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

Engine complaints

99 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2021

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

This car will not start!!!! It starts when it feels like it. I’ve been stranded after work so many times for unknown reasons. Multiple mechanics have inspected car and cannot find the issue. Go on YouTube and search for this year car and you’ll find so many people in the same situation as me. The car has battery but the engine w…

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NHTSA ODI #11427361

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2021

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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My vehicle fail to restart vehicle, but vehicle was running good before. Once I turn off the vehicle for couple of minutes when I returned back to my vehicle and tried to turn vehicle on it would not allow me to turn on lights on vehicle would stay on when taking key out of ignition. I kept trying couple of time until I open the hood to check battery move battery cables tried again until vehicle turn on. Once vehicle had turn on and put vehicle in reverse dashboard lights started turning on check engine a service warning message display and speed meter would go up and down. When going forward the steering wheel became hard to control while vehicle would go toward slowly then stop go fast and slowly again until I got home turn vehicle off. Didn't drive it anymore until two days later. The second time I was on the freeway when my vehicles speed started to significantly reduce speed very quickly. I became concern with my safety until I was able to pull over on the side of freeway car turned off. When trying to restart vehicle would fail to turn back on had to tow vehicle back home. I tried turning vehicle back on failed at first on the last try vehicle turned on but when putting on reverse or drive vehicle became undriveable thier was no movement on vehicle and speed meter would not move . I just purchased this vehicle only had 8 months with it I payed $5000 plus $600 on plates. I do make my vehicle available for inspection it is very dangerous going through this specially on highway. I checked my onstart vehicle report but it does not show that anything is wrong on the report. My insurance provider Geico car details only show it needs and oil change. I also notice that in the vehicle history shows it has an oil leak. I can not afford to pay for a mechanic at this moment my vehicle is just park at home now.

NHTSA ODI #11419565

80,050 miles · Feb 4, 2021

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

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VEHICLE IS STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING, THEN WHEN SHUTS OFF IT WILL NOT START BACK UP. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, WORKED GREAT FOR 1 WHOLE DAY THEN DID THE SAME THING, LEFT ME STRANDED. FUSE BOX WAS THEN REPLACED. RAN GREAT AGAIN UNTIL RECENTLY IT STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY STREET CAUSING ME TO ALMOST BE HIT. PINS IN THE FUSE BOX WERE REPLACED, BUT I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES, IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FUSEBOX WIRING ITSELF, BECAUSE I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THINGS RAN OFF OF THAT FUSE BOX! THIS GETTING RIDICULOUS I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 4 MONTHS AND IT'S BEEN THE WORST CAR YET I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE LEAVE ME STRANDED. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED

NHTSA ODI #11394685

83,000 miles · Jan 26, 2021

Electrical SystemEngine

VEHICLE HAS DIED ON ME 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING.IN MOTION ONE MOMENT AND DEAD THE NEXT, SO FAR IT HAS DIED ON CITY STREETS, IVE GOTTEN LUCKY WITH IT NOT BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I TRAVEL THAT FREQUENTLY FOR WORK. IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF REPAIR SHOP FOR MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND STILL NOT CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11389973

180,000 miles · Nov 11, 2020

EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND CAR WENT INTO ENGINE POWER REDUCE MODE, RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI #11374072

85,000 miles · Oct 30, 2020

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP WITH AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING AND BANGING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SLIGHTLY DETACHED AND BECAME LOOSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEISER CHEVROLET WEST ALLIS (10200 W ARTHUR AVE, WEST ALLIS, WI 53227; (414) 327-2300) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE HAD CAUSED ADDITIONAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11372359

117,676 miles · Aug 31, 2020

Engine

ENGINE STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. CALLED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. HE SAID ECS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. I WAS 10 MILES FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND IT STOPPED 6 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME. ENGINE HESITATED, HAD TO PUMP ACCELERATOR TO GET IT GOING AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. …

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NHTSA ODI #11352313

81,000 miles · Aug 26, 2020

Electrical SystemEngine

ENGINE LOSSES POWER SHUTS OFF WONT RESTAT

NHTSA ODI #11351429

200,031 miles · Aug 21, 2020

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VEERED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WENT TO CHEVROLET OF MONTEBELLO (310 W WHITTIER BLVD, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640) HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,031.

NHTSA ODI #11350609

10,000 miles · Jun 13, 2020

Engine

I WAS DRIVING AND IT SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED .COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328614

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)