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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

227 reports

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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

26,500 miles · Oct 9, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System

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THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT WHICH CAUSED THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS TO FLASH, THE ALARM TO SOUND AND THE WORDS THAT THEY WERE OFF PLUS THE WORDS TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC SERVICE TO COME UP. AT THE TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEPT 16TH AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INTERMITTENT. BUT IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THEN ON 10/2/13 THE WARNINGS STAYED N PERMANENTLY FOR THREE DAYS FRIGHTENING MY WIFE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM USING SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547419

45,000 miles · Aug 27, 2013

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

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PURCHASED VEHICLE AT 30K MILES AT BEGINNING OF YEAR AND WITHIN THE SAME YEAR TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR UPON START UP THE VEHICLE BEGIN MAKING A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE (SEVERAL OCCASSIONS). I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSSHIP ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASSIONS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT AND GAVE THE EXCUSE THE THE OLDER THE VEHICLE GETS THE MORE APT IT IS TO MAKE NOISES AND SUCH. I'M A VERY EDUCATED YOUNG LADY AND I KNEW THAT STATEMENT TO BE JUST AS FALSE AS TWO LEFT SHOES ON A LEFT AND RIGHT FOOT AND THUS EXPRESSED THAT FACT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SHOULD BE EDUCATED IN THE CAR THAT THEY ARE SELLING WHEN IT COMES TO BODY PARTS AND LIKELY PROBLEMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER HITTING THE 70K MILEAGE MARK THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGIN TO COME ON AND OFF AND STILL DOES; FURTHERMORE VEHICLE UPON START UP OF THE ENGINE WOULD LAG AS IF SOMETHING WAS NOT CATCHING AND PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING UP PROPERLY, THUS I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY TURNED LONGER THAN USUAL. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. AT 70K MILES THIS VEHCILE SHOULD STILL BE RUNNING FLAWLESSLY AS IT IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND TUNED-UP. PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WAS AN EPIC FAIL. I AM SHOCKED THAT CERTAIN MODELS AND YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN PERMANENTLY RECALLED AND REPLACED BY A VEHCILE OF OWNERS CHOICE FROM CHEVROLET (NEEDLESS TO SAY I PROBABLY WOULD NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY CAR) FOR THE HEADEACHE WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE. I HAVE AN INFANT AND A TODDLER AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF VEHICLE OPERATION ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME ON A PRACTICALLY NEW VEHCILE NEEDS TO BE THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537417

60,500 miles · Aug 26, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I START DRIVING MY CAR AT A LOW SPEED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON SAYING SERVICE ESC. THEN IT TURNS THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. WHILE THIS IS ON YOU CAN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SHAKES, AND THE RPM'S FLUCTUATES ABNORMALLY. ALSO, WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT IS OFF UNTIL I ST…

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NHTSA ODI #10537341

24,000 miles · Jul 14, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesCrash

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THIS CAR HAS HAD A HISTORY OF MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS, ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT REPAIRING THE ROOT CAUSE. IN MAY THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. THE BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY. THE CAR IS NOT CURRENTLY SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER SPENDING LAST WEEK AT A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BEING A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IT IS MY OPINION THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFICIENCIES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED BY THE REPAIR PROCEDURES LISTED WITHIN THE SERVICE MANUAL. I RECOMMEND THAT THESE CARS BE RECALLED AS A CAR WITH NO KNOWN PROBLEM CAN DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT WARNING PLACING THE DRIVER IN HARMS WAY. AN 8D CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUEST WOULD REQUIRE A PROBLEM CONTAINMENT OF ISSUING A RECALL IMMEDIATELY OF ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524763

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH THE ESC & SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE JIM ELLIS CHEVY DEALERSHIP ( PAID $105 FOR DIAGNOSTIC) AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR, I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD THEIR FUEL INJECTOR ( CYLINDER 1) REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS AFTERMARKET THAT I HAD TO PAY $267 TO REPLACE IT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HAD HIM PUT IN A GM INJECTOR AND STILL WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS, COILS, SHIFT SOLENOID, AND NONE OF THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE THEN STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE ISSUE WAS THE COMPUTER, I TOOK IT TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND THE NEXT MECHANIC STATED THE SAME THING,AFTER TALKING TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FROM SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, ITS THE COMPUTER. I TOOK IT TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET AND HAD ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC DONE ( WHICH WAS ANOTHER $100) AND ASKED THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE COMPUTER SINCE I WAS TOLD TWICE IT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE INJECTOR HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST $320. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TOO LONG AND LOOKING ONLINE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, CUSTOMER ARE SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY ON AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE ONGOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522963

27,500 miles · Jun 30, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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COMING TO A STOP ON AN OFF RAMP, BRAKES FAILED COULDN'T STOP. (IT HAD BEEN RAINING). 2ND INCIDENT ON JUNE 26, 2013, GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT WITH SEC LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS POWERING DOWN AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. CALLED LANDMARK SERVICE CENTER IN TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS THEY TOLD ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART (OF COURSE LIGHTS WENT OUT) AND DRIVE IT TO THE NEAREST GM GARAGE. (I WAS OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME). WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND OF COURSE NOTHING SHOWED UP BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. ON WEDNESDAY I TOOK MAY CAR TO LANDMARK IN TAYLORVILLE TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND TO SEE IF THEY COULD CHECK ON THE PROBLEM. AND TRUE TO FORM THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE NO ON. BUT WAS TOLD IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TO GO TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER AND DON'T TURN THE CAR OFF. I'VE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC. AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN. I LIKE MY CAR AND WANT TO KEEP IT BUT IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED SOMEONE MAY GET HURT. BUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS I WILL TRADE THE CAR AND I ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL NOT BY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AND WILL TELL EVERYONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522482

19,500 miles · Jun 24, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

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THE SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE SERVICED. THE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700 TO FIX THE ISSUE. TWO DAYS LATER THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND HE SAID "OH THAT IS BAD." I TOOK IT BACK IN AND HE APOLOGIZED FOR NOT CHECKING ANOTHER OPTION REGARDING THIS SERVICE. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $500 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MODULE. THIS ALL HAPPENED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2010 MALIBUS. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE BRAKES COULD LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521568

53,000 miles · Jun 7, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

BRAKE LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY FLASH OR STAY ON WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES. THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ELECTRIC STABILITY CONTROL FAULT AND TRACTION CONTROL ALSO DISPLAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515604

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)