Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid loss of power problems

Filed May 9, 2025 · Transmission · CA

The car completely lost power while being driven on a freeway in Sacramento, California. The car was towed to a Chevrolet dealer in Davis, California and they determined that the car lost power due to a faulty Auxiliary Battery Negative Cable Assembly (Part # 84085823). The Chevrolet dealer cannot find the part because GM has discontinued production of the part. Also, despite extensive internet searches for the part including after-market sites, E-Bay, Amazon, AC Delco, all major auto part supply chains, etcetera, the part has not been found. The car has been at the dealer's facility for ~ 6 weeks with no resolution. The car is a hybrid, has been serviced regularly and properly, has never been in an accident and is very good shape. In other words, if the car is safely repaired, it is still going to be a very useful family vehicle. GM representatives have told the dealer to try to find the part in a local junk yard. The car will likely not be safe if a junkyard part is ultimately used in the repair - the reason the the car is at the dealership is because the car completely died at freeway speed. The cost of the needed part was only ~ $50 (fifty dollars) when it was being produced.

Filed Apr 1, 2024 · Acceleration · NE

Our 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid intermittently began alerting of "Reduced Engine Power" and the accelerator would not allow the vehicle to accelerate. This happened twice, once on a busy highway that caused rapid deceleration of the vehicle. We brought the vehicle to the mechanic and there were a bunch of codes related to the accelerator position sensor. With parts and labor $415 to fix. Upon researching, there are a bunch of reports on car forums related to this. I believe there have been previous reports to the federal safety agency. This problem needs to be fixed and a recall issued to have Chevy replace the Accelerator Position Sensor before someone gets hurt or killed. Once I pick up the vehicle, I will upload the invoice and see if I can get specific code numbers.

Filed Jun 15, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MA

Engine lost power on interstate highway. While this did not result in a crash/ rear end collision, the potential for such injury seems high. 1-2 days prior there were some warning lights (check engine light). Called a dealership Tuesday morning and earliest service appointment was in one week but they assured me that the car was drivable in the meantime. On Wednesday afternoon my son was driving on the interstate and there was a new message “engine power reduced”, and a sudden loss of power. Eventually got the car to nearest Chevrolet dealership. Their technician took over a week to figure out what was wrong; eventually they replaced the ECM but still had problems. After a software update to ECM the problem finally appears to be resolved. Please note that similar problem has been reported with other Malibu models, but my Malibu Hybrid was not recalled. Please consider a recall of all GMmodels similar to the Malibu

Filed Jan 16, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 10,800 miles · MD

The car lost power while I was operating it. I had to put it in park and restart it. I was in the middle of parking it on a city street.

Filed Aug 11, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 13,000 miles · CA

On june 30, 2019, I was driving my chevrolet malibu hybrid home on the freeway when suddenly the engine lost power and stalled. The service engine soon light turned on and a message on the dashboard said 'shift to park'. I coasted to the next exit and stopped on the side of a street. I pressed the off button and shifted to park. I tried to turn on the car and it wouldn't even crank the engine. I called aaa and after 10 to 15 minutes the service engine soon light turned off. I tried again to start the car and it turned on. I canceled aaa and drove the car home. After a couple of days, I decided to scan the trouble codes in the car with my code scanner. The report said four confirmed trouble codes, no permanent trouble codes, no pending trouble codes, no body control module trouble codes, 1 telematics trouble codes, no human machine interface module trouble codes, and four electronic brake control module trouble codes. I saved the report and reset the trouble codes. Copy of the report attached. Then on july 2, 2019, I was driving on the city street and the car stalled again with the same message to shift to park. I coasted to the side of the road and pressed the off button and shifted to park. I tried to start the car and it did start and I drove it home. Next day I scanned the trouble codes again. The report said no confirmed trouble codes, no permanent trouble codes, no pending trouble codes, 2 body control module trouble codes, 3 front camera active safety trouble codes, 3 transfer case control module trouble codes, and 1 electronic brake control module trouble codes. I saved the report, copy attached. Next day I took the car to the dealer for trouble shooting, and repair under warranty.

Filed Apr 6, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 17,000 miles · NY

Vehicle stalled on highway while driving at speed on two different occasions despite servicing after the first incident. Both times, pop up alert says "shift to park" and then "engine has reduced power" after which the gas pedal no longer works. After pulling to the side of the road, there was a low battery alert.

Filed Jan 3, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 27,218 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. While driving between 29-34 MPH, the vehicle stalled and "reduced engine power" appeared on the instrument panel. The contact had to wait a few minutes before the vehicle would restart. The vehicle was taken to south buckner chevrolet (9301 earl thornton freeway, dallas, tx 75228, 469‑294‑3000) where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal was defective. A new accelerator pedal was installed, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 27,218.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Steering · 155,000 miles · KS

While turning on the car the power steering will not turn on. We have to turn the vehicle off to gain power steering back. The car continued to do this for several months. We now lose power steering while driving down the road at random points in time. We have to pull over and restart the car to regain the power steering. Other 2009 chevrolet mailbu's have the recall, but ours does not although we are experiencing the loss of power steering while driving and while turning on the car.

Filed Aug 1, 2013 · Electrical · 3,000 miles · PA

First summer of ownership, hot day, airconditioner on. Car started flashing all kinds of warnings. Pulled off road as soon as possible. Loss of power steering while pulling into lot and then car shut off and would not start again. At first service, told dealership what happened but they did not know what the cause was. That same year or next year there was a recall on the hybrid battery and it was replaced. Thought maybe my problem would not occur again but every summer had similar incidents with car pulling into stop and shutting off. Was able to start car again after sitting for several minutes. Diagnostics show nothing wrong at dealership. July 23 2013 on a rainy highway (air conditioner not on because needs new compressor), same situation suddenly happens. Flashing warning lights, loss of power steering and eventually all power after getting off highway(thankgod). Police had to push car out of intersection and tow truck driver gave car a jump and parked car in safe place and got a cab to a very expensive concert a half hour late. After concert, car started and took car to sears for a new battery as tow truck driver suggested. July 26 made drive halfway across state. No incident. July 29 driving home. Battery light comes on after making rest stop. Kept driving on highway(nice day, no rain) but car shuts off again, fortunately just after getting off highway. This is getting dangerous! Onstar sees electrical problem on diagnostics. Towed to chevy dealership. Rent car to get back home. Once again diagnostics show no problem. Now I have to take my rental car 2 hours to get my own car. Going to call gm. Wish me luck on the highway. Hope I get the car back home!

Filed Jul 18, 2013 · Steering · 70,580 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet malibu hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a complete loss of power steering without warning. One week prior to the failure the steering suspension was recalibrated by the dealer. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer after the malfunction for diagnosis. The technician informed that the power steering motor would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 70,580.