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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74,000 miles · Jan 5, 2014

Steering

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I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 30-35 MPH, THE ROADS WERE WET AND SLUSHY FROM A RECENT SNOW STORM. SUDDENLY I LOST ALL POWER TO STEER....CAR DID NOT STALL, I WAS JUST UNABLE TO STEER. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO STEER CORRECTLY....I WENT INTO THE SNOW. I SUFFER FROM A NEURO-MUSCULAR DISEASE (MS) SO I HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE CAR, WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE FAULT MESSAGE ON THE DASH DISAPPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I WAS ABLE TO BACK THE CAR OUT AND CONTINUE TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. TODAY I PUT A CALL INTO THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR TO SEE IF THEIR HAD BEEN SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE POWER-STEERING COMPONENTS. MY NEXT CALL TOMORROW WILL BE TO CHEVY. I LIVE IN A SNOWY PART OF THE COUNTRY AND I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND I SEE MANY OTHERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS I AM LIVING ON A LIMITED INCOME....SOCIAL SECURITY. IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T CHEVROLET RECALLED THESE CARS TO MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO OTHERS. WHILE I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS CAR...IT WAS BOUGHT FOR ME BY MY BOYFRIEND. THE NAME ON THE REGISTRATION IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558539

18,000 miles · Dec 3, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LAMP WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. T…

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NHTSA ODI #10554683

52,000 miles · Dec 2, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF MOMENTARILY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF WOULD LEAK WHENEVER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10554376

72,440 miles · Nov 27, 2013

Steering

I WAS DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY I CAME TO A REDLIGHT AND MADE A COMPLETE STOP. AS I WAS READY TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED, POWER STEERING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON MY DASH AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WITHOUT MAKING A STRONG EFFORT WITH MY TWO HANDS TO TURN IT. THERE…

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NHTSA ODI #10553977

72,440 miles · Nov 27, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DE…

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NHTSA ODI #10553975

53,896 miles · Nov 25, 2013

Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR LOST POWER. SEVERAL VEHICLES ALMOST STRUCK ME ON HIGHWAY, VERY VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. . DURING DRIVING, FOLLOWING MESSAGES APPEARED: 1)ENG PWR REDUCED 2)SERVICE ESC 3)SERVICE TRACTION 4)ESC OFF 5) SERVICE AIRBAG. I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR SHUDDERED EXTREMELY BAD. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE I WAS NOT COMPRESSING THE BRAKE, AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE RPM JUMPED BETWEEN 3000-4000. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR APPROX 5 MIN. THE WARNING MESSAGES DISAPPEARED, HOWEVER SES LIGHT REMAINED. 2 CODES PRESENTED TODAY. 1)C0242 2)P2135. WILL BE CONTACTING CUSTOMER CARE, AND TAKING CAR TO DEALER TOMORROW. EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NOT ALONE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE. CAR STILL RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING FOR SERVICE AIRBAG. -----------------------HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MYTMB6QOD4Y. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553649

45,678 miles · Sep 29, 2013

Steering

CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. TURN SWITCH OFF AN ON APPEAR TO GET IT GOING FOR A WHILE. NOW CONTINUE TO DO SO. CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546067

60,500 miles · Sep 7, 2013

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR WENT INTO A SKID FOR NO REASON THIS HAD HAPPEND MORE THEN ONCE THERE WAS DASHLIGHTS THAT WOULD COME ON ONE WAS THE ESC AND TCS BUT THEY WOULD GO BACK OFF RIGHT AWAY . I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODES . BUT THEY THINK THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE THEY RELEARNED THE POWER STEERING SENSOR . SO I PICK UP MY CAR BUT NOT HAVEING MY CAR MORE THEN 10 MIN ALL LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON I CALL THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND TOLD THEM . SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON 8/21/13 THIS TIME THEY FOUND A CODE AND REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN . I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUES.FOR A CAR TO GO SKIDDING AND LOCKING UP .

NHTSA ODI #10542423

20,000 miles · Jul 3, 2013

Steering

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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE I GOT THIS CAR IN 2010, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES, TO TURN WHEN PARALLEL PARKING. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN EXTREME ROTATION, IT BECOMES VERY RIGID AND DIFFICULT TO TURN, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO AND OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPOT. MOREOVER, ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE SPOT AND ON THE ROAD AGAIN, IT TAKES SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BACK TO "NORMAL." I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT TOLD ME NO PARTS WOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT NOTHING WAS PER SE "DEFECTIVE." THIS NOTWITHSTANDING, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY OTHER TIME I PARALLEL PARK AND HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN EXTREME ROTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523051

64,965 miles · Mar 22, 2013

Electrical SystemSteering

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2011 AND HAD NOTICED A FEW TIMES DURING WINTER THAT WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM AND THE HEATER FAN WOULD SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN. NOTHING REALLY EVER HAPPENED TO MAKE ME THINK THERE WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE. I WOULD NOTICE IT WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY THROUGH OUT THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. EARLY IN MARCH, 2013, I HAD NOTICED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THERE WOULD BE A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT JUST READ POWER STEERING. THIS WOULD ONLY LAST FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, AND THEN IT WOULD GO AWAY AND THE STEERING WOULD BE FINE. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE COLD WEATHER. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 15, I HAD STOPPED AT A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES, WAS HAVING NO ISSUES THAT I COULD TELL. I GOT INTO MY CAR TO LEAVE THE LAST STOP, STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I DIDN'T SEE A MESSAGE AT FIRST AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER THERE WERE 4 DINGS AND THE DASH SAID POWER STEERING AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY SLUGGISH. I'D BEEN HALF EXPECTING IT TO START WORKING AGAIN, BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH A REP AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE, THEY TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST MOTOR ON THE RACK-AND-PINION HAD SHORTED, CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW WHICH WAS SOMETHING GM HAD ALREADY PUT A RECALL OUT FOR OTHER VEHICLES, EXCEPT MY MODEL YEAR. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY RECALL THAT WAS OUT ON THE CAR AT THE MOMENT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR AND I WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THAT SOON. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE WHAT GM WILL COVER FOR REPAIRS, BUT HONESTLY I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR A PROBLEM THAT GM DIDN'T FIX RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504174

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)