NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
58 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jun 7, 2024
Electrical SystemPower Train
The gear shift DOES NOT recognize when the car is in park. The entire transmission was replaced last year under warranty, but the gear shift is not covered. When putting the car in park, the screen shows “P” for park, but also displays “!Shift to Park!” and beeps nonstop. When this issue first happened, a simple jiggle of the ge…
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The gear shift DOES NOT recognize when the car is in park. The entire transmission was replaced last year under warranty, but the gear shift is not covered. When putting the car in park, the screen shows “P” for park, but also displays “!Shift to Park!” and beeps nonstop. When this issue first happened, a simple jiggle of the gear shift handle would make it go away. Over time it turned into yanking the shift, then moving from park to drive and back again over and over, then driving around the parking lot and trying to turn it off repeatedly, and now today the car did not shut off for 3 hours despite all of my efforts. I have been late to work MANY times, I have drained my battery several times, and my anxiety has never been higher with this car. The engine turns off, but the battery stays on. My husband had to unhook the battery entirely from under the hood for it to turn off after THREE HOURS. After doing research, I found it would be over $300 to replace the entire assembly (plus labor), and 2020-21 models are not covered under this recall affecting LITERALLY EVERY OTHER MALIBU IN EXISTENCE. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fix the problem!!! recall this PLEASE! I cannot afford to fix this myself (with no guarantee it would even fix the issue) and cannot afford to buy a different car. This is ridiculous!!!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11593159
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2024
Electrical SystemPower Train
When this issue first started. My display said put the driver window down then back up. Seconds after following this prompt my car display says shift to park. I was already in park and had shut the engine off. When I open the driver door my horn beeps 2 times and my start button is yellow not allowing me to turn the vehicle com…
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When this issue first started. My display said put the driver window down then back up. Seconds after following this prompt my car display says shift to park. I was already in park and had shut the engine off. When I open the driver door my horn beeps 2 times and my start button is yellow not allowing me to turn the vehicle completely off. As the days pass my 2020 Chevy Malibu now says shift to park Everytime I go to get out of it. Today when this happened I was trying to get it to read my vehicle was in park for about 20-30 minutes. Finally after wiggling my shifter the display disappeared.
NHTSA ODI #11592962
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2024
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Car had numerous times of completely turning off mid drive and was taken into a certified dealer for inspection, with a conclusion that nothing was wrong. The transmission has failed (03/22/24) and has been recently replaced upon d…
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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Car had numerous times of completely turning off mid drive and was taken into a certified dealer for inspection, with a conclusion that nothing was wrong. The transmission has failed (03/22/24) and has been recently replaced upon diagnostics from certified dealer. 2 days later after receiving vehicle from transmission fix (04/20/2024) the vehicle began to experience Electronic Stability Control errors and caused steering assist to also fail mid drive and cause a locked steering wheel. These errors occurred (04/22/2024 and 04/23/2024) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? All of these factors explained above have happened during a drive and has put me at risk of numerous accidents that could have been fatal. The most recent one dated above, happened in the middle of the road with little to no where to safely pull over and restart the car system. Again, could have resulted in a fatal accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Electronic errors of the vehicle shutting off was unable to be reproduced or confirmed by dealer. Transmission failure has been confirmed and replace. ESC and steering assist has yet to be confirmed from dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? This vehicle has been inspected by numerous dealers and or auto shops with little to no help in fixing any problems. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? I also have warning lights from all times I have experienced failures or warnings from the vehicle and will be providing this.
NHTSA ODI #11585090
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
The power train may be defective. The auto shut off on the vehicle completely shuts off when you stopped at a red light. The entire vehicle restarts, and then 12 lights appear on the dashboard. The car starts shaking sometimes when it's being driven. The vehicle is currently being looked at, at the dealership. I was told that th…
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The power train may be defective. The auto shut off on the vehicle completely shuts off when you stopped at a red light. The entire vehicle restarts, and then 12 lights appear on the dashboard. The car starts shaking sometimes when it's being driven. The vehicle is currently being looked at, at the dealership. I was told that the diagnostics is reading 19 codes and misfires.
NHTSA ODI #11549724
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2023
Power Train
After you shift the car into park and shut the motor off, the car flashes a warning on the instrument panel to shift the car into park. Which it already is. Appears there was a recall for this for 2016-2019 cars, but not the 2020 year like mine. Happens consistently.
NHTSA ODI #11529062
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2023
Power Train
My vehicle malibu2020. When I park sometimes It says shift to park sign. On dash board. The makes it difficult for car. To shut. off i have to keep pressing the plus and minus sign on the gear shift to cut off.
NHTSA ODI #11523717
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
Vehicle through a "service engine" and lost partial power. The vehicle slowed considerably and was not able to accelerate as expected. Fortunately, this was rush hour traffic and it was slow. Normally, the traffic moves at 60 MPH plus or minus 5 MPH. The loss of power on I10 can be extremely unsafe. The dealer revealed that…
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Vehicle through a "service engine" and lost partial power. The vehicle slowed considerably and was not able to accelerate as expected. Fortunately, this was rush hour traffic and it was slow. Normally, the traffic moves at 60 MPH plus or minus 5 MPH. The loss of power on I10 can be extremely unsafe. The dealer revealed that our car had a scan code P0299. They cleaned the Thottle Body and stated it was the likely problem. However, they said they tested the crank case pressure and it was at 0 PSI, instead of the expected vacuum. There was no indication, that crank case pressure or the PCV was the root problem. I pointed out that crank case should be measured in INH2O. I think they mis diaganosed and were trying to lead me to replace the PCV, and ultimately the turbocharger itself. I think it is probably a sensor or perhaps another component. I took my car away from the lot and will report any other incidents or findings.
NHTSA ODI #11509405
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2023
Power Train
I put the car in park and it says a message that says shift to park but I am in park already and now my battery keeps draining and the lights on shifter blink continuously when I’m in park if I click shift button the message goes away but I don’t think it should be doing this and I’m not the only person from what I have read.
NHTSA ODI #11509366
27,344 miles · Jan 24, 2023
Power Train
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved loudly while coming to a stop. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the vehicle performed as designed. The vehi…
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The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved loudly while coming to a stop. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the vehicle performed as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 21-NA-004 (Continuously Variable Transmission). The failure mileage was 27,344.
NHTSA ODI #11503358
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2022
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
Shift to Park Alarm will not stop beeping. Looked into it on the internet found it to be a known issue with GM. Can prevent the doors from unlocking and would drain battery and annoyance. Replaced shifter assembly at a cost of $567.28 I believe GM knows of the issue and should recall the defective parts. I am making this com…
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Shift to Park Alarm will not stop beeping. Looked into it on the internet found it to be a known issue with GM. Can prevent the doors from unlocking and would drain battery and annoyance. Replaced shifter assembly at a cost of $567.28 I believe GM knows of the issue and should recall the defective parts. I am making this complaint on behalf of my 85 year old Mother that purchased the 2020 Malibu with the remaining 3 year/36000 miles warranty. In November of 2022 she had the Alarm Shift to Park come up and would not stop. I return the car to the shop where she purchased it, expecting the issue to be covered by warranty. I found out the car was put in service in August of 2019 making the warranty expired. The mechanic that replaced the shifting assembly explained the problem to me and gave me the defective part. When researching the problem I found that GM it aware of the issue and should recall and fix the problem. I have contacted GM but they refuse to reemburse me. I filed a complaint with the BBB and I see that there is a class action lawsuit over this issue. I have my complaint on file in hope that GM will voluntarily recall or be forced to if enough people complain.
NHTSA ODI #11497994
NHTSA investigations
1EA25005 · Dtn Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Oct 21, 2025 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures. Six of those drivers sustained fatal injuries and two sustained severe injuries. In all eight incidents, the subject inflators had been installed as replacement equipment after the vehicle was involved in a previous crash. Information gathered during NHTSA’s initial analysis of these incidents indicates that the inflators were potentially imported illegally into the United States. In conjunction with this safety investigation, NHTSA is also working with appropriate authorities to address any illegal activities associated with the importation of these inflators. As a result of the significant safety concerns relating to these inflators, as well as extensive information already obtained by ODI relating to their field ruptures, ODI is moving directly to the Engineering Analysis (EA) stage of its investigative process rather than first opening a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA has taken a variety of actions to address the risks posed by the importation of substandard or counterfeit air bag components. However, until recently, these risks appeared spread across a variety of components and manufacturers. As part of ODI’s continuous monitoring of this issue, the agency has obtained information to suggest that at least eight incidents involve ruptures of inflators manufactured by DTN. In parallel with this dedicated investigation into DTN inflators, ODI will continue to monitor reports of field incidents to evaluate risks from other substandard imported air bag components. In 2012, ODI first became aware of substandard or counterfeit air bag modules sold through online marketplaces, such as auction sites. NHTSA obtained examples of these air bag modules and conducted testing. None of the inflators equipped in these modules were manufactured by DTN. This testing revealed that the inflators consistently malfunctioned during deployments, such as by failing to deploy the air bag or expelling metal shrapnel due to a rupture. This led NHTSA to release a consumer advisory in October 2012 to alert the public and repair professionals to the potential dangers of substandard or counterfeit air bag modules. ODI also worked with major vehicle manufacturers, who released advisories and notifications concerning the use of such air bag modules. Since then, NHTSA has continuously monitored for reports of malfunctioning air bags that may be associated with substandard or counterfeit components. These monitoring efforts have been supported by the increased visibility the advisories have brought to the issue, and by several standing general orders in place as part of separate investigations into Takata and ARC inflators, which require certain manufacturers to report any alleged or suspected inflator field ruptures to NHTSA. Until 2017, ODI was not aware of any field incidents involving an abnormal deployment of an imported substandard or counterfeit air bag module. In September 2017, ODI became aware of a crash involving a model year (MY) 2009 Honda Civic where the air bag ruptured during deployment, killing the driver. After inspecting the vehicle and air bag parts, ODI determined that the air bag inflator was not original equipment and that the air bag module was likely a substandard import. Insufficient information existed to determine the manufacturer of the inflator in this incident, however, it does not appear to resemble those manufactured by DTN. On June 16, 2023, ODI received a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ #11527380) alleging that the rupture of a driver side air bag caused fatal injuries to the driver of a MY 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. ODI’s assessment of the rupture indicated that the air bag inflator was not original equipment but was instead manufactured by DTN, a Chinese company (also known as Yoshibayashi Toku theanol Automotive Safety Systems Co. Ltd.). From June 2023 to July 2024, ODI became aware of four additional ruptures involving substandard air bag modules equipped on Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. At the time, insufficient information existed for these crashes to determine who manufactured the ruptured inflators. As a result, NHTSA released a consumer advisory on July 10, 2024, alerting car buyers and owners to be aware of cheap, substandard replacement air bag inflators that can cause death or serious injury in a crash. The advisory urged consumers who own or are considering the purchase of a used vehicle to learn the vehicle’s history and ensure the vehicle has genuine air bag inflators. In March 2025, NHTSA learned about another rupture involving a suspected substandard, aftermarket inflator that was equipped in a MY 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The driver of this vehicle sustained fatal injuries that appeared related to the rupture. In August 2025, NHTSA received a similar report of a fatal air bag rupture in a MY 2019 Hyundai Sonata. Most recently, in October 2025, ODI received a report of a fatal air bag rupture in a MY 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Photographs of the air bag components in these three crashes indicated that the ruptures all involved inflators manufactured by DTN. Further investigation of the inflator fragments in three of the prior incidents confirmed that they also involved DTN inflators. Photographs of the components involved in one of the other incidents also strongly suggest that the ruptured inflator was manufactured by DTN. This opening resume exceeded space limitations and is continued in an attachment uploaded to the investigation.