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

What owners actually said

977 reports

40,500 miles · Jan 28, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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THIS IS AN UPDATE ON NHTSA COMPLAINT #11144041. I BROUGHT IT TO DEALER EARLY NOVEMBER 2018, BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THERE WERE NO CODES. LAST WEEK TUESDAY(1/22/19), IT HAPPENED AGAIN(REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ESC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT) WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME SLOWING DOWN FROM 45 MPH TO STOP AT LIGHT , I HAD MY HUSBAND BRING IT IN TO CHECK CODES WHEN DEALERSHIP OPENED. THEY REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND PUT A NEW PIGTAIL ON THROTTLE BODY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON SATURDAY (1/26/19)WHEN I WAS 4 MILES FROM HOME ON A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH. I DROVE IT THE LAST TWO MILES TO WORK W/ HAZARD LIGHT ON AND SLOWLY AS I COULD ONLY GET SPEED UP TO 25-30 MPH. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN OFF AND RESTART CAR TO "RESET" TO NORMAL. TODAY THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD ONE IN 7 MONTHS AT A COST OF OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT ANY OTHER OPTIONS UNTIL IT HAS CLEARED THIS CODE. SEEMS TO ME, THERE MUST BE A WIRE, FUSE OR SOMETHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WRONG THAT KEEPS TRIPPING THIS CODE. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF ALL WORK DONE TO DATE.

NHTSA ODI #11172602

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2019

Steering

ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING IS FAILING. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT TIMES AND OTHER TIMES THE WHEEL CAN'T BE TURNED. NOTICED THIS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TRYING TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE.

NHTSA ODI #11172251

110,000 miles · Jan 22, 2019

Steering

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM. OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS, ROADS, WEATHER, ETC.

NHTSA ODI #11171405

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2019

Exterior Lighting

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THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND THE CONNECTOR ONCE. THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. ALL THIS WITHIN ABOUT 9 MONTHS. NOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE GOES ON AND OFF AND THE DRIVERS SIDE IS OFF. THIS HAS BECOME A NUISANCE. THE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS TO BE REMOVED OR PULLED OUT TO GET TO THE LIGHTS. IT'S TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY. NOW I HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO FIX THESE ISSUES AGAIN. IT'S A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN INCLINATE WEATHER AND THE LIGHTS GO OUT? PLEASE ADVISE THAT CHEVY ANNOUNCE A RECALL. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11171130

107,000 miles · Jan 15, 2019

Seat Belts

107,000 MILES SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT SENSE SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED. SEAT BELT ALARM CHIMES WITH BELT BUCKLED. DEALER SAYS PART IS NOT COVERED BY SPECIAL CAMPAIGN. THERE WAS A RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO FOR SEAT BELT ISSUE AND I THOUGHT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11170152

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2019

Seats

DRIVER FRONT SEAT TRACK CRACKED AT WELD SPOT, SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT. ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS AND APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD MANUFACTURE DEFECT. COST TO REPAIR IS $1200 THROUGH A DEALERSHIP FOR A WHOLE NEW SEAT FRAME. UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11169995

60,000 miles · Jan 14, 2019

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND LOCATED DIAGNOSTIC CODE NUMBER: P2135. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE PERFORMED AT DAVE GILL CHEVROLET (4700 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43213, (614) 364-4376) ON JANUARY 15, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11169916

77,400 miles · Jan 11, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

CAR SHUT OFF AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE, IT WOULDN'T START AND SAID SERVICE ESC

NHTSA ODI #11166417

149,500 miles · Jan 9, 2019

Steering

STEERING WHEELS SHAKES WHILE PARKED BY ITSELF

NHTSA ODI #11166096

106,000 miles · Jan 8, 2019

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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WELL FIRST I SEEN THAT MY DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS OUT THEN LATER IT WENT ON THEN AGAIN IT WENT OUT AGAIN SO I REPAIRED IT THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN THEN I FIX IT AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN ITS A ON GOING THING AS I SEE ONLINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME.I HOPE THEY CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS TO FIX ,IT NOT RIGHT FOR ME TO KEEP BUYING HEADLIGHTS ,AS CLEARLY AS WE CAN SEE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME THING GOING ON WITH THERE HEADLIGHT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11165816

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)