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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

87 reports

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79,218 miles · May 10, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I SUDDENLY FELT A LIGHT JERKING SENSATION. THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY CAME ON. THE VEHICLE JERKED TO A STOP. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE GONE. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP. THE CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. THE CAR DID WELL FOR A LITTLE OVER A WEEK. NOW THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND CODES FOR A FUEL INJECTION FAILURE BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO "DUPLICATE" THE CODES SO NO REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THAT. THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS. IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK I WOULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AS I AM A LONG DISTANCE COMMUTER. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE AND RECALLS COMPLETED SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. DANGEROUS!! I'M HOPEFUL THAT OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REMEDY THE ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES.

NHTSA ODI #10715523

60,000 miles · Mar 24, 2015

StructureVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PIECE OF PLASTIC DETACHED FROM THE MIDDLE CONSOLE AND COVERED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10701327

62,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUF…

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NHTSA ODI #10692915

50,987 miles · Mar 1, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

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ON MY WAY TO WORK, I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CAR GOT ME TO WORK FINE. CHECKED GAS CAP JUST TO BE SURE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. OFF WORK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, BUT CAR RUNNING FINE. DID SOME RUNNING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME THE LIGHT WASN'T ON, SO IM THINKING MAYBE A SENOR BAD. DRIVING HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. ABOUT HALF MILE FROM MY EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON, ESC LIGHT POPS ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED FOLLOWS. THANKFULLY I MAD IT HOME. PRESSURED ON STAR FOR AN ON DEMAND DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND ITS MY THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. ITS AN 2011 MALIBU, NEXT MONTH MAKES A YEAR THAT IVE HAD IT. ALSO THE THIRD TIME ITS GOING TO THE SHOP. FIRST TIME WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THE U JOINT DISLOCATED LOST ALL POWER TO STEER, THANK GOD IT HAPPENED IN MY PARKING LOT AT HOME FRESH OFF THE HIGHWAY. CHEVY ONLY PAID HALF AND AFTER A MONTH BATTLE WITH THEM, KICKER WAS IT WAS A RECALL FOR THAT BUT MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED. SECOND TIME WAS FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION. SO DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY AND PAST FED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691306

118,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, TC AND ASC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10689948

59,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10689922

75,634 miles · Feb 17, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND JERKING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683756

73,000 miles · Feb 16, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED, LOW TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON, AND COULD GO OVER 40 MPH. WE STOPPED AND LET IT SIT FOR APPX 5 MINUTES, AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY SON HAS AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER WE WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP AND IT READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. WE REMOVED IT AND CLEANED IT WITH MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CLEANER AND REPLACED IT. AS SOON AS WE STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CAR DROVE FINE UNTIL 2-7-2015 WHERE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AT APPX 74,700 MILES. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN CIRCLEVILLE) ON 2-14-15. THEY TESTED IT AND IT SHOWED THE CODE P2135 #PIP2019 THEY CHECKED CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION & DAMAGE , BUT FOUND NOTHING. THEY RAN THE THROTTLE SWEEP TEST. IT TESTED OK. THEY CLEARED THE CODE & DROVE & COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE PARTS BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TO BRING IT IN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR EVERY DAY TO COLUMBUS OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, ON STATE HIGHWAYS. I'M SCARED THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN DURING RUSH HOUR AND SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN LIKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND OR LOSS OF LIFE TO SOMEONE. SO, DOES GM THINK PARTS COST MORE THAN A LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE?????? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683602

110,000 miles · Feb 13, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE APPEARED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANU…

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NHTSA ODI #10683176

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. *MW THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL/ THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED, WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF RECALL 14V252000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED, WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10660647

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)