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

15,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014

EngineSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN COOLER WEATHER, THE POWER STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY SHAKY AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE STEERING WAS COLD, THERE WAS A CHATTER AND A CONSTANT GROWLING NOISE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 08/26/14

NHTSA ODI #10605580

79,984 miles · Jun 23, 2014

Steering

POWER STEERING ASSIST SHAKES STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH WHILE OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEELS TURN RAPIDLY LEFT TO RIGHT. HAVE ALSO HAD TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN DASH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND POWER ASSIST STEERING DOES NOT WORK. SEEMS LIKE 2010 MODEL MALIBU SHOULD ALSO BE ADDED TO THE RECENT STEERING RECA…

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NHTSA ODI #10605184

62,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014

Structure

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $200. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMA…

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NHTSA ODI #10605137

78,000 miles · Jun 21, 2014

Steering

STARTED THE CAR ONE MORNING AND HEARD A CHIME, THEN OBSERVED POWER STEERING WARNING ON THE DISPLAY. STEERING NEEDS MORE EFFORT THAN USUAL EVER SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604948

28,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED AND SHUT OFF WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ESC OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TRACTION IN THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604782

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

MULTIPLE ERROR MESSAGES APPEARING IN DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WITH DASH COMPUTER GIVING OUT RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES STATING SERVICE AIRBAG AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON BURNED OUT MY BATTERY. GEAR SHIFT MAKES LOUD BOOMING NOISE WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING CAR JOLTS AND HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REF…

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NHTSA ODI #10598797

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

89,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU LT (ECOTECH ENGINE), THE ENGINE STARTS TO STUTTER AND THE ESC SHUTS OFF AND CLAIMS IT NEEDS SERVICING. THE ESC WILL GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. I HAVE HAD THE CODES READ MULTIPLE TIMES AND CHANGED MULTIPLE PARTS BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT KEEPS STATING THAT THERE IS A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 1. HAVE CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS. THE STUTTERING HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS, INCLUDING WHILE ACCELERATING AND IDLING. THERE'S ALSO BEEN TIMES OF TOUGH STEERING AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE NOTICED IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN LATE SPRING THROUGH SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE ARE HIGHER. I HAVE CHECKED AND THERE IS NOT A CRACK IN THE HEAD GASKET OR THE HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598655

75,000 miles · Jun 14, 2014

Steering

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WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE ON MY 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU, THE INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING" AND SERVICE ESC" AND WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 200 FEET IN A PARKING LOT, I REALIZED STEERING WAS TOO DIFFICULT AND DRIVING THE CAR WAS UNSAFE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND LUCKILY THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, I HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR AGAIN OVER 20 TIMES BETWEEN 2/2014 TO 4/2014. FOR MY OWN SAFETY AND FEAR THAT THE ISSUE COULD WORSEN AND APPEAR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING, I PROACTIVELY TOOK THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. HERE IS THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND FIX: CAUSE CODE: C0545 TORQUE SENSOR CORRECTIVE ACTION: REPLACED STEERING COLUMN I HAVE ALSO OPENED A CASE# WITH GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND RESOLUTION AS OUTLINED IN THE RECENT 31MAR2014 (ELECTRIC) POWER STEERING RECALL FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: [ HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML ]. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, HOWEVER, INDICATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER/VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. I AM CONTACTING THE NHTSA TO INFORM THEM THAT VEHICLES NOT LISTED UNDER THE ABOVE RECALL, NAMELY THE 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU, POTENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM/SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRE THE SAME REPAIR. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA ENCOURAGES GENERAL MOTORS TO REASSESS THE VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL AND EXTEND THE RECALL TO ALSO INCLUDE THE 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU MODEL YEAR. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598259

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

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)