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

Power Train complaints

121 reports

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100,400 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Power Train

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I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS WAITING FOR CUSTOMER TO CLOSE THEIR CAR DOOR WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS OUT IF GEAR. IT GRABBED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN. WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE THE STORE I HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND 25MPH THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, I WAS ALSO HAVING TROUBLE GOING INTO REVERSE. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR HOME AND I WAS UNSURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WHERE THEY RAN A TEST ON IT. I WAS TOLD THE WAVE PLATE WAS BROKE IN MY TRANSMISSION. WOW AN 2009 WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THE WAVE PLATE THAT WAS USED FOR THE MALIBU'S WERE BAD. THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THE MALIBU'S THAT ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DUE TO POOR DESIGN USING THAT STYLE OF WAVE PLATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611131

71,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCE;ERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE INPUT SPEED SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10610939

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2014

Power Train

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ONGOING ISSUE THAT DEALERSHIP CANNOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR -- TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER; CAR BEHAVES AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IF PRESSURE IS REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR, TRANSMISSION WILL RE-ENGAGE. SINCE INCIDENT IS INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE. I HAVE ASKED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES IF OTHER 2009 MALIBU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD NO. GIVEN RECENT EVENTS I AM SKEPTICAL NOW OF THAT ANSWER. BECAUSE POWER TO THE VEHICLE IS LOST, THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER GMS WITH THE SIX-SPEED TRANSMISSION (NEW ON THE 2009 MODEL, I BELIEVE) ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593589

410 miles · Apr 2, 2014

Power TrainSteering

POWER STEERING TRAIN, I PERSONALLY PURCHASE NEW LAST ONE, END OF THE YEAR VEHICLE ON THE AVAILABLE LIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576930

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

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MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY BECAUSE OF MY IGNITION SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONING; AT TIMES IT LOCKS UP DISALLOWING ME TO BE ABLE TO START MY CAR OR REMOVE MY KEYS. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAMSHAFT ACTUATORS AND HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED ON THE ENGINE; BUT THIS CAR IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING. ALSO, MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WILL NOT COME ON, ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AFTER THE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED. ALL OF GM CARS MADE BETWEEN 2008-2012, NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THESE ISSUES NOT JUST SOME BUT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573936

62,855 miles · Oct 1, 2013

Power Train

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I OWN A 2009 CHEVY MALIBU AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVY SERVICE CENTER FOR FUEL SMELL ON THE EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE ON 09-2013. CHEVY SERVICE CENTER FOUND CAUSE FUEL PUMP MODULE CRACKED AND REPLACED FAULTY PART AT NO CHARGE AND STATED THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. NHTSA/GM RECALLED 40,000. 2007-2009 CHEVY COLBALTS AND OTHER TWIN VEHICLES IN 09-2012 FOR FAULTY FUEL PUMP MODULES THAT CRACK AND CAUSE FUEL LEAKS THAT HAS A POTENTIAL OF IGNITING A FIRE. I'M HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST GM AND MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES IN THE GM FAMILY THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL AND ADVISING NHTSA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE 2007-2009 CHEVY MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546339

34,000 miles · Aug 29, 2013

Electrical SystemPower Train

WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD, HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, A STRUT, AND THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKAGE. 2009 MALIBU LTZ, 3.6 L V6 WITH APPROX. 32,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10537831

100,000 miles · Aug 21, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY WHILE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10536587

86,000 miles · Jul 31, 2013

Power Train

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I PURCHASED A USED 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN 2011. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2013, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. MY INVOICE SAYS THEY REPAIRED THE CABLE KIT. ON JULY 29, 2013 I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION FOR GAS IN NORTH CAROLINA. ALL PUMPS WERE TAKEN. I WAITED. A CAR PULLED OUT SO I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK UP IN ORDER TO GET TO THE PUMP. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD MOVE, HOWEVER, THE CAR REMAINED STUCK IN REVERSE. I HAD TO BACK UP TO THE SIDE OF THE GAS STATION TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. I PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE IS WAS NOT IN PARK. I CALLED MY BROTHER FOR HELP. HE NOTICED THE SHIFT CABLE HAD COME APART. HE USED A TWIST TIE, A WASHER, AND A RUBBER CAP THAT HE FOUND IN HIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR THE SHIFT CABLE SO THAT I COULD HOPEFULLY MAKE IT BACK HOME. IT WORKED.THE NEXT DAY I MADE AN APPOINTMENT (07/31/13) TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO OURISMAN TO FIX THE CABLE. THAT INVOICE STATES THAT I NEED A SHIFTER CABLE. ACCORDING TO OURISMAN, THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE INITIAL RECALL. THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP BROKE OFF SOMEHOW. THE CABLE IS STILL INTACT. THAT'S WHY MY BROTHER WAS ABLE TO FIX IT ENOUGH TO GET ME BACK HOME. I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PART BROKE DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IN THE PAST, I'VE OWNED A CHEVROLET CAVALIER FOR 12 YEARS, AND A CHEVROLET BERETTA FOR 8 YEARS. NEITHER CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM OF "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". IT'S A DEFECT. THE 2/21/13 INVOICE SAYS REPLACED CABLE KIT. THE 7/31/13 INVOICE SAYS "NEEDS SHIFTER CABLE". THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP BROKE OFF THE SHIFTER CABLE. WHY IS THIS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL? IT'S A PIECE OF THE SAME PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532851

60,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013

Power Train

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BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW 01/09, 3 MON. LATER RECEIVED LETTER FROM GM CITING RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED. RECALL ID # 78844 - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE UNTIL 12/12 DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 50 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD/ERRATIC WITH RPM GAGE GOING TO 6-7 BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT/ACCELERATE, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. CALLED ONSTAR WAS TOLD THERE NOTHING INDICATED ON DIAGNOSTICS REPORT AND TO CONTACT GM. CONTACTED GM WAS TOLD THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR RECALL ID # 94402 - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING AND WOULD NOT HAVE PARTS UNTIL LATE JAN. TO FIX RECALL IF THAT WAS IN FACT THE ISSUE. TOLD BY DEALER THAT ERRATIC SHIFTING IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THOSE VEHICLES. ON 4/2/13 CAR WILL NOT GO IN PARK COMPLETELY AND IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO "OFF" POSITION, CANNOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. CONTACTED GM WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE ORIGINAL RECALL FROM 2009 FIXED THE SHIFT CABLE AND REPLACEMENT PART WAS ONLY COVERED BY GM FOR 12 MONTHS. GM SAID SECOND RECALL WAS NOT ATTACHED TO VIN# AND THEREFORE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED ALTHOUGH GM REP AND DEALER VERIFIED IT WAS IN NOV 2012. GM SAID TO TAKE TO DEALER AND GET DIAGNOSTIC REPORT AND THEY WOULD GO FROM THERE BUT ISSUE WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE COVERED IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SHIFT CABLE BECAUSE WARRANTY OF 12 MON. ON REPLACEMENT PARTS HAS EXPIRED. IF GM KNOWS THERE IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND THIS COMPONENT THEN IT SHOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS. HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD YOU HAVE TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR SAME SET OF ISSUES. IF GM DOES NOT OWN THIS PROBLEM I WILL NEVER BUY A GM VEHICLE AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505439

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)