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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports

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72,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

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POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK! THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN BUTTON WILL UNLOCK THE DOORS BUT WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I CAN'T EVEN USE THE POWER LOCKS ON THE DRIVER DOOR TO LOCK THE DOORS ON THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO LEAN OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO LOCK THE DOORS THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECK THE HANDLE TO MAKE SURE MY DOORS ARE LOCKED. THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS! ALSO, THE TRUNK RELEASE WILL NOT WORK ON THE REMOTE KEY CHAIN OR IN THE CAR. I HAVE TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596642

75,000 miles · May 19, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

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AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT NIGHT, I UNLOCKED MY DOORS WITH THE KEY REMOTE AND I WENT TO REACH FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR A COUPLE TIMES AND I EVEN TRIED TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY BUT COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I FINALLY HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IN THE PAST WHEN I WENT TO SHUT MY DOOR IT WOULD JUST BOUNCE OF THE LATCH, AND I JUST ATTRIBUTED THAT TO IT NEEDED LUBRICATION. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CHEVY MALIBU FORUMS AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE. (HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-3433.HTML). THIS IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS STILL A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN. I DID A LIVE CHAT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHAT IF I WERE TO GET HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT "UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS". MEANING, I HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE INJURED FOR THEM TO REPLACE A FAULTY DOOR LATCH. THERE IS ALREADY A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE REGARDLESS. I DON'T WANT TO END UP ANOTHER STATISTIC AND HAVE MY CAR RECALLED 11 YEARS LATER WHEN IT'S TOO LATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592585

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)