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

What owners actually said

906 reports

76,000 miles · Dec 2, 2020

Electrical System

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM REPORTING THIS CAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT! I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR ALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AS HAS MANY OTHERS. THERE ARE STARTING AND STOPPING ISSUES RELATED TO THE WIRING FOR THE FUEL PUMP. JUST GO ON ANY GM FORUM AND YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. WHY MUST YOU WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES DUE TO THIS. STOPPING WHILE DRIVING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS OF REPAIRS AND COMPLAINTS ALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD ANYTHING HAPPEN TO ME WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR MY FAMILY WILL BE PREPARED TO BRING FORTH LAWSUITS. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU RECEIVE FROM GM TO NOT ACT ON THIS PROBLEM. YOUR FORM ASKS FOR A DATE THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11377604

147,900 miles · Nov 13, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I'VE CHANGED MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND IT KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE HAD THIS DONE 3 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2020. ALSO, MY LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTONS DO NOT WORK, EXCEPT FOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ONLY THE UNLOCK SIDE OF THE BUTTON WORKS. I'VE HAD THIS CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER I BELIEVE OF 2018. IT'S VERY FRU…

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NHTSA ODI #11374550

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

98,000 miles · Nov 10, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM STOPPED WORKING, THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER A FEW DAYS. NOW BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER LOW BEAMS ARE NOT WORKING. HIGH BEAMS ARE FINE. I ALWAYS USED THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTING TO HAVE THEM TURN ON/OFF FOR ANYTIME I DRIVE. LOW BEAMS REQUIRED NEW HEADLAMPS AND MELTED RELAY, REPLACED THAT AS WELL. SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON DASH, THEN TURN OFF, THEN COME BACK ON. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND WON'T EVER STAY ON LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE CHECKED. USUALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AND THEN WHEN YOU START TO ACCELERATE AGAIN IT GOES OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11373980

222,222 miles · Nov 7, 2020

Exterior Lighting

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I'VE REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES (3 ON PASSENGER SIDE) THE PAST 13 MONTHS; THE HIGH BEAMS 3 TIMES (2 ON PASSENGER SIDE). HAD TO RUN ON HIGH BEAMS ONLY FOR APPROX 2 MONTHS CAUSE BOTH LOW BEAMS WENT OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THEM. BEEN BUYING THE HIGHER END BULBS AND BEEN CAREFUL TO NOT TOUCH THEM. HAD TO REPLACE YET OTHER BULB TONIGHT CAUSE HIGH BEAM WENT OUT. REPLACED 1 HIGH BEAM AND 2 LOW BEAMS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM WENT OUT ON THE WAY HOME ABOUT 15 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11373542

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2020

Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE CHANGED IT 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11372317

183,000 miles · Oct 19, 2020

Exterior Lighting

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULB 6 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. I HAVE CHANGED THE PLUG AND IT STILL KEEPS GOING OUT. IT IS THE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB THAT MALFUNCTIONS. I HAVE CHANGED THE SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS AND ALSO TOOK IT TO A CAR SHOP. NOTHING IS FIXING IT.

NHTSA ODI #11365213

50,000 miles · Oct 17, 2020

Exterior Lighting

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PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT 6 TIMES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME. DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM BURNED OUT TWICE AND REPLACED EACH TIME. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED EVERY TIME ONE WENT OUT. THIS WAS DONE TO BE SAFE AS IT IS DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING TO REPLACE. CURRENTLY DRIVER'S SIDE IS VERY DIM AND PASSENGER SIDE IS OUT AGAIN AND VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT. LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AT RANDOM TIMES AND HAVE CAUSED VERY POOR NIGHT VISION. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS, BUT HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. A COUPLE INCIDENTS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHEN HIT BUMPS IN ROAD. I READ MANY REVIEWS AND BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLES TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11364791

143,000 miles · Oct 5, 2020

Seat Belts

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TERRE HAUTE CHEVROLET (5377 S US HWY 41, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47802) AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH ANCHOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000.

NHTSA ODI #11362800

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)