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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63,850 miles · Jan 21, 2016

EnginePower Train

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU 2LT FWD. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2013, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER USED A FAULTY 3-5 REVERSE WAVE PLATE. THIS IS THE SAME WAVE PLATE THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IN THE RECALL OF SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THE 2007-2009 MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS SOME SORT OF FREELOADER BECAUSE I DIDNT NOT FEEL A CAR WITH 63000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE A BAD TRANSMISSION. WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE THE 3-5 WAVE PLATE FELL APART AND SHREDDED MY TRANSMISSION. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC, THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NOT ONCE NOT TWICE BUT 3 TIMES. AS THE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE THE 1ST 2 TIMES THE CAR STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY, THE VERY FIRST TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE COMPUTER SHOWED THE FAULT CODES IN THE COMPUTER FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STATING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION ERROR SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THEM REPEAT IT WAS FINE. 2 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PAY $500 AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING AND PLEADING AS MY CAR WAS ONLY 5 YRS OLD WITH LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT, BUT ALL WARANTEES HAD JUST CONVENIENTLY EXPIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS MUST BE LOOKED INTO, THIS IS THE 2ND COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE FILED DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND IT HAS BEEN DOCUEMENTED THAT IF IT HAPPENS ONCE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT ANY SAFER THAN THE EARLIER MODELS AND NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WERE THE 2007-2009 MODELS WITH THE SAME FAULTY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IF NOT THEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY CAR MY DAUGHTER OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE, OR A DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. AS CARS SHOULD NOT JUST STOP ACCELERATING BECAUSE OF CHEVYS NEGLECT TO SEE THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10821527

70,400 miles · Jan 14, 2016

EngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING HIGH AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHILE THE SERVICE ESB AND THE SERVICE TRACTION WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND MOVING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,400.

NHTSA ODI #10820300

45,000 miles · Jan 8, 2016

EngineSteeringTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE "SERVICE ESC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND TRACTION CONTROL" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY, THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, SPARK PLUGS, TORQUE SENSOR, AND THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT A CARBON CLEANING NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10818959

62,300 miles · Dec 27, 2015

EnginePower Train

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ON 9/15/15 I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG FROM MY FRONT END, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GM THEY FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER (AFTER 2 WEEKS) TO HAVE IT FIXED OR LOOKED AT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS ON AT THE TIME RESET IT SELF BUT THE 2CODES FOUND IN THE COMPUTER WERE THE P0716 AND P0717 TRANSMISSION CODES BUT SINCE THEY WERE HISTORIC (WHICH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON EXCEPT FOR THE BREAK LIGHT ISSUE) THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS FINE. I PICKED IT UP AND OFF I WENT. 12 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE BUCKED MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHREDDED. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT CODES WERE IN THE COMPUTER THIS TIME. BUT AS I STATED WAS AN ISSUE WITH VEHICLES FROM 2007 -2009 THE 3-5 WAVE PLATE BROKE AND CONTAMINATED MY TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS STILL NOT 100% RUNNING RIGHT. THE CAR STILL HESITATES AND JUMPS AND HAS A HARD SHIFT WITH ISSUES ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI #10816364

90,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineTraction Control System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808885

66,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN TO TURN AND WHEN I ACCELERATED A QUICK FLASH OF THE SERVICE ECM MESSAGE CAME ON AND THEN DISAPPEARED, BUT THE CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD TURNOVER, RUN FOR 2 SECONDS AND THEN DIE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE, WHERE WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND TOOK IT OVER TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THE ELECTRONICS SCANNED, WHERE IT SHOWED 3 CODES: U0121, P0106, P0621. THEY SCANNED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, AND ALL CAME UP WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH (SO TO SPEAK). UPON READING ONLINE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN MALIBU'S 2004-2009 (WHICH WAS RECALLED), AND I BELIEVE THEY NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE AND NOW 2010'S MAY BE AFFECTED. MY WORRY IS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT WILL BE AT A BUSIER INTERSECTION OR WORSE YET, ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10765339

70,000 miles · Aug 29, 2015

Engine

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I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65MPH. SUDDENLY I GOT A NOTIFICATION THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN DECREASED. MY ENGINE WOULDN'T GO PAST 2000 RPM AND MY SPEED DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. I PULLED OVER AND AT THAT TIME I GOT ANOTHER NOTIFICATION STATING THAT MY ENGINE IS BEING DISABLED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 8 TIMES. THIS STOPPED HAPPENING FOR A GOOD YEAR AND A HALF UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK. IT HAPPENED TO MY PREGNANT WIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I PUT A CODE SCANNER TO READ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT DIDN'T READ ANYTHING. WHICH MEANS THE CPU ISN'T READING THE ERROR.

NHTSA ODI #10760117

67,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015

EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND WIRE HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10735259

138,437 miles · Jul 6, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,437.

NHTSA ODI #10732060

55,000 miles · May 28, 2015

Engine

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND SOMETIMES I WOULD HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD FEEL THE ACCELERATION GIVE OUT RANDOMLY AROUND 60 MPH. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. THEY STATED THAT THEY CAN'T SEE WHAT IS GOING ON UNLESS THE LIGHT IS ONE AND I ASKED FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, SINCE IT WAS AROUND THE TIME THE BOOK DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO BE DONE, AND THEY STATED THEY NO LONGER PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUSHES FOR THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND IF I WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE AND DO IT ON MY OWN THAT WAS UP TO ME. I WENT TO MULTIPLE PLACES WHO DOES TRANSMISSION FLUSHES AND THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE TASK, ONLY THE DEALERSHIP COULD. SO NOW HERE I AM TODAY I PULLED INTO A DRIVE THRU AND MY CAR STARTED BUCKING REALLY BAD AND AS I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND NOW IT IS MAKING A CRUNCHING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR IF IT IS UNSAFE LIKE THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS UP AS WELL..

NHTSA ODI #10722083

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)