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 And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports

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113,000 miles · Jan 8, 2025

Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

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The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the temperature gauge began to indicate the vehicle was overheating after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the oil pan gasket; resulting in damage to the engine, and ABS control module resulting in the air bag warning light. The contact was informed that the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who again diagnosed a failure with the oil pan gasket. The vehicle was repaired, but again the failure occurred for the third time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #11634893

100,000 miles · Dec 10, 2018

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN HALF AND CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HIMSELF. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11157297

123,000 miles · Dec 20, 2016

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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AT FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN TRYING TO START, HAPPENED WHEN USING KEY IN IGNITION AS WELL AS USING THE REMOTE STARTER, THIS WAS RANDOM. WOULD RUN FINE FOR DAYS, SOMETIMES FOR A WEEK, THEN IT WON'T START. ALSO AS THE WEEKS WENT BY WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR JUST QUITS RUNNING, COULDN'T GET IT STARTED, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT STARTS (THANKFULLY). ALSO HAPPENED WHILE IN PARK, CAR JUST STOPS. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL NOT ACCELERATE, PRESS ON GAS PEDAL...NOTHING. UNTIL TODAY AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FEW WEEKS AGO, STATED IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR ($120.00), THEREFORE WE REPLACED BOTH SENSORS. NO CHANGE! OH WE ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR SENSOR IN THE BACK. HUSBAND READ SOMEONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECOMMENDED HITTING THE BOX IN THE TRUNK (WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR IS, ETC) AND YOUR CAR WILL START UP. SURE ENOUGH, THE NEXT TIME MY CAR WOULDN'T START, I HIT THAT BOX A FEW TIMES, AND CAR STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936523

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)