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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53,896 miles · Nov 25, 2013

Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR LOST POWER. SEVERAL VEHICLES ALMOST STRUCK ME ON HIGHWAY, VERY VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. . DURING DRIVING, FOLLOWING MESSAGES APPEARED: 1)ENG PWR REDUCED 2)SERVICE ESC 3)SERVICE TRACTION 4)ESC OFF 5) SERVICE AIRBAG. I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR SHUDDERED EXTREMELY BAD. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE I WAS NOT COMPRESSING THE BRAKE, AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE RPM JUMPED BETWEEN 3000-4000. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR APPROX 5 MIN. THE WARNING MESSAGES DISAPPEARED, HOWEVER SES LIGHT REMAINED. 2 CODES PRESENTED TODAY. 1)C0242 2)P2135. WILL BE CONTACTING CUSTOMER CARE, AND TAKING CAR TO DEALER TOMORROW. EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NOT ALONE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE. CAR STILL RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING FOR SERVICE AIRBAG. -----------------------HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MYTMB6QOD4Y. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553649

59,632 miles · Nov 24, 2013

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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CPO 2010 CHEVY MALIBU @59K NO KNOWN ISSUES PRIOR TO EXPLANATIONS ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR NEW TIRES AND HAD A MECH CHECK A CLICKING NOISE THAT I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE AND BEGIN TO MOVE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM WHERE MY CV ENTERS THE TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVES THERE IS PLAY WITHIN A GEAR SOMEWHERE INTERNALLY. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER AND AM DUE TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE TOMORROW.... NOW HERE IS THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT THIS RANDOM ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON: ENGINE LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES: ENG PWR REDUCED SERVICE ESC SERVICE TRACTION ESC OFF THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AS IF IT WANTED TO DIE. ALONG WITH THIS, I HAD NO ACCELERATION AND THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS EXITING A TUNNEL ONTO A BRIDGE. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. ALL THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO SHOW, AND THE RPMS JUMPED AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED VIDEO. [XXX] I AGAIN SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MIN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT REMAINED ON WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT. I GATHERED THESE CODES THIS MORNING. C0242 P2135 -TPS THIS IS THE SECOND CAR IN 2 YEARS I HAVE BOUGHT FROM THIS DEALER, HERB CHAMBERS OF DANVERS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND CAR TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, ON TOP OF WHATEVER ELSE ITS DOING. I STILL OWE WELL OVER $10,000 ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD THIS CAR 9 MONTHS. I CAN TELL YOU I AM A GROWN MAN IN TEARS BECAUSE I WORK 44 HRS A WEEK IN A CAREER I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRAINING FOR AND NOW AM HAVING MASSIVE ISSUES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB AND THE DEALER COULD SEEM TO CARE LESS. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10553621

93,000 miles · Oct 27, 2013

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

I WENT TO LEAVE ONE MORNING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ONLY WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WOULD IT FINALLY MOVE INTO DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING IT A DAY OR TWO MY SERVICE TRACTION AND MY SERVICE ESC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON SINCE JULY. AND NOW TODAY MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AN ALSO MY BRAKE …

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NHTSA ODI #10549726

55,000 miles · Oct 19, 2013

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON OUR 2010 CHEVY MALIBU, TURN ON WHILE DRIVING BUT TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS THEN STAY OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 SECONDS, THEN ILLUMINATE ON THEIR OWN AGAIN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION …

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NHTSA ODI #10548569

80,480 miles · Oct 2, 2013

Electrical SystemService Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN WHEN PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF, BRAKE LIGHTS BASICALLY WORKING IN REVERSE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF FOR THE LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED THIS MORNING DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546473

49,700 miles · Jul 23, 2013

Electrical SystemEngine

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THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES, ONCE A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE JUNE 2010 AT 400 MILES, AND THEN AGAIN ON 7/19/13 AFTER THE ISSUE WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY DEALER.I WAS ASSURED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR IN 2010, IT DID. THIS VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. ON 7/19/2013 I WAS TRAVELING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. EVERYTHING WENT BLANK, THE ENGINE CUT, NO POWER STEERING, NO INSTRUMENT PANELS, NO ELECTRICAL WHAT SO EVER. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE BOTH TIMES TO COAST ON TO THE SHOULDER ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, BUT WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ACCESS TO ON STAR OR THE ABILITY TO HAND SIGNAL AS THE WINDOWS ARE OUT. AFTER BEING ESSENTIALLY POWERLESS, THE CAR DOES TURN BACK ON AFTER IT RESETS THE INTERNAL CLOCK TO 1/1/2009. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED, I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN HIT BOTH TIMES. I AM FRIGHTENED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND MY JOB RELIES ON ME TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531517

50,157 miles · Jul 19, 2013

Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

IT WAS RAINING AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES WERE ON .IMMEDIATELY THE BLADES STOP WORKING. L ALMOST HIT THE FENCE BECAUSE L COULD NOT SEE. MY CAR IS JUST 3YEARS OLD , L DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE BLADES WILL STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525760

54,000 miles · Jul 11, 2013

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FAULTY. THEY REMAIN ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524399

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL GO ON FOR NO REASON WHILE I AM PRESSING THE GAS AND THEN WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE, THEY WILL SHUT OFF. AS WELL AS WHEN I TURN ON THE HAZARDS, MY TRACTION LIGHT WILL SWITCH ON AND WHEN I TURN THEM OFF THE LIGHT STAYS ON SAYING "SERVICE TRACTION" AND THEN THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT BLINKER SHORTS OUT AND PRETENDS LIKE IT IS GOING OUT AND WILL BLINK RAPIDLY. THEN WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE IS HAPPENING MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE FAULTY. THERE IS A SHORT OR SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THE WIRING, IT HAS BEEN BAD FOR A WHILE NOW. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL I READ THIS: [XXX] *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10514400

63,000 miles · May 30, 2013

Electrical System

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I DRIVE IN THE CITY, AN HOUR TO WORK, SINGLE FEMALE ON A BUDGET AND MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3X FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO FIX TO IT. I AM FURIOUS, SICK TO MY STOMACH AND SAD ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE THREE ISSUES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED: 1) BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING DEPRESSED, AND STAYS ON, AND/OR DOES NOT COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. 2)"SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC" WARNINGS COME ON AND REMAIN ON. 3) CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. YOU CAN HAVE ONE, TWO OR ALL THREE OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. ANY OF THE THREE CAN OCCUR FIRST. THEY CAN OCCUR EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR SOME WEEKS, THEN NOT OCCUR AT ALL FOR A FEW DAYS OR OCCASIONALLY EVEN WEEKS. CAN OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES AFTER AN HOUR OR MORE OF DRIVING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, HOT, COLD, WET OR DRY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND NOW SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME THAN WHEN FIRST BEGAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514183

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)