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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59,250 miles · Jan 22, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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30 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, IN RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 32 DEGREES, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING GOOD UNTIL I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED (REDUCED ENGINE POWER). I LATER LEFT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I THEN RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE (SERVICE ESC) AND LATER AGAIN RECEIVED THE (REDUCED ENGINE POWER) WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS SNOWING DURING THIS TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO FULLY ACCELERATE BUT IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATION WAS NOT RUNNING WELL. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE/ CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO RESOLUTION; EVEN AFTER TAKING TO DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS. GM NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVER A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10821801

79,000 miles · Jan 21, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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MY 2011 MALIBU WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THROUGH A SENSOR CODE FOR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THE FIRST STATING REDUCED ENGJNE POWER, THEN SERVICE ES, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE AIRBAGS ETC... PROBABLY 8 CODES. AT WHICH POINT ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE ABOVE 40MPH CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. THE CAR WAS JERKING AND SHAKING AND THE RPM WAS REVING UP BETWEEN 500 AND 1500 EVEN AFTER I STOPPED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FEARING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND CALLED MYHUSBAND. HE ASKED ME TURN IT ON AGAIN SO I DID AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOW IDLING NORMALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. HE SUGGESTED I CONTINUE MY COMMUTE. I PULLED BACK ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM 7 YIMES BETWEEN JACKSON MI AND LANSING MI. WE TOOK IT IN TO A REPAIRSHOPAND THEY ASSESSEDWHAT THEY COULD STATING THAT IT APPEARED TO BE A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT APART TO LOOK AT IT. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATEDTHAT MANY OF THE CHEVY MADE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THEREHAD NOT YET BEEN A RECALL ON THE PART.

NHTSA ODI #10821367

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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THE VIOLENTLY SHAKES ALMOST AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO DIE. IT DOESN'T GO OVER 23-30 MPH. THE CAR ACCELERATES WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKES. A MESSAGE DISPLAYS SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCING, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE STREET AND HIGHWAY. I'M SCARED OF HITTING SOMEONE WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE! MY CAR IS AT 103K MILES ON IT. I'M OUT OF A CAR THAT I'M PAYING A NOTE ON. ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR A WHILE YEAR YET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. THE CODE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS C0242. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! MANY CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING OR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #10820573

80,697 miles · Jan 11, 2016

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SOME TIME. IN ADDITION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,697.

NHTSA ODI #10819298

55,100 miles · Jan 9, 2016

Engine

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WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE, (STATIONARY) IT DOES A REVVING THING LIKE WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDLA IS NOT BEING PUSHED. AT THE SAME TIME THAT IS HAPPENING THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT GET VERY BRIGHT AND THEN VERY LOW. I NOTICED WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. EVEN AFTER VEHICLE IS RUNNING FOR A WHILE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL DOES NOT MOVE AND THE VEHICLE RUNS HARDER AND LOUDER WITH A SLIGHT SHAKING. RECENTLY I DROVE FOR HOURS BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MOVED. ALSO WHEN IT DID THIS RECENTLY THE HEAT AND DEFROST DID NOT WORK WELL. MY VEHICLE HAS 55,100 MILES ON IT. WHEN I ASKED A MECHANIC ABOUT THIS THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BEHAVE IN THIS MANNER. I GOT MY VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2015 AND A MONTH OR SO LATER IT STARTED DOING THESE THINGS. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME BUT AS OF LATELY ITS DOING MORE FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #10819148

170,000 miles · Jan 7, 2016

Engine

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2011 MALIBU HAS BEEN LOSING ENGINE POWER SHOWING "SERVICE ESC" ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SOMETHING ABOUT TRACTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 8 TIMES TWICE THIS WEEK ON JAN. 5TH 2016. THE SECOND TIME I CAME SO CLOSE TO A CRASH TO START TO WHAT NOT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IN ALL SITUATIONS I WAS ON A HIGHWAY DOING OVER 60 MPH AND IN MOST CASES LETTING OFF THE GAS. I HAD A WIRE CONNECTOR TO THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED THIS SPRING FOR $200 AT A DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK THIS FALL. I HAVE HAD CODES ABOUT THE CAM SENSOR (REPLACED) THEN THE CAM ACTUATORS (BOTH REPLACED). NOW I AM TOLD IT COULD BE THE TIMING CHAIN ADJUSTABLE SPROCKETS STICKING FROM JUNK FROM THE CHAIN GUIDES. THERE WAS SOME METAL BITS ON THE CAM ACTUATORATOR WHEN I REPLACED IT. AT $1400 (CHAINS, GUIDES, SPROCKETS) I WILL DO IT TOMORROW MYSELF FOR $400 IN PARTS JUST TO SEE WHAT IS UP MYSELF. I SELL AUTO SHOP SUPPLIES AND WAS A TECH. YEARS AGO SO I CAN DO IT MYSELF WITH A HAYNES MANUAL. THIS IS A COMMON VARY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM JUST AS BAD AS THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH RECALL. FIX IT NOW GM. CAN ANYONE SAY LAWSUIT, SOMEBODY HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10818658

123,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE ESC LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10818458

80,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016

Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN COLD WEATHER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V…

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NHTSA ODI #10818370

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED., BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE GM, THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED, WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS STRANDED, DUE TO LOOSING ENGINE POWER. THE DEALER RE…

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NHTSA ODI #10693508

40,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015

EngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ESC, CHECK ENGINE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10806301

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)