Problems · by component

2008 Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc) problems

71 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu cite electronic stability control (esc), 7% of all 1,017 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
71
7% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“SERVICE ESC SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I ALMOST WRECKED THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BUT IT CLOSED AND THE DEALER WON'T FIX IT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED OPEN OR CLOSED CAN U PLEASE HELP ME GET THE FIXED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11366784
“KEEP GETTING A MESSAGE SAYING 'ESC OFF' , 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' COMES AND GOES. SOMETIMES SEEMS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN A GEAR MAKES A LOUD ROAR. STARTS TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. HAVING A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON A EVEN AFTER REPLACING SWITCH. I HAVE THE RECALL PROBLEMS FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR BUT VIN DOESN'T SEEM TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2020Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11324493
“MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND FLASHING FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY AUTOBODY SHOPS. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAVE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE TODAY. MY CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. I HIT A DEER AND ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP I ONLY HAD BODY DAMAGE. SIX MONTHS LATER THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE ROTORS REPLACED. THEN EVERY FOUR MONTHS I HAVE TO GET MY TIRES REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11323030
“MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING JUST FINE UNTIL THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY VEHICLE OUT OF NOWHERE WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE' AND I COULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THE NOTIFICATIONS ON MY DASH WERE 'ENG PWR REDUCED' AND 'SERVICE ESC'. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE FOR POSSIBLE CAUSES, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND SERVICE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY MALIBU'S FROM OLDER MODELS TO NEWER 2016-2018 MODELS). NOT ONLY IS IT COMMON, BUT MOST PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE I DID, END UP SPENDING THOUSANDS TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. REPAIRS RANGE FROM CHANGING THE THROTTLE BODY TO SENSORS TO BATTERY CABLES & TERMINALS. A FEW GET LUCKY BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF MALIBU OWNERS, THE PROBLEM RETURNS WITHIN DAYS OR IF THEY'RE LUCKY, THEY GET A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE ERROR CODES COME BACK. ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS SEARCH THE FORUMS OF CARGURUS.COM OR YOUTUBE FOR VIDEOS TO FIND THE COUNTLESS POSTS OF CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY READ OF MANY ACCOUNTS WHERE OWNERS WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND EVENTUALLY SOMEONE OR MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2020Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11308867
“RANDOM LOSE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, ON HIGHWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND CAUSE YOU TO BE UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN CONTROL.. I'VE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AFTER BEING ADVISED THIS WAS AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IN MOST CASES IS COVERED UNDER RECALLS AND EXTENDED COVERAGE. THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2020Steering, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11302897
“ESC WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION, TRACTION OFF LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON WHEN DRIVING, FRONT END SHUDDERS/SHAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I LOSE SPEED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2019Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11291342

Showing 6 of 71 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.