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

What owners actually said

906 reports

65,000 miles · Jan 14, 2017

Wheels

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A LEFT FRONT FLAT TIRE IN DECEMBER 2016 (FOUR TIRES BOUGHT NEW IN MAY 2016) WAS DISCOVERED TO NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE, BUT THE FACTORY-INSTALLED, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT RIM WITH A SEAM CRACK. NOW TODAY IN JANUARY 2017, A FLAT TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE RESULT OF A SECOND BAD RIM, AGAIN ONE OF THE FOUR FACTORY-INSTALLED ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT RIMS (TWO MORE TO GO?). IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE BOTH THE RIM AND THE VALVE STEM EACH TIME. RESEARCH IS SHOWING ANOTHER COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER REPORT HAVING HAD TO REPLACE THREE RIMS SO FAR. THIS DEFINITELY APPEARS TO BE A SUPPLIER/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE PROBLEM WAS SHOWN TO ME AFTER THE RIM WITH THE TIRE ON IT HAD BEEN SUBMERGED IN WATER, AND BUBBLES FORMED AT THE DEFECTIVE AREA. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THIS WEBSITE UNTIL I GOT HOME AFTER THIS SECOND REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND STARTED MY RESEARCH. MY ONLY DOCUMENTATION ARE MY TWO REPAIR BILLS, WHICH I CAN SEND IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #10945311

135,000 miles · Jan 10, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. POWER STEERING WORKS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEN IT GOES OUT AND I GET 3 MESSAGES ON DASH BACK TO BACK POWERING STEERING / SERVICE ESC/ NO ESC. POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT ANY TIME DURING THE TRIP. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF CYCLE REPEATS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10944041

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

100,000 miles · Jan 7, 2017

Wheels

CRACK IN THE WELD AT ONE OF THE SPOKES WHERE IT IS CONNECTED TO THE WHEEL. SO FAR 3 OF THE 4 WHEELS HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #10940314

77,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016

Fuel System, GasolineFire

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WHILE TRANSPORTING SCHOOL AGED PASSENGERS IN MY CAR DURING THE HEAVY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, MY CAR STARTING DECELERATING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PRIOR WARNING SIGNS. NO ICON LIGHTS (I.E. CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, ETC.) ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM. THIS WAS SCARY. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. WE FELT THE VIOLENT VIBRATIONS AS THE ONCOMING CARS SPED PAST US ON THE INTERSTATE AS WE SAT FOR TEN MINUTES TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR. MY CAR WOULD TRY TO START, BUT IT WAS NOT GETTING THE NEED FUEL EVEN THOUGH I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS. I TRIED PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS PETAL TO ASSIST, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. EVENTUALLY, MY CAR STARTED AND WE MADE IT TO OUR DESTINATION. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MY CAR CUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A REPARABLE LICENSED MECHANIC BUSINESS, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT THROWING ANY CODES. NO REPAIR WORK COULD BE DONE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I DRIVEN IT A FEW HOURS AGO. IT DID THE SAME THING. AGAIN, NO ICONS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. AFTER IT STARTED, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOP. I HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY. MY CAR WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. MY CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN THOUGH I WAS GIVING IT FUEL. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE WAS CUT WHERE THE HOLE WAS LOCATED AND REPLACED. MY CAR WORKED FOR A WEEK BEFORE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE THE FUSE BLOCK, THE WIRE HARNESS, AND THAT A LINE HAD BURNED OVER THE FUEL PUMP OR TANK. NOT ONLY IS THIS EXPENSIVE, BUT FIRE AND GAS IS SCARY. HOPEFULLY, MY CAR WILL BE FINALLY REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937803

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

82,000 miles · Dec 19, 2016

Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FA…

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NHTSA ODI #10936166

120,000 miles · Dec 15, 2016

Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN FILLING GAS INTO TANK FLOW IS RESTRICTED TO THE POINT FUEL GUSHES OUT ONTO GROUND AND PERSON. SOME INTERNAL BLOCKAGE SLOWS ENTRY. HEARD SIMILAR FROM OTHER OWNERS. OCCURS ON EVERY FILLING. FIRE HAZZARD!

NHTSA ODI #10935531

168,195 miles · Dec 15, 2016

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,195.

NHTSA ODI #10935465

70,000 miles · Dec 9, 2016

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON SOME OCCASIONS, A JUMP START WAS REQUIRED. ADDITIONALLY, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10934133

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)