NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
351 reports39,000 miles · Mar 14, 2016
Engine
TAKATA RECALL. STARTED MY MALIBU TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND THE STABILITRK LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THIS IS A 2014 MALIBU LT. AFTER DRIVING IT , THE STABILITRK LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS STILL ON. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING THE WAY IT SHOULD. I HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTICS…
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TAKATA RECALL. STARTED MY MALIBU TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND THE STABILITRK LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THIS IS A 2014 MALIBU LT. AFTER DRIVING IT , THE STABILITRK LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS STILL ON. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING THE WAY IT SHOULD. I HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTICS. SEEMS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH GM. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND THIS HAPPENED ON THE FIRST START OF THE MORNING.
NHTSA ODI #10846495
50,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Electrical System
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ALL GAUGES AND THE RADIO GOES BLACK, EXCEPT FOR THE MIDDLE SCREEN WHICH THEN FLASHED "SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM, SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, SERVICE PASSENGER MONITORING SYSTEM." I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING OR ANYTH…
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WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ALL GAUGES AND THE RADIO GOES BLACK, EXCEPT FOR THE MIDDLE SCREEN WHICH THEN FLASHED "SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM, SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, SERVICE PASSENGER MONITORING SYSTEM." I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING OR ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THERE IS NO INTERRUPTION OF POWER OR ANY AFFECT TO THE ENGINE. IF THE PASSENGER LIFTS THEMSELVES OFF THE SEAT, THE SYSTEM THEN RESETS AND EVERYTHING RUNS PERFECTLY. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ALOT, AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR DAYS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE 6 PAGES OR ERROR CODES SHOWING A LOSS IN COMMUNICATION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY SOMETHING LOOSE OR THAT A SENSOR IS GOING BAD, HOWEVER, THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10836869
20,850 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Wheels
WHILE ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS WENT BAD WITH LESS THAN 21000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS NOISY AND SLIGHT SHIMMY N THE REAR WHILE DRIVING ON ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND AT ALL SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #10823567
39,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Wheels
THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT AND IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND REGULARLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. ON THE MALIBU FORUM THERE ARE OVER 7 PAGES OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WITH AS FEW AS 19K MILES ON THEM. I AM A FEW THOUSAND MILES OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO…
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THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT AND IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND REGULARLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. ON THE MALIBU FORUM THERE ARE OVER 7 PAGES OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WITH AS FEW AS 19K MILES ON THEM. I AM A FEW THOUSAND MILES OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BUT I THINK ITS RIDICULOUS THAT OEM PARTS, THAT THE GM SERVICE MANAGERS ADMIT ARE FAULTY, HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY THE CONSUMER. IF MY WHEEL BEARING FAILED I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
NHTSA ODI #10823463
33,100 miles · Jan 17, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
WHILE DRIVING APPX 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY A "SERVICE STABILTRACK, REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN A RAPID DECELERATION UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE ACROSS 3 LANES OF 70 MPH TRAFFIC & ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE WE BECAME STRANDED. AFTER WAITING ABO…
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WHILE DRIVING APPX 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY A "SERVICE STABILTRACK, REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN A RAPID DECELERATION UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE ACROSS 3 LANES OF 70 MPH TRAFFIC & ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE WE BECAME STRANDED. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MIN WE WERE ABLE TO START THE CAR AND SLOWLY MAKE IT ABOUT A MILE TO A FREEWAY EXIT WHERE THE SAME EVENT REPEATED ITSELF EXCEPT THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. A CHEVY DEALER HAD CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS THE SITUATION WAS SIMILAR TO SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND BOTH OCCURRENCES RESULTED IN US BEING AT A DEAD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD NEEDING TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY.
NHTSA ODI #10820721
35,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure
DRIVING 12/18 BELTLINE EAST BOUND. BETWEEN SOUTH TOWN EXIT AND MONONA DRIVE EXIT. DEBIS IN ROAD HIT BY TRUCK LIC#DG93483 THAT CAME UP AND HIT THE RIGHT FRONT END PASSANGER SIDE OF VECHILE. CRACKED HEADLINE AND FRONT BUMPER DENTED AS WELL AS PAINT ALL SCRATCHED! CALLED NON EMERGENCY POILE AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILL OUT THIS FORM TO…
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DRIVING 12/18 BELTLINE EAST BOUND. BETWEEN SOUTH TOWN EXIT AND MONONA DRIVE EXIT. DEBIS IN ROAD HIT BY TRUCK LIC#DG93483 THAT CAME UP AND HIT THE RIGHT FRONT END PASSANGER SIDE OF VECHILE. CRACKED HEADLINE AND FRONT BUMPER DENTED AS WELL AS PAINT ALL SCRATCHED! CALLED NON EMERGENCY POILE AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILL OUT THIS FORM TO REPORT.
NHTSA ODI #10819419
34,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Service BrakesSteeringCrash
DRIVING CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY HIT A PUDDLE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH CHECK STABIL TRAK AND CHECK BREAK ASSIST SYSTEM COME ON, FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD ATTEMPT TO BREAK AND TURN WHEEL NEITHER WORK, HIT GUARD RAIL L, AFTER HITTING GUARD RAIL ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE APPEARS, TOOK TO DEALER F…
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DRIVING CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY HIT A PUDDLE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH CHECK STABIL TRAK AND CHECK BREAK ASSIST SYSTEM COME ON, FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD ATTEMPT TO BREAK AND TURN WHEEL NEITHER WORK, HIT GUARD RAIL L, AFTER HITTING GUARD RAIL ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE APPEARS, TOOK TO DEALER FILED CLAIM WITH GM TO FIX BODY DAMAGE FOR MANUFACTURES DEFECT. GM DID NOTHING, BLAMED ISSUE ON WHEE BEARING.
NHTSA ODI #10816899
10,000 miles · Dec 13, 2015
Steering
STEERING GETS STUCK IN THE CENTER POSITION WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS AND REQUIRES FORCE TO CORRECT IT WHICH CAUSES OVER STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND DIDN'T DO IT WHEN NEW. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR AS YOU ARE CONSTANTLY CORRECTING THE STEERING.
NHTSA ODI #10809905
49,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE SEIZING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,00…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE SEIZING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.
NHTSA ODI #10787938
35,956 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Engine
2014 MALIBU HAS THE 2.5L ECOTEC ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH START/STOP TECHNOLOGY WHEN I STOP/BRAKE THE ENGINE ONLY SHUT LEST THAN 10% OF TIME. HAVE HAD INTO THE DEALER TWO TIMES FOR THIS THEY SAID ALL IN SPEC. THE MALIBU STOPS/STARTS SO INFREQUENTLY THAT IT SURPRISES ME WHEN IT DOES SHUT OFF.
NHTSA ODI #10783657
Official recalls
6Jul 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
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: 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)
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: 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.
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.
May 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through May 2, 2014, and equipped with a 2.5L engine with the auto stop/start option. The affected vehicles may experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist. As such, these vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hydraulic boost assist is disabled, slowing or stopping the vehicle will require additional brake pedal effort and a lengthened stopping distance. Both of these effects increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic brake control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020. General Motors number for this recall is 14201.
May 8, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Lacrosse vehicles manufactured January 29, 2014, through March 31, 2014 and 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured February 7, 2014, through March 31, 2014, and equipped with 17 inch front brake rotors. The affected vehicles may have had brake rotors intended for the rear of the car accidentally installed on the front. The rear rotors, while the same diameter, are thinner and may result in a front brake pad detaching from the caliper.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a brake pad detaches from caliper, there may be a sudden reduction in braking, lengthening the distance required to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake rotors, and install the correct rotors with new brake pads, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14128.
Feb 21, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Nov 13, 2013
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13380.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13380.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13380.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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