NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
152 reportsClear category filter50,000 miles · Mar 26, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I RECEIVED AN ALERT ON MY DASH "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR BECAME MUCH LESS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND SEEMED TO BE HAVING TROUBLE GOING MORE THAN ~30 MPH. AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM GAVE THE ERROR CODE P2138 AS THE SOURCE OF THE…
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I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I RECEIVED AN ALERT ON MY DASH "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR BECAME MUCH LESS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND SEEMED TO BE HAVING TROUBLE GOING MORE THAN ~30 MPH. AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM GAVE THE ERROR CODE P2138 AS THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11405011
43,000 miles · Mar 15, 2021
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 MPH MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO A SPEED OF 20 MPH. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' MESSAGE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. IT DROVE THIS TIME AT A SPPED O…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 MPH MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO A SPEED OF 20 MPH. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' MESSAGE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. IT DROVE THIS TIME AT A SPPED OF 35. MADE IT HOME WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND LET THE CAR SIT. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL IN BUT THE CAR DRIVE AT REGULAR SPEED.
NHTSA ODI #11403017
47,000 miles · Mar 10, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control
REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING CAME ON WITH ENGINE LIGHT CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY; CODE P2138 READS ON ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC
NHTSA ODI #11400101
38,000 miles · Mar 2, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 IN THE CITY I GOT AN ERROR STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. LOST SPEED QUICKLY AND HAD LIMITED ABILITY TO ACCELERATE COULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH OR ACCELERATE UP STEEP HILLS.
NHTSA ODI #11398773
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, MY ENGINE REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE OVER 32 MPH. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE INJURY CONSIDERING WHERE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED, WHEN WILL IT BE RECALLED?
NHTSA ODI #11398498
70,000 miles · Feb 22, 2021
EngineVehicle Speed Control
AS I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR SPEED SLOWED DOWN DRASTICALLY. WHEN DIAGNOSED IT SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION PEDAL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MABILU AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SEEING THAT SOMEONE COULD LOSE THEI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR SPEED SLOWED DOWN DRASTICALLY. WHEN DIAGNOSED IT SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION PEDAL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MABILU AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SEEING THAT SOMEONE COULD LOSE THEIR LIFE.
NHTSA ODI #11397443
61,000 miles · Feb 20, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN I'M DRIVING I GET A MESSAGE SAYING 'ENGINE REDUCE POWER' AND I CAN'T GO OVER 25 MPH
NHTSA ODI #11397147
64,763 miles · Feb 19, 2021
Service BrakesSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2020, EVERY TIME I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR BRAKE (WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC) THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. I WOULD GET A WARNING THAT THE CAR WAS IN BATTERY SAVE MODE AND THE STABILITRAK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE MORNING OF JAN. 12, 2021, IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 322. I BLOCKED RUSH…
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BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2020, EVERY TIME I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR BRAKE (WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC) THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. I WOULD GET A WARNING THAT THE CAR WAS IN BATTERY SAVE MODE AND THE STABILITRAK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE MORNING OF JAN. 12, 2021, IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 322. I BLOCKED RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED BACK UP. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPING NOTHING ON THE CAR WORKED. IT BLOW OUT COOL AIR AND THE RADIO AND WINDOWS DIDN'T WORK. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. NOT JUST FOR ME AND MY FAMILY BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I DID TAKE THE CAR TO BE SERVICED UNFORTUNATELY, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. INSTEAD OF RESTING ON THE BREAK IN TRAFFIC, WE PUT THE CAR IN PARK. YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC. IN ADDITION TO THAT, NOW IT SOUND LIKE SOME SORT OF LIQUID IS PASSING THROUGH WHEN I COME TO A STOP/PARK. FAST FORWARD TO WHAT HAS LEAD ME TO FILING A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT, THIS EVENING MY SON WAS DRIVING ON US 22 WHEN HE CALLED ME IN A PANIC BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING A WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH ENGIN POWER REDUCED, TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE SPEED REDUCED TO ABOUT 20 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TOLD HIM TO PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULL OVER02 AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE. HE DID AS I SAID AS I WAITED ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT REST FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE TRACTION LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. HE MADE IT HOME WITHOUT ANY MORE INCIDENTS. AS I STATED ABOVE YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I AM LEARNING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A CHEVY MALIBU (2016 64,763 MILES) WITH SAFETY ISSUES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HOPE THAT NO ONE HAS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKING. THEY NEED TO RECALL AND GIVE A REFUND.
NHTSA ODI #11397064
87,577 miles · Feb 17, 2021
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE JUST SLOWED TO A CRAWL . THE SCREEN SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE PAST 15 - 20 MILES PER HOUR. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME . I PULLED OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF AND ISSUE CONTINUED. I PLUGGED UP A CODE READER AND GOT P2138
NHTSA ODI #11396726
41,000 miles · Feb 10, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control
MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED ' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR'S SPEED DROPS & I CAN ONLY DRIVE AT 20-25 MPH. I RESTART THE CAR AND IT DRIVES FINE FOR 2MINS AND THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE. IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION B/C I'M ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60-65 AND THIS HAPPENS. I'M THANKFUL I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCI…
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MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED ' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR'S SPEED DROPS & I CAN ONLY DRIVE AT 20-25 MPH. I RESTART THE CAR AND IT DRIVES FINE FOR 2MINS AND THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE. IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION B/C I'M ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60-65 AND THIS HAPPENS. I'M THANKFUL I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. CODE P2138 IS WHAT MAKES THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. THROTTLE/PEDAL ACCELERATOR .
NHTSA ODI #11395549
Official recalls
9Aug 20, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Seat Belts:critical Fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Jun 14, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
May 31, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Oct 26, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16079.
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
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.
May 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's number for this recall is 39440.
Mar 11, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 31820.
Mar 2, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.
Feb 11, 2016
Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.
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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