Electrical System. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 202 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports13 fire reports27 injury reports

Engine complaints

99 reports

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60 miles · Jan 8, 2017

EngineService BrakesTraction Control System

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CONTROL ILLUMINATES AND THEN IT ALSO READ ENGINE POWER CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON THE HIGHWAY AND NO ISSUES. I HAD TO THEN DRIVE 30-40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE ROAD, EVEN WHEN I DROVE INTO TOWN THERE WERE CARS PASSING ME. UPHILL THE CAR WENT AS LOW AS 23 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE AT A STOP SIGN OR INTERSECTION THE CAR WOULD SHAKE BUT IT STAYED ON. AS I PUSHED ON THE GAS TO SPEED UP THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940401

130,000 miles · Nov 13, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 IN MICHIGAN DOING 75 MILES AN HOUR. SUDDENLY THAT ESC SERVICE, TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER DISPLAY SHOWING ON THE DASH. THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT IMMEDIATELY SLOWED ITSELF DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. BARELY MAKING IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHO…

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NHTSA ODI #10925640

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE SPRING FAILED OR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10916495

75,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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WHILE IN MOTION MORE THAN TWO DOZEN TIMES ON CITY STREETS, ON BUSY HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. 2012 CHEVY MALIBU STOPS WHILE IN MOTION ON THE ABOVE STATED STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS. READ WHERE SOMEONE BEAT ON THE REAR FUSE BOX THEN CAR STARTS SO I TRIED IT AND IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT DOESNT SOLVE SAID PROBLEM. CHECKED BATTERY. BATTERY IS GOOD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT STAYS ON. ESC LIGHT ONLY GOES OFF AT HIGH MPH. HAVE TO LET CAR SIT FOR AWHILE TO START BEFORE KNEW ABOUT FUSE BOX TRICK. SOMEONE THAT TRIED TO HELP ME GET OFF MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10905936

32,000 miles · Aug 3, 2016

EngineSteering

WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN ENGINE STALLED LOST POWER FOR A MOMENT THEN RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10892730

120,000 miles · May 23, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. THE CAR BEGINS TO IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGH AND LOOSES NEARLY ALL OF THE ENGINE POWER AS IF IT IS RUNNING ON 1 OR 2 CYLINDERS. THE SERVICE ESC , SERVICE TRACTION AND ENGINE PWR REDUCED NOTIFICATIONS DISPLAY ON MY DASH AS PICTURED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR TO FIND IT RUNS PERFECT AND HAS NO WARNING MESSAGES OR SYMBOLS ON. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS. I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE JUST TO FIND IT IS VERY COMMON AND NOBODY PROVIDES A FIX.. I REALLY WISH THAT I HAD NEVER PURCHASED A GM VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10870377

107,000 miles · Apr 21, 2016

EngineTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD REQUIRE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860832

80,000 miles · Mar 28, 2016

Electrical SystemEngine

CAR WILL NOT START.SON WAS DRIVING AND IT JUST STALLED OUT FORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT GOING FAST. TRIED TO RESTART BUT NO LUCK. DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MALIBU OWNERS WITH THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. AS A DAD AND A CONSUMER I WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE…

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NHTSA ODI #10852061

78,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016

Engine

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2012 CHEVY MALIBU 1ST OCCURRENCE'. PARKED BUT RUNNING THE CAR DIES AND WILL NOT START BACK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. LET THEM CAR SET FOR 20 OR SO MIN AND IT STARTED BACK WITH NO ISSUES. 2ND OCCURRENCE'. A FEW DAYS LATER WE STOPPED AT THE STORE AND CAME BACK OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. KINDA SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL WHEN YOU TRIED TO START IT. WE HAD SOMEONE PICK US UP AND WENT BACK IN AN HR OR SO AND THE CAR STARTED. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE ONLY CODE IT WAS THROWING WAS LOW VOLTAGE. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY. 3RD OCCURRENCE.. A WEEK LATER I USED THE FOB TO START THE CAR. WHEN I WENT OUT THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. SAME AS BEFORE JUST ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE COMPUTER WAS STILL NOT SHOWING CODES. HE REPLACED THE FUEL RELAY. 4RD OCCURRENCE.. A WEEK LATER I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND IT ACTED LIKE I WASN'T PRESSING THE FUEL PETAL AND BY THE TIME I GOT OVER TO GET TO THE SHOULDER IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I DROVE IT TO HOME DEPOT ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND CAME BACK OUT AND IT WOULD NOT START. SAME AS BEFORE. I CALLED A CO-WORKER TO PICK ME UP THEN WENT BACK A FEW HOURS LATER. IT STARTED SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP. IT DID NOT HAVE ANY CODES THROWN. HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. 5TH OCCURRENCE' 4 DAYS LATER I LEFT TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THE CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PULL OFF AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK. I HAD IT TOWED STRAIGHT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE CAR STARTED ONCE IT GOT THERE AND THE COMPUTER DIDN'T THROW ANY CODES.. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WHEN I SEARCH MY PROB ON THE WEB THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I

NHTSA ODI #10845521

58,000 miles · Jan 27, 2016

EngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND LOW ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10822515

Official recalls

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)