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

78,000 miles · May 16, 2014

Engine

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I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 35N ON MY WAY TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT PART OF 35 IS 70 MPH. IT WAS DARK AND I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH ME. WITH CARS SPEEDING PAST ME I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY DAUGHTER WAS VERY SHAKEN AS WAS I. CALLED MY BROTHER IN LAW TO COME PICK US UP. HE BASICALLY COASTED IT BACK TO HIS HOUSE ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY QUICK THINKING AND DRIVING ABILITY, I MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. VERY BAD FEELING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588799

77,400 miles · May 15, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE WARNING LIGHT (SSIBLE) ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10588666

87,200 miles · May 3, 2014

Visibility/wiper

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I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-95 IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAILED. FORTUNATELY, BOTH THE RAIN AND TRAFFIC WERE RELATIVELY LIGHT AND I HAD SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT INTERCHANGE. HAD IT HAPPENED ONE DAY LATER DURING THE HEAVY RAIN, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF THE WIPER LINKAGE DETACHING ITSELF FROM THE WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC BALL JOINT TYPE CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586375

57,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 6 TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ABOUT 70 MILES OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA GOING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS. SUDDENLY MY TRACTION LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION CAME ON, THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR VERY SUDDENLY AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME COULD NOT STOP FAST ENOUGH AND THE ONLY REASON I WAS NOT HIT WAS BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TERRIFIED, I SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. SINCE I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DARK, I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN TO GET HOME. I MADE IT TO ATLANTA, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ENTERING THE CITY ON THE LOOP. I BASICALLY COASTED HOME. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT JIM ELLIS CHEVROLET IN ATLANTA WHERE I LEFT IT LAST NIGHT. NEED IMMEDIATE HELP. MY ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND ON THIS FORUM. [XXX] MY POSTS ARE UNDER [XXX]3. I AM HOPING FOR SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION SO I WILL NOT HAVE TO RETAIN A LAWYER. *JS PARTS 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 #10585210

60,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REDUCE POWER MODE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AS THE ACCELERATION DECREASED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THIS FAILURE RECURRED EVERY 22 MILES TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. …

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NHTSA ODI #10583347

38,910 miles · Apr 17, 2014

Steering

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WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND YOU MAKE A RIGHT THERE IS A NOTICE SOUNDS LIKE COMING FROM RIGHT WHEEL AND RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. WHEN PARKING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES THE RUBBING SOUND. TOOK THE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A TUESDAY GOT OIL CHANGED AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY WAS OVER AND NEED BRAKES AND FUEL AND THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. WENT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP ON THURSDAY CHARGED $85. TO TELL ME THAT STEERING GEAR AND RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR A PRICE OF OVER $800. I DECLINED SERVICE SINCE NOT EQUIPPED FOR A BILL LIKE THAT SINCE THE CAR IS SO NEW. I BROUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW DECEMBER OF 2010. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD NEED REPLACING IN 3 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS SO THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE RECALL!!

NHTSA ODI #10583317

3,200 miles · Apr 17, 2014

Air Bags

I HAD JUST GOT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CARS AIR BAG SENSORS. I HAD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS AFTER ONLY HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS SO THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM THE 1ST TIME THEY HAD TO ME THAT THIS WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 10000 MILE…

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NHTSA ODI #10583234

46,000 miles · Apr 16, 2014

Visibility/wiper

WIPER SYSTEM FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. NEITHER WIPER BLADE MOVED. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PART COST $135 FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER PLUS $150 LABOR TO INSTALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY WARNING SUCH AS SLIPPAGE SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO SEE ENOU…

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NHTSA ODI #10583043

30,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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NHTSA ODI #10579132

50,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE WARNING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WAS DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS REDUCED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10578006

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)