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

Steering complaints

454 reports

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100,615 miles · Aug 14, 2018

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,615.

NHTSA ODI #11119852

91,000 miles · Jul 10, 2018

EngineSteering

EVERYTIME I TURN LEFT THERE IS SOME KIND OF CLICKING GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #11110562

120,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018

Steering

MY 2010 MALIBU HAS STARTED TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF STEERING ISSUES, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES OTHERS HAVE HAD, MY ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WORKED LIKE "NORMAL" BUT SINCE THEN THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND EVEN IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL, THE WHEEL …

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NHTSA ODI #11105290

172,000 miles · Jun 20, 2018

Steering

POWER STEERING LOCKED WHEN DRIVING ONTO RAMP. CARS ALMOST HIT ME , I WAS ABLE TO GO TO CURB. CARS GOING FAST AND ALMOST HIT!

NHTSA ODI #11102822

152,651 miles · Jun 15, 2018

Steering

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11102214

99,000 miles · May 22, 2018

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN CHEVROLET (12475 PLAZA DRIVE, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE …

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NHTSA ODI #11097266

107,000 miles · May 4, 2018

Steering

MAY 4TH 2018 I WAS DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND TIGHTEN UP, I PULLED OVER AND PUT ON HAZARD LIGHTS , IT FELT IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE , POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, I SHUT CAR OFF THAT TURNED BACK ON PROCEEDED TO PULL ON TO HIGHWAY AND CAR SEEMED FINE AGAIN , I AM SCARED TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11091684

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2018

Steering

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY GOES OUT

NHTSA ODI #11090872

89,000 miles · Apr 26, 2018

Steering

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POWER STEERING ISSUE STARTED IN DECEMBER 2017 TO PRESENT. WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THIS HAS HAPPEN 34 TIMES I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR PROBLEM WENT A AWAY 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON DOWN THE STREET AND HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT. HAVE TO STOP TURN THE CAR OFF. RESTART THE CAR. CHEVY ON JANUARY 26, 2018 I HAVE CALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL THE NUMBER IS 15356 CORPORATE OFFICE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER SEE IF A CODE SHOWS UP IF THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. AND NO CODE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE TOLD THEM ANYTHING HAPPENS I WILL HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY RAN A TEST TOLD ME NO CODE CAME UP.THE LAST TIME WAS NOT GOOD. ON APRIL 25 2018 I HAVE TO START MY CAR 3 TIMES DO TO THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING SERVICE ESC THEN ESC IS OFF. WHEN LEAVE FROM THE PLACE I WAS AT THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT HAD TO COME TO A STOP. TURN THE CAR OFF, AND ON SO I COULD DRIVE HOME. THIS 2 TIMES ON THE SAME NIGHT. MILEAGE WAS AROUND 89,000 NOT SURE

NHTSA ODI #11090210

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2018

Steering

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WE GOT THIS 2010 MALIBU ABOUT A MONTH AGO. ON APRIL 12, 2010 I HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY 9. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 25 MINUTES AND WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL. FEW DAYS AGO WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY. AGAIN, WE HAD TO PARK IT ON THE SHOULDER AND WHEN WE TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST SHOP AND THE MECHANICS THERE CHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID ALL CHEVYS WITH TRACTION CONTROL ARE LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S POURING RAIN OR WHEN IT'S TOO COLD, AND I BELIEVE THEY WERE TELLING THE TRUTH BECAUSE I USUALLY HAVE ALL THESE ESC/TRACTION AND STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHTS ONLY WHEN IT'S RAIINING OR TOO COLD. PLEASE HELP US AS WE HAVE KIDS AND DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE RISK. THANKS!

NHTSA ODI #11089160

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)