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

Structure complaints

44 reports

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118,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015

StructureUnknown Or Other

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I WENT TO OPEN MY FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR (FROM THE OUTSIDE) AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I CLIMBED THROUGH THE PASSENGER FRONT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE...IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. USING THE PALM OF MY HAND, I BUMPED THE EFFECTED DOOR ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR PANEL, BY THE HANDLE AND IT OPENED. I LUBED THE INSIDE DOOR CATCH AREA AS MUCH AS I COULD AND IT SEEMED OK. 48 HOURS LATER, I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES DURING THIS TIME FRAME WHERE I WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT BOUNCED BACK OPEN AGAIN. IT SEEMS THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEVER CAUGHT THE POST ON THE FRAME. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. AN ELDERLY OR DISABLED DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. NOT EVERYONE IS PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF FOLDING THEMSELVES UP AND CLIMBING OVER THE ARMREST INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO, IT STANDS TO REASON THAT IF THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH SHUT, IT MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10763610

112,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015

Structure

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WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. AFTER SHUTTING IT SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT IT LATCHING, IT FINALLY STAYED SHUT. I HAVE NOW BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR SINCE. THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID THE SAME THING, AND I WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOOR. I HAD TO CRAWL TO THE BACK SEAT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENS NOW, BUT STILL DOESN'T SHUT PROPERLY AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK

NHTSA ODI #10747491

106,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015

Service BrakesStructureInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME PLATING ON ALL THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WAS PEELING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN MINOR CUTS ON THE HAND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ESN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10735135

80,000 miles · Jun 29, 2015

Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE FRONT INTERIOR PASSENGER DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAG…

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NHTSA ODI #10730958

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2015

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK SPORADICALLY WORKED ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BACK INTO PARK VARIOUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS MOLDING IN THE DOOR FRAME. …

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NHTSA ODI #10730668

86,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015

Structure

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ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE THE 2ND WEEK IN APRIL I TRIED TO OPEN MY CAR DOOR USING MY KEY AS I TURNED, ALTHOUGH T2/15HE LOCK LOCKS AND UNLOCKS, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TRIED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT JUST BOUNCED BACK OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER HERE IN PA AT WHICH TIME THE DOOR LATCH CONNECTED WITH NO SIGNS OF AN ISSUE. THE SERVICE TECH LOOKED AND THE LATCH AND SAID TO ME, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, JUST LIFT UP THE LATCH AND THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM. YESTERDAY, I GO TO LUNCH, OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I GO TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I ASKED A TECHNICIAN FROM MY JOB TO SEE IF HE CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO LET ME OUT AND IT DID NOT OPEN, I HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND LEAVE ALL LOCKS SO I COULD GET IN THROUGH PASSENGERS SIDE TO GO BACK HOME. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH MECHANIC ON 4/22/15. TWO WEEKS AGO MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON. I'VE HAD OIL AND OTHER THINGS CHECKED TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10725797

77,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015

StructureVisibility/wiper

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OUR CHEVY MALIBU WAS BROAD SIDED ON THE RIDERS SIDE AT 10:10 AM ON THE FORTH OF APRIL, 2015. THIS WAS AT A YIELD INTERSECTION IN AIKEN, SC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH THIS CAR WITH VEHICLES COMING FROM THE LEFT. THIS ACCICENT WAS CLEARLY MY FAULT. HOWEVER, A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE WIDTH OF THE POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DOOR ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. WE OWN A 2005 SIMILAR MALIBU AND THE WIDTH OF THAT POST IS MUCH NARROWER AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SEEING VEHICLES COMING AT US FROM THE LEFT SIDE. HOWEVER, THE 2010 MALIBU HAS A MUCH WIDER POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DOOR AND IS SUFFICIENT TO HIDE VEHICLES COMING FROM THE LEFT. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A DESIGN SAFETY FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEERS. . I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE SIMILAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR DATA BASE TO CONFIRM SAME. OUR CAR WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE COLLISION AND IS CURRENTLY IN A BODY SHOP BEING REPAIRED. HOWEVER, I AM NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT KNOWING THAT THIS HAZORDOUS CONDITION STILL EXISTS. THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO YOUR AGENCY IN CASE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME CONDITION AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONVINCE GM THAT THEY HAVE CREATED A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE. THE WIDTH OF THIS COLUMN ON THE 2005 MALIBU IS 4 INCHES. THE WIDTH OF THE COLUMN ON THE 2010 MALIBU HAS TO ABE A GOOD SIX INCHES OR MORE SUFFICIENT TO BLOCK THE VIEW FROM THE DRIVERS SEET OF ONCOMING VEHICLES FROM THE LEFT. THANKS FOR YOU CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705258

69,000 miles · Apr 10, 2015

Structure

DRIVERS DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AT TIMES. DRIVERS DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704894

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2015

Electrical SystemStructure

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER, ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES NOW (SINCE LATE 2014) WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON ALL OCCASIONS. FIRST THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUSE PANEL, AFTER IT LOST POWER AND QUIT RUNNING AFTER LESS THAN 10 MILES THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER. WE JUST GOT IT BACK SATURDAY 2/14/2015 AND TODAY 2/17/2015 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. LAST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH GROUNDS 104 & 107 AND DID A GLOBAL RESET. WE HAVE E-MAILED THE CEO OF GM AND SPOKEN TO AN EXECUTIVE FROM HEADQUARTERS. THEY DON'T SEEM TO COMPREHEND THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE THAT WILL LOSE POWER AT ANY TIME. PLEASE HELP US. IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. WE ARE UNSURE OF EXACT DATE/DATES OF EACH INCIDENT. THE DATE STATED ABOVE IS AN ESTIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683955

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2014

Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

DEC 16. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES OPENING AND CLOSING MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE LATCH WON'T HOOK CORRECTLY. I HAVE THE DOOR CLOSE, BECAUSE IF I OPEN IT WON'T CLOSE. IT'S DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUT SIDE. RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON…

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NHTSA ODI #10667525

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)