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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58,000 miles · May 30, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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I'VE HAD MY CAR IN THE WARRANTY REPAIR SHOP 2 TIMES IN 2012 FOR THE ESC LIGHT COMING ON, USED TO COME ON EVERY FEW WEEKS...AS OF DATE TODAY, IT COMES ON EVERY TIME YOU TURN THE CAR ON. FIRST OCCURRENCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ESC AT 20 MPH. THEY'VE REPLACED 3 PARTS ON MY CAR AND TODAY THE SAME LIGHTS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ESC HAVE COME ON ONCE AGAIN. IT VARIES (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) WHETHER OR NOT GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT COMES ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES. I ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD (WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE) BUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU AND THINKS THAT YOU HAVE LET OFF THE BRAKES BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN APPARENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AS I SEE SEVERAL REPORTS FROM VEHICLES RANGING FROM 2008 TO 2012 ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I AM TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AGAIN FOR SERVICE NEXT WEEK TO HOPEFULLY GET IT REPAIRED BUT I AM NOT SO SURE THEY ARE GOING TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER ALREADY HAVING IT IN THERE SO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS INTERMITTENT. I AM SICK TO MY STOMACH DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT FEELS AS IF IS NEVER GOING TO BE FIXED. ITS A HUGE HAZARD DRIVING IN THE CITY AND YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY BACKWARDS. NEW BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, NEW SWITCH, NOW WHAT? ITS SCARY AND STOMACH TURNING KNOWING MY CAR IS 3 YRS OLD AND A DISASTER!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514185

35,000 miles · Mar 12, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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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 #10502478

104,000 miles · Feb 20, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ECS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS FOR THE FAILURE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10499458

27,865 miles · Jan 2, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN MARCH 2010 AND BEGAN HAVING BATTERY PROBLEMS JUNE 2011 AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. THE BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD RANDOMLY FROM 2 HOURS AFTER PARKING TO BEING PARKED FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER HAVING THE BATTERY TESTED SEVERAL TIMES AT 31,000 THE ESC LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON AND THE ESC CODE WAS CLEARED. AT ABOUT 32,000 THE BATTERY OVER HEATED AND BEGAN STEAMING ACID OUT OF THE BATTERY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND REPLACED THE YAW SENSOR AND WIRING. THE ESC LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ONE WHICH TURNS OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND APPLIES THE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED YAW SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES, WHEEL SENSORS, CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING WHEEL, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, INSTALLED A NEW COMPUTER AND REPLACED WIRING. THEY HAVE ALSO HAD GM ENGINEERS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE ON SEVERAL DAYS TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE DURING THE 9 PLUS SERVICE VISITS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 70 DAYS OF REPAIR. THE ESC LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AT RANDOM. DEALER ADVISED THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER FOR A GM BUY BACK, BUT THE DEALER IS ONLY OFFERING AVERAGE TRADE VALUE, WHAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FAIR RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490757

42,000 miles · Nov 6, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10483546

30,000 miles · Aug 17, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesTraction Control System

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I'VE HAD MY CAR IN THE WARRANTY REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. FIRST OCCURRENCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ESC AT 20 MPH. THEY'VE REPLACED 4 PARTS ON MY CAR AND TODAY THE SAME LIGHTS SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE ESC HAVE COME ON ONCE AGAIN. IT VARIES (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) WHETHER OR NOT GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT COMES ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES. I ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD (WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE) BUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU AND THINKS THAT YOU HAVE LET OFF THE BRAKES BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN APPARENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AS I SEE SEVERAL REPORTS FROM VEHICLES RANGING FROM 2008 TO 2012 ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I AM TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AGAIN FOR SERVICE NEXT WEEK TO HOPEFULLY GET IT REPAIRED BUT I AM NOT SO SURE THEY ARE GOING TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER ALREADY HAVING IT IN THERE SO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS INTERMITTANT. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AFTER THIS OCCURS THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. SOMETIMES ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OTHER TIMES FOR A WEEK TO 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT COMES ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471337

57,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

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I PURCHASED THE 2010 MALIBU, USED FROM THE DEALERSHIP- THEY WERE THE OWNERS PREVIOUSLY. I PURCHASED IT IN OCT. 2011 AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES IN THE 9 MONTHS OF OWNING IT. ONE TIME THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR HAD 1+ INCHES OF STANDING WATER IN IT, AFTER A RAIN. THE ESC LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF- THEY COULDN'T LOCATE ANY ISSUE- THE FIRST 2 TIMES I TOOK IT IN FOR THAT. THE OIL LIFE SENSOR NEVER WENT OFF FOR SERVICE- I WAS AT 10,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I TOOK IT TO MY REAL MECHANIC TO HAVE FIXED. THE BATTERY WENT TOTALLY DEAD IN IT ONE DAY- THEY SAID IT HAD BAD CELLS IN IT. AND IT WOULD ALSO STALL, AND WHEN GOING ABOUT 40 MPH NOT ACCELERATE, ON INCLINES. THAT'S WHEN THE ESC LIGHT WOULD KICK ON, SOMETIMES, AND THE RPM'S WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, ALL OVER THE PLACE. FINALLY MADE THE DEALERSHIP KEEP IT UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT SOMETHING- THEY KEPT IT A FEW DAYS, AND CALLED ME NUMEROUS TIMES ASKING ME UNRELATED QUESTIONS- THEY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. FINALLY- THEY TOLD ME A WIRE IN THE FUEL INJECTION HAD COME LOOSE. MY CAR WAS SO CALLED 'CERTIFIED' BY THE DEALERSHIP- BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DID ANY OF THE TESTS, OR ELSE THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND SOME OF THESE THINGS THEMSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465929

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)