Electrical System. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 202 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports13 fire reports27 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

129 reports

Clear category filter

136,000 miles · Jun 10, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ESC AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10873574

120,000 miles · May 23, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. THE CAR BEGINS TO IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGH AND LOOSES NEARLY ALL OF THE ENGINE POWER AS IF IT IS RUNNING ON 1 OR 2 CYLINDERS. THE SERVICE ESC , SERVICE TRACTION AND ENGINE PWR REDUCED NOTIFICATIONS DISPLAY ON MY DASH AS PICTURED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR TO FIND IT RUNS PERFECT AND HAS NO WARNING MESSAGES OR SYMBOLS ON. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS. I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE JUST TO FIND IT IS VERY COMMON AND NOBODY PROVIDES A FIX.. I REALLY WISH THAT I HAD NEVER PURCHASED A GM VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10870377

111,100 miles · May 17, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. AN AMBULANCE WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND THE CAR ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE I WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE ONCOMING AMBULANCE. I HAD TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALSO NOT COMING ON WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTING HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY AND WAS REPAIRED ON 04/28/2015. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL #13036 BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH AND WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER WHEN I LOOK UP THE RECALL NUMBERS ON MY VEHICLE THIS RECALL NUMBER DOES NOT SHOW UP AS STILL NEEDING TO BE DONE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AND I AM NOW HAVING THE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING AGAIN PLUS THE EVEN MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN I AM IN CRUISE CONTROL. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROCEED WITH HAVING THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. THE RECALL PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY OR THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF MY RECEIPT OF THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE ON 04/28/15.

NHTSA ODI #10865453

45,000 miles · May 10, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Read full complaint

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, OR PARKED WITH CAR RUNNING, THE RPM BOUNCES FROM 1-2 RPMS. LIGHT ON DASHBOARD SAYS "SERVICE ESC". AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON BRIEFLY. PROBLEM IS, THIS WAS A RECALL IN 2014, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, HAD IT REPAIRED. NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER ITS ACTING UP AGAIN! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID NOW I'M RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. I FEEL IF THEY DIDNT FIX IT THE FIRST TIME, THEY SHOULD FIX IT AGAIN. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FAULTY REPLACEMENT PART FOR ALL I KNOW. I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT ON THE PAYMENTS, NOW LOOKING AT ELECTRICAL REPAIR??? ITS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND SHOULD BE COVERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT, AND SHOULD REMAIN OPEN.

NHTSA ODI #10864148

94,000 miles · Mar 23, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING, AT LOW SPEED IN THE CITY, OR ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING (ACCORDING TO THE REPAIRING DEALER, VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN); DASH GAUGES GO ON AND OFF; TRACTION CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TURN OWN AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING; DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING; BELLS AND BUZZERS RING; DOOR LOCKS CYCLE, AND THEFT DETERRENT WARNINGS ILLUMINATE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO REPAIR IT BY REPLACING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. IT IS AT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOW, HAS BEEN THERE FOR A FULL WEEK AND AT THIS POINT IS STILL UNSAFE

NHTSA ODI #10851273

88,000 miles · Jan 19, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY STEERING ANGLE TORQUE SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI #10821023

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Seat Belts

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AS THE VEHICLES SPEED REDUCED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND DID NOT INDICATE A TIME FRAME THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10817552

46,000 miles · Jan 2, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD AT 55 MPH, I HEARD THREE BELLS AND ON THE DASHBOARD IT READ "SERVICE ESC...SERVICE ESC...TRACTION CONTROL OFF" THE VEHICLE THEN SIMULTANEOUSLY BEGAN TO REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME UNLOCKED WITHIN SECONDS. THIS CAUSED SWERVING AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. I SEE RECALLS FOR THIS …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10817417

92,000 miles · Dec 16, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE TRACTION CONTROL DISABLE COMES ON AND THE BRAKES LIGHTS WILL QUIT WORKING AND THE STABILITY CONTROL SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I RESEARCHED AND I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ALL THIS. RECALL # 14V252000 IS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS I AM EXPERIENCING AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID M…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10810829

45,400 miles · Dec 1, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Read full complaint

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THIS MORNING, IT WAS RUMBLING AND SOUNDED VERY LOUD, WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE SERVICE ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. THE MESSAGE READ TO SERVICE ESC. IT ALSO STATED THAT I HAD REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I DROVE TO WORK (3.5 MILES). THE CAR CRAWLED ALONG FINALLY BEING ABLE TO GET UP TO 40 MPH. I HAD TO STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHERE 2 HIGHWAYS INTERSECT. WHILE STOPPED, MY CAR LUNGED OUT INTO THE CENTER OF TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. THANK GOD I DIDN'T HAVE MY 2 SONS WITH ME. ONCE I ARRIVED AT WORK, MY CAR WANTED TO AGAIN LUNGE FORWARD AS I TRIED TO PARK IT. I'VE READ ONLINE WHERE MANY CHEVROLET OWNERS WITH CARS THE SAME AGE AND SIMILAR MILES ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I ONLY HAVE 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL SEMI TRUCKS THAT ARE TRAVELING THE HIGHWAY I HAD TO CROSS THIS MORNING. GM IS LUCKY THIS ISN'T ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTING A DEADLY INCIDENT TO THE MEDIA. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED BY GM BEFORE THERE ARE CASUALTIES AND LIFE LOST. I WILL BE AWAITING A PROMPT RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #10807661

Official recalls

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)