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

60 miles · Mar 26, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

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THE CHECK ENGINE LINE AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. MY CAR WAS SERVICED BY 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE COILS BY MANASSAS CHEVROLET AND LINDSEY CHEVROLET . THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS AND CARBON BLOW OUT WAS COMPLETED. THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE 2009 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR. PLEASE MAKE CHEVROLET COMPLETE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY ENGINEERED. ONE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINES MAY BE BAD IN THESE CARS. THE CAR DRIVES ROUGH AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU BRAKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11081322

141,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018

Steering

WHILE STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO CLICK, SHAKE, AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN WORSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT HARDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON. MECHANIC BELIEVES IT MAY BE THE SENSOR IN THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER STEERING BUT ISN'T SURE.

NHTSA ODI #11081228

116,000 miles · Mar 19, 2018

Steering

THE VALET PARKING ATTENDANT BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO ME AND STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING ON THE VEHICLE, BUT HE KNOWS IT WAS WORKING FINE WHEN HE PARKED IT. DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITH EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STEERING; RESTARTED VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING WORKED FOR 10 MINUTES AND WENT OUT AGAIN ALL WHILE STAYING IN MY…

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NHTSA ODI #11080298

110,000 miles · Mar 12, 2018

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE FOR EIGHT MONTHS, BUT HAD GOTTEN WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11078776

141,000 miles · Mar 12, 2018

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE. THE DEALER (SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, 4770 COVINGTON HWY, DECATUR, GA 30035) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11078700

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2018

Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD I KIND THINK THAT IT'S ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR

NHTSA ODI #11078613

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

OFF AND ON MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT, I CAN BE AT A REDLIGHT, PARKED OR EVEN DRIVING AND IT GOES OUT, I END UP HAVING TO TURN OFF CAR IF IM PARKED OR AT REDLIGHT, AND IF IM DRIVING I GO INTO NEUTRAL TO TURN CAR OFF AND THEN OFF... MY ESC GOES OFF ALS, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, SO SINCE 201…

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NHTSA ODI #11078215

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2018

Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT BURNS OUT OR STOPS WORKING FREQUENTLY. IT HAS BEEN CHANGED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. RECENTLY, IT WAS CHANGED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018 AND STOPPED WORKING ON FEBRUARY 25, 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11076102

39,987 miles · Mar 2, 2018

TiresUnknown Or Other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE FAULTY WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,987. NO FUR…

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NHTSA ODI #11075809

130,000 miles · Feb 28, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT LAMP CONSTANTLY GOES OUT DESPITE CHANGING OUT THE BULB AND/OR THE FUSE MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS BECOMING A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROADS.

NHTSA ODI #11075539

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)