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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

116 reports

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81,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CLOCK WAS RESET, THE LOW ENGINE COMPRESSION, AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,401. UPDATED 10/23/14*CN THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/30/14

NHTSA ODI #10615416

34,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS DID THE ESC WARNING LIGHT. I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT WORK. WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WE RESUMED OUR TRIP WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND TRAVELED FOR APPROX. 10 MINUTES. AT THAT POINT THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR NOW, THE WARNING LIGHTS NOW COME ON WITHIN A QUARTER MILE. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERS AND WILL BE REPAIRED. HOPEFULLY. I THINK MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611104

69,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014

Service BrakesTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING ENGAGED AND TURNED OFF WHEN THEY WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TPN SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 8/22/14*CN UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

NHTSA ODI #10607493

91,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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FIRST OCCURRENCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ESC AT 50 MPH. AT FIRST IT WOULD ONLY COME ON ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS BUT NOW IT COMES ON ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. IT VARIES (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) WHETHER OR NOT GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT COMES ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES. I ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD (WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE) BUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU AND THINKS THAT YOU HAVE LET OFF THE BRAKES BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN APPARENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AS I SEE SEVERAL REPORTS FROM VEHICLES RANGING FROM 2008 TO 2012 ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AFTER THIS OCCURS THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. SOMETIMES ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OTHER TIMES FOR A WEEK WEEKS BEFORE IT COMES ON AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WERE NO HELP, DIDN'T EVEN TEST DRIVE IT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED, OTHER PERSON IN CAR SCREAMING AT ME, YELLING I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I JUST HOPE I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607087

95,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014

Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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NHTSA ODI #10606056

52,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014

Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE AND THE STEERING, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…

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NHTSA ODI #10606023

85,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL ALARM WITH "SERVICE ESCAPE" AND "SERVICE TRACTION" --- BRAKE LIGHTS WILL THEN WORK OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD. WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT BEING PRESSED THEY ARE LIT BUT WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY BUT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME. HAVE ALSO HAD CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE ITSELF WHILE D…

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NHTSA ODI #10598715

78,000 miles · Jun 13, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineExterior Lighting

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MY SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. IT CAUSED MY CAR TO STALL, THEN THE ENGINE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC APPROACHING BEHIND ME. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IT CAUSED MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN NOT DEPRESSED AND GO OFF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WAS HAPPENING ALSO AS IT WAS LIGHT OUTSIDE AND I COULD NOT SEE. THE CAR STARTED AFTERWARD AND STILL PERIODICALLY STALLS OR DIES WHEN THE SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHTS UP. AS OF 6-13-14, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTICE THAT MY VIN IS AFFECTED BY THE LATEST RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598239

36,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014

Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10596286

49,800 miles · Jun 2, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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ALL IN ONE WEEKEND (WHILE OUT OF TOWN) FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO CRUISE CONTROL COMMANDS (ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE) IF ENGAGED THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS. THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING OFF AND ON AT RANDOM WHILE EITHER SITTING OR DRIVING. THE ESC TRACKING IS TURNED OFF. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE RANDOMLY WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKES. TAPPING THE BRAKES GETS THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF, BUT IT TURNS ON AGAIN 5-6 SECONDS LATER. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN OR TAP THE BRAKE THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ONLY COMING ON WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE HARD STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE OVER A 40 MINUTE COMMUTE INTO THE CITY EACH DAY. ALSO, THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND BEEPING IS ON EVEN WHEN MY SEATBELT IS SECURED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THESE ITEMS REPLACE, AND I HAVE 4 YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR! THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE ITEMS IN MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595462

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)