Steering. Review the 810 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

1,115 reports

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2013

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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THE WORST CAR I EVER HAD IN MY LIFE WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER ONE IT IS THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER A/C COMPRESSOR IS FROZEN HAD IT REPAIRED AND NOW IT IS BREAKING ALTERNATOR BELT THIS BELT WORKS THE ALTERNATOR AND COMPRESSOR HAD IT REPLACE TWICE IT BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LOST MY STEERING IN STEERING WHEEL ALMOST WREAK I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS DARN CAR AND IN DANGER MY LIFE AND KIDS LIFE THE CAR ALSO WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN GOING DOWN THE ROAD I THINK CHEVY SHOULD NOT HAD PUT ANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD I MISS MY HONDA NOW AND THE NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA ITS SAD THAT AMERICANS CANT BUY AMERICAN MADE CARS WITHOUT THEM HAVING ALL THESE DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534686

179,000 miles · Aug 7, 2013

Fuel System, Gasoline

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I'M HIGHLY UPSET WITH MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS BACK IN JUNE AND I HAD JUST FILLED UP MY CAR AND I DROVE HOME THE CAR WAS FINE. GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO GO TO THE STORE NOT EVEN 30 MINUTES LATER, START THE CAR PULL OUT OF MY APARTMENTS AND IT IMMEDIATELY SAID NO FUEL! SO I FREAKED OUT THINKING SOMEONE STOLE MY GAS OR THE GAS STATION HAD SOME BAD GAS....THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH FROM F TO E. IT'S NOW ALMOST THE MIDDLE OF AUG. AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON 8/2/13 TAKING MY MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN EMERGENCY! SOMETHING AWFUL COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND IT ALL WOULD'VE BEEN BECAUSE I CAN NEVER TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS REALLY IN MY CAR! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS, I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM AND FROM THIS SITE, COMPLAINT'S GO BACK TO 2011! THAT'S 2 YEARS AND NOBODY HAS TRIED TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED! THERE CAN BE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS!!! I WOULD LOVE TO NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS FIXED BECAUSE I'M NOT PAYING $600+ TO GET SOMETHING REALLY SIMPLE FIXED BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DROP THE GAS TANK IT MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE.....PLEASE GET THIS FIXED BECAUSE I'M BOUT READY TO GET RID OF THIS CAR BECAUSE OF IT! HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS AND I REFUSE TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A PART THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533998

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2013

Fuel/propulsion System

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I FINANCED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY 2011 AND THREE MONTHS AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TRYING TO BRING GROCERIES HOME OR COMING FROM WORK. ITS DANGEROUS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR OTHERS. LUCKY FOR ME I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, ITS NOT ALWAYS SAFE. IT IS GOING TO COST ME A GOOD BIT TO EVEN THINK ABOUT HAVING THIS FIXED. I STILL OWE A LITTLE OVER 8K ON THIS CAR AND I BOUGHT IT USED. I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF TRADING IT AND HAVING WHAT I OWE TACKED ON TO THE END OF THE NOTE JUST TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE SAFE AS WELL AS MY CHILDREN AND NOT WORRY ABOUT WHETHER I HAVE ENOUGH FUEL OR NOT. ON TOP OF THAT MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DOING MY OIL CHANGES AND SAYS THAT THERE IS OIL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR AND THE OIL HAS A RED TINT. I WOULD THINK AFTER EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN THROUGH TO EVEN END UP WITH THIS VEHICLE I WOULD NOT HAVE ENCOUNTERED ALL THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW SOME MALIBU'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON PARTS AND EVERYTHING SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW I COULD FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT NEED RELIABILITY TO GET TO WORK AND HOME, TAKING KIDS TO SCHOOL AND HELPING MY PARENTS WHEN THEY NEED TO GO TO DR APPOINTMENTS THEY ARE BOTH IN REMISSION OF CANCER SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533345

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2013

Electrical System

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, STILL HAD THE PLASTIC ON IT. THE CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I USED THE RE-CIRCULATE FEATURE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A LOUD THUMPING NOISE STARTED. THE NOISE STOPPED FOR A LITTLE BIT. TODAY I WAS DRIVING ALL OVER THE CITY, AND ON THE WAY HOME THE LOUD THUMPING NOISE STARTED AND DID NOT STOP. IT SCARED ME TO DRIVE, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING MAJOR. WE HAD TO PULL THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO STOP. I CONTACTED CHEVY, THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A "SAFETY" ISSUE. I HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES, I CANT BE IN THE HEAT, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BASICALLY THEY DIDN'T CARE, THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER CHEVY'S ARE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533154

74,964 miles · Jul 30, 2013

Steering

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STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED AND "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON STEREO CONSOLE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING, STEERING SEEMED TO BE FINE. TWO DAYS LATER I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A TUGGING FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER AND AFTER PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED FOR THIS (10183) BUT THEY WON'T INFORM YOU UNLESS IT OCCURS. THEY ALSO ARE ONLY COVERING REPAIRS FOR A CERTAIN RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR OUTSIDE OF THAT RANGE. ANY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH STEERING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532587

149,930 miles · Jul 15, 2013

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING AND AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON BUT AT THE SAME TIME I COULDN'T TURN MY WHEEL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THREE MONTHS AGO WHILE MY TEENAGER WAS DRIVING ALONE HE TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT WHILE HE WAS TURNING AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. BUT WHEN I DROVE IT AFTER HIM I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL JUNE 28TH. BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TWICE ON THE 28TH I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HENDRICKS AUTO MALL IN DURHAM NC ON JUNE 29TH FOR FEAR OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2006 MALIBU BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT CHEVY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S MY PROBLEM AND IF I WANTED IT FIXED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE I WAS THE 2ND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE AT CHEVY IF THE POWER STEERING WARNING AND BELL SHOULD GIVE ME A WARNING OR JUST GO OUT AND WAS ADVISED THAT WHEN IT APPEARS IT SHOULD ONLY BE A WARNING. I WOULD LIKE FOR CHEVY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL AS IT HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE REPAIR SHOP AS I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE REP JR WHO ADVISED ME ON JULY 5TH THAT HE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE IT PUTS ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME IN DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525049

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2013

Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING KEEPS LOCKING ON ME AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. I PULL OVER TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND IT RESETS ITSELF BUT THEN KEEPS HAPPENING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN THE POWER STEERING KEEPS LOCKING ON ME AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BE…

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NHTSA ODI #10524780

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2013

Service Brakes

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR, 2012. JUST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THEY RANDOMLY COME ON AND STAY ON UNTIL THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THEY GO OFF WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED BUT COME BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS OF THE PEDAL BEING RELEASED. CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK DURING THIS ISSUE AS IT THINKS THE BRAKE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. MY SON WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. HAD THE CONNECTORS CLEANED BUT THE ISSUE STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523704

31,680 miles · Jul 3, 2013

Engine And Engine CoolingService BrakesSteering

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THIS CAR HAD HARDLY DRIVEN OFF THE LOT,AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH 31000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE OD AND I PUT ONLY 800 MILES,WHEN THE ROTORS,AND BRAKES,AND STEERING STARTED KNOCKING,AND BECOMING WHAT I WOULD CALL "STIFF,NON-FUNCTIONAL" POWER STEERING,AND PULL VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT,WHEN UPHILL. THE HARSH SHAKING,OF THE ROTORS,AND THE "STRINGY FEELING OF THE BRAKE PAD,LOOSE WAS NOT STOPPING AT A PROPER SAFE LEVEL. AT THE FUTURE,WITHIN 2008-2009-2012 THE STEERING COLUMN,WAS RECALLED,AND PUT IN TWICE AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT GOOD,REQUIRING MORE REPLACEMENTS,AND ROTORS SHAVED FOR MY SAFETY AS IT RATTLED THE FRONT END,AND CAUSED STEERING,AND DISTRACTING FOR DRIVING SAFELY. I HAD MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS ON BASIC DRIVING,IN RURAL AREA,UPHILL,WHERE POWER STEERING WENT OUT,THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. PROB 10 TIMES,ON FREEWAY I COULD NOT GO PAST 60 MILES,OR THE ENGINE WOULD ACT STRANGE,PULLING,AND AGAIN THREATENING TO FAIL POWER STEERING. TO DATE,,NOW THE MAF FAILED,AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING,AGAIN LOCKING UP THE BRAKES,AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL IT HAS 30000 NEW MILES IN LESS THEN 6 YRS AND IT REMAINS A DEATHTRAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523097

70,000 miles · Jun 28, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10522320

Official recalls

15V064000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Feb 4, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)