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

Traction Control System complaints

10 reports

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107,000 miles · Apr 4, 2025

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringTraction Control System

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The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and 15V269000 ( SEAT BELTS); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the steering wheel vibrated and seized. The "ESC" and “Traction Control" warning lights were illuminated. The contact used a scanner and diagnosed the vehicle with steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and wanted to charge the contact for the parts. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI #11652855

180,000 miles · Dec 1, 2017

SteeringTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE OPERATED AFTER BEING MANUALLY RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTA…

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NHTSA ODI #11051767

100,000 miles · Jan 19, 2017

SteeringTraction Control SystemWheels

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY, BUT WAS VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10946530

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE SPRING FAILED OR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10916495

53,000 miles · Jun 29, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE VIN WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10881580

107,000 miles · Apr 21, 2016

EngineTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD REQUIRE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860832

58,000 miles · Jan 27, 2016

EngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND LOW ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10822515

19,000 miles · May 13, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULATOR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000.

NHTSA ODI #10716142

500 miles · Sep 15, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ENGAGED WHEN YOU TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A COMPLETE STOP IF THERE IS A LIGHT COATING OF MOISTURE ON THE ROAD SURFACE THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THEY MADE NOTE OF IT. AS A RESULT I TURN THE TRACTION CON…

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NHTSA ODI #10633256

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)