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 · Apr 2, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE 5TH TIME IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT LAST WEEK AND EXACTLY A WEEK LATER, IT IS BACK OUT ON THE SAME SIDE, 6TH TIME. IN THE PAST, I'VE HAD BOTH REPLACED WHEN ONE BLOWS OUT BECAUSE OF HOW YOU HAVE ACCESS THE HEADLIGHTS, THE CAR REPAIR SHOPS CHARGES ME $180 AND UP. IMAGINE ME HAVING TO DOING THIS THAT MUCH BECAUSE IT IS MANDATORY TO GET REPAIRED. I CAN NOT DRIVE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OR NONE. ONE BLOWS AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER BLOWS OR THE SAME. IT IS HARD TO TELL EXACTLY AT WHAT POINT IT HAPPENS BECAUSE AT TIMES YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT IS OUT UNTIL SOMEONE CALLS YOU OR A KIND DRIVER LET'S YOU KNOW. I FOUND OUT THIS LAST TIME BY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE AND SEEING THE DIM GLARE ON THE FRONT WALL AS I WAS PULLING IN. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR A RESOLUTION. PEOPLE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR REPAIRS AND NO LUCK. THIS MUST BE RECALLED. THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU DESIGN TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT MAKES IT HIGHLY INCONVENIENT FOR MY POCKETS DUE TO THE COST OF LABOR. MANY SHOPS HAVE REFUSED SERVICING ME BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT BY TAKING OFF THE BUMPER AND THE NUMBER OF SCREWS TO BE REMOVED ETC. I HAVE HAD TO MISS WORK, GO IN LATE OR LEAVE EARLY TO GET MY HEADLIGHT/S REPLACED. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNLUCKY BEING AN OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11320067

85,000 miles · Mar 30, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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REPEATING HEADLAMP FAILURE. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN PAST YEAR. BOTH BULBS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) HAVE BEEN REPLACED DURING SERVICE THOUGH ONLY ONE HAD FAILED, IN HOPES OF EXTENDING TIME BETWEEN THE NEXT REQUIRED SERVICE. HEADLAMP BULB REPLACEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLEX, REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE FRONT-END/BUMPER ASSEMBLY TO ACCESS THE LAMP ASSEMBLY, USUALLY REQUIRING BODY SHOP EXPERTISE AND COST (>$200+) VERSUS A QUICK DIY JOB OR LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC. INTERNET SEARCHES INDICATE MANY CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, POINTING TO A FAILED DESIGN BY CHEVROLET WITH THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING TIME CIRCUITRY CAUSING HIGH CURRENTS LEADING TO HIGH TEMPERATURES AND OVERHEATING/MELTING/DEFORMED CONNECTORS, PIGTAIL AND WIRING COMPONENTS. A VEHICLE WITHOUT TWO WORKING HEADLAMPS IS AN OPERATIONAL, CITATIONAL AND SAFETY HAZARD, THUS DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THIS DESIGN PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED BY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11319746

130,000 miles · Feb 23, 2020

Exterior Lighting

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I HAVE A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. NOT BURNING OUT, BUT QUITS WORKING! I CHANGED THE BULB ABOUT 5 TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T BURNING OUT. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK FINE. A FEW TIMES I COULD TAP ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON. I TOOK IT APART AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR WAS BROKEN AND SHORTED OUT, SO I ORDERED A NEW WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES FROM THE GROUND WIRE SPLIT TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, PUT IT TOGETHER AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 2 DAYS AND WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK THE FRONT END OFF AGIAN AND UNPLUGGED THE BULB AND PLUGGED IT BACK IN AND IT WORKS FINE AGAIN. I HAVE CHECKED ALL THE WIRES AND THE GROUND SCREW AND CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO LOOKED THIS UP AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS FROM 2009-2012 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI #11310827

180,000 miles · Feb 15, 2020

Exterior LightingSteeringVehicle Speed Control

SERVICE EAS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON & THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL & NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS & UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #11309410

151,921 miles · Feb 9, 2020

Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE FUSE WAS NOT BLOWN ANY OF THE THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11308044

109,000 miles · Feb 3, 2020

Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. NOT BURNING OUT, BUT QUITS WORKING! I HAVE GONE TO CHANGE THE BULB AND WE REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T BURNT OUT. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK FINE. WE WIGGLES SOME WIRES AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. A FEW TIMES WE COULD TAP ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND I…

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NHTSA ODI #11306840

125,000 miles · Jan 31, 2020

Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. UPON REMOVAL OF THE 4TH HEADLIGHT I NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. I REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS WITH A NEW ONE AND NOW THE LOW BEAM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I JUST RECEIVED A TICKET LAST NIGHT FROM THE POLICE. A FIX IT TICKET...AND NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO FIX TH…

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NHTSA ODI #11306378

170,000 miles · Jan 31, 2020

Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT STOPS WORKING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAVE REPLACED THE SAME BULB 4 TIMES. I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE AS THE INTERNET FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11306232

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2020

Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. THE NEXT MORNING IT CAME ON. A FEW DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. NOW BOTH LIGHTS WON'T COME ON. I AM ONLY DRIVE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNTIL THEY ARE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11302327

104,000 miles · Jan 20, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior LightingTraction Control System

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I DROPPED MY 2010 MALIBU ([XXX]) OFF AT MATICK CHEVY ON 1/10/2020. I CALLED 1/11/2020 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO CHARGE AND IT WAS READY FOR PICK UP. THAT'S ALL I WAS TOLD. I DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME BEFORE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED: SERVICE TRACTION ERROR LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD AND ALL 3 BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON - WHEN NO ONE IS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR IS IN THE GARAGE AND ALL 3 BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON - NO ONE IS IN THE VEHICLE...I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL 3 BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON - I'M NOT BRAKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. TODAY IS 1/19/2020 AND I STILL DON'T HAVE MY VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL - DESPITE LEAVING A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE [XXX], ON 1/16/19. HE ADVISED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER A SPECIAL WARRANTY PROGRAM OR POLICY - 150,000 MILES OR THE YEAR 2025?. THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD - DEALERSHIPS DON'T FIX ANYTHING FOR FREE, SO THAT "SPECIAL PROGRAM" IS INDICATIVE OF THE COMPANY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED GM PRODUCTS ALL MY LIFE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME DO NOT KNOW IF MY LOYALTY TO THE MANUFACTURER OR BRAND WILL CONTINUE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN HANDLED. THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM TWICE PREVIOUSLY. THE ONLY SAVING GRACE IS THAT I DEMANDED A LOANER. PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11300450

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)