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

Power Train complaints

112 reports

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70,000 miles · Oct 11, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL JUST STOP MOVING FORWARD ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. WE HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR POWER STEERING / ESC COME ON AND THE CHIMES RING 3 TIMES. UPON STOPPING THE CAR, IF THE ENGINE REMAINS OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THEN THE CAR WILL START BACK UP AND RUN NORMALLY FOR UP TO 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IN ST. LOUIS 4 TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF PARTS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING BUT THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE. WE ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CLEANED THE CABLES WITH NO RESULTS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. WE CANNOT BELIEVE OUR 2011 MALIBU IS THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11267965

82,555 miles · Aug 6, 2019

Power Train

I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, REV LOUDLY, AND SEEMED TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR WHILE ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR. I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD STOP, AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, BUT THIS GEAR DID NOT WORK. I HAD IT TOWED AND MY MECHANIC SAID …

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NHTSA ODI #11242030

81,000 miles · Jul 9, 2019

Power Train

81K MILES ON VEHICLE. DRIVING AT RESIDENTIAL SPEEDS (~ 30 MPH), VEHICLE STARTED SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTING, ENGINE REVVING, THEN REFUSING TO GET OUT OF 1ST GEAR. I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR CROWDED CITY STREET!

NHTSA ODI #11230360

105,000 miles · Jul 7, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I RECENTLY OBTAINED MY 2011 MALIBU LT FROM SUPERIOR AUTO IN BEDFORD, IN. IT IS A TRULY OUTSTANDING MACHINE. I WAS PLEASED WITH THE ENTIRE ECOTEC 2.4 ENGINE AND FUEL ECONOMY. THE DRIVETRAIN IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT TOPIC. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING THE NEW PUSH BUTTON SHIFT SETUP. IT WAS SMOOTH FOR THE FIRST 3 WEEKS OR SO. OH BY THE WAY IT BARELY TURNED 105,000 ON THE ODOMETER. IT STARTED WITH 3RD SHIFTING LATE AND HARD. THEN IT WAS REVERSE NOT CATCHING ONCE SHIFTER WAS ENGAGED, MAKING ME USE MY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT COMPLETELY STOPPED PULLING FORWARD OR REVERSE. INITIALLY I ASSUMED TRANSMISSION JUST BURNED OUT. WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING, TRYING AGAIN AND IT ENGAGED GEAR. IT WAS ULTIMATELY SHORT LIVED, ONCE TRANSMISSION WARMS IT STARTS TO FAIL COMPLETELY. I'M VERY DISGRUNTLED AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE CAR COMPANY I WAS RAISED ON. AS WELL AS MY FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS. NOT TO MENTION, THIS MY VERY FIRST CHEVY BUYING ON MY OWN. PLEASE RETURN MY CONCERNS PLEASE. I PURCHASED THE MALIBU FROM A LOCAL BUY HERE PAY HERE. THIS LEAVES ME ON A MOST AGGRAVATED NOTE, DUE TO ME BEING ABSOLUTELY HUSTLED INTO PAYING FOR A OPERATIONALESS MOTOR VEHICLE FROM WHAT I ONCE THOUGHT WAS 2ND TO NONE, CHEVROLET AND GM IN GENERAL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL MOST DEFINITELY NEVER BUY THIS BRAND AGAIN, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY OF 80+ YEARS OF BUSINESS. GM, HAS LOWERED ITSELF TO AN ALL TIME LOW! PLEASE RETURN MY SUBMISSION ASAP. I NEED TRANSPORTATION FOR MY UNION CAREER I DRIVE A VERY LARGE AMOUNT FOR AS WELL. MINDS BLOWN BY THE UTTER LAZINESS OF THIS MASSIVE AUTO TITAN. DISGUSTED!!

NHTSA ODI #11229858

115,426 miles · May 14, 2019

Power Train

ONLY 115K MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS OUT, THIS CAR GETS ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, REVERSE WON'T ENGAGE AND TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISES IN FORWARD. HELP PLEASE

NHTSA ODI #11207522

80,000 miles · Apr 16, 2019

Power Train

TAKATA RECALL*** AT 80000 MILES I WAS DRIVING AND THEN MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE TRIED REVERSE WITH NO LUCK ENDED UP HAVING TO CALL TOW COMPANY TO GET ME OUT OF TRAFFIC WITH ALMOST BEING HIT SEVERAL TIMES . WITH RESEARCH FOUND OUT THIS IS COMMON AND GM REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM WITCH IS NOT RIGHT SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING…

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NHTSA ODI #11196774

97,645 miles · Mar 13, 2019

Power Train

TAKATA RECALL WE WERE IN MOTION GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST STOP, WE PUT IT IN REVERSE IT MOVED WHEN WE PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE WOULD NOT MOVE.THE CAR IS NINE YRS OLD I WAS SCARE TO DEATH.

NHTSA ODI #11186646

87,700 miles · Feb 17, 2019

Power Train

TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (TCM) FAILED AT 87,700 MILES. PART HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED.

NHTSA ODI #11180698

81,180 miles · Feb 16, 2019

Power Train

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THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN 2016 AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND WOULD NOT COMPLETELY STAY ON TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY AND WHEN IT WOULD COME ON IT KEPT SAYING IT WAS DIFFERENT SENSORS. AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL SENSORS THAT WERE DIAGNOSED TO BE INCORRECT AND CHANGING SPARK PLUGS AND ALL FILTERS AND FLUSHING SEVERAL PARTS OUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS IT DID IN THE PAST AND SEEMED TO BE SHIFTING DIFFERENTLY. THE CAR PROGRESSIVELY KEPT GETTING WORSE AND LOOSING POWER AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I HAD TAKEN IT TO 3 MECHANICS IN THE NASHVILLE AREA AND EACH OF THEM COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM ALSO BUT ALL HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE ISSUE AND HAD RELAYED THAT THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN FROM PREVIOUS CLIENTS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER BECAUSE IT HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND I WOULD BE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE UNTIL CATCHING AND IT WOULD SIT THERE IDLING AND ALMOST STALL OUT AND THEN AFTER 60-160 SECONDS THE VEHICLE WOULD FINALLY CATCH AND TAKE OFF. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE REALLY NEEDED TO SHIFT IT TENDED TO JUST SIT AND IDLE UNTIL THE CHAIN CAUGHT EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDED TO WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CHAIN WAS MISSING IN CERTAIN SPOTS SO ONCE IT FINALLY CAUGHT THE CORRECT SPOT IT WOULD TAKE OFF BUT MADE IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU NEVER KNEW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO CATCH ON AND TAKE OFF OR IF IT WAS GOING TO COMPLETELY BREAK AT SOME POINT AND JUST NOT MOVE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE ALSO DID NOT WANT TO START KEPT ROLLING OVER MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO CHEVY TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11180471

85,000 miles · Oct 20, 2018

Power Train

BROKEN PART IN TRANSMISSION THAT CLOGGED THE FILTER. CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 85,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF SINCE THE DAY PURCHASED NEW ON 10/23/2010. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT QUIT MOVING. WAS STILL RUNNING BUT I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI #11141585

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)