Steering. Review the 454 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 294 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 227 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 reports14 fire reports35 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

116 reports

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163,000 miles · Nov 13, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2015 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. JEFF WYLER SPRINGFIELD CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2237 W 1ST ST, SPRINGFIELD, OH 45504, (937) 525-4646) WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. *PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *AN

NHTSA ODI #11151150

88,000 miles · Sep 4, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT BEING DEPRESSED AND GOES OFF WHEN IT IS BEING DEPRESSED. THIS DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ALSO THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE 2014 RECALL WAS DONE BY THE DEALER AND YET THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING. THERE WAS AN UPDATE TO THE RECALL AND THIS WAS ALSO DONE…

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NHTSA ODI #11124324

102,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE AIR BAGS, BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN PEDAL NOT PRESSED AND NOT ON WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED AND CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK PERIODICALLY. THESE MESSAGE APPEAR OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE SENSOR UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL REPLACED TWICE NOW. LAST TIME 14 MONTHS AGO SO NO LONGER UNDER…

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NHTSA ODI #11123777

100,615 miles · Aug 14, 2018

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,615.

NHTSA ODI #11119852

92,000 miles · Aug 4, 2018

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A HIGH REVVING SOUND AS IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME PASSING AND SOON REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR REVVING WITH THE RPM GAUGE GOING ABOVE 3 AND MY CAR SLOWING DOWN. MOMENTS LATER MY PASSENGERS AND I FELT A SUDDEN "JERK" AND THE CAR JETTED FORWARD ONLY TO START REVVING AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS MERELY MOVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH AS I WAS STILL IN SHOCK FROM THE FIRST REVVING AND NON-ACCELERATING MOMENT. AFTER TRYING HELPLESSLY TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 15-20 MPH, I DECIDED TO STOP/RESTART THE CAR AND TRY USING THE MANUAL SHIFT. IT GAVE ANOTHER SUDDEN "JERKING" MOVEMENT AND MOVED IN M5 BUT NOT EVEN 10 SECONDS THE CAR STARTED WITH THE LOUD REVVING SOUND AS IF I WERE MASHING GAS WHICH I WASN'T AND WE BARELY MADE IT HOME AT ABOUT 10MPH USING HAZARD LIGHTS. WE BASICALLY HAD TO PUSH IT OVER 2 VERY SMALL SPEED BUMPS ON THE WAY IN THE GATE. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE AUTONATION SHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AND INSTEAD HAD TO BE TOWED THERE. AUTONATION CHEVY DID A "DIAGNOSIS" OF SORTS AND WITHIN MOMENTS CALLED TO SAY THAT THERE IS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION AND I NEED TO PAY A WHOPPING $4,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. OF COURSE I COULD GO ON ABOUT HOW FRUSTRATING AND HUMILIATING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL HAS BEEN FROM BEGINNING TO $$$$ END BUD I'D APPRECIATE IT IF CHEVY CAN REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND WHO SAID SHE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH HER MALIBU. I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE BUT I'M NOW WONDERING IF CHEVY WANTS TO WAIT UNTIL GOD FORBID A DIRE SITUATION OCCURS BEFORE THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11115776

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2018

Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET, WITH MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND QUICKLY DECELERATED TO ABOUT 10 MPH. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I JUST THOUGHT WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE I REGULARLY DRIVE. THANKFULLY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT H…

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NHTSA ODI #11111105

5,000 miles · Jun 12, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED AND SOMETIME THEY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. MY SON-IN-LAW TOLD ME TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, PUMP THE FOOT FEED 3 TIMES AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. THAT SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME. BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND THEN THEY CAME BACK ON WHEN I HIT ANOTHER BUMP. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY TAILLIGHTS MAY NOT ALWAYS WORK AND TO LET THEM KNOW IF I HAVE THAT PROBLEM. WELL HELL I AM DRIVING THE CAR NOT RUNNING ALONG BEHIND IT!! DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE REAR-END ME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY DON'T WORK? NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF AIRBAGS I HAVE IN THIS VEHICLE BUT WITH HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY ALSO BE AN ISSUE.THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS NEW. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO DIFFERENT SHOPS TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THEY THINK IT IS FIXED. I AM JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP. IS THE COMPETITION FOR CAR MAKERS SO VICIOUS THAT THEY NEED TO RUSH PRODUCTION AT THE COST OF CUSTOMER SAFETY TO GET VEHICLES OUT AHEAD OF THEIR COMPETITION? THEY CONTINUE TO PUT MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES ON THESE VEHICLES SO THEY CAN CHARGE US MORE UP FRONT AND FOR CONTINUOUS REPAIRS. THIS IS TOTALLY INSANE. GIVE ME BACK MY '57 CHEVY. NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT HONEY!!!

NHTSA ODI #11101493

127,800 miles · Jun 4, 2018

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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MALIBU DECREASES SPEED AND DOWNSHIFTS AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED COMES UP IN MESSAGE CENTER, NO BUMPS, HARD BRAKING, NO CARWASHES, SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH AND CAR ILLUMINATES ENGINE LIGHT. SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALREADY FOR EXAMPLE THROTTLE BODY, KNOCK SENSOR, MAF SENSOR, BATTERY, FUSE BOX, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL OF THESE PARTS AND MY ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL THEREFORE I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN ISOLATED ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11099868

20 miles · Apr 30, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

MY TAIL LIGHTS COME ON WITHOUT PRESSING THE PEDAL AND THEY DO NOT COME ON, WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED. VERY, VERY CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED. ALL ROADS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO AFFECTED. ESC LIGHT HAS COME ON. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NHTSA SAYS THERE IS A RECALL, CHEVROLET SAYS THERE IS NOT.

NHTSA ODI #11091033

145,000 miles · Mar 31, 2018

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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THE FIRST TIME MY VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN RIGHT. THE ENGINE DIED AND I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULD NOT STAY STARTED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GET THE CAR TO GIVE THEM CODES SO THEY HAD ME PICK IT UP. THE 2ND TIME THE CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY A WEEK LATER. I WAS GOING 60MPH TRYING TO KEEP ACCELERATION WHEN IT LOST POWER. THANKFULLY I WAS NEAR AN EXIT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE EXIT. AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S CAUSING IT.

NHTSA ODI #11082306

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

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)