Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

93 reports

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87,000 miles · Dec 2, 2014

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONSTAR WAS CALLED AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING AN MALFUNCTION IN THE AIR BAG, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW COMPANY TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER 2 HOURS TO WHICH ALL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. NOTE, CAR WAS JUST IN THE SHOP 2 DAYS PRIOR FOR OIL CHANGE AND RECALL ON BCM. DEALERSHIP CAME BACK WITH A $1200.00 ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF AN AIRBAG. $858.00 FOR THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT AND $241.00 FOR A NEW BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY STATING SOMETIMES ELECTRONICS HAVE ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661630

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2014

Air Bags

THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS LITE AND THE WORDS STAY ON THE DISPLAY WINDOW. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE ON THE CAR ON 11/29/2014 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IN A ACCIDENT THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY. COULD THIS ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY UNEXPEC…

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NHTSA ODI #10661507

65,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014

Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR ITS BEEN TWO DAYS NOW AND IT HASNT GONE AWAY IVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING NOR HAVE I BEEN HIT BY ANYONE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651939

103,000 miles · Oct 22, 2014

Air Bags

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE WARNING "SERVICE AIR BAG" POPPED UP ON MY DASHBOARD MESSAGE SCREEN. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING. WITH THE RECENT RECALLS, I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649210

45,500 miles · Oct 6, 2014

Air Bags

I WAS DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY AUTO ACCIDENT FOR THIS TO EVEN HAPPEN. THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG> PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641781

28,041 miles · Jul 24, 2014

Air Bags

2011 CHEVY MALIBU LT2 WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, 28000 MILES, 3-1/2 YEARS OLD, IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OUT OF THE BLUE SHOWS THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616125

400 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BLADE AND RIGHT KNEE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A WRIST INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ODI #10607032

2,300 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

BRAKES FAIL EMERGENCY STOP WITH ABOUT 150 FEET FROM ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG WAS DELAYED IN DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604663

70,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014

Air Bags

MY LIGHT KEEP COMING ON SAYING SERVICE AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597675

140,000 miles · May 21, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10593255

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.

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

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)