Electrical System. Review the 375 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 204 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports10 fire reports22 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

375 reports

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89,000 miles · May 12, 2017

Electrical System

THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE (GCM) NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CAUSING A GRADUAL LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF MODULE THAT IS CAUSING LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10985138

89,000 miles · Apr 25, 2017

Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

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I HAVE A 13 MALIBU LTZ BUT AS I'M DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND COMES BACK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING. I HAD IT SENT TO A SHOP THEY DIAGNOSED IT BUT FOUND NOTHING SAID THE KEY WAS POSSIBLY A PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT A NEW KEY SO FOR A MONTH OR SO THE ISSUE WAS FINE. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND AS I HAVE MY BLINKERS ON I'M GETTING READY TO TURN AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN.. I'M IN 5PM TRAFFIC THIS IS SCARY BUT AS THE CAR SHUT OFF THE WHEEL LOCK IT CUTS RIGHT BACK ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY BATTERY SINCE IT WASN'T CHANGED IN AWHILE SO I HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE CAR WAS FINE NOW TWO MONTHS LATER IT DID IT ALL OVER AGAIN.. I'M GETTING READY TO TURN AND AGAIN EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THEN CUTS BACK ON. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED I PAY A CAR NOTE AND INSURANCE AND I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED.. THERE ARE SOOOO MANY COMPLAINTS I JUST WISH IT WOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHEN THERE ARE OTHER CARS AROUND. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT BUT IT'S MY ONLY CAR AND I'M PAYING NOTES ON IT. IF I HAD THE MONEY TO TRADE IT IN I WOULD!! THIS ALL HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET WHEN THERE'S CARS AND TRAFFIC .. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING BUT MOSTLY EVERY TIME WHEN I'M TURNING. EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF THE WHOLE CAR IT'S SCARY.

NHTSA ODI #10980565

106,000 miles · Apr 17, 2017

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY AND POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE A JUMP START WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER'S FOR MORE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10978774

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2017

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

SINCE 2015 CAR HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE SPEED PROBLEMS, WIRING ISSUES AND EVERY 5-6 MONTHS THE CAR IS IN A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY ITS FIXED BUT THEN ITS BACK IN THE SHOP

NHTSA ODI #10978704

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2017

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THERE WAS NO AIR BAG RECALL TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE AIR BAG, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10972217

32,600 miles · Apr 3, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

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CAR BOUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS USED WITH 28K MILES IN NOV 2014. IN MARCH 2015, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK WHILE TURNING. MEANWHILE, THE SCREEN AND THE RADIO RESTARTS. THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAPPENS UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMIT TO WHEN PARKING, CRUISING ON THE NEIGHBOURHOOD (SPEED BELOW 30 MPH), CHANGE LANES IN HIGHWAYS (SPEED AROUND 50 MPH), AND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY PARKED WITHOUT MOTION. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2015 FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS UNTIL LAST WEEK (MARCH 2017), THE DEALERSHIP REPLIED "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE" EVERY SINGLE TIME. IN THE RECENT SEVERAL TIMES OF ME VISITING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLES (WITH A CHARGE FOR $750), AND THE FUSE BOX (WITH A CHARGE OF $108), BUT STILL, THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER ENDS UP WITH THE ROUTINE REPLY OF "CAN NOT DUPLICATE" BUT THEY DID ADMIT THAT THERE IS INDEED AN ISSUE SINCE I SHOWED THEM A VIDEO I RECORDED WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENS. THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME WHEN I TRIED TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL (TO MAKE TURNING WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING OF COURSE), BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN. THAT IS WHY I AM STILL DRIVING IT AFTER TWO YEARS SINCE UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS MY ONLY CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL ONLY LOCKS WHILE TURNING. IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND A LETHAL ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE GM OFFERED ME A COUPON FOR SOME CREDIT TO BE APPLIED TO MY NEXT PURCHASE OF A NEW GM CAR BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS A SOLUTION I CAN ACCEPT. I AM ATTACHING SOME OF THE SERVICE HISTORIES TO SUPPORT MY STATEMENT. THERE ARE MORE BUT I CAN ONLY UPLOAD 5.

NHTSA ODI #10970389

97,000 miles · Mar 31, 2017

Air BagsElectrical System

THIS WILL BE SECOND TIME OCURRING WITHIN TWO MONTHS..WHILE DRIVING PANEL LIGHTS UP RADIO TURNS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHEN EVERYTHIGN ELSE TURNED OFF.. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE AIRBAG MODULE..REPLACED IT AND A MONTH LATER SAME THING HAPPENED... BACK AT DEALERSHIP TODAY

NHTSA ODI #10969731

80,000 miles · Feb 24, 2017

Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING AND GOING TO CHANGE LANES, I TURN ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING, THE DASH GAUGES FLICKER AND THE RADIO CUTS OUT AND SOMETIMES THE MOTOR CUTS OFF. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN SITTING STILL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BOUNCE IF TURNING ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. I HAVE SEEN MANY OF TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10956855

85,200 miles · Feb 14, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

TURNING LEFT INTO MY DRIVEWAY, (LUCKILY NOT GOING VERY FAST) THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW AND THEN THE SCREEN PROMPTED TO "SERVICE POWER STEERING". CHECKED FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS FINE. READ THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY CHILDREN COULD GET HURT! AND I PAID TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS …

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NHTSA ODI #10954554

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2017

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SUBWOOFER WAS DRAINING THE POWER. THE MANUFACTURER …

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NHTSA ODI #10946322

Official recalls

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 22, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

21V633000 · Suspension:rear

Aug 12, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 21, 2020

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

15V245000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Apr 24, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position the driver intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the transmission gear selection control module, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12162.

15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 23, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.

13V566000 · Electrical System:wiring; Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 13, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Consequence: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.

Electrical System:wiring

13V024000 · Suspension:rear

Jan 23, 2013

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and retighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notifications have already begun and will be completed shortly. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

12V224000 · Electrical System:software

May 18, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS DURING AN AGGRESSIVE TURNING MANEUVER, AND THEN AFTERWARDS A POTENTIAL VEHICLE ROLLOVER EVENT IS SENSED, THE ROOF RAIL AIRBAG MAY UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS AND/OR SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A SEVERE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2012.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.