAIRED; I WAS TOLD MY ROTORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER CONTACTING GM CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND NOT SETTLING FOR A NO ANSWER; SERRA CHEVROLET STATED THEY GAVE ME NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, IN APRIL, THE NOISE RETURNED AND NO-ONE IS WILLING TO ADDRESS MY PROBLEM OR CONCERN. I HAD MY ATTORNEY PREPARE AN OFFICIAL LETTER TO SEND TO SERRA AND MARTY FELDMAN CHEVROLET. NO COMMENTS AS OF YET. I AM PURSUING OTHER MEANS TO GET THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND TO GM HEADQUARTERS. I PAY MY CAR NOTE EACH MONTH AND I HAVE HAD CAR PROBLEMS SINCE JULY 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606914

72,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE, ESC, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED THE OIL SENSOR SCREEN, AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE CODE INDICATED A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR BLINKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605170

31,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Power Train

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BOUGHT USED IN NOVEMBER 2013 WITH 23,000 MILES. CAR'S RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS, LOSES POWER AT VARYING SPEEDS FROM 30 MPH AND UP. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN, DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT, THAT IS TO SAY IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT THIS HAS LEFT ME IN A DANGEROUS SPOT WHILE CHANGING LANES OR PULLING OUT ONTO A STREET FROM A STOPPED POSITION; I CAN FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SLUGGISHLY ACCELERATES. THE RPM OFTEN RACES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER HAVING TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC ISSUES. THIS CAR DOES NOT GET CLOSE TO THE QUOTED FUEL MILEAGE THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO FOR AN LT; MY SOLE REASON FOR PURCHASING THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604814

29,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Service BrakesCrash

CAR SLID ON SLUSH AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK THOUGH PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN; CRASHED INTO A SNOWBANK DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALREADY HAD DONE THE RECALL ON THE PART IN OCTOBER 2013 BUT WAS THE PART THEY REPLACED IT WITH FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604801

2,300 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

BRAKES FAIL EMERGENCY STOP WITH ABOUT 150 FEET FROM ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG WAS DELAYED IN DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604663

39,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014

Electrical System

3 TIMES MY SONS CAR HAS JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604354

31,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT INDICATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND THE POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI #10598482

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2014

Steering

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10597171

70,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014

Air Bags

MY LIGHT KEEP COMING ON SAYING SERVICE AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597675

65,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ESC FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10597626

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)