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

Visibility/wiper complaints

27 reports

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132,000 miles · Oct 31, 2016

Exterior LightingSteeringVisibility/wiper

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PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL DOES A QUICK JERK, MY TRACTION LIGHT LUMINATES AND THEN SERVICE ESC COMES UP ON THE DISPLAY AND THEN POWER STEERING SHOWS ON THE DISPLAY AND AT THAT POINT IOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND AT THIS POINT I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT THIS POINT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THIS IS UNEXCEPTABLE...WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREE WAY GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST POWER STEERING. THIS VERY ISSUE WAS A RECALL ON THE RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 AND 2008-2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU(S) AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE 2012 MODEL. I HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH STEERING PRIOR TO THS DAY IT HAPPENED 10/30/16 AND NO WARRING POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS GOING TO FAIL. FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL GM. DO YOUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GET THIS RIGHT!!!! NOW WE HAVE TO FIND THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND GET IT FIXED BECAUSE MY CAR IS LITERALLY A DEATH TRAP. ALSO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS (DOME) AND HEADLIGHTS START FLICKERING AFTER 10 MINS TO 60 MINS INTO MY DRIVE LIKE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. ALSO, THE REAR DEFROST STOPPED WORKING AND I CAN'T SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW, I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN TO TRY AND HURRY THE PROCESS ALONG AND THAT IS NOT FUN WHEN IT IS FREEZING OUT SIDE!

NHTSA ODI #10920378

548,250 miles · Mar 13, 2016

Visibility/wiper

ON 11/18/2015 MY WIPER BLADES STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY DOWN POUR OF RAIN ,HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR GARAGE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT. THEY REPLACE THE WIPER LINKAGE. SO 225.69 DOLLARS LATER I WAS ON MY WAY. THAN ON 3/10/2016 UPON DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RAIN I HEARD A COUPLE OF BANG AND THE WIPERS STOPPED WORK…

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NHTSA ODI #10846340

87,000 miles · Feb 16, 2016

Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED (70 MPH) IN A RAINSTORM IN TRAFFIC, THE WIPER INTERNAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISION OF OTHER TRAFFIC REQUIRING EMERGENCY STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10836318

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2015

Visibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS ACTIVATED DUE TO THE RAIN WEATHER CONDITION AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE HAD DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10763001

28,080 miles · Jun 17, 2015

StructureVisibility/wiperWheelsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE TIRE POPPED. THE IMPACT WAS AS MUCH AS A FRONT END COLLISION; THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BUMPER AND THE WHEEL WAS BENT. A MECHANIC SAID THAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH WHERE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF, B…

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NHTSA ODI #10725743

76,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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CAR WAS PARKED WITH REAR DEFOGGER AND HEAT RUNNING, LOUD EXPLOSION CRACKING NOISE AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED INTO SPIDERWEBS. GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE -- OTHER PEOPLE PARKED SAW THE INCIDENT AND NO ONE SAW ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD ( PARKED AT SCHOOL DROPPING OFF KIDS ). NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT INDICATED THE WINDOW HAD BEEN STRUCK IN ANY WAY. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS WARM TO THE TOUCH IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE SPIDERWEBBED WINDOW. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 0 DEGREES. CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555285

3,500 miles · Jan 22, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

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WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, I HAD A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING. THE PROBLEM COULD COME AND GO FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED ON ALL IGNITION CYCLES. NOTE, THE PROBLEM COULD EVEN COME AND GO ON 1 IGNITION CYCLE. THE FOLLOWING STOPPED WORKING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEATED SEATS, POWER WINDOWS/SUNROOF, POWER DOORS, POWER MIRRORS, BLUE TOOTH INTERFACE, DOME LIGHTS AND MIRROR / COMPASS. DEALER HAS REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE AND VPM. FIXES SEEM TO WORK FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-12 WEEKS BEFORE ISSUES RESURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494367

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)