The vehicle experiences sudden transmission slipping, severe shuddering, and an unexpected loss of forward drive power while in motion. Specifically, while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop / merge onto the highway, the engine revs but the vehicle fails to accelerate properly or suddenly loses acceleration entirely. This creates a severe and immediate safety hazard as it leaves the vehicle moving incredibly slowly or stranded in active traffic, creating an imminent risk of a rear-end collision. The dealership has been unable to provide a permanent remedy.
Chevrolet Malibu slipping problems
49 of the 19,367 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 49
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical mileage
- 71,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Jerking 9Check engine light 9Won't shift 6Transmission failure 4Stalling 3Overheating 3ABS 3Start-stop 2
What owners say
Transmission has been slipping since the day I bought the car in 2023 approximately at 90,000 miles, I have been keeping up with the manufactured recommendations on the transmission and march of 2026 I went to move the passenger seat and it no longer moves
Since 2024/2025 car has been malfunctioning, I’ve had it checked out but it just got worse and nothing was fixed l, it is I driveable and very unsafe. When driving it abruptly stops like it’s crashing Messages that pop up (Multiple ones at one time flashing as well) - service “ESC” -“service power steering drive with care” -“shift to park” -“low fuel” (but car has gas in it) - check engine light on -all lights flashing at once while jerking -car stops abruptly when you’re driving it -radio blacks out while driving -dashboard blacks out as vehicle is running -jerking while trying to stop -sensor malfunctions -transmission slippage -engine still on and running sounds like it’s cooling down and smells of it as well
I was driving my car and my entire car’s dashboard went out and the cars speed dropped I tried braking but they kept slipping. It was a very scary event for me as I was driving on highway 59 when this happened to me. The TCM is s a problem for this vehicle please recall this issue.
The auto start stop function malfunctioning at a red light, causing vehicle to turn off completely. Vehicle will turn on once the brake is released. The transmission is slipping as well switching from first gear to second gear and causing a delay in departure.
I have a 2018 Malibu with a very long list of major issues. The Engine loses power constantly along with a “Engine Reduced Power” warning and check engine light. I get a constant “shift to park” message even after placed in park. All the steering wheel buttons/controls do not work. With the exception of the cruise control. Car almost red lines after the power message displays when you try to increase the speed of the vehicle. The back axle/suspension/hubs make a very loud popping sound when I back up or drive forward. Both back wheel assemblies make a very loud wobble noise when driving. Almost like the assemble is going bad. The Auto Stop/Start causes a lot of issues. It causes the car to jerk horribly and that’s when you hear the popping in the back axles the most. Idk if there is an option to turn this off in this model. But, if there is I can’t access the message center because the steering wheel controls/buttons don’t work. Also upon restart the car runs extremely rough and tries to die. The car has really bad powertrain issues. The car not only loses almost all power….. but, also acts like the transmission is slipping when taking off from a dead stop. Causing it to jerk really bad when the transmission actually catches. The brake system also seems like it has a lot of issues. Here recently the brakes seem like they don’t want to stop the car and that leads to pressing the brake pedal down harder resulting in the brake finally stopping the car in almost a dead stop. This could cause a rear end collision or a collision after your designated stopping point. Every time it rains my trunk gets soaked with water leading to a horrible mildew smell and damaged property in the trunk. Also, the steering wheel will start wobbling uncontrollably when driving down the road and then just stops. It causes a violent shake in the front end until it stops. I’m sure I missed a few things just because of how long the list is. I’m hoping for a solution to these problems.
My transmission is jerking and slipping. When accelerating the car acts like it doesn’t want to go. When I take ,my foot off the gas pedal the transmission jerks hard. The car has had the original transmission replaced by Beaver Chevy and now the new transmission is having the same issue. The car never had any check engine lights or any lights come on.
my transmission is slipping when there was a recall and my car went in to get fixed for both my power steering and my transmission and my power steering does not work and my transmission is slipping.
For the past almost year, my vehicle states to shift to park b ut it is in park. This is happening on a regular basis. I should not have to sit there and wrestle with the transmission shifter to get this to turn off. This has caused my battery to die and now my transmission is slipping. This is a known issue for several models and is becoming a serious issue for me.
Transmission 123 gear slips changes on own try to accelerate stalls downshifts stalls also transmission control module been told will happen when trying to speed up or complete stop or reverse the turning signals will have to be manually stopped interfering with driving barley make. Sound sometimes forget the are on still cruise control totally waked out does what ever it want speed or slows on own I do know of one current recall I've made several attempts to call w no return messages the transmission control module need replaced because the solenoids keep getting stuck 123 mine also the core fee for this is unbelievable 300-600 for the core fee ..why are these being sold for prices of 500-1000$ if the are being refurbished seems to be a hot item to even find used or new if u could afford it .. These gm transmission issues are everywhere .... Why are the no recalls .. This is very unsafe shift failure 45ph to 15ph in a sec .. Or nothing the dealerships are very hard to deal with if you just want a part or info a transmission control module part # 12678511 recall 14v224000 # 14145 dellen chevrolet 317 462-5591 made a few calls w no response to schedule been 7 days now. Stanley chevrolet penalton in. Justin would not allowe a part # to me unless 120.$ diagnostic then tolde to get out after a few words exchange so I paid for a diagnostic twice neither through gm they told me the repair would be 1300$ over the phone doug at dellen chevrolet I thk that's name gave me quote over phone .. So there's much more the transmission and solenoids in theses cars should be recalled or flashed fixed and if u read it's been going on since 2004 and now the new and newer one still same problems I've had to stop oil over restart car put in neutral to shift rpms get high I live in a small town walkers to diners etc ..needs attn into
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- Risk
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Buick Customer service at 1‑866‑608‑8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Recall number 20V668000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 15V245000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
- Risk
- If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the PARK position, the transmission may not be in PARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑553‑6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Recall number 14V224000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick owners at 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC owners at 1‑800‑462‑8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Recall number 14V092000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
- Risk
- If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑521‑7300.
Recall number 12V460000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu slipping
Which Chevrolet Malibu years have transmission slipping problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (7 complaints), 2010 (6 complaints) and 2011 (6 complaints).
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