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

36,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE 376 PARKWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR FLASHED SERVICE ESC ENGINE POWER REDUCED SERVICE TRACTION. THEN IS WOULDN'T DRIVE PAST 20MPH AND I COULD FEEL THE CAR PULLING ITS SELF AND SHAKING SEVERELY WHEN I WOULD BE AT STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS. THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE ITS REVVING UP LIKE A RACE CAR. SCARED ME BAD I HAD THIS CAR BRAND NEW I ACTUALLY JUST GOT IT INSPECTED LAST MONTH NO ISSUES AND ACTUALLY IS IN A GARAGE WHEN I GET HOME I TRAVEL 5 MILES DAILY TO AND FROM WORK. I'M BEING TOLD MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED BUT I SEE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL CAR AND ALSO DRIVERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691827

52,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND CAR WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE AND WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING. IT IS SNOWY CONDITIONS AND FREEZING. WE WERE NEARLY REAR ENDED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A MINUTE AND IT RAN FINE ONCE I RESTARTED. HOWEVER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN IN REDUCED POWER MODE IT GAVE A MESSAGE ABOUT THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC. ALSO, FOR ABOUT A WEEK, DASH LIGHTS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING AT TIMES. DANGEROUS AND COMMON PROBLEMS FROM WHAT I SEE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691826

99,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015

Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS VIBRATING AND TURNING ON ITS OWN WITH LITTLE OR NO INPUT. RANDOM LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL. POWER STEERING COMES BACK EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND SAME THING OCCURS. IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS TO OLDER MODELS WITH RECALL F…

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NHTSA ODI #10691730

57,378 miles · Mar 2, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO JUMP, SPUTTER AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY, WAS GOING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AS DID MANY OTHER LIGHTS. TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON BUT DID NOT START, WAITED A BIT AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR RUNNING. TOOK TO MY AUTO MECHANIC AND STATED IT WAS THE ECS AND THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE LOOKED AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING TODAY AT 70RPM WITH THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR GET OFF THE HIGHWAY PRIOR TO CAR COMPLETELY STOPPING. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WHY IS CHEVROLET WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURY OR WORST YET KILLED BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691575

64,320 miles · Mar 1, 2015

Electrical System

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I STARTED A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 64,000 MILES ON A THURSDAY EVENING AFTER WORK. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 12 HOURS. THERE WAS A WARNING MESSAGE STATING REDUCED POWER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND THEN ANOTHER MESSAGE FLASHED STATING SERVICE TRACTION. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I COULD NOT GO OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE THROTTLE BODY (POSITION SENSOR) WAS DETERMINED TO BE BAD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS ISSUES WITH THIS THROTTLE BODY SENSOR ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER CHEVROLET CUSTOMERS, BUT CHEVROLET SAID THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON IT, YET. THIS IS THE 3RD ISSUE IN 6 MONTHS I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. ONE ISSUE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WAS A BAD WATER PUMP AND THE OTHER ISSUE FROM THE LAST 6 MONTHS WAS A BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION. THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR COST OVER 30K AND HAS BEEN MAINLY USED FOR EASY HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691320

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

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2015

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE LOW ENGINE, THE POWER TRACTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE PEDAL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10690940

44,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10690514

81,000 miles · Feb 24, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

STARTED THE CAR UP. ESC AND REDUCE POWER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TODAY 2/24/2015 MAKES THE 4TH TIME IT HAS DONE THAT. TODAY AS I WAS RIDING ALONG IT DONE IT. CAR STALLS AND JUMPS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR STARTING AT 65000 MILES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690195

64,903 miles · Feb 23, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP AND THE ESC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN WEEKS OF THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED. THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,903.

NHTSA ODI #10690115

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)