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

Engine complaints

160 reports

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160,000 miles · Aug 13, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

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WHEN I START THE CAR THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ESC COMES UP AND SAYS IT TURNED OFF . WHEN STATIONARY IT WILL JUST DIE, WHEN DRIVING IT WILL JUST DIE DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GOING 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OF CITY STREETS!!!!! TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT I'VE ADD MECHANICS TELL ME IT'S MY COMPUTER BUT THEY DON'T WORK ON MY MAKE OF A CAR. THE CAR MAY START UP OR NOT. I'VE READ OF A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM BACK IN 2014 FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THEY SAID THEY FIXED? AND THIS HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2016 AFTER THEY KEPT IT FOR 90DAYS FOR THE SEAT BELT RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11119561

52,000 miles · Jul 8, 2018

Engine

SOMETIMES AT STOPS (STATIONARY) , CAR STALLS, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT..IT WILL START AGAIN WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON AGAIN AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #11110127

50 miles · Jul 1, 2018

Engine

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING EXHAUST GASES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11104993

160,000 miles · Apr 30, 2018

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED TO 5 MPH. THE ESP, ABS, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO BALLAS BUICK IN TOLEDO, OHIO (419-386-0187). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #11090951

92,000 miles · Apr 22, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS DRIVING CAR GOING AROUND 40 MILES AN HR AND IT WOULD JUST DIE ON ME, NO LIGHTS CAME UP NO WARNING. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED IT HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT. I'VE HAD FUEL PUMP, FUEL RELAY, CAM SHAFT SENSOR 2 TIMES AND OTHER THINGS REPLACED. STILL SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. DIED AGAIN ON ME HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN, REPLACED THAT AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR AGAIN. DROVE AWAY AND IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. THE ONLY WAY MY CAR STAYS RUNNING IS WHEN CAM SHAFT SENSOR IS UNPLUGGED BUT ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. WHEN CAR DIES I HAVE NO LIGHTS THAT COME ON TO TELL ME I HAVE A ISSUE, IT JUST SHUTS OFF. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE CAR JUST SHUTTING DOWN ON ME FOR A YEAR. I'M AFRAID TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF OR WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I HAD AROUND 92000 MILE ON CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11089289

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2018

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE SENSOR ARE READING INCORRECTLY. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF, RANDOM LIGHT COME ON AND OFF, MY SENSORS IS NOT READING MY ENGINE AND ENGINE LOCATION OR TIRES. SYSTEM IS ALSO READING THERE ARE NO AIR BAGS OR SAYS PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT IN PLACE WHEN IT IS. FREQUENTLY MY WIRING GLITCHES AND I CAN NOT CONTROL THE MIRRORS OR WINDOWS, ECT. MY COOLANT AND OIL CONSTANTLY DRAINS OUT BUT NO HOLE IS NOTICEABLE. MY CAR EXHAUSTS AND WON'T MOVE LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11089246

120,000 miles · Apr 10, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, A NOTICE OF REDUCED POWER, SERVICE TRACTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED THE CAR OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT IT OFF, UPON RESTART THE WHOLE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I THEN SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, THIS TIME WHEN I RESTARTED ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ONE. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF …

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NHTSA ODI #11084308

85,000 miles · Mar 13, 2018

Engine

AT APPROXIMATELY 85000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT OF THE ENGINE, THIS IS A NONE ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES AND AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AT THAT. THIS EFFECTS SEVERAL GM VEHICLES AT 85000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT OF BEEN BAD SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THIS HAPPENED AS WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE…

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NHTSA ODI #11078959

75,000 miles · Feb 26, 2018

Electrical SystemEngine

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RANDOMLY STARTING ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU STARTED GOING INTO REDUCED POWER MODE AND SHOWING SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC AND ENG PWR REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN. IT SHOWED A P2135 CODE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME SITTING, BUT THE EVENTS HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN IT IS DRIVEN AGAIN. IT TAKES APPROX. 20 MILES FROM WHEN IT WAS STARTED. RESEARCHING THIS P2135 CODE I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND THEY ALL INVOLVED THE THROTTLE BODY OR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE A SPECIAL COVERAGE 14582A WHICH IS CURRENTLY OPEN. BUT THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THAT PROGRAM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT NOT ALL 2011 MALIBU VEHICLES WOULDN'T BE COVERED.

NHTSA ODI #11074962

112,659 miles · Jan 19, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "REDUCE POWER" ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. JACK WINEGARDNER CHEVROLET (11001 INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE THROTTLE BODY WARRANTY EXTENSION AND SPECIAL COVERAGE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,659. 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).*JB

NHTSA ODI #11063784

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)