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

Power Train complaints

49 reports

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13,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH HORRIBLE SHIFTING - 1ST TO 2ND IS A HARD SHIFT AND 2ND - 3RD ISN'T A WHOLE LOT BETTER. WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS WHILE COMING TO A STOP IT AGAIN SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY. THE RPM GAUGE ALSO FLARES WHEN SHIFTING DOWN. I HAVE BEEN JUTTED OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN IT DECIDES TO SLIP SHIFT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY. THE WORST PART IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING "WRONG" WITH IT OR TELL ME WHY IT DOES THIS BECAUSE THE POOR SHIFTING IS INTERMITTENT, NOT CONSTANT. NOT HAPPY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577863

1,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014

EnginePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING CAR HAVE NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTS HARD EITHER UP OR DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. ALSO CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STALL AND I CAN NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ONCE ON A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN MY CITY. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WAS PROBABLY BAD GAS AND TO PUT PREMIUM GAS IN. THIS DID NOT HELP EITHER. CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE SAME ISSUES. CALLED DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW. SAID NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WORRY ABOUT OUR SAFETY EACH TIME I DRIVE THIS CAR. HOPING THAT GM DOES SOMETHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE SOON. LOOKS LIKE WE ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576833

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2013

Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2013. IT ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE SLOWING, SUCH AS EXITING THE INTERSTATE, AS THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS, IT DOWN SHIFTS HARD. ESPECIALLY GOING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND AND THEN 1ST. IT SEEMS TO HAVE A SLIGHT DELAY WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. MORE SO WHEN YOU HAVE SLOWED AND THEN SPED BACK UP, LIKE WHEN SOMEONE IS TURNING AND YOU HAVE TO SLOW FOR THEM. THERE IS AN AWFUL NOISE IN THE DASH AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU ARE ON A GRAVEL ROAD, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DASH/STEERING COLUMN IS GOING TO FALL ONTO YOUR FEET. ITS A RATTLE TYPE SOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553578

5 miles · May 27, 2013

Power Train

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FROM DAY 1 OF PURCHASING THE 2012 CHEVY MALIBU, THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A SHIFTING PROBLEM. GEARS 1 TO 3 SEEM TO BE THE WORST (INCLUDING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION). THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS "HARD" UPON ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. ALSO ON OCCASION WHILE DRIVING I WILL BE GOING ABOUT 45MPH AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AND IT IS HESITANT LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO SO I AM FORCED TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL TO THE POINT OF A REV FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND NOTICED I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE VERY MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513672

3,128 miles · Mar 25, 2013

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3…

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NHTSA ODI #10504438

30,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

EXPERIENCING ERRATIC THROTTLE RESPONSE TIME AND HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE RESPONSE WILL BE IMMEDIATE OR DELAYED. THE INCONSISTENT DELAYS IN THE THROTTLE RESPONSE TIME POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496551

11 miles · Feb 4, 2013

Power TrainSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE AT 55 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER DID AN ALIGNMENT FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL HAD BEEN LEANING OUTWARD FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY THE ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,500. THE CONSUMER STATED FROM THE DAY SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AS TIME WENT ON, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS WOBBLY, CHOPPY AND CAREENING . IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT ROADS AND STREETS AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN AT 55 MPH AND HIGHER. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. AT TIMES, THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE. ALSO, THE SHIFTING WAS ERRATIC AND LAGGED. IT LAGGED FROM STOP SIGNS. IT OFTEN FAILED TO DOWN SHIFT TO GAIN POWER NEEDED ON HIGHWAY UPGRADES. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PASS SEMI-TRUCKS ON AN UNEVEN PAVEMENT ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, JERKED TO THE LEFT WITH ALMOST AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHIFTING AND SWAYING. IF THERE WERE CURVE , THE VEHICLE WOULD DANGEROUSLY SWING WIDE OUT INTO THE CURVES. THE STEERING WHEEL, WOULD THEN FREEZE UP AND WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND STEER SAFELY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH AND AS SHE WAS RETURNING TO THE RIGHT LANE, THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND STARTED TO STOP. SHE PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A DANGEROUS LAG BEFORE ENOUGH POWER CAME TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10496272

14,574 miles · Sep 5, 2012

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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I AM EXPERIENCING ERRATIC THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN MY 2012 MALIBU. THE INCONSISTENT DELAYS IN THROTTLE RESPONSE POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS ISSUE IS COMPOUNDED WHEN IT AFFECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR YOU DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WILL GET IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, OR DELAYED RESPONSE, NOR HOW SUDDEN THAT RESPONSE MIGHT BE TO THE EXTENT OF ALMOST LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE NOT CONSISTENT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I HAVE HAD IT SHIFT 2 GEAR DOWN, AND OTHER TIMES IT HAS NOT SHIFTED UP TO A HIGHER GEAR. WHEN BOTH ISSUES OCCUR AT ONCE IT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. THE ONLY REASON THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT IS THE OTHER DRIVERS REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND AVOID HITTING ME BY DRIVING AROUND ME ON THE SHOULDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473923

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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THIS CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ON A BUSY STREET, AND THEN WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, EVEN AFTER GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. IT, IN FACT, STARTED COASTING BACKWARDS WHEN IT WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. NO INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING. SERVICE DPT. AT DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE FEEL THAT THIS BRAND NEW CAR HAS A FAULTY COMPUTER SYSTEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE AT PRESENT, BUT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, AND NEITHER CHEVY OR GM ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY DAUGHTER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438656

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)