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 And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports

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18,210 miles · Feb 10, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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I WAS ACCELERATING FROM THE ENTRY LANE OF A MOSTLY EMPTY (THANKFULLY) RURALHIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION" ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SERVICE ESC APPEARED ON THE DASH MONITOR.. I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT GET ABOVE 45 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO BE LOCKED INTO A GEAR LEVEL. I CONTACTED CHEY AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE. HERE'S THE PROBLEM, IF I HAD BEEN DOING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE POWER LOSS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NOT TO MENTION GETTING ME KILLED. I THINK THE FEATURE IS ENGINEERED INTO THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. A DETECTED FAULT TRIGGERS THE ACTION. INCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE, WARNING LIGHTS,ETC. THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED A PROBLEM. THE LACK OF NOTICE EXACERBATES THE DANGER.

NHTSA ODI #10382326

125 miles · Oct 15, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ IS A METALLIC RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROADS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON AUGUST 24, 2010. THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE METALLIC RATTLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON AUGUST 30, AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 17, SEPTEMBER 30 (2 DAYS) AND OCTOBER 7, 2010 BUT, TO DATE, THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME ? I HAVE NO FURTHER ACTION PLAN? AND THE MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON MY VEHICLE TOLD ME ? THE NOISE MAY BE THE NEW NORMAL FOR CHEVROLET?. THIS SAME NONCONFORMIST SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS THE USE, VALUE AND SAFETY OF MY NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPLACED PURSUANT TO THE LEMON LAW OF OHIO. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP STATED WAS UNTRUE AND WAS NEVER COMMUNICATED TO THEM. BOTH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE HEARD THE METALLIC RATTLE AND SAID IT IS UP TO CHEVROLET MOTORS DIVISION TO OFFER OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. I THINK I HAVE BEEN PATIENT LONG ENOUGH AND SINCE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360725

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)