Steering. Review the 768 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 368 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 255 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 reports9 fire reports31 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

368 reports

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72,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BATTERY OUT OF THE REMOTE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES EVEN WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, BUT DISENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10781049

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LAMP. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, "SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION. ESC OFF" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10779641

21,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER A FEW MOMENTS WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ODI #10779430

70,000 miles · Oct 1, 2015

Electrical System

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ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER. YOU CAN HEAR THE ACTUATOR TRYING, BUT IT WILL ONLY "PARTIALLY"L OCK/ UNLOCK THE DOOR OR NOT EVEN BUDGE THE INTERNAL MANUAL LEVER WHETHER THE REMOTE FOB OR INTERNAL CONTROL SWITCH IS USED. THINGS WORK FINE WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS IS DEFINITELY RELATED TO HEAT BECAUSE IN THE SPRING AND FALL THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, IN THE SUMMER THE LOCK WILL OFTEN WORK AFTER RUNNING THE A/C FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO. I THINK THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS 3-4 YEARS OLD. WE CAN USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, AND IF WE USE THE REMOTE FOB FIRST, THE ALARM WON'T SOUND. JUST THE SAME, IT IS AGGRAVATING.

NHTSA ODI #10779096

118,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778842

119,500 miles · Sep 27, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY ILLUMINATING WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN I DO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL (BRAKE LIGHT REVERSAL). IN ADDITION MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) AND CRUISE CONTROL TURN OFF. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE AGENCY UNDER NHTSA ID NUMBER 10548365. I HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED IN THE SUMMER OF 2014. IN ADDITION I PREVIOUSLY HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR REPLACED PRIOR TO THAT, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED EVEN THOUGH THE SUGGESTED FIX WAS APPLIED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED IN RHINELANDER, WI.

NHTSA ODI #10777958

127,000 miles · Sep 24, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT BRIEFLY DEACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY LIGHT, AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10775938

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION SYSTEM RECALL REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN JUNE 2014, THE VEHICLE WASN'T RUNNING SMOOTHLY. IT SEEMED TO EXHIBIT A JERK MOTION AND FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO STALL. THE ESC LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THEN GO OUT. THE DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS ON JUNE ON JUNE 27, 2014. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE FUEL INJECTOR WIRE WAS REPLACED. RECALL # 14V252000 UPDATED 12/30/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10694537

110,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015

Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

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FIRST ISSUE HAPPENED WITH THE DRIVER LOW BEAM NOT WORKING THEN WORK AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. THE PROBLEM KEEPS GOING ON FROM PASSENGER AND DRIVER LOW BEAMS. I'VE NOTICED THE CONNECTORS WERE MELTED AND CHANGED THEM AND THEY WOULD BOTH WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN ONE WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. SECOND ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOESN'T TURN ON WHEN PASSENGERS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. IT WORKS SOMETIMES BUT NOT EVERYTIME. THIRD ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS. THE DOOR LOCKS WORK SOMETIMES AND AGAIN NOT EVERYTIME LIKE THEY SHOULD. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE REPORTING THESE SAME ISSUES BUT NOTHING GETS DONE UNLESS IT'S OUT OF OUR POCKETS.

NHTSA ODI #10760879

101,000 miles · Aug 16, 2015

Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

MY DOOR LOCKS ARE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE I'M DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #10748944

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)