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

Power Train complaints

132 reports

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86,641 miles · Jul 17, 2015

Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VEHICLE. THE ABS HAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. UNTIL GIVING GAS AND LETTING VEHICLE REV UP TO 4,000 RPM IT JUMPED INTO GEAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMAL AGAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE DRIVES BUT REVS AT 2-3 GEAR AND THEN JUST SLOWS DOWN, THERE WERE 13 FAULT READS FROM CPU WHICH WERE ALL TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAULT AND CPU MALFUNCTION. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE AND STANDARD MAINTENANCE DOES GET PERFORMED. I AM TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT'S THE MONTH IT WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT IT WENT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT. I AM DUE TO PCS IN 56 DAYS TO A NEW DUTY STATION AND NOW MY FAMILY AND I ARE IN A BIND, I LOVE CHEVROLET BUT I AM AT A LOSS RIGHT NOW WITH A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT WILL DRIVE FINE AND OUT OF NO WHERE REV UP AND JUST STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10734739

104,000 miles · May 18, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS FAILED AND THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE…

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NHTSA ODI #10717086

75,000 miles · Apr 29, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURE…

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NHTSA ODI #10713604

94,600 miles · Apr 25, 2015

Power Train

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MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU LT 2.4L WON'T GO INTO PARK AND SHIFTER FEELS LOOSE. IF I PUT IT IN PARK POSITION IT SLIDES DOWN TO REVERSE. IN ORDER TO TAKE THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION I HAVE TO SET MY EMERGENCY BRAKE PUT THE SHIFTER TO (P) AND TAKE MY KEYS OUT. WHEN I DO THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THE PARKING IS ENGAGED OR IN REVERSE. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS AND DRIVES JUST FINE. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPONENT HAS A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL IN EFFECT CAMPAIGN # 12V460000. THEY RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER...I TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THAT. ONLY RECALLS THEY HAVE IS #13036- #10085. THEY COULDN'T SEE MY CAR AT THE MOMENT DO TO BEING BACKED UP. SO I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOOK IT IN. THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND SHIFTER CABLE RIPPED AND INOP CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO ENGAGE INTO GEARS PROPERLY. IT SEEMS THAT NHTSA SAFETY RECALL #12V460000 SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT WITH WHAT I READ ONLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712855

82,640 miles · Apr 16, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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ESC AND TRACTION GRAPHIC AND TEXT ALARMS HAVE BEEN INITIALIZING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS SINCE MARCH 2015. ON 4/7/2015 AND AGAIN ON 4/13/2015, AFTER STARTING THE CAR THESE TWO ALARMS INITIALIZED ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING ALARM AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IN EACH CASE, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE RESET THE ALARMS AND THE POWER STEERING RESTORED. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PARTICULARLY IN A CURVE OR WHILE MAKING A TURN COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I NOW FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND INSECURE WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706087

74,000 miles · Apr 10, 2015

EnginePower Train

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MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED GM, BECAUSE MY CAR IS TILL COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAN WARRANTY. CAR GETS TOWED TO WEBB DEALERSHIP( VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE). THEY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THURSDAY 040/09. RECEIVE A CALL FROM [XXX] WITH WEBB CHEVY STATING AND I QUOTE. "[XXX] THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SUCCESSFULLY, BUT YOU HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GET ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE. IN ORDER FOR US TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE FOR 119.00". GET CALL TODAY FROM [XXX] SAYING OH WE DID THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT CAME BACK ITS THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACING ITS NO GOOD AND THE COST WILL BE 513.41 PLUS TAX. HOW COULD THIS BE ?????? WHY ISN'T THIS COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAN WARRANTY??? THE THROTTLE BODY IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE... I AM CONFUSED AND VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH GM POOR SERVICES AND VEHICLE AND WEBB CHEVY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704921

74,200 miles · Mar 30, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER…

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NHTSA ODI #10702532

74,701 miles · Feb 4, 2015

Power Train

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WHEN MY WIFE, TWO KIDS, AND MYSELF WERE DRIVING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PETS, OUR CHEVY MALIBU EXPERIENCED A SEVERE DROP IN POWER. WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 75 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR CAR DROPPED TO 10 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THE SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED. WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I OBSERVED THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. ERROR MESSAGES DISPLAYED IN THE INFORMATION SCREEN TO "CHECK TRACTION CONTROL" AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". ALSO WHILE I WAS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE, MY CAR WAS ATTEMPTING TO JERK FORWARD WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY PRESSED. I HAD PLACED MY CAR IN PARK AND TURNED MY CAR OFF FEARING THAT AT ANY MOMENT THE CAR COULD TAKE OFF WITHOUT ME WANTING IT TO. AFTER WE WERE CALMED DOWN, I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THEIR WAS NO MORE JERKING MOTION, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS NOT LIT, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I FEAR FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHILE IN OUR ONLY FAMILY CAR WITH THIS ISSUE CONSIDERING THE DRASTIC DROP IN POWER AND SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681363

81,500 miles · Feb 2, 2015

Power Train

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND JUST STOPPED MOVING. FOUND THAT A LOT OF GM PRODUCTS HAVE 3-5-R CLUTCH WAVE PLATE PROBLEMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680690

101,365 miles · Jan 30, 2015

Power Train

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, ACCELERATED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. GM DEALERSHIP SAYS A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. WARRANTY EXPIRED 1/24/15. ASKING GM FOR ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. COST $3700 TO $4500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679994

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)