NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
139 reportsClear category filter108,188 miles · Aug 20, 2020
EnginePower Train
I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUT OF CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET HIT MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE OFF RAMP I WAS APPROACHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 100 MILES TO MY HOUSE AND THEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAME APART AND SENT METAL EVERYWHERE. THE VAC…
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I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUT OF CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET HIT MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE OFF RAMP I WAS APPROACHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 100 MILES TO MY HOUSE AND THEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAME APART AND SENT METAL EVERYWHERE. THE VACUUM COMING APART ALSO CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO BREAK ALONG WITH A HOSE AND A CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE REPAIRS ALONE ARE ESTIMATED SO FAR TO COST ME ABOUT $2,500.
NHTSA ODI #11350525
59,036 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Power Train
"SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN PLACING CAR IN PARK WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO FULLY POWER OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENED AT 37K AND I HAD IT REPAIRED WHICH COST CLOSE TO $600 JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE SINCE THE REPAIR IS UNDER 30K.
NHTSA ODI #11350314
55,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Power Train
GETTING SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO PARK. UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF UNTIL PARK ENGAGES. WE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. IT IS BEGINNING TO DO IT OFTEN.
NHTSA ODI #11349938
38,000 miles · Aug 14, 2020
Power Train
BEGINNING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY DISPLAY A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR MESSAGE AFTER THE "START/STOP" BUTTON WAS PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE PARKED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WOULD REMAIN ON. FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, THE ERROR MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER A FE…
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BEGINNING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY DISPLAY A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR MESSAGE AFTER THE "START/STOP" BUTTON WAS PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE PARKED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WOULD REMAIN ON. FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, THE ERROR MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE, AFTER WHICH THE "START/STOP" BUTTON TO BE PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. OVER THE LAST MONTH, HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE MESSAGE STAYED DISPLAYED INCREASED TO MANY MINUTES, AND IT WOULD TAKE TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF AND SHIFTING IN/OUT OF PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY TURNED OFF COMPLETELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW WEEKS FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AT WORK/STORES/ETC., OR FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED WHEN THE BATTERY DRAINS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT EFFECTIVELY MAKES THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO GM FOR MULTIPLE MODELS AND YEARS OF VEHICLES PER SERVICE BULLETIN 19-NA-206. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, THE INITIALLY INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY TURNS INTO A PERMANENT, DISABLING PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED THAN WHAT'S LISTED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN: (A) SCRAPING DEPOSITS OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH YOUR THUMB 50 TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, (B) INSTALLING A JUMPER TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, OR (C) REPLACING THE SHIFTER CONTROL ASSEMBLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE DESIGN OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME, THE PROBLEM WILL REAPPEAR IN A FEW YEARS WITH THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY; ALL ARE JUST TEMPORARY STOP GAP MEASURES. A REAL FIX THAT PREVENTS THE CORROSION/DEPOSITS IS NEEDED, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
NHTSA ODI #11349254
56,735 miles · Aug 4, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes
DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP BECAUSE MY STABLITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I NEED A VACUUM PUMP AND THROTTLE CHANGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUES IN THE GM CARS JUST SEEN ON GOOGLE THAT A GLOBAL LETTER WAS SENT OUT AUG OF 2019 ABOUT THIS ISSUES BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED …
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DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP BECAUSE MY STABLITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I NEED A VACUUM PUMP AND THROTTLE CHANGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUES IN THE GM CARS JUST SEEN ON GOOGLE THAT A GLOBAL LETTER WAS SENT OUT AUG OF 2019 ABOUT THIS ISSUES BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND WE SHOULD BE GIVEN OUR MONEY BACK. I HAVE 2017 CHEVY MALIBU AND I FEEL THIS PREMEDITATED MURDER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A ISSUE AND I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE JULY 30 2020 AT 959PM
NHTSA ODI #11343119
40,000 miles · Jul 30, 2020
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIVE STAR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIVE STAR CHEVROLET (2199 DAVID H MCLEOD BLVD, FLORENCE, SC 29501, (843) 605-0183) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC TOOL SHOWED A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #11342310
43,300 miles · Jul 13, 2020
Power Train
THE CHEVY MALIBU HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT WILL SAY ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION PANEL TO SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. GM NEEDS TO FIX IT. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL TO SENS…
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THE CHEVY MALIBU HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT WILL SAY ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION PANEL TO SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. GM NEEDS TO FIX IT. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL TO SENSOR IS TOLD TO PUT IT IN PARK.
NHTSA ODI #11339220
32,000 miles · Jul 9, 2020
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SHORTLINE BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 1301 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012, (303) 751-3400. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SHORTLINE BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 1301 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012, (303) 751-3400. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.
NHTSA ODI #11338474
30,000 miles · Jul 9, 2020
Power Train
DIC INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE BEGINNING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TWO TSBS ISSUED BUT NO RECALL. RESEARCH SHOWS OWNERS PAYING $200 TO $700 FOR REPAIRS WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. I REPLACED "PARK" SWITCH WITH…
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DIC INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE BEGINNING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TWO TSBS ISSUED BUT NO RECALL. RESEARCH SHOWS OWNERS PAYING $200 TO $700 FOR REPAIRS WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. I REPLACED "PARK" SWITCH WITH PN: 653-D2HW-BL221H AT 31,000 MILES. $12 INCLUDING SHIPPING. WHY WOULD THEY RECALL WHEN IT'S A "CASH COW" FOR CHEVROLET.
NHTSA ODI #11338458
70,000 miles · May 17, 2020
Power Train
WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK YOU GET A MESSAGE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE AND WON'T SHUT DOWN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSY.AT COST OF 499.37. CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THERE RESPONSE IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER .ONLINE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE!
NHTSA ODI #11324888
Official recalls
4Aug 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.
Dec 2, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016. The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16146.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗