Electrical System Problems of Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

My car smells like something is burning yesterday after driving 60 miles. Today Saturday I turned on the car for the first time and it smelled like there is something burning on the dash board, yesterday I smelled it outside the car and today since I didn't drive much it smelled inside the car and there's a flickering sound by the front window.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. My vehicle recently displayed a “service esc” warning along with a flashing check engine light. These warnings appeared unexpectedly and have raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of my vehicle. The electronic stability control system is an important safety feature, and a flashing check engine light may indicate a serious engine malfunction. I am concerned about the possibility of experiencing reduced engine performance, loss of power, or compromised vehicle control while driving. I am also aware of reports from other Chevrolet Malibu owners describing similar warning messages and electrical or performance-related problems. I believe these issues warrant investigation to determine whether there is a recurring manufacturing defect affecting these vehicles. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate these safety concerns and determine whether a recall is necessary.

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The wiring harness in the 2008 chevy Malibu hybrid has a open ground somewhere in the wiring harness it is draining the 12 volt battery and affecting the starter and the alternator generator in the hybrid it will not let the starter engage all fuses appear to be good after checking all of them majority of the solenoids fuses relays and sensors have been replaced diagnostics test show that the wiring harness has an open ground throughout the car please call us about the open recalls that are on this car it appears to be five of them my number is [xxx] it is very important it just gets through to somebody and you give me confirmation back information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, several warning lights flashed on the instrument panel, and the contact stated that there was heat coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the electrical gauges flickered. While attempting to pull off the roadway, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed, and the brake pedal became firm. The contact stated that prior to the failure, a mechanic had discovered a minor oil leak coming from the engine. The contact called an independent mechanic who arrived at the scene and inspected the vehicle. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was driven to the residence, and the vehicle shut off upon arriving at the destination. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle several times after the failure; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 14v530000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

I was driving in town through a stoplight when I noticed my brakes stopped working. Also when I had stopped the car still in drive and the car had shut off completely in the middle of the road and was not able to turn back on. The car would keep trying start but none were successful. My car also stated that there was reduced power to the engine and the car would hesitate to gain speed as well. My safety and others were put to risk because my brakes stopped working so I could’ve caused an accident. When we trying to find what was wrong with it through a code reader we had noticed the piece had shattered inside of the engine. No insurance, police or manufacturer has inspected the issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the following morning while waiting at the school drop-off line with her foot on the brake pedal, there was an abnormal boom, and several warning lights illuminated and flashed on the instrument panel. The occupants inside the vehicle assumed that the vehicle was struck from behind. The vehicle attempted to surge and revved and started to choke and shut off. The vehicle was shifted into park and the ignition key turned to the off position. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The engine, traction control, and the radio were blinking. The vehicle was shifted to first gear but was moving slowly. The vehicle stalled and was restarted, but the failure recurred. The engine light remained illuminated, but the screen was dimmed. The vehicle was turned off. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 21-na-045. The dealer was called and a voicemail was left. The vehicle was driven to the service center and the contact waited for 20 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down and then restarted the vehicle. The gear shift indicator was not lit. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The radio started to work later. There was an abnormal hot odor. The contact was concerned about a fire. The local dealer responded and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure after the vehicle was test driven. The dealer confirmed there were no previous crash with the vehicle. There was one fault code displayed. The dealer stated that there might have been a backfire from the engine. The approximate failure mileage was 105,100.

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Beginning in late August/early September 2026, my 2024 Chevrolet Malibu rs began experiencing recurring electrical and engine performance issues. The vehicle intermittently displays an “engine power reduced” warning and check engine light. I have also experienced unexpected vehicle shutdowns and intermittent electrical malfunctions. I have taken the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership multiple times for diagnosis and repair. Despite the extended time the vehicle has spent at the dealership, the underlying problem remains unresolved. Dealership technicians have indicated that they were unable to reproduce the reported symptoms during certain inspections. As a result, the cause of the recurring malfunction has not been identified or corrected. I am concerned that the sudden reduction in engine power or unexpected vehicle shutdown could create a serious safety hazard, particularly when driving in traffic, merging onto highways, or traveling at higher speeds. A sudden loss of acceleration or engine power could prevent me from responding appropriately to traffic conditions and potentially put my safety and the safety of other motorists at risk. The specific component responsible for the malfunction is currently unknown. However, the recurring symptoms raise concerns about a possible electrical system, engine control, or power management malfunction. I am requesting that NHTSA review these recurring safety-related issues and determine whether they may represent a potential vehicle defect affecting other Chevrolet Malibu owners. I have documentation of dealership visits, service records, and communications regarding the unresolved issues. The vehicle can be made available for further inspection upon request.

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The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. The vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. After filling the fuel tank completely, I drove approximately 20 miles at most and the fuel gauge decreased by approximately one-quarter of a tank. The engine oil also has a strong gasoline odor, indicating that fuel may be entering the engine oil. The exact failed component has not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The strong raw gasoline odor and apparent rapid loss of fuel create a concern for a fuel leak and potential fire hazard. The vehicle also has difficulty starting and shuts the engine off when the automatic stop/start system activates while stopped at a traffic light. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle may not restart normally when traffic begins moving. I am concerned that the vehicle may have a fuel-system defect similar to the high-pressure fuel pump/fuel-line issue previously recalled on certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibus. No. The problem has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The symptoms have been personally observed while operating the vehicle. This was my first step as this happened at 10:30pm. No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or another official representative. I am reporting the problem because of the severity of the symptoms and the potential safety risk. There were no warning lamps or messages that I noticed before the problem occurred. The first symptoms were a very strong gasoline odor, unusually rapid fuel loss, and significant difficulty starting the vehicle. The vehicle also shuts off completely when the automatic stop/start system activates while stopped at a traffic light. These symptoms began recently.

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This complaint relates to NHTSA campaign 26v212 / gm recall n262551720, covering the rearview camera defect on 2023–2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. I own a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu. On xxx, the rearview camera began intermittently failing. On xxx, the camera failed completely while I was backing out of a space in a parking garage in [xxx]. With no rear visibility, I caused damage to the vehicle's passenger-side door handle. I contacted my dealership around xxx, and was told the camera issue was part of a known recall with a parts backorder. I received an official gm recall notification letter around xxx, confirming the camera required replacement. On xxx, my first day at a new job, I scratched the passenger side mirror against a building while attempting to parallel park without the rearview camera. On xxx, at approximately 5:15 pm, I nearly backed into a pregnant coworker's vehicle while she was seated inside it, in my employer's parking lot. I did not see her car in my path; the collision was avoided only because of her quick reaction, not mine. I have not been involved in a collision, but this defect has directly caused property damage on two occasions and a serious near-miss with another person within the past three months, all while awaiting the recall remedy. I'm submitting this report to document the real-world safety impact of this defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Power steering assist motor is out and it was under recall in 2011 but it was out of the recall window but it has less than 150000 miles.

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I was driving and all of a sudden all the warning lights start going off on my vehicle’s dashboard and the car jerks back and forth while decelerating. This has happened twice on the highway putting me in danger of crashing or making cars around me crash. On a seperate occasion my brakes failed, causing the car to jerk abruptly in traffic, thankfully I was able to pull over. Some times the car will limit my speed to below 60mph for “safety” reasons. The same set of issues have happened to me at least six different times. Every time I take it into the dealership for repair they always charge me for something new saying they finally fixed it and yet I always keep coming back for the exact same thing. This car is not safe to drive and I’ve taken it to two dealerships with two very Smart teams of people and none of them have been able to figure this out.

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The esc light came on, air conditioner fan speed went high then low and my screen flickered out momentarily. The esc light came on three more times, 10-15 seconds each time with no lights remaining on after and no other changes. The next time I drove, when turning the esc light came on and the steering locked up for about 5 seconds.

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My 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is experiencing severe and progressively worsening electrical, transmission, powertrain, and braking problems. While driving, the rpms climb to 5,000 or higher, but the vehicle struggles to accelerate and maintain speed. It enters limp mode and feels as though the transmission is stuck in a lower gear. I have had to pull over on the highway, shut the vehicle off, and restart it to temporarily restore normal operation. Initially, this lasted approximately 10 minutes, but now the vehicle only drives normally for about 2 minutes before the problem returns. The dashboard gauges repeatedly drop completely to zero, return to normal, and drop again. The gear selector physically moves, but the vehicle sometimes does not recognize the selected gear, making it difficult to shift into park or drive. The air conditioning also stops cooling and blows weak, hot air. The check engine light remains solid. Approximately two days ago, I also began experiencing loud thudding noises that appear to come from underneath the vehicle when braking. Due to these worsening problems, I pulled over at the nearest gas station and had the vehicle towed to a Chevrolet/GMC repair facility. These recurring failures create serious safety concerns, especially when driving on highways. Unexpected loss of acceleration, transmission malfunctions, electrical interruptions, inability to select gears, and braking noises could cause an accident and endanger other motorists. I am also aware of another 2020 Chevrolet Malibu experiencing potentially similar issues, although with different symptoms, including a flashing check engine light. I am requesting an investigation into potential safety defects involving the transmission, powertrain, electrical system, instrument cluster, and braking system.

My Malibu has numerous electrical problems. Often involving the start stop feature. The door locks have locked and unlocked themselves the engine and battery warning light will come on but we don't know why. A metal piece of the front frame broke off and went through the condenser. I had to have the car towed causing more damage to the hood. I cannot drive it. The check battery light is also on. At times the button to power on car will not work. Then it will a few min later. . Yes, car is available for inspection. It is unsafe to drive and has too many problems for a newer cat.

Unknown, I parked the vehicle, got out of it, left car running for ac, locked the doors. The car was in park. Locks unlocked door, rear view camera display cut off, ac still running. I am viewing a house, so I walk around house and car still in park, 0-5min. I go in the house, 10-15 later, out of habit hit the lock buttons on car again, because I couldn't see it. When we exit the house the car is gone. Went in reverse and rolled across a road into a fence. When I arrived at the car, the doors were locked and the car was in reverse.

My 2020 Chevrolet Malibu experienced a sudden and severe electrical failure after driving through normal roadway water. Immediately afterward, the vehicle displayed multiple safety?critical warnings including loss of power steering assist, electronic stability control (esc) faults, brake control faults, and reduced propulsion. A gm dealership inspected the vehicle, scanned the modules, and found more than a dozen network and chassis?related diagnostic trouble codes, including: b3979, u0164, b1325, b3122, u0121, c0196, c0460, b1011, b097b, b3205, c056e, c056d, u0420, u1510, c0545, u0422. These codes indicate failures in the steering system, brake control module, stability control system, body control module, and multiple can?bus communication networks. The dealership confirmed: – no physical damage – no evidence of collision or impact – no evidence of flood damage – the suspected failed component is the electric power steering rack (gm part 85621696) – the part is not available, meaning the vehicle cannot be repaired – I would be responsible for diagnostic and repair costs this is a major safety concern. The vehicle can lose steering assist, stability control, and braking support without warning. The inability to obtain the required steering component makes the vehicle unrepairable and unsafe to operate. I am reporting this because this appears to be a systemic electrical/network failure affecting critical safety systems. I believe this defect poses a significant risk to drivers, passengers, and other motorists. The attached photo is a is a picture of the printout the Chevrolet dealership service manager provided to me.

I was driving my car my electrical system is throwing all kinds of code. My sftey restrain is coming on to check my seat belt . The car goes blank . It stop in the middle of the road. This car has a lot of issues. Can some one help me with this I work at the cardiologist office .

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I have brought my vehicle to preston hood Chevrolet on two occasions for two major issues. Failed breaking system started as when I am at a stop light the car won’t move and the brake light and ignition light comes on and it won’t move when I press the gas! I almost had an 4 car pile up. Now it is stalling when I am driving on the street! see the uploads. The first time they said it was a speed sensor and the second time they said it was the wrong tire size. . My onstar diagnostic report says failed braking system. It also says critical oil level and yet they said they performed a multi point oil inspection. Look at the uploads. Does gm want a fatal accident lawsuit? why doesn’t a dealership know how to repair my vehicle? I was told by 2 dealerships there is no remedy for the gm back up camera. They would not fix my broken back up camera.

Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents. Car stalled on roadway without warning and would not crank. Luckily I was in a residential neighborhood with little to no traffic when this happened. I have had crank sensors replaced, fuel pump module replaced, fuses replaced and still problems occur. If this is a common issue with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, could you please issue a safety recall? thank you.

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“steering assist is reduced, drive with care” is showing up for a couple second and disappearing. When that happens my car seems to shut off and the steering wheel stiffens and pull to either the left of right side. All this happens while driving. After the 3rd time of it happening within 10min, my gas fuel level dropped but when back up to the “original” level.

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Just bought the car and the car is receiving error: "shift to park". This appear to be a know issue for 2018 chevy Malibu hybrid. Car cut off in middle of traffic.

The backup camera is failing to shut down when the vehicle is put into drive. The camera will stay on for 30 seconds to five minutes when the car is moving forward. The issue was reported to the local gm dealer and the vehicle was brought in for service. They were unable to replicate the problem, so nothing was repaired by the dealership. The problem used to occur once or twice a month. Its frequency has increased. In the last two weeks, while driving on vacation, the backup camera failed to shut off three or four times each day. Sometimes it lasted only 30 seconds and was mainly inconvenient. Several times it lasted longer. In one instance the camera stayed on for five minutes while driven down the interstate at night. When the camera stays on, it is very distracting, especially at night. Also, you can use the touch screen to access any other vehicle features while the camera is on. There are no dashboard error lights associated with this issue. No codes are generated in the vehicle that can be scanned for. All the dealership that told us about the vehicle issue is that they can't replicate the stuck-on camera problem and won't do any diagnostic work. The car is still under warranty.

I was told the bcm on my vehicle is bad. It cause my car to go all out of wack. Multiple warning lights come on (esc, abs, power steering, check engine), the gauge controls flutter, my gear shift clicks on and off, the car has even shut down on me in the middle of traffic, wouldn’t start, wouldn’t shift, basically wouldn’t move at all even when it did start. How would a bcm shut down my whole vehicle?.

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the electrical system failed inside the vehicle, causing the air conditioning system to fail to operate, and the window control buttons failed to roll the window down. The battery saver active warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the positive battery cable needed to be replaced. The battery cable was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

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Transmission misfiring.

My back up camera stopped working it’s just a black screen now.

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3 times during rainy weather my backup camera would display an odd view. The screen would malfunction and turn off. The radio wouldn't work. Climate control wouldn't work. The first time I pulled the fuse and put it back. Other times I turned off the screen for a while. It has returned to working all 3 times.

Randomly when I press the brakes the brake lights don't turn on. Other times they work fine. All of the light bulbs are good. All three brake light don't turn on randomly. I have almost been rear-ended on numerous occasions. No dash lights came on. And I have not had it inspected yet just my girlfriend pushing the brake pedal to test the lights. One day they work another they don't then another day they work again.

When the vehicle is shifted into park and the ignition button is pressed, the vehicle fails to shut down. The dashboard displays a "shift to park" warning message, indicating the vehicle does not recognize that the gear selector is physically in the park position. To shut the engine off, the driver must repeatedly wiggle, slam, or cycle the gear shifter back and forth into park until the electrical sensor finally registers the connection. This creates a severe safety hazard, as the vehicle can roll away if left unsecured, drains the car battery, and prevents the doors from locking properly. Crucially, this defect traps drivers inside an operational vehicle for extended periods while they repeatedly struggle to force it to shut down. This poses an immediate risk of heat-related illness or death (hyperthermia), especially in high-temperature environments, during heatwaves, or for vulnerable occupants like children and the elderly who cannot exit the vehicle safely until it is off.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the esc and traction control warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, while the cruise control was activated and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was able to be moved without the brake pedal being depressed. The cause of the failures were not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control (esc). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 122,000.

I went to put my car in park and it was saying "shift to park" on my dashboard even though I was already in park. I know that there was a lawsuit that was won for this very defect but my car is not recalled for this and I feel every Malibu should be especially if almost every Malibu is experiencing the same issue nationwide. It cannot be a coincidence. Also I have been having issues with a knocking noise on the back of the car when I am driving and I'm being told it's also another common issue with Malibu's known as the knuckles that need replaced which are not cheap. If these are common issues on every Malibu then every Malibu needs to be recalled for the issue to be fixed not just certain ones. My Malibu has not had one recall but has had the same issues that other Malibu's had with multiple recalls done.

The chevy Malibu is displaying a “shift to park” message even when the gear selector is physically in the park position. This indicates that the vehicle’s computer may not be recognizing that the vehicle has been placed in park, which is commonly associated with a faulty or failing internal park-position sensor/switch. The issue is affecting the vehicle’s ability to shut down properly. It is necessary to turn the vehicle off and back on multiple times before the system will recognize that the vehicle is in park and allow it to shut off completely. If the vehicle does not recognize the park position, it may remain partially powered on and potentially drain the battery.

There have been numerous days that I press brake to start car in which it does not start. I wait until it will. The trunk seems unaligned as there's more gap on right side. Carpet in front floor is not correct as I have to tuck under trim by door constantly. Backup camera seems distorted and has been not correct in lines to park but remains distorted by the unclear view and awkward angle. While driving at times it feels like going into another gear and it's an automatic. The breaking at times is very hard and pushing passengers forward.

Back up camera quit working. Stated intermittently not working for about 2 days then completely stopped working. No warning lights.

My back up camera is inop. On my 2024 chev Malibu VIN no [xxx] has a black screen when backing up. States to be setviced. Has been inop since xxx. Purchased xxx took it to dalmer Chevrolet [xxx]. Did not replace due to a recall that was not released per Chevrolet . Please fix. . Safety is important. Afraid of an accident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).