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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150,000 miles · Jan 19, 2018

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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TAKATA RECALL I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN I PULLED OUT MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD NO WAY IN TURNING THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN TURNING BACK ON VEHICLE WAS FINE. DROVE A MILE TO LOCAL BANK AND IT DID IT AGAIN IN THE DRIVE THRU. AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO WORK IT WENT OUT AS I WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT. THE FIRST TIME POWER STEERING WENT OUT TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP TO KEEP FROM HITTING MY VEHICLE. I WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND IN 9 YEARS THIS SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY. THE CAR SAID "POWER STEERING" & "ESC" WHEN IT LOCKED DOWN. THERE IS A RECALL # 14772 FOR 2004-2007 MALIBU'S THAT STATE THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING.

NHTSA ODI #11063778

130,129 miles · Oct 18, 2017

Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

DRIVING THE MALIBU DOWN THE COUNTRY ROAD AND SOME CODE FLASHED ON THE DASH AND THEN SAID POWER REDUCTION AND NOW ITS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND CAR ONLY DRIVES SLOW, IF THIS HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY THEIR WILL BE A CRASH AS WHEN THE POWER REDUCTION KICKED ON IT TURNED OFF TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING MAKING IT HARD TO MOVE THE …

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NHTSA ODI #11034458

47,000 miles · Aug 8, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineLatches/locks/linkages

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE TRACTION, AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #11013751

122,000 miles · Jun 23, 2017

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED VARIOUS TIMES, IN VARIOUS GEARS, AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COPELAND CHEVROLET (955 PEARL ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND FAILED TO ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ODI #11000815

8,000 miles · Jun 16, 2017

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SPRINGFIELD MITSUBISHI (313 BALTIMORE PIKE SPRINGFIELD, PA 19064, (484) 574-8434). THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN, BUT THE ECM WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO REVERSE AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND WAS AWAITING PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO REEDMAN TOLL CHEVROLET OF SPRINGFIELD (840 BALTIMORE PIKE, SPRINGFIELD, PA 19064 (484) 472-6290) FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. UPON REACHING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI #10995593

91,000 miles · Apr 28, 2017

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED CASE NUMBER: 8-2921520333. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10981297

130,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SEVERELY VIBRATE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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NHTSA ODI #10967593

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2017

Power TrainSteering

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR AT A BUY HERE PAY HERE AND AFTER ONE SAY THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING UNITY BUT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS EXPIRED?

NHTSA ODI #10959042

53,000 miles · Mar 6, 2017

Power Train

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FAILED NJ DMV INSPECTION, ENGINE ICON,PO714,715 EMISSIONS CODES. CORRECTED AND ICON WENT OFF. 5 DAYS LATER, WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT, TRANSMISSION LOST FORWARD, 2 DAYS LATER, LOST REVERSE. CODES PO716 CAME UP. CAR IS A CALIFORNIA PVEC COVERED FOR A LONG LIST OF FAILED PARTS, 53,000 MILES, 8 YRS OLD, COVERED I THOUGHT FOR 15 YRS/150,000 FOR TRANS FAILURE DUE TO EXACTLY THIS HISTORY. DEALER NEW TRANS $4000, DENIED IT WAS DUE TO COVERED PARTS. REMOVED AND EXAMINED TRANS, SHOWED METAL, "FROM WAVE PLATE LIKELY". THEREFORE NOT COVERED, PER DEALER. SERVICE MGR SAID HAS SEEN FAILURES IN LOWER MILEAGE THAN THIS. I AM ASKED TO PAY FOR BREAK DOWN OF TRANS TO DIAGNOSE UNCOVERED REPAIR, ADMITTEDLY A 2-3 HOUR JOB. DECIDED TO NOT REPAIR, SELL FOR SALVAGE. LEASE ANOTHER CAR FROM DEALER HOPING FOR A BETTER OUTCOME DOWN THE LINE.

NHTSA ODI #10958965

104,740 miles · Feb 27, 2017

Power Train

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I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS (SEE COMPLAINT IDS BELOW FOR REFERENCE). MINE STARTED AT AT 104,740 MILES - VERY SIMILAR TO EVER OTHER PERSON. THE DEALER SAYS THEY TOO BELIEVE EXACTLY WHAT I DESCRIBE BELOW FITS THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE SERVICE BULLETIN (WHICH I HOPE WILL BE COVERED BUT DO NOT THINK IT WILL BASED ON WHAT I SEE ON MY GM OWNER CENTER ACCOUNT AND MY VIN NUMBER'HOPE I'M WRONG, I TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING AGAIN!) WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AROUND THIRD GEAR THE VEHICLE'S RPMS SLAMMED UP TO AROUND 7K AND THEN AROUND FIFTH GEAR (I THINK AROUND 55 MPH) IT SLIPPED AGAIN, WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN IT HUNG ON THE WAY DOWN. THEN, WHEN I PULLED INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE (THINK MICHIGAN UTURN). I THEN THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I SHOULD TRY SHUTTING IT OFF WHEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MORE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SO, I DID AND THAT'S WHEN IT WOULDN'T SHIFT AGAIN INTO DRIVE NOR GO INTO REVERSE (WASN'T EXPECTING THAT). WHEN I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE IT CAUSED TRAFFIC TO BACKUP ONTO THE HIGHWAY (55MPH), NOT ONLY PUTTING MYSELF IN DANGER BUT EVERY PERSON BEHIND ME THAT ATTEMPTED TO PASS ME (I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH'AND SO WERE 2,500 OTHER ATTENDEES). THANKFULLY A POLICE OFFICER CAME UNTIL THE WRECKER ARRIVED (1 HOUR LATER)'BUT UNTIL THE OFFICER ARRIVED (TOOK ABOUT 20 MIN.)'FOLKS WERE MAKING SOME VERY 'GUTSY' MOVES TO GET AROUND ME. REFERENCE COMPLAINT NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10909571, 10806366, 10749558, 10712799, 10824378, 10611131, 10267834, 10290424, 10617224, 10654655, 10837023, 10726704, 10852752 REFERENCE SERVICE BULLETIN: HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/UCM507769/SB-10057961-2162.PDF

NHTSA ODI #10957448

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)