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

46,000 miles · Feb 14, 2018

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-INSPECTED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND RELAYS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. GUSWEILER GM CENTER (1132 STATE RTE 41, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OH) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #11072915

50,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD MORE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GENGRAS CHEVROLET (585 CONNECTICUT BLVD, EAST HARTFORD, CT 06108, (860) 748-4388) WHERE AN UNKNOWN FAILURE WAS DETECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS HE FOUND RECALLS ONLINE FOR THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11072762

103,000 miles · Feb 12, 2018

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GRISMER AUTOMOTIVE (60 N MAIN ST, SPRINGBORO, OH 45066, 937-748-2050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY CHEVROLET TO CONTACT GM. THE CONTACT CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #11072364

175,000 miles · Feb 5, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE "ESC" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11067065

135,000 miles · Jan 20, 2018

Steering

MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU 4 CYLINDER POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING IN AND OUT. THE SERVICE ESC WARNING COMES ON THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON. I RESTART CAR AND IT GOES AWAY BUT COMES BACK LATER. DOES THIS WHOLE DRIVING. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11063911

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2018

EngineVisibility/wiper

TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPAIR ONLY 80,000 MILES ON CAR BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED USED WARRANTY IS UP IM VERY UPSET WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESS WAY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON HAD IT CHECKED AT DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ODI #11062050

94,000 miles · Jan 9, 2018

Visibility/wiper

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WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW ON 12/23/17, MY WIPERS QUIT WORKING. THE SNOW WAS LARGE FLAKES THAT TURNED TO WATER WHEN THEY HIT THE WINDSHIELD, SO IT WAS LIKE RAIN. I WAS ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, SO RATE OF SPEED WAS FAST. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I COULDN'T GET THE WIPERS TO WORK, SO I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER THE SNOW STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY JOURNEY. I THEN HAD THE WIPERS REPAIRED. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WIPERS CAN QUIT AT ANYTIME. ADDITIONALLY I LOOKED ONLINE AND OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. (IN FACT THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAD TOWED A MALIBU OWNER 2 WEEKS EARLIER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.) I HAVE NEVER HAD MY WIPERS FAIL WITH ANY OTHER CAR I EVER OWNED, AND I ASKED OTHERS (NON-MALIBU OWNERS) IF THEIR WIPERS EVER FAILED, AND EVERYONE I TALKED TO SAID NO. I CONTACTED GM, BUT NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #11061467

198,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

LEFT STORE AND CARE WAS DRIVING FINE, LOST POWER STEERING AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. CUT CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK ON AND ISSUE WAS FIXED. AS SOON I AS PULLED IN MY GARAGE, I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. IT'S DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #11061308

109,000 miles · Jan 8, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR HAS HAD SAME ISSUE FOR MONTHS SPENDING OVER $1,000. GM AND DEALER STATE MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER A CERTAIN BULLETIN EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER VEHICLES LIKE MINE THAT FALL UNDER THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF BULLETIN #14582. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP RECEIVING NEW THROTTLE BODY DUE TO CODE P2135 AND …

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NHTSA ODI #11061236

43,000 miles · Jan 4, 2018

Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

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TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED A 2012 CHEVY MALIBU 2 YEARS AGO FOR MY GRADUATING SENIOR AND THIS CAR HAS PRACTICALLY BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000 AND THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR MECHANIC STATED THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. OKAY, SO HE TAMPERED WITH A FEW WIRES, AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR WOULDN'T START, IT'S CURRENTLY DISPLAYING "CHECK AIRBAG" EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, WIPERS BEGAN GOING BACK AND FORWARD. MY HUSBAND BEGAN TO SHAKE A FEW WIRES (PER OUR MECHANIC) , AND LONG BEHOLD THE CAR HAS STARTED!!! TALK ABOUT BUYER'S REMORSE!!!! THIS CAR IS NOW PARKED IN OUR GARAGE UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!! I'M NOW CONCERNED FOR MY SON'S SAFETY AND WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TOO DRIVE THE 2012 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI #11058616

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)