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U0121 on CHEVROLET MALIBU

Severity
High
NHTSA Reports
6
Most Affected
2014, 2009, 2010

What U0121 Means on Your CHEVROLET MALIBU

Real CHEVROLET MALIBU Owner Reports (Source: NHTSA Complaints Database)

"Steering wheel jerking while in park and while driving to the point you had to put a lot of strength into keep car in lane, service esc: power steering warning light chimes and comes on while driving, steering wheel locks up while trying to pull over on the side of the road."

— 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • STEERING • Filed 02/20/2018

"I was stopped at a stop sign to turn and when i accelerated a quick flash of the service ecm message came on and then disappeared, but the car stalled out in the middle of the intersection. when i tried to restart the car, it would turnover, run for 2 seconds and then die."

— 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE • Filed 09/20/2015

"I was sitting at a red light, with my foot firmly on the brake."

— 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES • Filed 10/27/2018 ⚠️ Crash reported

"Code u0121 lost connection with electronic brake control module. when coming to a stop, the vehicle stalls and the rpm's drop. jerky acceleration. while driving at speed, vehicle stutters an acceleration."

— 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES • Filed 05/01/2019

"Hendrick chevrolet norfolk virginia dealer service found gm history code dtc u0121 for this failure."

— 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE • Filed 10/27/2014

Data from NHTSA Vehicle Complaints Database. All reports are filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Causes of U0121 on CHEVROLET MALIBU

50%
16.7%
16.7%
16.7%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2009
1
2010
1
2013
1
2014
2
2020
1

What To Do Next

  1. 1
    Check for recalls on YOUR VIN

    Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Free repairs if your vehicle is covered.

  2. 2
    Get a proper diagnosis

    A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50-$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.

  3. 3
    Compare repair quotes

    Get 2-3 quotes. Dealer vs independent shop prices often differ 30-50% for the same repair.

U0121 on Other Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) and the SAE J2012 OBD-II standard. Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 standard. Owner reports are filed directly with NHTSA by vehicle owners. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace professional automotive diagnosis. Always consult a qualified mechanic for vehicle repair decisions.

Last updated: March 2026