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 And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports

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114,162 miles · Jul 17, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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IN JANUARY OF 2014 , MY FATHER NOTICED THERE WAS A HUGE DARK SPOT ON MY SIDE OF THE DRIVE WAY. SO LATER IN THE DAY I TAKE MY CAR TO VALVOLINE AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT MY CARE IS LEAKING OIL. I TAKE THE CAR TO SALLAS AUTO SHOP AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY CARS AXEL SHAFT HAS A LOT OF PLAY, WHICH IS CAUSING THE AXEL SEAL TO LEAK, WHICH SHOULDNT BE THE CASE BECAUSE IT WAS REPAIRED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY DEEM MY CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY HAVE ME LEAVE MY CAR AT THE SHOP SO THEY CAN FIX IT. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER ITS LEAKING AGAIN SO I TAKE IT BACK TO THEM AND THEY CANT REALLY FIGURE OUT WHY ITS STILL LEAKING SO THEY DO A FULL BODY INSPECTION AND FIND THAT, NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN LEAKING BUT ITS BEEN SHOOTING SHRAP METAL INTO MY TRANSMISSION(CAUSING ME TO LATER HAVE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION). SO I TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HE TRIES TO FIX IT AND CLAIMS HE STOPPED THE LEAK. NOT TRUSTING HIS SKILLS I FINALLY TAKE IT TO CHEVY AND AFTER HAVING IT "FIXED" SEVERAL PRIOR TIMES, CHEVY ACTUALLY FIXES IT THIS TIME AROUND. APPARENETLY THERE IS A SPECIAL TOOL THAT HAS TO BE USED TO REPAIR THIS PARTICULAR PART THAT NOT A LOT OF MECHANICS HAVE, BUT CHEVY DOES. IVE DONE MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE LEAK MY CAR WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE FOR PREVENTION OF AN ACCIDENT, I WAS OUT OF A CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AS WELL AS THE COSTS OF GETTING THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611321

88,144 miles · Apr 19, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR THAT I BELIEVE TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE I FOUND TODAY (4/19/2014) WHEN I SMELLED GAS OUTSIDE OF MY CAR. UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH MY CAR I FOUND MY GAS TANK LEAKING ONTO MY EXHAUST PIPE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR. ONE OF THE OTHER SERIOUS ISSUES I HAVE FOUND WITH MY CAR INCLUDE A BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE. MY CAR WAS OCCASIONALLY SHOWING A "SERVICE TRACTION/ ESC" ERROR CODE, WHICH COULD NOT BE EXPLAINED BY ANY MECHANIC OR EVEN A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEMSELVES. IT WASN'T UNTIL A FRIEND FOLLOWING ME POINTED OUT THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING RIGHT, DID I REALIZE I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD, BUT ONLY ON THE OCCASIONS SAID ERROR CODE IS SHOWING. I LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. CHEVY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE THIRD MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO MY CAR. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY MALIBU, AMONG EVERY MALIBU I HAVE EVER BEEN, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON. I AM 26 AND WEIGH 94LBS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF MY SIZE IS THE REASON I DO NOT ENGAGE THE AIRBAG!? THE FINAL DEFECT I HAD TO DEAL WITH INVOLVED MY DRIVER SIDE RIM. I HAD A TINY LITTLE HAIR LINE CRACK ON THE INSIDE OF MY RIM, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE A LOT OF AIR IN MY TIRE. I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BECAUSE MY RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED IN ANY OTHER WAY SHAPE OR FORM. I HAD A HARD TIME OBTAINING A NEW RIM, BECAUSE (ACCORDING TO EVERYONE I CALLED) THE RIM WAS IN HIGH DEMAND. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE ISSUES AND CONSIDER ADDING THEM TO GM'S CURRENT RECALL LIST. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY CONCERNS. *TR..UPDATED 04-23-14 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583693

70,000 miles · Aug 26, 2013

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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SOMETIME AROUND 70,000 MILE WHEN WE WOULD CRANK UP THE CAR WE WOULD HEAR A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER THE CAR WARMED UP, THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. WE TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. WE HAVE ALSO HAD ENGINE RUNNING PROBLEMS SINCE EARLY 2013. WE NOW HAVE OVER 106,000 MILES ON IT AND A LOCAL MUFFLER REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE NOISE AS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THERE HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL MANIFOLDS ON VARIOUS YEAR MODEL MALIBU'S. HOWEVER, WE ARE OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN ONLY BE SOLD AS A SINGLE UNIT WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537315

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

A/C HAS STRONG MOLD SMELL. SMELL IS PERSISTENT EVEN AFTER A/C IS NOT IN USE. HAD IT SERVICED TWICE, BUT DEALERSHIP ONLY SPRAYED ANTI-MOLD SPRAY TO SUBDUE SMELL. WILL NEED TO GO EVERY MONTH FOR THIS TO BE TREATED. DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED SMELL IS DUE CONDENSER'S CONDENSATION NOT BEING COLLECTED MALIBU WAS DESIGNED NOT HAVE A CABIN F…

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NHTSA ODI #10398145

10,000 miles · Oct 15, 2010

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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2010 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ V6 3.6L HAS HARD GEAR SHIFT UP AND DOWN AROUND 15 MPH, 35 MPH, 50 MPH, MORE NOTICEABLY AT 15 AND 35 MPH. THIS PROBLEM, SO I ASSUME, ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AFTER BRAKING AND LETTING OFF OF THE BRAKE TO COAST AROUND THESE SPEEDS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN "LURCHES" FORWARD INTO GEAR. I'M AFRAID THIS MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES TO INVESTIGATE/REPAIR PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP AND GM CLAIM THIS IS "NORMAL PERFORMANCE" FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360692

1,400 miles · Oct 1, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED FROM 35 MPH TO 10 MPH AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED ONTO THE EL…

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NHTSA ODI #10358620

251 miles · Aug 27, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THE VEHICLE IS A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND IT NOW HAS 758 MILE ON IT. IT STALLS WHILE DOING SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE STEERING BECOMES DIFICULT, THE BRAKES BECOME LESS THAN EFFICIENT AND IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. EVERY TIME THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED IT WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 758 MILES. THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW AND I HAVE 2 OTHER AQUAINTENCES THAT HAVE THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352398

10 miles · May 13, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

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WE JUST LEASED A CHEVY MALIBU FROM EAST HILLS CHEVROLET AT 1039 NORTHERN BLVD. ROSLYN,N.Y.11576. WITHIN 2 DAYS THE NEW 2010 VEHICLE STALLED ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPWY AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO THE SCENE AND TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER.AFTER TWO [2] DAYS WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MGR. LEON, WHO STATED THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICK UP[05-13-0=10] WELL , AS MY DAUGHTER DROVE OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPT.,AGAIN WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPWY AND SHE IS CURRENTLY WAITING AGAIN FOR THE POLICE TO RESPOND TO CALL A TOW BEING THAT THE ROADWAY IS RESTRICTED.THE SERVICE MGR, LEON, TOLD ME THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND THAT IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. I ASKED HIM IF THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE AND HE SAID YES ! AND NOW AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IT STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330349

578 miles · Apr 23, 2010

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CHEVY MALIBU 2010 - BRAND NEW WITH 16MI ON ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327163

14 miles · Mar 10, 2010

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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NEW MALIBU 2010 (14 MILES ON ODOMETER ON 02/27/2010) HAS SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IT HAS A VERY STRONG VIBRATION AND LOOKS LIKE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING EVERY MINUTE. WHEN ACCELERATING, ENGINE PROVIDES NOISE AND VIBRATION AND ENGINE GENERATES RATTLING NOISE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT ON 02/26/2010 DOES NOT LIKE TAKE TO PROVIDE REPAIR OR SO ON. GM DOES NOT RESPOND TO OUR E-MAILS AND CALLS, BUT WHEN COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED TO BBB WE GOT A CALL THAT SAID THAT IT IS GM LEGAL DEPARTMENT - NO LAST NAME OR POSITION, AND THE PERSON STARTED TO INTIMIDATE US. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN ASCENDING A SLOPE, NOT EVEN 30 DEGREES, AND HAVE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE BACK IMMEDIATELY ONCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKE. UPDATED 06/30/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10318582

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)