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 · Aug 15, 2014

Air BagsEngineService BrakesCrash

MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY FRIEND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS FORCED INTO HYDROPLANING INTO A BARRIER, ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A PERSON. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE SENSOR WAS NOT HIT NOR DID THE ONSTAR BECOME ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER FIGHTING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES, MY CAR WAS T…

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NHTSA ODI #10622589

43,540 miles · Aug 6, 2014

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesCrash

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MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. IT HAD BEEN MISTING RAIN AND THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY DAMP... APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION HE REDUCED HIS SPEED TO APPROX 40 MPH. TWO CARS AHEAD OF HIM SLAMMED ON BREAKS WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO YELLOW. THIS CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION... CARS SLIDING TO PREVENT HITTING THE FIRST CAR. MY SON SAID THAT HE WAS BREAKING VERY HARD WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKS ENGAGED... THEY PULSED 3-4 TIMES AND THEN RELEASED WHICH SHOT HIM STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. HE SAID THAT HE WAS PUSHING THE BREAK AS HARD AS HE COULD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE AUTOMATIC CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEM WORK. I CALLED ON STAR TO SEE IF THE SYSTEM EVEN SHOWS A CRASH AND IT DOESN'T. I THINK THAT CONSIDERING THE CRASH BENT THE FRAME IN THE FRONT END AND IS IN EXCESS OF $6,000 YOU WOULD THINK THE SENSORS WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON SOMETHING. AFTER THE CRASH I CONTACTED MY DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NOT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS CRASH DID NOT RESULT IN A MORE SERIOUS INJURY / DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619178

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, ETC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS ABNORMALLY LONG FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10616018

19,264 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Service Brakes

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I WAS REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL LETTER THAT I RECEIVED ON MY CAR. RECALL 13036. I BELIEVE THAT I WAS SOLD A LEMON. IT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONT. TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT IS NOT AT THE QUALITY THAT I BELIEVE I WAS PURCHASING IT AT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE OF TWO THINGS DONE. YOU GUYS TAKE OVER THE PAYMENTS UNTIL THIS CAR CAN BE REPAIRED OR I BE UPGRADED TO A 2013 AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO ME. THE LAW REQUIRES A MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE DEFECT, REPLACE THE VEHICLE, OR REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE CAR MINUS THE DEPRECIATION . I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO PARTS AND GM DOES NOT EVEN KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PARTS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL IT'S UNFAIR TO ME AS A CONSUMER. CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615228

57,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

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DRIVING AND CAR HAD SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO RANDOMLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. WE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTING GOING CRAZY DISPLAYING ALL LIGHTS, SAYING DEVICE ESC AND THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE ENGINE STALLED AND TRANSMISSION STARTED JOLTING AROUND. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AFTER TURNING IT OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO STARLING CHEVROLET TO GET IT FIXED THE FOLLOWING MONDAY SINCE CLOSED SUNDAY. BEFORE TAKING TO THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE TO CHECK THE BATTERY. AUTOZONE STATING BATTERY WAS GREAT. CHEVROLET DIDN'T LOOK AT THE CAR AT ALL MONDAY, AND TUESDAY STATED WE NEED NEW BATTERY. I ADVISED OF AUTO ZONE READING AND WAS TOLD AUTZONE WAS WRONG. PICKED UP THE CAR TUESDAY AFTER HAVING A BRAND NEW BATTERY PUT IN FOR $270. TODAY IS THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY AND THE CAR DID EVERYTHING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT START. NOW I HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO CHEVY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614572

1,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Service Brakes

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WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MAC HAIK CHEVROLET IN 2012 WITH 30MILES ON IT. IT DROVE GREAT FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS. THEN WHEN I WOULD REVERSE THE CAR TO LEAVE I WOULD HERE A NOISE ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR. SO I TOOK OFF THINKING IT WAS THE RAIN THAT CAUSED THE NOISE ON THE BRAKES. THEN SOMETIMES I WOULD HEAR IT WHEN I START SLOWING DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. SO I LEFT EVERY MORNING I WOULD HEAR THE SAME NOISE FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE WHERE THEY CHECK THE BRAKES FOR FREE. THEY LOOKED AT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A GROOVE ON THE ROTOR CAUSED BY SOMETHING WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IT COULD BE A BAD BRAKE PAD. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SO I DID. ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS IT'S NOT THAT BAD AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I HAD THE GARAGE CHECK THE REST OF THE BRAKES THEY HAD NO GROOVES AT THE TIME I TOOK IT IN. IT'S 07/16/2014 AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THEM TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY SAID NO. PLEASE HELP ME OR LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611134

12,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND THE SERVICE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CHIMES SOUNDED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO RE-CALIBRATED THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610772

60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT ONCE THE ESC SENSOR LIGHT TURNED OFF THE BRAKES OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10609607

28,000 miles · May 20, 2014

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTED, ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, HOWEVER WHEN I PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR, THEN MY BREAKS STARTING SQUEAKING REALLY BAD. NOW I CONSTANTLY HEAR THAT SOUND WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN EARLY MORNINGS, THE SQUEAKING IS CONSTANT. ALSO MY RADIO AND DEFROST GOES IN AND OUT, MY RADIO SHUTS DOWN BY ITSELF AND THEN RETURNS ON, MY BACK DEFROSTER DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK, WHEN IT RAINS, MY BACK WINDOW IS NOT DEFROST, SO I CAN'T USE MY BACK WINDOW FOR VIEWING WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN OR EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592655

50,000 miles · May 12, 2014

Service Brakes

WAS DRIVING ON LAKE SHORE DRIVING WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN ONLY TO HAVE TO PUSH THE BAKES DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE. THIS HAS HAPPEN A LOT AND I HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR YET. NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587707

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)