Steering. Review the 460 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 231 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine complaints

61 reports

Clear category filter

130,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, SUDDENLY MY TRACTION LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION CAME ON MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 10-20 MPH(LIKE IT ALMOST DIED BUT STILL RUNNING) AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND IT WAS IDLING ROUGH. I SHUT IT OFF, WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND STARTED IT LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS SCARED AND JUST WANTED TO GET HOME AND BORROW ANOTHER CAR TO GET TO WORK. I WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM HOME, AND MANAGED TO GET IT HOME. WHILE RETURNING HOME IT DID THE SAME THING BUT, IT ADDED A NEW CODE DISABLED ENGINE. I HAVE READ THESE FORUMS, AND I DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO WAIST ON REPLACING PARTS THAT DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM, I DON'T WANT TO BE GIVING THE RUN AROUND WITH BS REASON, I WANT TO FIX MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670870

74,460 miles · Jan 6, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

STARTED CAR AND SERVICE TRACTION ESC LIGHTS CAME ON. UPON DRIVING CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS IT NORMALLY DOES, AND SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER. THE ENGINE VIBRATED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT, MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL NO. 13036, THE HTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. FOR THIS RECALL IS 14V252. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED WHAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL, WHICH WAS CLIP, RETAINER, STRAP, RETAINER. HOWEVER, THIS HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT FURTHER DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10670494

120,000 miles · Dec 30, 2014

Engine

Read full complaint

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF THE 2008 HAS A SEVERE CRACK WHICH ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT KEEP THE FAN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, IDLING, OR IN SLOW TRAFFIC AS THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSES HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE EXHAUST FUMES AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. AFTERWARDS, IT TOOK MY HUSBAND LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO LOCATE AND PHOTOGRAPH THE EXHAUST LEAK ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. TWO OTHER CLOSE FRIENDS ALSO HAVE 2008 MALIBU'S AND BOTH OF THEIR CARS HAVE THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE OF EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO THE CABIN. ONE HAS HAD THIS REPLACED AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WITH OEM PARTS AT A COST OF $1500 WITH THE EXPLANATION OF THE HIGH COST FOR THE REPAIR BEING THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE WHOLE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE YEAR AFTER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR, HER EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED AGAIN. ANOTHER FRIEND GOT A QUOTE OF $1300 BUT CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR EITHER AND IT BAFFLES ME THAT CHEVROLET WILL ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE MY CHROME WHEEL COVERS BUT WHEN I CALLED TO ASK ABOUT THE WELL KNOWN ISSUE OF CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, TOLD ME THAT THEY HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE AND SIMPLY PASSED ME OFF TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO MAKE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ONE THAT IS COMMON AND WELL DOCUMENTED WITH A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH ON EXHAUST CRACKS ON CHEVROLET MALIBU'S AND COBALT'S IN THE 2007-2009 YEARS. GIVEN THE DANGEROUS NATURE, THE HIGH COST OF THE REPAIR THAT MANY CANNOT AFFORD, AND THE COMMON OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM, CHEVROLET SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669059

65,000 miles · Dec 11, 2014

EngineSeats

DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE, HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663581

130,000 miles · Nov 28, 2014

Engine

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND ABILITY TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH. THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME EACH TIME IT OCCURS BECAUSE I AM DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED AND MOST OF THE TIME ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO TURN MY HAZARDS ON AND DO MY BEST TO GET OFF THE ROAD ALL WHILE THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW ITSELF DOWN AND LOOSE ALL POWER. I'VE COME SO VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING. "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" IS THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT IN A FEW DAYS LATER TO A MECHANIC WHO READ THE CODES. THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT CAME UP. I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND AFTER LOOKING OVER EVERYTHING DECIDED I NEEDED A NEW CAM SHAFT SENSOR. CAR DROVE WELL FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK IN TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY'RE UNSURE OF WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE NOW. THEY HAVE TOLD ME UNLESS I CAN GET THE VEHICLE TO THEM RIGHT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING THEY'RE UNSURE WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE THE SOURCE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE TO A MECHANIC OR A DEALER AT A COASTING SPEED OF 10 MPH WITHOUT STOPPING BEFORE I GET THERE? I HAVE READ SEVERAL CHEVY FORUM THREADS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST MALIBUS AND IMPALAS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS MAKING REPAIRS THAT MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS SAY WILL CORRECT THE ISSUE YET HAVE STATED THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS IN THEIR VEHICLES. I REFUSE TO THROW MONEY INTO REPAIRS IF THERE ISN'T A KNOWN SOURCE AS I HAVE ALREADY MADE ONE REPAIR THAT DIS NOT FIX MY VEHICLES PROBLEM! WITH THE NUMBER OF CHEVY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS, WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661233

1,000 miles · Oct 18, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT EXACT RECORDS, BUT I HAVEN'T. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS THE FACTORY BATTERY IN 2008. IT EXPLODED IN THE CAR WITHIN 5 MONTHS, THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE REPLACED 3 BATTERIES IN THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD 4 SETS OF TIRES. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS 2 TIMES. I HAD THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM GO DOWN 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE PLACE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY. SO, ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN DONE AT ANOTHER AUTO MECHANIC. OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE WORK WAS NEVER DONE WITH THEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION, AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT ELSE. I AM CURRENTLY GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AGAIN, ALONG WITH I AM NEEDING NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT END AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648554

65,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014

Engine

I WAS TRAVELING ON ROUTE 15 FROM VA TO MD. I STOPPED FOR GAS, GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AROUND 45 AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH DESTROYED THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE MOTOR SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR AND GM WAS AWARE OF IT, BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE MECHANIC SAID THE O…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10640074

80,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014

EngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SPEED DECREASED AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHIC…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10639230

88,845 miles · Sep 17, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, DOME LIGHT, DOOR AJAR SOUND, SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AFTER THE ABOVE WARNING SIGNALS DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH SEAT BELT AND SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,845.

NHTSA ODI #10633855

106,884 miles · Sep 13, 2014

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2008 CHEVY MALIBU (106,800 MILES) THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND INFORMATION CENTER READ "ENGINE POWER DEDUCED" AND MY CAR SLOWED TO 20 MPH ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH NO WARNING TO ME OR THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME. LUCKILY THERE WAS A WIDE SHOULDER AND I VEERED OFF TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED AS I HAD MY 3 CHILD ALL IN CAR SEATS IN BACK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT AS THEY WEREN'T OPEN YET, I DID WHAT I HAD TO AS ONE OF MY CHILDREN IS A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND WAS ALMOST TIME FOR HIS SEIZURE MEDICATION AND DROVE THE CAR ON TO MY MOTHER IN LAWS 4 MILES AWAY. I DROVE DOWN THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO MAKE IT TO MY MOTHER IN LAWS TURN THEN THE NEXT 3 MILES TO HER HOUSE WAS LESS CONGESTED WITH TRAFFIC LUCKILY. THE CAR HAD A SLIGHT SHAKE TO IT ALMOST AND SOMETHING SEEMED LIKE IT WAS RATTLING ALMOST UNDER THE HOOD BUT A SLOW RATTLE NOT LIKE A KNOCKING SOUND THO. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP OPENED I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR RAN NORMAL AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND THE ISSUE IN THE HISTORY. CHEVY TOLD US THE CAM SHAFT SOLENOID HAD INTERNAL FAILURE AND NEEDED REPLACED. WE GOT IT FIXED AND CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND DID A SMALL TUNE UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE SOLVED. LAST NIGHT JUST A DAY LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY NEWER CHEVY CARS SOME STILL WITH JUST 50,000 MILES ON THEM. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH GM IN A RECALL I AM AFRAID BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE TAKEN DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING AND PARTS! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER! CHEVY ALSO FOUND A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT THEY ARE REPLACING FOR FREE ALREADY AS WELL AS MULTIPLE OTHER RECALLS WE ARE AWAITING PARTS FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632972

Official recalls

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)