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

22,000 miles · Jul 5, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS HIT DIRECTLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER T-BONED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS INJURED WITH A CONCUSSION AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS INJURED AS WELL. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE IMPACT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. UP…

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NHTSA ODI #10608368

43,345 miles · Jul 3, 2014

Power Train

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I DRIVE A CHEVY MALIBU 2010. AROUND 3 PM I HAD BARELY DROP OF MY WIFE AT HER WORK SITE. WHEN I WAS DOING A U TURN TO HEAD BACK HOME I HAD THE REVERSE GEAR TO BACK UP BUT HAS SOON HAS I PUT THE DRIVE GEAR MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED THE REST OF THE GEARS BUT NONE WORK. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BLOCKING TRAFFIC. MY CAR IS LIKE STUCK IN THE PARKING GEAR MODE AND EVEN THOUGH I TRY THE OTHER DRIVING GEARS NONE OF THEM WORK. I CALLED THE AGENCY AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO BRING IT IN. I TOLD THE AGENT TO DO ALL THE RECALL THAT WERE OUT FOR MY VEHICLE. THE AGENT SAID HE WOULD CALL ME WHEN THIS WAS DONE. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM MY CAR TILL THIS POINT. I WAS LOOKING UP THE RECALLS AND FOUND ONE WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT IT'S ONLY FOR CHEVY MALIBU 2013.THIS RECALL NUMBER IS 14048. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 MODELS. THE MILES ON MY VEHICLE ARE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 43,300. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608155

60,000 miles · Jul 2, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10607706

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

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2014

Power Train

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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT RED LIGHTS AND/OR DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. I REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER AND BECAUSE THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT REPLICATE OR GET AN ERROR MESSAGE I WAS DISMISSED. UPON DISMISSAL AT THE DEALERSHIP THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AGAIN. I NOTIFIED ONSTAR AND REFUSED TO MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT A TOW. ONLY THEN DID MY DEALER BEGRUDGINGLY REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT BOLT IT DOWN. ANOTHER DEALER FINISHED THE REPAIR. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, CONSIDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GENERAL MOTORS, THIS IS ANOTHER MODEL THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607456

27,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED KNEE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10607389

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

59,207 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

REAR EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN BRAKE WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MORE FIRMLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606979

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

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)