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

Seats complaints

25 reports

Clear category filter

84,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014

Electrical SystemSeats

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK REST. THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT THAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE SEAT OVERNIGHT. THE HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE WIRES VISIBLE IN THE BURNED HOLE THAT WAS IN THE BACK REST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 4/1/14*CN THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE WIRES HAD SHORTED AND BURNED OUT. UPDATED 04/23/14

NHTSA ODI #10561857

1,680 miles · Jun 20, 2012

SeatsCrashInjury

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 17 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT DISLODGED FROM THE TRACK RAIL AND FRACTURED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO STRIKE THE DASHBOARD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,680. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10462449

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2011

SeatsInjury

I HAVE A PINCHED NERVE BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTS ON MY 2010 MALIBU ARE TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT: HTTP://DISCUSSIONS.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/N/PFX/FORUM.ASPX?TSN=1&NAV=MESSAGES&WEBTAG=CR-38AULUXSUVGJ&TID=8915 CHEVY DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384404

14,000 miles · Oct 8, 2010

Seats

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH LANES AND WHEN LOOKING OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO SEE IF ANY VEHICLES WERE IN HIS BLIND SPOT, THE DESIGN AND HEIGHT OF THE HEAD REST BLOCKED HIS VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO LOOK OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

NHTSA ODI #10359696

18,000 miles · Sep 15, 2010

Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT SEATS OF THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE PLATE THAT THE SEATS ARE WELDED TOO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES HAVE A REPLACEMENT PLATE FOR THESE VEHICLES. THE FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING A SAFETY CHECK NOTI…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10355721

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)