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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Mileage unknown · May 4, 2022

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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I purchased the car for my mother on 10/20/2015 from Mike Savoie Chevrolet in Troy, MI. At the time I had a concern because there was a message being displayed on the car “Service ESC”, I was informed by the dealer that it was a false message and there was no issue with the car, we should just disregard but if we had any problems to let him know moving forward. At that time we did not have issues with anything else. There was about 80,000 miles on the odometer when we bought it, there are only about 95,300 now. Recently the brake lights have been coming on when the brakes are not applied, we have taken the car to a mechanic three times for this issue but he has been unable to duplicate it, as a result he felt that the brake pedal sensor was at fault and replaced it, but the issue still exists, a wasted $200! My 17 year old grandson is now using the car, the issue occurred again today and I discovered that this issue may be associated with a recall which also includes the “Service ESC” message which has been on the car since I bought it. However, when I enter the VIN it shows no open recalls. Apparently it was not fixed and the dealer should have fixed it before I bought it or I should have been notified of the recall. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY GRANDSON’S SAFETY AND WILL NEED TO SWITCH MY CAR WITH HIM SO THAT HE CAN BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE! Not only do the brake lights come on when not applied, but you need to tap the brake to turn them off at that point other drivers are not aware that the brake is being applied. Taking the car back to the repairman today. Please help. Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter.

NHTSA ODI #11463378

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2021

Exterior LightingService Brakes

My 3rd brake light works intermittently. I have bought my car just over a year ago from a pre-owned dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11443678

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2021

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

Service electronic stability control light comes on and brake light comes on and off at times

NHTSA ODI #11437361

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2021

Exterior Lighting

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The component that has malfunctioned or failed is the pigtail for the low beam headlight on the driver side. The safety issue is that I am driving with one headlight reducing the visibility of the road. The problem has been reproduced because this is the second time that I had to change the headlights. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or Insurance representative because the price would have been more than $300. There are no warning lamps or messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. It occurred two years ago. And once again this year.

NHTSA ODI #11435188

100,000 miles · May 4, 2021

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC AND TCM SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11415126

46,281 miles · Apr 26, 2021

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPITZER CHEVROLET (33 E AURORA RD, NORTHFIELD, OH 44067) WHO ATTACHED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE BCM WITH A SPACER AND APPLIED DI-ELECTRIC LUBRICANT TO THE BCM AND HARNESS CONNECTOR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,281.

NHTSA ODI #11413967

220,000 miles · Apr 13, 2021

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE SET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TURN OFF. THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WOULD SPORATICALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND SOMETIMES FLATLINE AS IF THE CAR WAS OFF. WHEN BRAKING THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE IF MY HAND PRESSED THE BUTTON LLOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE ON WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKES AND WOULD TURN ON ONCE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. RECALL WORK WAS REPORTED TO BE COMPLETED JANUARY 2015 BUT PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. THERE IS ALSO A BULLETIN FOR SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT IS LIMITED TO 150,000 MILES WHICH I DON'T RECIEVE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OVER THAT MILEAGE BUT THE DANGERS OF THE VEHICLE STILL PERSIST. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST 2 DAYS AGO. I CANTACTED CHEVY AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE OF THE MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11407839

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BREAKING. THE RIGHT SIDE MORE OFTEN. I SEE THESE MALIBU'S ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME WITH A HEADLIGHT OUT. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS IT DOES.

NHTSA ODI #11385339

212,000 miles · Dec 26, 2020

Exterior LightingSteeringVehicle Speed Control

STEERING GETS HARD TO MANEUVER WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHTS COME ON ON THE DASHBOARD AND HAVE TO STOP AND RESET VEHICLE, HEADLIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY STEERING GOT HARD TO USE. I HAD TO GET ON THE SHOULDER AND RESET THE BATTERY, IN ORDER TO GET HOME SAFELY

NHTSA ODI #11384971

147,000 miles · Dec 14, 2020

Exterior LightingForward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON & CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF. WHEN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11383312

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)