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

Exterior Lighting complaints

194 reports

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56,900 miles · Jun 29, 2018

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. KARL CHEVROLET (1101 SE ORALABOR RD, ANKENY, IA 50021, (515) 299-4300) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVID…

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NHTSA ODI #11104797

65,000 miles · Jun 18, 2018

Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED REPEATEDLY, PIGTAIL WAS CHANGED IN THE WIRING, FUSE WAS CHANGED AND LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI #11102462

5,000 miles · Jun 12, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED AND SOMETIME THEY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. MY SON-IN-LAW TOLD ME TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, PUMP THE FOOT FEED 3 TIMES AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. THAT SEEMS TO WORK MOST OF THE TIME. BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND THEN THEY CAME BACK ON WHEN I HIT ANOTHER BUMP. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY TAILLIGHTS MAY NOT ALWAYS WORK AND TO LET THEM KNOW IF I HAVE THAT PROBLEM. WELL HELL I AM DRIVING THE CAR NOT RUNNING ALONG BEHIND IT!! DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE REAR-END ME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY DON'T WORK? NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF AIRBAGS I HAVE IN THIS VEHICLE BUT WITH HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY ALSO BE AN ISSUE.THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS NEW. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO DIFFERENT SHOPS TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THEY THINK IT IS FIXED. I AM JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP. IS THE COMPETITION FOR CAR MAKERS SO VICIOUS THAT THEY NEED TO RUSH PRODUCTION AT THE COST OF CUSTOMER SAFETY TO GET VEHICLES OUT AHEAD OF THEIR COMPETITION? THEY CONTINUE TO PUT MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES ON THESE VEHICLES SO THEY CAN CHARGE US MORE UP FRONT AND FOR CONTINUOUS REPAIRS. THIS IS TOTALLY INSANE. GIVE ME BACK MY '57 CHEVY. NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT HONEY!!!

NHTSA ODI #11101493

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2018

Exterior Lighting

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I THINK THE MALIBU HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE CORVETTES HAD THE LIGHT HAS DONE WENT OUT 8 TIMES SINCE MY HUSBAND GOT THE CAR IN MARCH AND HE HAS TO TAKE THE WHEEL OFF AND THE PLACSIC UNDER PINNING BY THE WHEEL OFF AND UNCONNECT THE HEAD LIGHT AND CONNECT IT AGAIN AND IT COMES BACK ON. AND SOMETIMES IF HE JUST SMACKS THE LIGHT IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT ALWAYS IT'S THE LOW BEAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY YEARS OF THE YEARS OF THIS MODEL CAR BUT HEARS WHAT I THINK THE PROBLEM IS LIKE I SAID THAT THE CORVETTES HAD ELECTRICAL CENTER' UNDER THE HOOD THAT MAY EXPAND DUE TO THE EXTREME ENGINE HEAT AND WHEN THIS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS OVER AND OVER, IT IS PRONE TO BREAKING. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL FAIL TO FUNCTION. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE FIX INVOLVES ADDING SOME SORT OF HEAT INSULATION TO THIS ELECTRICAL CENTER TO EITHER PROTECT THE WHOLE UNIT FROM THE HEAT OR TO PREVENT THE CONSISTENT EXPANSION UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES. SO CAN Y'ALL PLEASE LOOK IN TO IT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND WE DON'T WANT NO TICKETS AND IT'S ANNOYING TAKING IT A PART BC IT WON'T WORK

NHTSA ODI #11101240

150,000 miles · Jun 4, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11099570

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS ON. BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN NOT PUSHING BRAKE, THEN OFF WHEN PUSHING BRAKE. WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI #11092387

99,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLAG CHEVROLET (1000 E BELVIDERE RD, GRAYSLAKE, IL 60030). THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER, THE HEAD LAMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEAD LAMP FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #11090136

85,000 miles · Apr 22, 2018

Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT HAS WENT OUT FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST 12-MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11089301

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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THE HEAD LIGHT LOW BEAM KEEPS BLOWING SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IT COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING AND IT IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT IF U GOOGLE IT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT OR WHATEVER IT'S DOING IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND A IT'S A PROBLEM BC PEOPLE CAN GET PULLED OVER AND IT'S NOT FAIR TOO THE PEOPLE BUY THIS CARS AND NOT KNOWING ABOUT THIS CHEVY NEEDS TOO OWN UP IT'S COST PEOPLE ALOT OF MONEY THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SPENDING ON THERE MISTAKE AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND PEOPLE HAVE KIDS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #11088757

60,000 miles · Apr 6, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. IN REVIEWING SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES, THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTED REPEATEDLY, EVEN WITH COMMENTS OF GM MECHANIC STATING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HARNESS BUT GM IS NOT RECALLING IT. I PRAY THAT A CHILD NEVER RUNS OUT INTO THE STREET AND GETS HIT BY A CAR AS A RESULT OF THE DRIVER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THEIR CAR BECAUSE GM DOES NOT WANT TO PAY TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HARNESS AND THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS THEY ARE AWARE. .

NHTSA ODI #11083566

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)