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

200,031 miles · Aug 21, 2020

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VEERED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WENT TO CHEVROLET OF MONTEBELLO (310 W WHITTIER BLVD, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640) HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,031.

NHTSA ODI #11350609

106,000 miles · Aug 20, 2020

Electrical System

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CAR STOPS WHILE DRIVING LOSES POWER. START AND STOP INTERMITTENTLY. FUSES HOT IN TRUNK FUSE BOX. WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES.THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD MANY PARTS REPLACED WHICH HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS HOWEVER, THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THESE ISSUES. THIS IS A WIRING ISSUE WITH GENERAL MOTORS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INJURED OR WORSE DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11350365

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2020

Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS KEEP GOING OUT GOT THE CHANGED 6 TIMES IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS CAME BACK ON ONE TIME WHEN I HAD THE ANTI THEFT PROBLEM AND HAD TO JUMP MY CAR BUT THEN BACK TO BEING OUT AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11349301

120,000 miles · Aug 7, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. A MELTED SOCKET WAS THE FIRST ISSUE. IT WAS REPAIRED A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE SAME PROBLEM IS AGAIN AT PLAY. THERE MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT MANY HAVE REPORTED. IT COSTS DEARLY TO HAVE A MECHANIC TAKE APART THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WORK ON THE LIGHTS SINCE YOU MUST TAKE OFF THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER TO ACCESS THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIR AND BULB REPLACEMENT ALREADY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TO SEE IT HAPPENING AGAIN IS VERY DISCOURAGING.

NHTSA ODI #11343835

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2020

Seats

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THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FOR MY CAR IN 2019 AND I TOOK IT TO DAVIDSON CHEVROLET IN WATERTOWN NY. THEY FIXED THE RECALL AND MENTIONED IT COULD AFFECT THE SEAT ASSEMBLY. SHORTLY AFTER I GOT A POSTCARD REGARDING THE SEAT. A FEW DAYS LATER MY SEAT NO LONGER MOVES BACK OR FORTH. I TRIED CALLING AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE AND THEY HAD TO ORDER IT. I KEPT CALLING EVERY FEW WEEKS AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER OR CALL ME BACK. I FINALLY GOT AHOLD OF SOMEONE AND WENT INTO THE SHOP THURSDAY JULY 30, 2020 TO GET THE FUSE IN. THEY LATER CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY LEVER BROKE, HOWEVER MY LEVER WAS NOT BROKE WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A CLEAN CUT. THEN THEY TURNED AROUND AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD TO REPLACE MY SEAT AND THEN I CAN PAY THEM TO INSTALL IT. I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM THE RECALL. I ALSO FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD WHEN THEY SHOULD BE FIXING IT.

NHTSA ODI #11342707

97,000 miles · Jul 23, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE CHEVY MALIBU. ENTRIES STATING SIMILAR ISSUES SPECIFICALLY EFFECTING THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM, TOTALED MORE THAN 300 ON CARPROBLEMZOO.COM THIS IS NOT ONLY A MONETARY ISSUE, NOT ONLY A RESOURCE ISSUE, BUT A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO OPERATOR AND BYSTANDER SAFETY. IF GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE SUPPLIED A FAULTY PRODUCT, AS DESCRIBED BY THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ONLINE, THEY ARE COMPLICIT TO ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURY CAUSED BY THEIR LACK OF ACTION AND CONCERN. MY OWN EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN FRIGHTENING, NOTICING A LACK OF POWER AFTER I'M ALREADY ON THE ROAD, ONLY SEEING ONE LIGHT FROM MY CAR REFLECTING ON ANOTHER CAR OR SURFACE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAKES GREAT CARE TO MAKE SURE THEIR VEHICLES CAN BOTH SAFELY OPERATE AND TRANSPORT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. WITH THIS DAMAGED PART IN CHEVY'S MALIBU, MAKING GREAT STRIDES FOR A SAFE VEHICLE COULD BE FOR NOTHING IF THE LIGHT DOES NOT DO ITS JOB. WITH THIS IN MIND, PLEASE CONSIDER THE CLIMATE WE LIVE IN TODAY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAULTY HEADLIGHT, AND A RELIABLE LIGHT, COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH NOT ONLY FOR THOSE ON THE ROAD, BUT FOR POC, TARGETED BY POLICE, FOR A FAULTY HEADLIGHT. IN 2015, DARRIUS STEWART WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU. HE UNJUSTLY LOST HIS LIFE TO A POLICE OFFICER AFTER THE DRIVER WAS PULLED OVER FOR WHAT DO YOU ASK? A HEADLIGHT OUT. DARRIUS STEWART. GENERAL MOTORS- RECALL. HTTP://CHNG.IT/RPXWYMBW9V

NHTSA ODI #11341114

150,000 miles · Jul 18, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

ESC WARNING ON DASH COMING ON WILL DRIVING AND TURNING FORWARD OR BACKWARD. HVAC CONTROLLER NOT RESPONDING TO COMMANDS, HVAC RESISTOR AND BLOWER MOTOR WIRES GETTING VERY HOT AND NOT BLOWING FUSES WHEN DRIVING WITH AC OR HEATER RUNNING. HVAC RESISTOR BLOWING OUT. HIGH MOTOR OIL CONSUMPTION , EVERY 1000 MILES ITS LOW A QUART.

NHTSA ODI #11340106

103,794 miles · Jul 14, 2020

Steering

STEERING WHEEL STICKS ON OCCASION AND IS HARD TO MOVE. SOMETIMES IT WILL JERK SIDE TO SIDE IN A SHAKING MOTION BEFORE STICKING. MY CAR GOES OUT OF LANE.

NHTSA ODI #11339301

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2020

Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY GO OUT, EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ALMOST EVERY MONTH. LOW BEAMS WILL RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF, STATIONARY OR IN MOVEMENT. I LIVE IN THE CITY, MOST TIMES DRIVING IN DARKNESS. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #11338667

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2020

Exterior Lighting

THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DOESN'T GET POWER. THE LOW BEAMS TO BE EXACT. BUT NOW BOTH LOW BEAMS AREN'T GETTING POWER. THE RADIO DOESN'T GET POWER EITHER. I BELIEVE IT'S A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY. IT'S UNCONTROLLABLE, ALSO VERY UNSAFE FOR WHO EVER IS IN…

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NHTSA ODI #11330200

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)