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

184,240 miles · Jan 2, 2019

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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TAKATA RECALL. POWER STEERING AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE BCAR WAS WARMING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT COMES AND GOES AS IT PLEASES SOMETIMES WHILE IN MOTION, SOMETIMES WHILE STATIONARY, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OR STEER. IT ALSO MAKES MY CAR FEEL AS IF THE WHEELS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF THE FRONT END. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON AND WON'T GO OFF. GUESSING IT DOESN'T WORK. PULLED SOME CODES BUT NOTHING FOR POWER STEERING, ATTACHED ARE A FEW IMAGES OF A FEW CODES THAT WERE PULLED. NOT ALL CODES.

NHTSA ODI #11164439

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2018

Exterior Lighting

MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE GOTTEN IT CHANGED 4 TIMES AND THE LAST 2 MONTHS. NO ONE KNOWS THE PROBLEM AND THE BULBS ARE NO T BURNING OUT IT JUST STOPS WORKING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME YEAR BODY AND MAKE THAT HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS ME.

NHTSA ODI #11164328

174,000 miles · Dec 31, 2018

SteeringCrash

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THE NIGHT OF 12/29/2018 ABOUT 10PM AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 45MPH I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU HOME FROM THE MOUNTAINS AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND WE ALMOST RAN OFF OF THE ROAD DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. A SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN AND BEING IN A DARK REMOTE AREA WITH NO CELL SERVICE I SLOWLY DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE REASON I HAD OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND GM IS AWARE OF THIS OBVIOUS (POTENTIAL DEADLY) SAFETY ISSUE BUT I'VE OWNED THIS CAR 6 YEARS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. A CHECK VIN OF RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE DO NOT SHOW THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A "SPECIAL COVERAGE' WHERE GM WILL REPAIR THIS STEERING PROBLEM AT NO COST BUT I WAS TOLD MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THIS 'SPECIAL COVERAGE' BECAUSE I HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT?!!!! I HAVE A CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT GM IS AWARE OF BUT BECAUSE THE CAR HAS OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT THEY WON'T REPAIR IT. I'M DISABLED WITH DIMINISHED STRENGTH AND I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT PLACING MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. GM SHOULD REPAIR MY DANGEROUS CAR AND BE PROACTIVE ENOUGH TO PREVENT AN OBVIOUS VEHICLE SAFETY RISK TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI #11164313

120,000 miles · Dec 25, 2018

Exterior Lighting

FRONT PASSENGER HEADILIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AT ANY TIME. IT'S NOT THE BULB, BUT THE CONNECTOR.

NHTSA ODI #11163377

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2018

Service Brakes

I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKES SERVICED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THEY CONTINUALLY NEED TO BE SERVICED AND THE CAR ISN'T EVEN AT 100,000 MILES YET. EVERY 6 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR, THE CAR BEGINS TO CHUG WHEN BRAKING AND SHAKING CONTINUOUSLY. THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS ARE WHAT IS FIXED MOST OFTEN.

NHTSA ODI #11163107

96,123 miles · Dec 20, 2018

Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) KEEPS GOING OUT. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET TO AND EXPENSIVE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO FIX IT. IT COMES BACK ON SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THEN GOES OUT AGAIN A DAY OR SO LATER. THE LAST ONE I REPLACED WAS I WON'T PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT FINDING OUT FIRST IF THE MINOR MAINT…

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NHTSA ODI #11162646

1 miles · Dec 19, 2018

Exterior Lighting

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2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU , A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS GOING OUT AFTER REPLACING THEM SEVERAL TIMES. JUST REPLACED THEM AGAIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ( BOTH HEAD LIGHTS ) AND THEY ARE OUT AGAIN. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BUMPER AND BOTH FENDERS OFF JUST TO GET TO THE HEAD LIGHTS. CHECKED ON-LINE AND IT APPEARS THAT NUMEROUS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT LONG DISTANCE AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE AFTER REPLACING THEM ALREADY.

NHTSA ODI #11162599

97,700 miles · Dec 18, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

UPON STARTING VEHICLE, "POWER STEERING" YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT AND THE "SERVICE ESC" LIGHT ILLUMINATE. SOMETIMES ON RESTARTING VEHICLE THEY DO NOT COME BACK ON, WHEREAS AT OTHER TIMES THEY REMAIN ON.

NHTSA ODI #11162368

160,556 miles · Dec 12, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE NORMAL DRIVING. CAR WILL GIVE THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODES: "SERVICE ESC" "SERVICE TRACTION" "ESC OFF" AND "ENGINE PWR REDUCED" BACK TO BACK. THE CAR WILL POWER ITSELF DOWN UNTIL ~10 MPH WHILE MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CAR WILL START AND ACT AS IF EVERYTHING IS FINE ONCE I PULL OVER AND FULLY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS HA…

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NHTSA ODI #11160871

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2018

Seat BeltsSeatsSuspension

I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 11/30/2018 AND NOTICED NOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS. MY CAR BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11160862

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)