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

61,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014

Steering

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HAVE HEARD A CLANKING/CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOV 2013. NOT ALWAYS BUT ON OCCASION AND IT BECAME A NORMAL DRIVING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE TRIED TO DIAGNOSE WHAT I WAS HEARING AND FEELING IN THE STEERING. NOISE BECAME LOUDER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND 4 DAYS AGO IT MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. NO NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN CONTROL AT THIS POINT JUST SEEMED A LITTLE LOOSE. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH ON A S CURVE, AS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE CAR RIGHT TO FOLLOW THE CURVE MIDWAY I NOTICED IT WAS NOT RESPONDING AND CONTINUED TO CROSS THE LANE I SLOWED MY SPEED BY PRESSING THE BRAKE LIGHTLY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO RESPOND TO MY STEERING I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND STOPPED. I LAID UNDER THE VEHICLE AND USED MY FOOT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. IT WAS LOUD RESISTANT AND HAD MINIMAL RESPONSE TO HALF TURNS OF THE WHEEL. I AM ALMOST NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS GETTING WORSE WITH EVERY SLIGHT TURN OF THE WHEEL. IM AFRAID THAT IF I HADN'T KNOWN THAT DRIVING THE CAR IN THESE CONDITIONS IS DANGEROUS I MAY HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED. WHAT IS SO FRIGHTENING IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO OPERATE A VEHICLE THINK THAT LITTLE NOISES LIKE THIS ONE STARTED AS AREN'T ANYTHING MAJOR. WITH THE LACK OF VEHICLE KNOWLEDGE THINGS COULD EASILY PROGRESS INTO SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY'S. I HAVE 3 KIDS UNDER 10 AND A CRASH AT ANY SPEED AFTER LOOSING STEERING CONTROL COULD KILL DRIVER, PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596906

72,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK! THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN BUTTON WILL UNLOCK THE DOORS BUT WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I CAN'T EVEN USE THE POWER LOCKS ON THE DRIVER DOOR TO LOCK THE DOORS ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO LEAN OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO LOCK THE DOORS THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECK THE HANDLE TO MAKE SURE MY DOORS ARE LOCKED. THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS! ALSO, THE TRUNK RELEASE WILL NOT WORK ON THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN OR IN THE CAR. I HAVE TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596642

44,700 miles · Jun 3, 2014

Service BrakesCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,850..... UPDATED 08/05/14 *BF UPDATED 08/18/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10595758

72,000 miles · May 27, 2014

Electrical SystemVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPR…

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NHTSA ODI #10594206

54,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,800.

NHTSA ODI #10593266

140,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10593255

73,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR A SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE MESSAGE WAS "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC". THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THE FIRST TIME THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ATTEND AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON MAY 14, 2014 GM RECALLED CHEVROLET MALIBU'S FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2004-2014. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS DENIED HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I INFORMED THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL. GM INFORMED ME THAT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND MAYBE GET REIMBURSE AT A LATER TIME. I EXPLAINED MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD THAT GETS TRANSPORTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT CARE. THE LADY ON THE PHONE JUST KEPT REPEATING THAT I COULD PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT IT WAS ALL MODELS RECALLED FROM 2004-2012 BUT I AM STILL GETTING DENIED HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593003

22,000 miles · May 20, 2014

Air BagsSeat Belts

LIGHT ON DASH CONSOLE RANDOMLY COMES ON ALERTING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND ALSO REMINDING ME THAT I NEED TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT WHEN MY SEAT BELT IS ALREADY FASTENED PROPERLY. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE CAUGHT HELL FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIPS TO HAV…

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NHTSA ODI #10592689

75,000 miles · May 19, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

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AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT NIGHT, I UNLOCKED MY DOORS WITH THE KEY REMOTE AND I WENT TO REACH FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR A COUPLE TIMES AND I EVEN TRIED TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY BUT COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I FINALLY HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IN THE PAST WHEN I WENT TO SHUT MY DOOR IT WOULD JUST BOUNCE OF THE LATCH, AND I JUST ATTRIBUTED THAT TO IT NEEDED LUBRICATION. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CHEVY MALIBU FORUMS AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE. (HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-3433.HTML). THIS IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS STILL A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN. I DID A LIVE CHAT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHAT IF I WERE TO GET HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT "UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS". MEANING, I HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE INJURED FOR THEM TO REPLACE A FAULTY DOOR LATCH. THERE IS ALREADY A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE REGARDLESS. I DON'T WANT TO END UP ANOTHER STATISTIC AND HAVE MY CAR RECALLED 11 YEARS LATER WHEN IT'S TOO LATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592585

119,958 miles · May 18, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON I 84 ON ROUTE TO WORCESTER, MA. HAD TO COAST WITH NO POWER STEERING AND AVOID A TRUCK TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE. ENGINE STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES AND RAN FOR ANOTHER HR. LUCKILY THIS TIME, STOPPED FOR FUEL AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TO TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED FUEL PUMP HAD FA…

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NHTSA ODI #10593027

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)