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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75,000 miles · Feb 19, 2017

Engine

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VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING REDUCED POWER TO JUST IDLE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED INCLUDING "REDUCED POWER." I DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT ONLY 2 MPH AND THEN PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOUR (4) TIMES AND THEN THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. I DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM TO AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE TPS CONNECTOR FOR THE ECM. TSB # PIP5019 (DOC ID#2834731) IDENTIFIES REPAIR PROCEDURE TO REPLACE PINS/CONTACTS FOR THE TPS CONNECTOR. EVIDENCE IDENTIFIES A LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY REDUCE ENGINE POWER PLACING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT GREAT RISK.

NHTSA ODI #10955549

73,000 miles · Feb 14, 2017

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. …

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NHTSA ODI #10954531

130,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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ENGINE REDUCED POWER MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. CAR MAY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ENGINE CODE IS P2135. IT HAPPENS BETWEEN 4-10 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP. WHEN IT HAPPENS WE HAVE TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH THE VEHICLE RUNS NORMAL AT THAT POINT. THIS IS A REPEATED DAILY PROCESS AND STILL IS NOT RESOLVED. WE REMOVED THIS VEHICLE FROM HIGHWAY USE DO TO THE UNSAFE CONDITION. IT IS WINTER HERE IN MICHIGAN AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ISSUE.. CAR HAS 130,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948634

78,450 miles · Jan 12, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK, AND THEN THE ALERTS ACROSS THE DASH CAME UP AS "SERVICE ESC", "SERVICE TRACTION", AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER PAYING $550.00 FOR THE REPAIR THE CAR SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL RECENTLY, ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR THE SAME EXACT THING HAS HAPPENED, AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THERE IS NO RECALL AND I'LL EITHER HAVE TO TRADE THE CAR IN (WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO) OR JUST DRIVE IT AND HOPE THE PROBLEM WILL CORRECT ITSELF. I AM BEYOND SCARED TO DRIVE IT AS MY DAUGHTER IS IN THE CAR WITH ME, AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING A DEATH TRAP DOWN THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10944519

75,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE REDUCED ENGINE SERVICE AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, IN ADDITION TO A FEW OTHER UNIDENTIFIED WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A WHILE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10943776

99,000 miles · Jan 5, 2017

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON REMEDIED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUM…

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NHTSA ODI #10939849

73,000 miles · Dec 2, 2016

EngineUnknown Or Other

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1. MY CAR IS 5 YEAR OLD AND 73,000 MILES. WE USE IT FOR COMMUTING TO WORK AND GROCERY. AND WE DO ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT DUBLIN CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON NOV 11TH, MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. THE FRONT TRUNK WAS SMOKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HAS NO QUALITY PROBLEM WITH SUCH FEW YEARS AND RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. 2. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE CAR MAKING COMPANY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL DONE. BUT THEY SAID THE PART HAS NOT ARRIVED AND ASKED US TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CALL US. WE NEVER GET CALL FROM THEM. THIS TIME, I CALLED THEIR RECALL DEPARTMENT AND LEFT A MESSAGE. NEVER HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10929554

98,616 miles · Nov 11, 2016

Engine

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THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND STARTED SMOKING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND BE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAD 98,616 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT GREAT COST AND INCONVENIENCE! GM ISSUED A BULLETIN FOR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET CRUZE (2011-2014) AND SONIC (2012-2014). IT IS BULLETIN NO.: 14371B. I CALLED GM TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT THEY SAY NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE IS NO BULLETIN OR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI #10925496

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

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MY SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY COULDN'T DUPRIVATE THE ISSUE. $240. PROBLEM CAME BK THE NEXT DAY. TOOK MY CAR BK TO SHOP WITH LIGHT ON AND THEY SAID I NEEDED AN ENGINE FLUSH. 180.00. PROBLEM STILL CAME BACK.TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP, BC I FELT I WAS GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AFTER BEING CHARGED 180.00 JUST FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THIS SHOP CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND CHECKED WIRES. 100.00. PROBLEM CAME BACK. GOT IN TOUCH W GM. NO RECALL. NO ASSISTANCE UNTIL I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND FINALLY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW MOTOR! IT'S A 2011, WITH 110K MILES AND I NEED A NEW MOTOR?? THAT IT WOULD BE 4000.00 I LEFT WITH MY CAR, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY JUST LAYING AROUND IN HOPES THAT IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. DRIVING A CAR THAT SCARES ME BC THE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY FLASHING AT ME ALL OF THE TIME NOW, CAR SPUTTERING OUT WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS OR IDLE, CO ENGINE FLASHING, AND MY CAR ACTING LIKE IT'S GONNA DIE ANY MINUTE! NOT TO MENTION THE GAS IT'S CONSUMING ON TOP OF THE ALMOST 700 I'M ALREADY OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND QUITE DISHEARTENING TO BUT A CAR FROM CHEVROLET, IT ONLY BE 5 YRS OLD AND HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES WITH NO RESOLVE. SEEING ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #10884941

72,542 miles · May 11, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE MOTOR STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION DISPLAY WOULD FLASH, "ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAG LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON". THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE, IT CAN SOMETIMES GO WEEKS/MONTHS WITHOUT ISSUES, BUT THEN OUT OF NOWHERE IT WILL START HAPPENING AGAIN. SOMETIMES SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, WAITING A FEW MOMENTS, AND RESTARTING WOULD USUALLY GET IT RUNNING CORRECTLY AGAIN. HOWEVER, OTHER TIMES IT WILL REMAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND STAYING LONGER AS TIME GOES ON. WHEN I STARTED SEEING THE ISSUE I LOOKED UP ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE WERE SEEING SIMILAR ISSUES AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL CAR HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN ISSUES STARTED AT 50K MILES AND UP, BUT MINE STARTED DOING THIS AT APPROXIMATELY 72K MILES. THIS ISSUE HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. HERE ARE SOME OF THE WEBSITES AT WHICH I FOUND PEOPLE SHARING THEIR STORIES OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. [XXX] I HAVE INCLUDED A COUPLE OF IMAGES OF A COUPLE OF THE DASH MESSAGES PLEASE HELP THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED 05/07/2016 BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A YEAR OR TWO, IT STARTED AT 72542 MILES BUT MOST RECENT HAPPENED AT APPROXIMATELY 92K THANK YOU *TR 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). *CC

NHTSA ODI #10864361

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)