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

151,000 miles · Oct 1, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

WHEN I GET IN MY CAR I NOTICE THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON IN AN ARE WHERE CERTAIN PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ME AT LIKE CUBA MO THERE IS A CONSPIRACY GOING ON OUT HERE EVER SENSE THEY TOOK MY KIDS ILLEGALLY IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND I DON'T WANT TO GET HURT OR HURT NOBODY PLEASE HELP MY GAS LEAVES QUICK ALSO I KNOW MY CAR IS BEING HACKED BECAUSE THEY DO THAT A LOT OUT THERE AND SURROUNDING CITIES THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE I'M DRIVING AND WHEN I'M OUT THE CAR IT'LL COME ON THERE IS ALSO A TRACKING DEVICE ON IT THAT I DIDN'T PUT ON THERE ALSO I PUT GAS IN MY CAR THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOES DOWN TO LOW FUEL I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT JD BY RIDER IN ROLLA MO*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11362271

120,000 miles · Sep 21, 2020

Steering

POWER STEERING GOES OUT LOW TRAC LIGHT COMES ON SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI #11360252

90,000 miles · Sep 18, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN AND EVERYTHING STOP WORKING. IT SCARD THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I TOOK IT TO SMITH CHEVY IN TURLOCK CA THEY SAID THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND CHARAGED ME 489.00. LUCKY IT DIDNT KILL ME. GM MOTORS NEED TO DO A RECALL ON IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR LOSE THERE LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11355698

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2020

Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

IN 2019, MY VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HEADLIGHTS, & INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. I BEGAN TO RECEIVE DASHBOARD NOTIFICATIONS FROM MY CAR ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL IN EARLY 2018 AND EARLIER THIS YEAR I STARTED RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY AIRBAGS. I BOUGHT NEW BULBS, BUT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE MY LIGHTING PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS CHARGED/PAID A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO BE TOLD I NEEDED A NEW FUSE PANEL AND HEADLIGHT BULBS. I WAS TOLD THE PANEL WASN'T AVAILABLE DUE TO A STRIKE AT THE PLANT & TO COME BACK LATER TO HAVE THE PANEL INSTALLED. I RETURNED LATER TO BE TOLD THAT THE TECH DIDN'T RECORD HIS FINDINGS ON MY PROFILE SO NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND WAS ASKED TO PAY OUT MORE MONEY. THEREFORE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DOCUMENTED THAT MY VEHICLE REQUIRED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WIRING WHICH INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), BODY HARNESS, A NEW FUSE BLOCK, LABOR, ETC., THE PRICE TAG IS IN THE THOUSANDS. I CONDUCTED ONLINE RESEARCH AND LEARNED OF RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VIN ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING CHEVROLET COULD DO TO ASSIST ME. HOWEVER, FOR EVERY SINGLE ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR THERE IS A RECALL FOR IT. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY FINANCED VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING TICKETED BY THE POLICE OR WORSE. I RECEIVED NOTICE FOR ONE RECALL AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR AND THAT WAS FOR A SEAT BELT. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING 13036 IS THE BCM CHEVY RECALL NUMBER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #11354148

112,470 miles · Sep 5, 2020

Electrical System

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER YEAR MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING SAME ISSUES AND COSTING LOTS OF MONEY TRYING TO PIN POINT REAL ISSUE. THE CAR WILL TURN OFF AT STOP LIGHTS, MELT WIRES AND IS RELATED TO FUEL PUMP WIRING. THE WIRE GAGE IS TO SMALL TO PULL PROPER AMPS THAT LEAD TO BLOWN FUSES, MELTED WIRES, CAR STALLING AND WON'T CRANK, AND ACCORDING TO OTHER COMPLAINTS-DONE TO GM PERSONALLY BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, HAS QUIT WHILE GOING DOWN HWY. THESE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES! I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM PRIVATE PARTY 3 MONTHS AGO. BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MOTOR CRANKING MULTIPLE TIMES. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM TO FIX JSSUES-SEATBELT RECALL, NEW FOB DUE TO ORIGINAL 'DEAD'-IT'S BATTERY STILL GOOD. CHECK OUT CRANKING ISSUES AND DOORS NOT LOCKING. THEY DID NOT FIND CRANK ISSUE AND SUPPOSEDLY 4 DOOR LOCKING MODULATORS WERE MESSED UP. IF CAR CRANKS THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE S PROBLEM. THEY GOT NEW FOB TO WORK. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD REPLACE FUEL RELAY, STILL STOPS CRANKING, JUST REPLACED THE TRUNKS FUSE BOX. IT CRANKS NOW, BUT FOR HOW LONG? GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON FUEL PUMP WIRING FROM BOX TO PUMP! PUT CORRECT WIRE GAGE SO THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! THE LAST TIME CAR DIDN'T CRANK WAS ON 7/28/20. MY MECHANIC REPLACED FUSE BOX AND I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE! I HAVE CRANKED IT SEVERAL TIMES THOUGH. PEASE HELP US LITTLE PEOPLE GET JUSTICE BEFORE IT CAUSES A WRECK OR TAKES A LIFE! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11353320

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2020

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS (TWICE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS). I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUOUSLY PAY $180 TO HAVE BULBS REPLACED. I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP BECAUSE THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE REMOVED. THIS LAST TIME, THE LEFT LOW BEAM LIGHT, WOULD GO ON AND OFF AND THEN IT JUST FINALLY WENT OUT. IT DID NOT MATTER IF I WAS SITTING STILL OR IF THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, HOWEVER, I DID NOTICE IT HAPPENED MORE WHEN I WOULD HIT BUMPS. IT IS ALMOST LIKE THEIR IS A LOOSE WIRE SOMEWHERE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED TO FIX THE FAULTY ISSUES THAT MYSELF AND OTHERS ARE HAVING.

NHTSA ODI #11353293

117,676 miles · Aug 31, 2020

Engine

ENGINE STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. CALLED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. HE SAID ECS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. I WAS 10 MILES FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND IT STOPPED 6 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME. ENGINE HESITATED, HAD TO PUMP ACCELERATOR TO GET IT GOING AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11352313

81,000 miles · Aug 30, 2020

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

THE VEHICLE HAVE NO CHECK ENGINE CODES BUT WON'T START AND CUTS OFF I TRAFFIC AND IN HIGHWAY. THE FUSE BOX IN TRUNK GETS GOT AND THE FUEL PUMP RELAY GETS HOT. AFTER THE CAR STALLS THE ONLY WAY TO START IS SHAKE WIRETAP FUSE BOX IN TRUNK AND TAP ON REAR FUSE BOX

NHTSA ODI #11352090

81,000 miles · Aug 26, 2020

Electrical SystemEngine

ENGINE LOSSES POWER SHUTS OFF WONT RESTAT

NHTSA ODI #11351429

122,500 miles · Aug 24, 2020

Air Bags

I TURNED MY CAR ON THIS MORNING AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT AND THE DASHBOARD SAID SERVICE AIR BAG. IT WAS HUMID AND HOT THE PAST FEW DAYS. I LOOKED UP ISSUES WITH 2012 CHEVY MALIBU'S AIR BAGS, THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THEM BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11350874

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)