Steering. Review the 454 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 294 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 227 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports14 fire reports35 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

294 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineVisibility/wiper

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THE ELECTRICAL RANDOMLY MALFUNCTIONS SOMETIMES THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WON'T WORK AND THEY RANDOMLY COME ON OR GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND IT WAS ALMOST DARK OUT SIDE I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY CAME BACK ON. THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. THE MOTOR BLOWER FOR THE HEATING AND COOLING WILL ALSO RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BROKE AND AFTER REPLACING AND FIXING THE PART THEY BROKE AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY IN THE POURING RAIN. I FIXED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS 2 TIMES AND THEY STILL CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION AND QUIT WORKING. THE EXAUHST HAS A LEAK. THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS AND DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT WHILE DRIVING IT TAKES FOREVER TO SHIFT AND ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WOULD BARELY DRIVE WHEN I WOULD GIVE IT GAS AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT 8 MINUTES BEFORE IT FINALLY STARTED TO WORK PROPERLY. THERE IS A PIECE THAT CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION THAT KEEPS COMING UNDONE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK AND I FIXED THE PROBLEM AND UPON ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION THE VEHICLE WENT INTO PARK BUT CONTINUED TO MOVE I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL STABILITY AND THE TIRES HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING WHEN I FIRST TURN THEM ON THEY DON'T WORK BUT AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS THEY START TO WORK. THE MID FLAP CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. THE PARTS AFFECTED IS THE ELECTRICAL, BODY, POWER TRAIN, LIGHTING, WHEELS, SUSPENSION, BRAKES, VISIBILITY/WIPERS AND THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11090490

17,000 miles · Apr 18, 2018

Electrical System

BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, REPAIRED 5 TIMES, A LOT OF SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI #11088860

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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THE HEAD LIGHT LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IT COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING AND IT IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT IF U GOOGLE IT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT OR WHATEVER IT'S DOING IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND A IT'S A PROBLEM BC PEOPLE CAN GET PULLED OVER AND IT'S NOT FAIR TOO THE PEOPLE BUY THIS CARS AND NOT KNOWING ABOUT THIS CHEVY NEEDS TOO OWN UP IT'S COST PEOPLE ALOT OF MONEY THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SPENDING ON THERE MISTAKE AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND PEOPLE HAVE KIDS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #11088757

60,000 miles · Apr 6, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. IN REVIEWING SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES, THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTED REPEATEDLY, EVEN WITH COMMENTS OF GM MECHANIC STATING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HARNESS BUT GM IS NOT RECALLING IT. I PRAY THAT A CHILD NEVER RUNS OUT INTO THE STREET AND GETS HIT BY A CAR AS A RESULT OF THE DRIVER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THEIR CAR BECAUSE GM DOES NOT WANT TO PAY TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HARNESS AND THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS THEY ARE AWARE. .

NHTSA ODI #11083566

10 miles · Apr 2, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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I GOT THE CAR IN 2015 AND FROM THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LIGHT COMING ON AND SHUTTING OFF THE POWER STEERING WHICH MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND ALMOST RAN INTO A POLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME AND WHEN SHE TURN OFF THE CAR, IT WORKS AGAIN BUT THEN HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT OVER AND OVER AND THE SOCKET BEING BURNED OUT AND HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AS WELL NOW MY RADIO HAS POWER BUT DOESN'T COME ON, AFTER IT WAS JUST WORKING. I CAN'T HEAR ANY DOOR CHIMES OR TURN SIGNAL SIGNS. IT LIKE A PROBLEM AFTER A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THIS CAR. I AM BUY THIS CAR BUT WE DON'T EVEN FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE IT. IT HAS ONLY 79000 MILES BUT THE PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 50,000 MILES AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR IT HAD 43,000 MILES I BELIEVE.

NHTSA ODI #11082482

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2018

Electrical System

I HAVE CHANGE THE LIGHTS ON MY WIFE'S MALIBU 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM OR DEFECTED HARNESS. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE LIGHT SAID HE BELIEVES HE CHANGED SEVERAL LIGHTS ON MALIBU AND THEY CONTINUE TO GO OUT. HE BELIEVES CHEVY HAS AN…

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NHTSA ODI #11080136

160,000 miles · Mar 12, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

"TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND LIGHT CAME ON THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK

NHTSA ODI #11078649

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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MY 2010 MALIBU HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN A YEAR. I PAID OVER 1000.00 JUST TO HAVE A 15.00 LIGHT BULB REPLACED. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT OCCURS ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT. AS OF TODAY. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND 200.00 JUST TO GO OUT AGAIN IN A WEEK. I AM DRIVING WITH ONE LIGHT BECAUSE I REFUSE TO FIX IT UNTIL GM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS INSANE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET DONE IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #11078276

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2018

Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

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I HAVE BEEN NOTICING AND BEEN TOLD MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND AT TIMES MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND IT HAPPENS DURING DAY WHEN I CAN'T TELL AND AT NIGHT WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS MORE APPARENT BUT NOT ANY LESS DANGEROUS ...PUTTING TWO TOGETHER MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE COMING ON AND WHEN I PRESS THE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THEY GO OFF...I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND AFTER GOOGLING TO FIND A FIX I SEE THERE ARE MANY RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL...AS IT DOES NOT LIST MY VIN TO BE INVOLVED WITH ANY RECALLS IT'S CONCERNING THAT THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS AND I COULD BE AT RISK. I CANNOT FIND ANY POSITIVE FIX TO THE PROBLEM YET AND SEE MANY PEOPLE SPENT HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS AT DEALERSHIPS ONLY TO FIND THE PROBLEM NOT FIXED...IF THERE'S ANY ASSISTANCE INFORMATION OR GO TO'S YOU CAN PROVIDE I WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

NHTSA ODI #11066741

87,000 miles · Jan 2, 2018

Electrical SystemPower Train

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE I89 NORTH IN CONCORD, NH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE RPMS WENT REALLY HIGH. I HEARD A SPINNING NOISE - LIKE SOMETHING WAS SPINNING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE DIDN'T INCREASE THE CARS SPEED. THEN I SHIFTED TO THE MANUAL MODE AND TRIED TO USE THE GEAR SHIFTING PADDLES TO SHIFT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A GEAR TO GET ME TO THE NEXT EXIT EVEN THOUGH IT KEPT SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE I PROCEEDED SLOWLY OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT PUT MYSELF AND EVERYONE AROUND ME AT RISK OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ONCE I WAS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SAFE, I PLUGGED IN MY DIAGNOSTICS TOOL I CARRY IN MY CAR (I TOOK A AUTO REPAIR CLASS A FEW YEARS BACK). THE DIAGNOSIS CODES THE CARS COMPUTER PROVIDED ARE P0776 AND P0700 - INDICATING A MAJOR MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND A SOLENOID PROBLEM. I TOOK A PHOTO OF THE CODES. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2009 CHEVY MALIBU'S. THE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 5/100K TO 10/120K. CLEARLY GM SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE 2010 MODELS AS WELL. IT'S THE SAME 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11057914

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)