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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2019

EnginePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION FAILURE AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM CHEVROLET OF MADISON (1345 APPLEGATE RD, MADISON, WI 53713, (608) 271-2212) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND AN ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. IN ADDITION, A REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER SINCE JULY 16, 2019 AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,700. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A MANAGER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET SPOKEN WITH THE MANAGER. THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE A SERVICE REPAIR HISTORY FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11241350

22,000 miles · Nov 18, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BCM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/22/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10794589

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DO NOT REMEMBER WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR CAMPAIGN 14V252000 MAYBE APPROX. A YEAR AGO. THE PROBLEMS THE CAR WAS HAVING BEFORE I HAD THE RECALL DONE HAVE STARTED AGAIN. UP UNTIL NOW HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. MY DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10711849

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM/ BRAKE APPLY SENSOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAITED FOR THE DETAILS TO RESTORE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UNABLE TO WAIT ANY LONGER, HE WAS FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10666939

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DUE TO RECALL FOR VEHICLE. *TA

NHTSA ODI #10663892

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT COULD BE SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10655047

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED HIM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE CONSUMER SENT IN A RECALL NOTICE ALONG WITH HIS COMPLAINT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10651200

42,700 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,700.

NHTSA ODI #10615691

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)