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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

73 reports

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Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2016

Electrical SystemExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

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MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DISENGAGED FROM THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS AND CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. (SPRING 2016) MY TRACTION CONTROL IS PERIODICALLY SAYING THAT IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, I FEEL A PULSE AS I'M BRAKING AND SOMETIMES IF IT COMES ON WHILE I'M DRIVING I'LL FEEL A SLIGHT JOLT THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO HEAR A CLICK NOISE LIKE THE PEDAL MAY DISENGAGE. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELATED BUT SINCE MOST THINGS SEEM ELECTRICAL, MY RADIO SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF AND SEEMS TO DO WHAT IT WANTS DURING TIMES WHEN OTHER THINGS ARE SEEMINGLY MALFUNCTIONING (I.E. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE). ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE DOOR BUT MY RADIO DOESN'T TURN OFF. (LATE SUMMER 2016) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR SEEMS TO STILL BE RUNNING, LIKE IDLING. I'VE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE LAST 22 YEARS I'VE BEEN DRIVING NOR HEARD IT FROM ANYONE ELSE I ASK. (LATE SUMMER 2016) I HAVE ALSO BEEN DRIVING, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THEN REALIZE THAT I'M SLOWING DOWN ONLY TO FIND THE CRUISE IS NO LONGER ENGAGED. THE FIRST FEW TIMES I THOUGHT IT WAS ME. NOW, I RARELY USE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONSISTENTLY RELIABLE. (LATE SUMMER 2016) WHILE MY FUSE AND BULBS ARE FINE, BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. (LATE NOVEMBER, 2016 WHEN SOMEONE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929854

70,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016

Exterior LightingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, IT RANDOMLY DEACTIVATED. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED VERY DIMLY. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURES THAT PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING NORMALLY. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10910834

86,700 miles · Jul 24, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE RPM TACH WOULD REV UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE LIGHT TURNS OFF AND THE ESC WARNING APPEARS ON THE DASH. FIXED IN 2014 AS PART OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL (14V252000). AS OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN. FIRST, I WENT AND DIAGNOSED IT AT A REPAIR SHOP AND IT TOLD ME THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CALIBRATED. AFTER THAT WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AGAIN AND REPLACED THE SENSOR. AFTER THE SECOND TIME, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. AFTER GOING TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND GETTING THE CONCERN FIXED, IT IS STILL NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10888055

250,000 miles · May 19, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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RECALL FIX FAILURE - THE RECALL FIX WAS APPLIED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 'BRAKE LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE' ISSUE, NHTSA ACTION 13005, HOWEVER IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS OCCUR AT THE SAME FREQUENCY. NO NEW SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT AND NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS ARE ABSENT. THESE INCLUDE; BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING WITH NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL (INCLUDING HOLDING THE BRAKES AT A STOP), CRUISE CONTROL FAILING TO ACTIVATE, TRACTION CONTROL TURNING OFF, ESC TURNING OFF, AND VEHICLE GEARING DOWN (AS LOW AS 3RD GEAR AT 60 MPH BEFORE INTERVENTION) TO ASSIST BY ENGINE BRAKING. MOST SYMPTOMS OCCUR AT STANDSTILL AS WELL AS CITY AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP'S STANCE IS THAT, ONCE A RECALL IS APPLIED, THE TICKET IS CLOSED AND IS THE VEHICLE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THE COST OF FURTHER FIXES.

NHTSA ODI #10865750

38,068 miles · Apr 7, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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IN DECEMBER OF 2014, A CHEVROLET DEALER PERFORMED REPAIRS TO ADDRESS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AT THE TIME). RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS RELATED TO THIS RECALL, INCLUDING THE "SERVICE ESC" AND "SERVICE TRACTION" MESSAGES, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRING EXTRA PRESSURE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, AND THE DISABLING OF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO EXHIBIT THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS TRIGGERED WHILE I'M BRAKING, AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #10854053

42,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND ESC LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE AND THE FUEL GUAGE NEEDLE STARTED JUMPING SPORADICALLY AND THEN I LOST POWER FOR A MOMENT AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTA…

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NHTSA ODI #10786066

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 · 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

65,000 miles · Mar 29, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 4 OR HIGHER AS IF I AM SMASHING THE GAS. DURING THIS TIME OF THE RPM FLUCTUATION YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE SOUND LOUDER AND FEEL THE ACCELERATION ALMOST LIKE A JOLT. AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING THE CAR YOU CAN SEE THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE BRAKES. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THIS MATTER THEY CLAIM IT HAS BEEN FIXED, HOWEVER I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IT IS WARM/HOT OUTSIDE, WHEN USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE CAR ALL LOCKS WILL STICK. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET INTO THE VEHICLE IS TO USE THE KEY TO OPEN THE DOORS AND IF I HAVE GROCERIES IN THE BACK SEAT I WILL HAVE TO CRAWL FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK TO OPEN THE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702412

98,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BCM WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694479

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)