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

What owners actually said

1,360 reports

40,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Service Brakes

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WHEN I START DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE STREET THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. IF I TAP THE PEDDLE THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THE COME BACK ON AGAIN AND STAY ON. WHEN I TOUCH THE BRAKES TOSLOW DOWN THEY GO OFF AND DO NOT COME ON UNTIL I APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THEM. THE TRACTION SERVICE LIGHTS COMES ON SPORADICALLY HAVE TAKEN THIS IN TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY CANT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE ON IT. WHAT AM I TO DO. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615604

59,850 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Steering

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MY 2010 MALIBU IS NOW MAKING A CREAKY/CLUNKY NOISE WHEN STEERING INTO A TURN. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS. I KNOW THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN PRIOR MODEL YEARS. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT / TRACTION CONTROL / CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES UNDER RECALL # 13036. THERE HAS BEEN NO DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE POWER STEERING AS I WILL BRING THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION WHEN I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE KNOWN RECALL REPAIRS. THE CAR IS NOW GROUNDED UNTIL THE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE AS IT IS JUST TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615558

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

75,000 miles · Jul 20, 2014

Wheels

FACTORY INSTALL STEEL RIM IS LEAKING AIR AT THE RIM WELD SEAL. UNREPAIRABLE AND POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PURCHASE CERTIFIED VEHICLE LAST YEAR (JUNE 2013) WITH A TWO (2) YEAR WARRANT. WAS INFORMED RIM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AFTER ONE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614865

82,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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LOW BEAM FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT OUT. HAD HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONLY FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OUT 1 WEEK LATER. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT NHTSA/GM FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFRAID FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN RAIN/FOG AND SO FOURTH, AS WELL AS A TRAFFIC FINE FOR DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO NUMEROUS FORUMS ONLINE ( CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM & MOTOTREND.COM/CARS/2010/CHEVROLET/MALIBU WITH DRIVERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614573

114,162 miles · Jul 17, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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IN JANUARY OF 2014 , MY FATHER NOTICED THERE WAS A HUGE DARK SPOT ON MY SIDE OF THE DRIVE WAY. SO LATER IN THE DAY I TAKE MY CAR TO VALVOLINE AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT MY CARE IS LEAKING OIL. I TAKE THE CAR TO SALLAS AUTO SHOP AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY CARS AXEL SHAFT HAS A LOT OF PLAY, WHICH IS CAUSING THE AXEL SEAL TO LEAK, WHICH SHOULDNT BE THE CASE BECAUSE IT WAS REPAIRED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY DEEM MY CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY HAVE ME LEAVE MY CAR AT THE SHOP SO THEY CAN FIX IT. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER ITS LEAKING AGAIN SO I TAKE IT BACK TO THEM AND THEY CANT REALLY FIGURE OUT WHY ITS STILL LEAKING SO THEY DO A FULL BODY INSPECTION AND FIND THAT, NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN LEAKING BUT ITS BEEN SHOOTING SHRAP METAL INTO MY TRANSMISSION(CAUSING ME TO LATER HAVE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION). SO I TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HE TRIES TO FIX IT AND CLAIMS HE STOPPED THE LEAK. NOT TRUSTING HIS SKILLS I FINALLY TAKE IT TO CHEVY AND AFTER HAVING IT "FIXED" SEVERAL PRIOR TIMES, CHEVY ACTUALLY FIXES IT THIS TIME AROUND. APPARENETLY THERE IS A SPECIAL TOOL THAT HAS TO BE USED TO REPAIR THIS PARTICULAR PART THAT NOT A LOT OF MECHANICS HAVE, BUT CHEVY DOES. IVE DONE MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE LEAK MY CAR WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE FOR PREVENTION OF AN ACCIDENT, I WAS OUT OF A CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AS WELL AS THE COSTS OF GETTING THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611321

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

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2014

Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610888

90,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE GM DEALER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED THE "BRAKE SIGNAL" AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN I CALLED GM DEALER LAST WEEK, THEY STATED THAT THE "CHARGES WOULD BE AT LEAST $150 TO CONNECT TO THE COMPUTER AND RUN DIAGNOSTICS". WELL, SINCE I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 FOR THE LAST 3 VISITS, WHERE THEY DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND FIXED SOMETHING WAS NOT TORN UP, WHY WOULD I WASTE MONEY ON THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL.. GM STATES THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD FOR ONE YEAR ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY ARE RECALLING THE 2010 CHEV MALIBU FOR AT THIS TIME. SUPPOSEDLY, THEY WILL RECALL MINE LATER.. I GUESS I JUST WAIT AND HOPE I DO NOT HAVE A WRECK UNTIL THEN. DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY FEEL AS IF I HAVE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUMPED IT. THE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS THEN COME ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS THEN COME ON WHEN I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED. WHEN I DO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS BEGAN. IT ALSO USES MORE GAS SINCE MY CAR THINKS I AM RIDING MY BRAKES AND PRESSING THE GAS ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610384

41,679 miles · Jul 9, 2014

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILE…

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NHTSA ODI #10609316

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)