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

Engine complaints

115 reports

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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

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

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

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

52,000 miles · Jan 26, 2013

EnginePower TrainService Brakes

THE RACK AND PINION ON DRIVERS SIDE END RATTLES AT SLOW SPEED. I HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT BRAND FRONT BRAKES AND ALL HAVE SQUEAKED,THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE STARTED LEAKING.THE CAR HAS 69,000 ON IT AS OF NOW 1/26/2013. DEALER WANT FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEM UNDER THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY. ALSO HAS COLD START ENGINE KNOCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494799

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)