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

106,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Suspension

DRIVING DURING SNOW AND ICE, ESC INDICATOR CAME ON, PUSHED THE TC AND IT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY, THE CAR GOES ONLY ABOUT 20MPH WITH JERKING MOTION, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, FLUID FROM SOMEWHERE DRAIN ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. CAR SAT STILL FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS AND STILL DID THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10683897

80,200 miles · Feb 17, 2015

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, SHOOK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,200.

NHTSA ODI #10683777

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

35,600 miles · Feb 13, 2015

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10MPH. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY CRAWL FORWARD. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. AGAIN, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AND THIS TIME THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE AS NORMAL, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND THAT NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I HAVE READ ON CHEVY FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY CAN FIND AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683390

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

55,500 miles · Feb 12, 2015

Seats

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THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT FRAME IS BROKE. UPON INSPECTION BY MYSELF, IT'S A WELD FAILURE (A MANUFACTURING DEFECT). A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT'S BROKE AND THE VERBIAGE THEY USED WAS "SEAT RISER CRACKING FREE". IN USE, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT, AND IF THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKE AND NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME/BODY IN MY MIND THIS IS A FAILED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED GENERAL MOTORS DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY ABOUT REPAIRING THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I'M THINKING THEY ARE LIABLE IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS AS WE JUST NOTICED IT WHILE IN USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683051

89,800 miles · Feb 6, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

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TWO ISSUES EXIST: 1. THE THROTTLE BODY PREMATURELY WORE OUT AND CAUSED VARIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, INSTABILITY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR SLOWED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL AND ECS INDICATORS. STEERING ALSO WAS DIFFICULT WHILE THE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. 2. THE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM/ECU) THAT IS THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS NOT COMPLETELY SEALED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INSIDE WHICH STARTED TO CORRODE THE PINS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED INSTABILITY IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10681755

119,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ODI #10681100

71,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015

Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG DISPLAY MESSAGE CAME ON. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SDM. $902 TO FIX. DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681073

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)