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

Visibility/wiper complaints

8 reports

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Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2025

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

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Headlight wiring harness connector has melted multiple times leaving me without low beam headlights while driving at night with my children in the car. This has left me having to use my high beams to drive and this poses as a safety hazard for not only me and my family but other people on the road. This also poses a fire hazard if the plastic connector is getting hot enoughto melt. I have requested warranty replacements for this part through AC Delco and made them aware of the on going problem and informed them that this is a well known issue with this car and that it is extremely dangerous. I have not had the part inspected by a mechanic, insurance company or law enforcement but have the failed part and would be willing to have it inspected by law enforcement or anyone else but can not afford out of pocket expenses to do so. There was no prior warning to this happening any of the times it happened it would be working when I left my house I would stop somewhere turn the car off and when I got back in and started the car they wouldn't turn on. Another time they quit working while driving down the road. The date below is the date that I ordered the first replacement wiring harness it lasted less than 3 months and i had to have it replaced and currently I am dealing with not having low beams again this is the 3rd time I have dealt with this issue and it has been on going since January 2025.

NHTSA ODI #11699889

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2023

Visibility/wiper

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Sudden and complete loss of windshield wipers while on the interstate in a intense rain storm. Driving the vehicle became impossible and stopping on the shoulder was dangerous because other drivers were dealing with poor vision because of the intense rain and came close to hitting me several times. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. My research found that this is not an isolated problem as multiple years and models (vans as well cars) are affected. The cause of the failure was caused by failure of the windshield wiper transmission, linkage and bushing that a part of or attached thereto.

NHTSA ODI #11511339

175,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018

Visibility/wiper

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WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION HAS QUIT 2 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS. THE WIPER ARMS CAN BE MOVED BY HAND WITH NO RESISTANCE. BOTH TIMES IN HEAVY RAIN GOING OVER 55MPH IN THE DARK LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO SEE THE ROAD. I HAD TO STOP QUICK TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. 1ST TIME WAS 12/3/15 THIS TIME WAS 8/17/18. I HAD IT FIXED A GM DEALER THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE CLOSE FOR $366 THE FIRST TIME-NOW AGAIN???? THE EQUINOX HAD A RECALL ON THIS I WAS TOLD. ITS CRAZY THE MALIBU WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #11121072

145,000 miles · Feb 8, 2018

Visibility/wiper

ON MY WIPER SYSTEM I WAS TRAVELING IN A RAINSTORM AND THE WIPER TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY AT THE PIECE ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR HALTING THE WIPER ASSEMBLY FROM CLEARING THE WINDOW THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH DO TO LACK OF VISIBILITY .THIS OCCURRED ON 2/7/2017 . VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PAR…

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NHTSA ODI #11071745

81,875 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Visibility/wiper

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I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-95 IN THE RIGHT LANE AND PRIOR TO PASSING THE PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE THEY WERE IN USE. I WAS PETRIFIED BECAUSE WATER WAS ACCUMULATING RAPIDLY ON TO MY WINDSHIELD AND THE MOTORIST WHOM WERE PASSING ME INCREASED THE DANGER TEN FOLD BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLES WERE SPLASHING WATER ON TO MY WINDSHIELD AS WELL. MY VISIBILITY WENT DOWN TO ABOUT TEN PERCENT; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE PASSING MOTORIST THAT QUICKLY DECREASED TO ZERO MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. FURTHERMORE, DURING THE FRIGHTENING INCIDENT I KEPT MY COMPOSURE AND SLOWED DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE UNTIL I COULD PROCEED TO THE SHOULDER. FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT MY CONFIDENCE IN AMERICAN AUTOMOBILES HAS VANISHED AND AS A RESULT I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE AMERICAN MANUFACTURED AUTOMOBILES IN THE FUTURE. MOREOVER, FOR THOSE WHOM MIGHT BE WONDERING I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU IT HAD A LITTLE LESS THAN 82,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND NO THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE WIPERS TO CAUSE THEM TO FAIL AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691828

87,200 miles · May 3, 2014

Visibility/wiper

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I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-95 IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAILED. FORTUNATELY, BOTH THE RAIN AND TRAFFIC WERE RELATIVELY LIGHT AND I HAD SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT INTERCHANGE. HAD IT HAPPENED ONE DAY LATER DURING THE HEAVY RAIN, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF THE WIPER LINKAGE DETACHING ITSELF FROM THE WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC BALL JOINT TYPE CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586375

46,000 miles · Apr 16, 2014

Visibility/wiper

WIPER SYSTEM FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. NEITHER WIPER BLADE MOVED. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PART COST $135 FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER PLUS $150 LABOR TO INSTALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY WARNING SUCH AS SLIPPAGE SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO SEE ENOU…

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NHTSA ODI #10583043

12,000 miles · Jul 11, 2012

Visibility/wiper

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH AND HER VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHEN THE CONDITIONS OUTSIDE WERE CLOUDY. THERE WAS A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10465191

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)