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

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

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2014

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PUSHED. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS SITTING IN PARK OR BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED, THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF. NOT ONLY DOES THAT HAPPEN BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE PANEL GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND STAYS ON. THIS IS A HAZARD AS I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. THE FIRST TIME OF THE INCIDENT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER APPLIED SOME KIND OF LUBRICANT. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND HE REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY HAVE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE RECALL AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. [XXX] ARE THEY WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR OR DEATH BEFORE THEY RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEIRSELVES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THEM AGAIN IF THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE RESOLVED. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THEM. REALLY NEED THIS TO BE RESOLVED. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10595326

94,616 miles · May 31, 2014

Service Brakes

WHILE CAR IS ON. BRAKE LIGHTS WORK IN REVERSE. WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS PUSHED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT. WHEN PEDAL IS NOT ENGAGED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON. (WORKS IN REVERSE). SERVICE TRACTION, ECS WARING COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595265

35,626 miles · May 31, 2014

Exterior LightingService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, OCCURRING AT LEAST FIVE TIMES SINCE DATE ABOVE. ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS NOTED: 1. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ENGAGE, OR STOPS ENGAGING. INDICATOR LIGHT ON (/OFF WHEEL TOGGLE SWITCH), BUT NO ENGAGE. 2. "SERVICE ESC" AND ALTERNATING "TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING WITH ALARM TONE ON SPEEDO CLUSTER. ORANGE WARNING TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED, ALSO. 3. BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANT ON, WITH NO FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. OR, BRAKE LIGHTS CAN GO OFF WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONFUSING, POSSIBLY DANGEROUS, TO DRIVERS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING. ONCE AWARE OF THIS, FASHIONED A REFLECTOR FITTING JUST BEHIND THE REAR TOP MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT THAT REFLECTS INTO MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THESE PROBLEMS CAN CLEAR AFTER CAR IS STOPPED FOR A TIME (OVER 45 MINUTES) AND MAY NOT APPEAR AGAIN FOR ANOTHER UNKNOWN INTERVAL. ALREADY REPLACED (MARCH 31, 2014) A BRAKE POSITION SENSOR SWITCH ($186.60 - MY COST) AT LOCAL SELLING CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THIS DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WHEN ASKED, DEALER CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY TSBS OR OF OTHERS HAVING ISSUES SIMILAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595251

45,000 miles · May 29, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ECS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10594910

52,106 miles · May 28, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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APPROACHING 4-WAY STOP SIGN AND CAR BEGAN TO JERK/COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SERVICE TRACTION/ ESC LIGHT CAME ON...HAD ENOUGH POWER TO ROLL INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHUT THE CAR OFF..RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT STOPPED DOING THIS. I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT A CHEVROLET DEALER (I WAS ON A 6 HOUR TRIP AND THIS HAPPENED 2 HOURS INTO MY TRIP:-( I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 8 MILES TO THE DEALER. HAD TO HAVE A PART CALLED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY...BEING SERVICED NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594584

44,112 miles · May 27, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ENGAGE OR EVEN INDICATE THAT IT IS ON WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND SET - BUTTONS ARE APPLIED. THE UPPER REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594400

59,865 miles · May 25, 2014

Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

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UPON ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT VEHICLE BUT THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. IT COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR FROM THE KEY REMOTE, FROM THE BUTTONS ON THE DOOR AND MANUALLY AND TRIED THE KEY IN THE DOOR BUT NOTHING WOULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. ULTIMATELY HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO EXIT VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO DO SO, SOME PEOPLE (DUE TO AGE, HEALTH, SIZE, ETC.) WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. IF I HAD BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE I NEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO HELP ME. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OWNERS OF MANY DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES, NOT JUST THE MALIBU, DATING BACK AT LEAST SIX YEARS. I HOPE THERE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FATALITY DUE TO THIS BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593925

82,000 miles · May 22, 2014

Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

STOPPED BEHIND TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT. NOT SURE HOW FAST THEY WERE GOING, BUT FAST ENOUGH TO HIT THE REAR OF MY CAR 2 TIMES AND PUSH ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE PROBLEM IS-- MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH BACK AND NECK SINCE THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME IN PLACE. THE DRIVERS …

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NHTSA ODI #10593551

38,000 miles · May 22, 2014

Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHTS SHOWING ON AND OFF CHANGE STATUS WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593333

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)