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

52,979 miles · Apr 6, 2015

Service BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS, BRUISES, AND WRIST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,979.

NHTSA ODI #10703947

62,000 miles · Apr 5, 2015

Electrical System

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EARLY OCTOBER 2014 I BEGIN TO SMELL A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL AFTER CAR IS STOPPED. SELF INSPECTION FOUND NOTHING, MECHANIC INSPECTION FOUND NOTHING. AROUND JANUARY I TOOK CAR IN FOR BRAKE LIGHT RECALL, HAD SERVICE TECH INSPECT; SAID THEY FOUND A MELTED BAG ON EXHAUST (I SAW NO SUCH THING). LATE JANUARY 2015 MY CAR WON'T START AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT, CAR WAS JUMPED AND STARTED FINE. LATE MARCH 2015 PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SOMETIMES FAILS TO TURN ON AT FIRST ATTEMPT AND AFTER A 2 HOUR DRIVE, NEXT MORNING CAR WON'T START; AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES CAR STARTS. 4/4/2015 CAR IS LEFT ON (ENGINE OFF) WITH RADIO PLAYING WHILE CLEANING OUT CAR, AFTER 10 MIN SERVICE ESC COMES ON DASH, I IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF CAR. I TRY TO START ENGINE, NO IGNITION. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE WHERE THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WHERE BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE AND IF THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR ARE FINE THEN THAT LEAVES ME TO BELIEVE IT IS THE STARTER...HOWEVER, IF THE SMELL WASN'T A PLASTIC BAG BUT INSTEAD A WIRE MELTING, THEN I WOULD HAVE A SHORT WHICH COULD ALSO BE CAUSING THIS. BOUGHT THIS CARE AS A SAFE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SON AND I, I FIND MYSELF MORE STRESSED OUT WONDERING IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET US WERE I NEED TO GO THAN WITH THE OLD CAR I USE TO HAVE. IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A MALFUNCTION I HOPE GM IS WILLING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INCREASING AND NO ONE HAS YET BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703747

52,000 miles · Apr 3, 2015

Wheels

I HAVE HAD TWO RIM CRACK. THIS LEADS TO AIR PRESSURE LOSS. THE TIRE STORE THAT I GO. LES SCHWAB SAID THEY HAVE SEEN I ALREADY BOUGHT ONE NEW RIM. NOW I NEED ANOTHER ONE. I ASKED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEYHAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAS THE SAM…

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NHTSA ODI #10703448

26,783 miles · Mar 19, 2015

Steering

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WE OWN A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION (SHUDDERING) IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING A CORNER. BUT NOW THE CAR IS DEVELOPING MORE ABNORMAL ISSUES LIKE THE STEERING WHEELING IS MOVING BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROAD. ALSO NOTED ARE CLICKING NOISES NOW HEARD IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. WITH THE WORSENING CONDITION OF THE STEERING I AM BECOMING RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STEERING FAILING WHILE OPERATING THE CAR. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHEVROLET AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO GET BACK TO ME. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPT. AT LEAST 6 TIMES SINCE 9/05/2013 FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WITH 3 OF THOSE TIMES WAS WITH A CHEVROLET ENGINEER. BUT CHEVROLET CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695477

61,000 miles · Mar 18, 2015

Electrical SystemSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A SNOW BANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STEERED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) EVEN THOUGH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM A SENIOR SAFETY SUPERVISOR FROM GM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10695098

67,300 miles · Mar 16, 2015

Air BagsElectrical System

WE HAVE TALKED TO OUT TWO DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS ABOUT THIS AND EVEN WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION OVER OUR AIRBAGS. NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN FOUND TO BE WRONG. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY COME ON MOMENTARILY (ABOUT 60 SECONDS) AND WENT OFF…

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NHTSA ODI #10694725

46,800 miles · Mar 11, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL TO REPAIR/REPLACE ESC AND TRACTION IN APPROX. NOVEMBER. AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICED THE LIGHT CAME ON WEEKS LATER BUT WENT AWAY AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON UNTIL 3/5/2015. EVERY SINCE THAN THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK WHEN IN PARK AND I HAVE TO CUT CAR OFF AND ON SOMETIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO SWITCH FROM…

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NHTSA ODI #10693699

59,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015

EngineInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE HOOD COLLAPSED AND FOLDED IN TWO WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HAND, EYE AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/26/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10690551

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM/ BRAKE APPLY SENSOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAITED FOR THE DETAILS TO RESTORE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UNABLE TO WAIT ANY LONGER, HE WAS FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10666939

76,800 miles · Feb 21, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

VEHICLE HAS RANDOM LOSS OF ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST, WHICH LEAVES NO POWER STEERING. ALSO SERVICE ABS, ESC AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS, EPS CAUSES VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN MOTION. GM RECALLED THOUSANDS OF MALIBU'S IN FEB. OF 2015 FOR EPS ISSUES BUT MY YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED. COINCIDENCE? HIGHLY …

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NHTSA ODI #10689751

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)