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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110,000 miles · Jan 7, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONING STILL FUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10818712

97,000 miles · Dec 23, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10811896

80,400 miles · Dec 7, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT LAST WEEK, GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY ENGINE CUT OFF. I HAD TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, AND STARTED IT BACK UP. DROVE ANOTHER HALF MILE OR SO, AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. THIS TIME, THE CAR WOULD START THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. CAR WOULD NOT STAY CRANKED FOR MORE THAN 1 SECOND OR SO. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING, CAR FIXED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE VERY NEXT , DAY, ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP, HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS NOW, STILL CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, EVERY TIME I HAVE REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CANNOT FIX MY ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER, I HAVE INVOLVED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE, AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM A GM CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10808703

58,800 miles · Oct 28, 2015

Air BagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE SERVICE AIR BAGS SOON WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR …

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NHTSA ODI #10786778

60,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

POWER ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, REDUCED POWER TO ENGINE, AND TIRE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. CAR WAS HESITATING AND CUTTING OFF AND ONCE PLACED IN DRIVE CAR TOOK OFF BY ITSELF WITH RPMS AT 3 AND SAME WITH REVERSE, I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR TOOK OFF IN REVERSE WITH RPMS A BIT OVER 2. AIR CONDITIONING WILL …

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NHTSA ODI #10786218

37,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A CODE READ ENGINE POWER REDUCED SERVICE ESC. MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED TO SEE IF I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING OKAY NOW SO WE HEA…

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NHTSA ODI #10763442

56,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TUNED UP THE ENGINE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO MONITOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #10760657

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2015

EngineSeat Belts

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP FLASHED NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALSO THAT AT TIMES IT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) AND STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10746848

59,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015

EngineInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE HOOD COLLAPSED AND FOLDED IN TWO WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE, THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HAND, EYE AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/26/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10690551

46,994 miles · Feb 5, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,994.

NHTSA ODI #10681547

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)