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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73,800 miles · Aug 31, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

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ISSUE STARTED 08/27/16 WHILE 19 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. AS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS COMPRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. WHILE DRIVING THEY ARE ON. SERVICE TRACTION AND ESC WARNINGS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THERE IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE 09/01/16 AT MILLER AND SONS CHEVROLET. THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE A SUSPICION THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE ON A PREVIOUS RECALL (14V252000) AFTER SEEING SOME RECENT COMPLAINTS FROM THOSE WHOM HAVE HAD THE ISSUE FIXED THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS THE 5 TIME IN 2 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP. ONCE FOR INTAKE AND EXHAUST SOLENOID REPLACEMENT. "TAPPING NOISES" THESE ULTIMATELY LED TO A TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OF WHICH GM COVERED 800.00. I HAD TO PAY 600.00. IN ALL I HAVE SPENT OVER 900.00 ON THIS VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS WHICH I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER OTHER VEHICLE RECALLS. EITHER FIX THE EXISTING PROBLEMS OR TAKE THE VEHICLE OFF THE MARKET AND BUY BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10899757

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2016

Exterior Lighting

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NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 IMPACTED THIS VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. 14V252000 STATES: "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; ..." WHEN DRIVING BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SEEMED TO GO OFF WHEN SHE WOULD HAVE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES. WHEN A CHEVROLET DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND I EXPLAINED THE CONDITION WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL SYMPTOMS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY FIXED AND ANY FURTHER WORK WOULD COST MONEY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE "FIX" IN THE RECALL I CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE BCM. IT DID HAVE DIELECTRIC GEL APPLIED TO THE BDM WHERE THE CABLE CONNECTED SO REPAIR WAS DONE. AFTER REMOVING AND INSERTING THE CABLE SEVERAL TIMES TO REMOVE ANY CORROSION AT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, AND PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER MYSELF, THE PROBLEM HASN'T RETURNED YET. HOWEVER, THE CONDITION OF HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS REVERSED IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM, INITIALLY. BEFORE I RE-APPLIED THE FIX I DID DISCOVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T ENGAGE WHEN THE CONDITION WAS PRESENT (IT WAS A FREQUENT CONDITION BUT WASN'T ALWAYS THERE). THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATIONS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REVERSED OTHER THAN LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT GM'S FIX MIGHT BE FLAWED AS THE RECALL CONDITION RECURRED ON MY VEHICLE AFTER THE DESIGNATED FIX WAS PERFORMED AT THE GM DEALERSHIP, CAUSING RISK TO US AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #10898659

99,200 miles · Aug 25, 2016

Air BagsExterior LightingService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE AIR BAG ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR R…

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NHTSA ODI #10898480

24,000 miles · Aug 18, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "SERVICE ESC" AND "TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF " APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE STEERING AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT HEAVY AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE ISSUE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND WAS REPAIRED IN 2014. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10896993

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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BCM ISSUE RESULTING IN BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKES LIGHTS ARE ON WHEN BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, AND GO OFF WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON AFTER CAR REACHES A SPEED OF 15 MPH. RECALL PRIOR REPLACED THE HARNESS IN 2014, BUT NOW CHEVY DEALER IS SAYING THIS IS NOT RELATED, YET IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF ORIGINAL RECALL BACK IN 2014. THE RECALL REPAIR IN 2014 SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A BAND-AID ON WHAT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF A LIFE IF NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF A KNOWN ISSUE THAT GM ONLY PUT A TEMPORARY FIX ON BUT NEVER SOLVED THE ENTIRE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10894332

79,688 miles · Aug 5, 2016

Exterior LightingTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE…

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NHTSA ODI #10893568

108,000 miles · Aug 2, 2016

Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

DASHBOARD CLUSTER IS OUT AND GOES IN AND OUT AS WELL AS THE DIGITAL GEAR CHANGE. IT STARTED GIVING ME TRANSMITION ISSUES AND NOW ANYTHING DIGITAL IS COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10892427

44,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTION. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED AT WHICH TIME, BRAKE LIGHTS EXTINGUISH. TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL ALSO FAIL. SAME VEHICLE WITH SAME ISSUE WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL 13036. RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND ISSUE CONTINUED. BRAKE APPLY SENSOR WAS REPLACED, PRIOR TO RECALL AND ISSUE REMAINED. RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED ON 11/15/14. ISSUES INTERMITTENTLY OCCUR AND IN JUNE 2016 VEHICLE TAKEN TO GM DEALER WHERE BRAKE APPLY SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ISSUE STILL REMAINS AS BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL PEDAL PUSHED, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA REGARDING THIS VEHICLE AND ABOVE ISSUES PRIOR TO RECALL. ISSUES OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. MORE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

NHTSA ODI #10883113

56,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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NHTSA ODI #10875169

45,000 miles · Apr 15, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingCrashInjury

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RIGHT NOW I HAVE THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ON AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME. I TOOK EACH TIME TO CHEVY CLASSIC IN GRAPEVINE TX AND THEY TOLD ME NO CODES THE 1ST TIME, TOOK IT TO CLAY COOLEY IN IRVING--LIGHT CAME ON THEN NO CODES THEY SHOWED. TODAY 4-15=16 LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I TOOK IT TO CLASSIC CHEVY AND THEY FOUND 3 CODES THIS TIME. THEY SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS! I SHOULD NOT SINCE THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON 5/14/2014 FOR 2010 MALIBU'S. MY CAR IS DOING THIS NOW !@!!@ IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO ME!! I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR ON THE ROAD FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I DON'T WANT TO BE A STATISTIC IF WE HAVE A CAR CRASH AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE CHEVY KEPT MAKING EXCUSES TO NOT FIX MY CRAP CAR FOR ME. THE OTHER RECALL WAS THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOT ILLUMINATING I GOT THAT LETTER A LITTLE TOO LATE . SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME IN OCT 2012 WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MAYBE THOSE STUPID BACK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING THEN!!!!!! SOMEONE AT CLASSIC OR CLAY COOOLYE CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS ESC LIGHT ON MY CAR AND FIX ALL THE RECALLS FOR FREE. I ALSO HAVE AN EPS RECALL LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME BUT SOMEONE AT CHEVY TOLD ME THE LIGHT HAS TO COME ON FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS IT HAS NO MATTER IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR NOT. BUT THE LIGHT IS ON FOR SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION RIGHT NOW!@ GM OR CHEVY NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT AND FIX THIS CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ONLY LUBRICATED AND SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SERVICE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT. ALSO, THE FRONT AXLE WAS LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #10859777

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)