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

Service Brakes complaints

65 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2017

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACTED CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BCM BRAKE SENSOR MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11004034

78,000 miles · Jul 3, 2017

Service BrakesCrashInjury

TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR ON I-17 SB IN PHOENIX. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HIT BRAKES SUDDENLY. WHEN I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES,IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MY BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, DIDN'T SEEM TO BE STOPPING CAR. FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11002836

94,000 miles · Jun 26, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteeringCrash

"SERVICE ESC" LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, SLOWING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE, AS WELL AS BREAKING IN BAD WEATHER. AFTER REPLACING BRAKES TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE I SCONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM . AFTER A RECENT INQUIRY I LEARNED OF A RECALL ON "SERVICE ESC" AS WELL AS "TRACTION CONTROL".

NHTSA ODI #11001410

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2017

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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I RECIEVED A NOTICE FROM GMCONCERNING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) WARNING ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS COULD MALFUNCTION, BUT WARNING ME NOT TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THIS WARNING. NOW I HAVE TALKED TO AN INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WHO HAPPENS TO BE A LAWYER ALSO A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SINCE I GOT THOIS WARNING THAT MAKES ME AWARE OF A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY A DEADLY DEFECT IN THIS AUTOMOBILE, THEREFORE IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SOME BODY GOT KILLED, NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE MY FAULT, BUT IN FACT I WOULD AND/OR COPULD BE CHARGED AND FOUND RESPONSIBLE AND CHARGED WITH THAT DEATH. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN FACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY COULD LEAGALLY AND THEREFORE WOULD POSSIBLY PAY FFOR ANY DAMAGES PERIOD. NOW, SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE RECIEVED A SIMALIAR NOTICE ABOUT THE STEERING MACHANISM ON THIS CAR TO WHICH I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS, A NOTICE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS CAR AND IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN AN EARLIER NOTICE ABOUT TO HEADLIGHTS. SO EVERYTIME I DRIVE THIS CAR, I AM NOT SURE THAT I WILL ACCIDENTLY HAVE A WRECK,KILL SOMEONE OR EVEN BE KILLED MYSELF; I HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DEADLY DEFECTS, YET THIS CAR IS STILL ALLOWED TO BE ON THE ROAD, SO WHY,WHY, WHY, WHY HASN'T THIS COMPANY BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THIS DANGEROUS SAFTY HAZZARD VEHICLE ?? WHEN EVEN THOUGH ON THE TOP OF THIS LETTER, IT'S DATED "MARCH 2017" YET I DIDN'T RECIEVE THIS LETTER UNTIL MAY 2017/

NHTSA ODI #10990694

5 miles · May 10, 2017

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. BOTH TIMES RESULTED IN COLLISIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WSS REPAIRED AND THEN GIVEN BACK TO ME. THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 45 MPH AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WENT TO DO THE SAME AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR AT ALL. I COLLIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INJURIES TO MY SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10984656

70,000 miles · Apr 26, 2017

Air BagsService BrakesCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND IN TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10980811

60 miles · Jan 8, 2017

EngineService BrakesTraction Control System

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CONTROL ILLUMINATES AND THEN IT ALSO READ ENGINE POWER CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON THE HIGHWAY AND NO ISSUES. I HAD TO THEN DRIVE 30-40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE ROAD, EVEN WHEN I DROVE INTO TOWN THERE WERE CARS PASSING ME. UPHILL THE CAR WENT AS LOW AS 23 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE AT A STOP SIGN OR INTERSECTION THE CAR WOULD SHAKE BUT IT STAYED ON. AS I PUSHED ON THE GAS TO SPEED UP THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940401

92,000 miles · Jun 5, 2016

Power TrainService BrakesWheels

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MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND FOR A COUPLE MONTHS NOW AND THE LAST WEEK IT'S GOTTEN REALLY LOUD WHEN I GO OVER 20 IT SOUNDS THE WORST OF SLOW DOWN I CAN'T GO OVER 40 WITHOUT IT SOUNDING LIKE IT'S TAKING OFF AND MY FRONT END SHAKES LIKE MY TIRES GONNA COME OFF I REPLACED THE BREAKS AND IT'S STILL MAKING THE SOUND IT'S TO THE POINT I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO DIE ON ME MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DYING A LOT AND MY SERVICE ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF PLEASE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY MY CAR IS DOING THIS OR AN IDEA IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AIRPLANE THAT'S THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT AND MY RIGHT REAR TIRE IS ALWAYS SAYING MY TIRE IS LOW I ROTATED MY TIRES AND IT'S STILL NOT READING IT RIGHT THERE BRAND NEW TIRES TO BOOT PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ODI #10872640

52,300 miles · May 19, 2016

Service Brakes

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BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION, DIFFICULTY MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF "PARK", ECS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GOING ON-AND-OFF. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES OCCURRING IN THE 2014 RECALL (WE HAD TO ABOUT 3 MONTHS TO GET INTO THE DEALER BACK THEN). BOTTOM LINE IS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN RE-FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF MONEY AS THE RECALL IS NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE "THEY FIXED IT" ON NOVEMBER 28, 2014. WHEN WE CALLED GM (MAY 19, 2016), THE OPERATOR SAID SHE SHARED OUR FRUSTRATION BUT COULD ONLY SPEAK TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT. (AMAZINGLY, THE DEALER DID NOT RESPOND TO HER). IN READING FORUMS AND SPEAKING WITH THE GM OPERATOR, APPEARS THAT GM DOES NOT HAVE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE ISSUE. SO THE RECALL DID NOTING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE AWAIT A DECISION/CALL FROM THE DEALER/GM. THE GM OPERATOR DID OFFER A VOUCHER FOR SERVICE ANALYSIS FOR USE AT A DEALERSHIP - BUT NOT FOR A FIX. WE ARE LOOKING FOR RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO USE.

NHTSA ODI #10865821

111,100 miles · May 17, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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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

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)