Electrical System. Review the 375 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 204 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports10 fire reports22 injury reports

Steering complaints

181 reports

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37,000 miles · Dec 26, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE RADIO SCREEN WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON FOLLOWED BY LOSE OF POWER STEERING THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED

NHTSA ODI #11056709

99,000 miles · Nov 29, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. TOUCH SCREEN GOES BLACK AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENT WHEN TURNING. IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON A CURVE IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11051364

30 miles · Nov 6, 2017

Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

"CHARGING SYSTEM" ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. ALL LIGHTS COME ON DASH BOARD COME ON THEN GO DIM. CAR SHUTS DOWN ON YOU WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. I ALMOST CRASH INTO A LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11043657

80,000 miles · Nov 1, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED 8-10 SECONDS. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SERPENTINI CHEVROLET OF STRONGSVILLE, 15303 ROYALTON RD, STRONGSVILLE, OH 44136), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER (PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET SOUTH, 3880 PEARL RD, MEDINA, OH 44256) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 866-790-3600 AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. CASE NUMBER: 8-314031920 WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11042013

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING, RADIO GOES BLACK, GAUGE CLUSTER GOES BLACK. SINCE MY LAST COMPLAINT THIS HAS OCCURRED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES WITH TWO VERY CLOSE ACCIDENTS. THIS IS BECOMING A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. AND I PLEAD WITH YOU TO OPEN A RECALL THANK YOU. IT HAS NOW OCCURRED ON …

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NHTSA ODI #11032962

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER GOES DARK. ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK TODAY. IT HAPPENED TWICE TODAY AND ONCE YESTERDAY. THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11032075

65,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

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CAR IS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO GO BAD. WHEN THE BATTERY GOES BAD THE WHOLE CAR STARTS ACTING UP; LOSE POWER STEERING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER UNTIL TURNED OFF, IN DASH SCREEN TURNS OFF BEFORE CAR DIES. AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THREE MONTHS LATER MY BATTERY WENT BAD (CAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND GRADUALLY DECLINED IN QUALITY OVER A WEEK'S TIME) I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND NOW 2 YEARS LATER THE BATTERY IS BAD AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR TO BE IN AS THE WHOLE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE, PARKING LOT AND CITY STREET. TWO DIFFERENT BATTERIES SHOULD NOT GO BAD BEFORE THERE LIFE TIME. I BELIEVE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CAR ITSELF AND ALSO THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DESIGNED FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND REMAIN SOLELY ON THE NORMAL BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #11022648

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

THE RADIO SHUTS OFF. THE CLIMATE CONTROL GOES HAYWIRE. AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHLE THE CAR IS STOPPED. BUT READING ALL THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THERE ARE FATALITIES.

NHTSA ODI #11022203

75,000 miles · Sep 4, 2017

Electrical SystemEngineSteering

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WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVROLET 2013 MALIBU LTZ MY STABILTRACK LIGHT AND SERVICE POWER STEERING PUMP LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS ANY WHERE FROM ZERO TO THIRTY MILES PER HOUR THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY LOSE ENGINE POWER AND WILL STALL BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL STAY ON BUT THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO TURN. THE CAR DIES JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME I AM EITHER ACCELERATING FROM 0 MPH TO ANY LOW SPEED UNLESS I SLAM ON THE GAS PEDAL. IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC IM RESTARTING MY MALIBU EVERY 3 SECONDS AFTER IT DIES. IT'S IS SO DANGEROUS IF I HAVE TO TURN AND THEIR IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC CAUSE THE CAR COULD JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND BE SMASHED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS ON THE STREET ON THE HIGHWAY ANYWHERE IM DRIVING . CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HELD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND SAID IT WAS A OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE BEING STUCK. AS SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT I DIDNT EVEN GET AROUND THE CORNER AND THE CAR DIED AT A LOW SPEED AND THE STABILITY LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERI MY PUMP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS TO BEEN TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE ALSO. CAR FAILURES HAVE BEEN COMMON SINCE THE DATE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11021316

63,060 miles · Sep 1, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED OFF AND ON. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING LOST POWER. THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT: GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET, 313-531-7100, WHERE A MULTI POINT INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS ALSO REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS RECOMMENDED BUT NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,060.

NHTSA ODI #11021033

Official recalls

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 22, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

21V633000 · Suspension:rear

Aug 12, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 21, 2020

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

15V245000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Apr 24, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position the driver intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the transmission gear selection control module, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12162.

15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 23, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.

13V566000 · Electrical System:wiring; Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 13, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Consequence: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.

Electrical System:wiring

13V024000 · Suspension:rear

Jan 23, 2013

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and retighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notifications have already begun and will be completed shortly. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

12V224000 · Electrical System:software

May 18, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS DURING AN AGGRESSIVE TURNING MANEUVER, AND THEN AFTERWARDS A POTENTIAL VEHICLE ROLLOVER EVENT IS SENSED, THE ROOF RAIL AIRBAG MAY UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS AND/OR SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A SEVERE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2012.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.