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

5 miles · Jun 6, 2014

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR PRESSURE SENSOR ILLUMINATED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER RESET THE CODE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY ACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAD TO MAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO WORK. ALSO, THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE WINDOW WIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. PAM

NHTSA ODI #10596590

18,000 miles · May 28, 2014

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT DOES NOT CATCH UP AND REVS REALLY HIGH. TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP ONCE AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER THAT ISSUE STILL HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS. 2012 MALIBU LT, I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED AND GM HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME A LEMON CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT HAS NOT RUN CORRECTLY EVER SINCE MY PURCHASE IN 2011. I HAVE THE PAPER WORK THAT SHOWS THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION ON A NEW 2012 MALIBU THAT I PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594687

67,898 miles · May 23, 2014

Air Bags

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IN MY 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES RECOGNIZE SHE IS THERE. YOU CAN WATCH AS THE SYSTEM GOES THROUGH IT'S START UP PROCESS WITH THE AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT CYCLING FROM OFF TO ON AND BACK TO OFF. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS HOW MY WIFE SITS IN THE SEAT BUT I HAVE VIDEO OF HER SITTING WITH HER FEET ON THE DASH (WHICH IS NOT AN "APPROVED" SEATING POSITION) AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOWS THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ARMED. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE WE HAVE DRIVEN. MY WIFE WEIGHS 145 SO IT IS NOT THAT SHE IS TOO LIGHT FOR THE SENSOR. THE OTHER DAY I WAS AT A GM DEALER AND FOUND A USED 2012 MALIBU WITH THE SAME TRIM PACKAGE AS MINE AND WE TESTED IT TO SEE IF THAT CAR WOULD DO THE SAME THING AS MINE. IT DID ON THE FIRST TIME WE TURNED THE KEY, I HAVE VIDEO OF THAT FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT IN BOTH 2012 MALIBU'S. ON MY CAR THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND A SEAT FROM ANOTHER MALIBU WAS INSTALLED AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM STILL FAILS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE GM ENGINEER SAID HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN OTHER VIDEOS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE OVER 20 VIDEOS SHOWING THE SYSTEM WORK AND THE SYSTEM FAILING. THE VIN I LISTED IS FOR THE CAR ON THE DEALER LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593576

82,000 miles · May 22, 2014

Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE POWERING DOWN AND THE LOW TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10593346

28,000 miles · May 20, 2014

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTED, ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, HOWEVER WHEN I PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR, THEN MY BREAKS STARTING SQUEAKING REALLY BAD. NOW I CONSTANTLY HEAR THAT SOUND WHEN STARTING MY CAR IN EARLY MORNINGS, THE SQUEAKING IS CONSTANT. ALSO MY RADIO AND DEFROST GOES IN AND OUT, MY RADIO SHUTS DOWN BY ITSELF AND THEN RETURNS ON, MY BACK DEFROSTER DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK, WHEN IT RAINS, MY BACK WINDOW IS NOT DEFROST, SO I CAN'T USE MY BACK WINDOW FOR VIEWING WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN OR EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592655

50,000 miles · May 12, 2014

Service Brakes

WAS DRIVING ON LAKE SHORE DRIVING WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN ONLY TO HAVE TO PUSH THE BAKES DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE. THIS HAS HAPPEN A LOT AND I HAVE NOT HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR YET. NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587707

49,500 miles · May 11, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN THE LATER PART OF 2012 (USED WITH 40000MI) I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS STARTING WITH THE RADIO, WHEN I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROST THE RADIO WOULD GO TO COMPLETE STATIC ON ALL STATIONS. WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 30MPH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AS WELL AS MINIMAL TURNING TO THE RIGHT THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT WOULD DISPLAY, IN ADDITION TO THE REMOTE START NOT WORKING HALF THE TIME, I HAVE REPLACED THE KEY FOB AND GOTTEN A NEW KEY AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE RADIO WITH A BRAND NEW PART AND STILL THE STATIONS ARE NOT CLEAR AND WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR PARKED ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH SOMETIMES COME ON FOR SERVICE AND THE CAR WOULD IDLE LOW THEN HIGH. THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL SOMETIMES COMPLETELY DIM AND THE DISPLAY ON THE RADIO WILL BE DIGITAL. MY CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 65000 MILES ON IT, AND STILL THE CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AT STOP SIGNS, WILL BE WITHOUT POWER AND THE SERVICE ESC DISPLAYS AS WELL AS SERVICE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT AT THIS POINT. TUESDAY MAY 6 2014 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROX. 25MPH ALL THE LIGHTS IN DASH CAME ON AND ENGINE STALLED ON HIM SO HE RESTARTED THE CAR, UPON RESTARTING ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY TURNED OFF. SATURDAY MAY 10 2014 THE RADIO WAS COMPLETE STATIC...THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE, I KEEP MY GAS TANK PLENTIFUL AND HAVE ONLY OWNED GM VEHICLES. I AM RESEARCHING OTHER MAKES AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587697

17,000 miles · May 8, 2014

Service Brakes

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ON TWO SEPARATED OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO MAKE A HARD STOP. AFTER THESE STOPS MY BRAKES BECOME VERY SOFT AND LOW. I COULD NOT DRIVE ON FREEWAYS OR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE MY BRAKES WERE TOO WEAK AND TOO LOW TO STOP THE CAR AT THOSE SPEEDS.. AFTER THE FIRST OCCASION IN MARCH, THE BRAKES WERE UNABLE FOR A WEEK BEFORE THEY RESET TO NORMAL USE. AFTER THE SECOND OCCASION (HAPPENED FIRST WEEK IN APRIL 2014) THE BRAKES WERE UNABLE AND DID NOT RESET TO NORMAL UNTIL MAY 5TH 2014. THE FACT THAT MY BAKES ARE DEFECTED PUTS ME AND MY PASSENGER, AND OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK, AND NOT KNOWING WHEN AND WHERE THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS KNOWING I MAY BE IN HARMS WAY AT ANY TIME. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587274

46,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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STARTED MY 2012 CHEVY MALIBU UP AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO SERVICE ESC. CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING. THIS WAS AFTER THE FIRST NIGHT OF EVENTS I WAS AT. SO I DROVE IT TO THE HOTEL I WAS AT. FOUND OUT WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT IT HAS A ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. DROVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULDN'T SERVICE IT ON THE WEEKEND. I WAS 3 HOURS FROM MY HOME AT AN EVENT. SO I DROVE IT BACK TO MY HOTEL WITH NO POWER STEERING. SO I DROVE FOR ROUGHLY AN HOUR WITH LIGHTS ON AND NO POWER STEERING. THEN WAS ABOUT TO HEAD TO THE DAY TWO OF THE EVENT ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER AND EVERYTHING WORKS AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I NEED TO FIX ON IT AT ALL NOW. MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING WHEN THE POWER STEERING MESSED UP AND SHE NEVER HAS LOST POWER STEERING BEFORE AND SHE COULDN'T EVEN TURN THE WHEEL. SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT FOR HER. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585372

41,325 miles · Apr 24, 2014

Air BagsElectrical System

WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE AND HIT THE HORN TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I FOUND THAT BY HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD GO OUT AND RESET. EVERY TIME I USE MY HORN CAUSES THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT TO COME ON. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT AGAIN O…

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NHTSA ODI #10584737

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)