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

7,000 miles · May 15, 2014

Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL AND SERVICE PERFORMED. CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE. I RETURNED FOR SERVICE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH MILEAGE READING OF 33,000. PAID $93 TO HAVE DIELECTRIC GREASE ADDED TO IN LINE CONNECTOR. SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT NOW ON S…

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NHTSA ODI #10588579

700 miles · May 14, 2014

Structure

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

NHTSA ODI #10588270

96,000 miles · May 13, 2014

Steering

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I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF SOMETIMES. SETTING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT THE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAKS THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO TAKE OFF EVEN WHEN ITS IN PARK DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT WOULD SLOW DOWN BY IT SELF AND THEN SPEED UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG ONES SAID I JUST NEEDED A BATTERY TRIED TO SALE ME ONE FOR $268.00 I END UP BUYING ONE FROM A AUTO STORE. AFTER THAT WENT BACK PAID THEM $542.00 FOR SERVICES AND THE CAR STILL DOING THE SAME THING. LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2010 MALIBU WITH THE RECALL NUMBER 93696 ON THE POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR THE POSITION INDICATION BUT THEY SAID THAT'S NOT MY VEHICLE SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO RECALLS ON THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU LT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ESC LIGHT COMES ON SOME OTHER 3 LETTER ALPHABET LIGHT COMES ON. WHEEL TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME IF IT READS THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE IS LOW WHEN YOU CHECK IT IT'S THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE THAT'S IT READING ALL INDICATORS ARE WRONG. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IF I TRADE THE CAR IN THEN I WOULD BE UPSIDE DOWN PAYING FOR THAT CAR STILL. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PUT THE CAR TOGETHER SO THEY SHOULD FIGURE IT OUT. I KNOW THEY ARE AWARE THAT SOMETHINGS IS WRONG THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT KEEP TELLING ME TO BRING IT BACK MEAN WHILE THEY JUST KEEP MAKING MONEY OFF OF ME, AND THE CAR STILL NOT RUNNING RIGHT THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED, DRIVING THESE DEFECTED CHEVY VEHICLES. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE WHOLE CAR OR REPLACE THEM. LOOK LIKE CHEVY MADE A LEMON THAT THEY CAN'T FIX ARE WANT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588207

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2014

Steering

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IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND JANUARY OF THIS YEAR I HAD SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. IN PARTICULAR, I HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE WHETHER IT WAS IN PARK OR DRIVE. ONCE I STARTED THE VEHICLE I WOULD GET A FLASH MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE AND/OR TURN THE WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE, INCLUDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A BAD TORQUE SENSOR. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AND AM SEEKING A REIMBURSEMENT GIVEN THE FACT THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE BEING COMPENSATED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THE 2009 VEHICLE IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING AFFECTED, BUT NOT THE 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587565

111,000 miles · May 8, 2014

Steering

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I OWN A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU. MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NUMBER IN THE NHTSA DATA BASE IS 10575915. THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE WELL KNOW INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) LOSS FOR RECALL BULLETIN: 14116. HOWEVER THIS BULLETIN ONLY COVERS UP TO 2009 CHEVY MALIBUS. I OWN A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU WITH THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ISSUE. AFTER A PHONE CALL AND WAITING SEVERAL DAYS FOR A RETURN CALL FROM GM HELP DESK I CALLED BACK AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING MY CAR TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO CONFIRM THAT I HAVE THIS SAME ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ISSUE. IT WAS VERIFIED THAT I DO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF CARS ARE BEING RECALLED ABOUT. IT WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT I DO NOT TAKE THE CAR OFF THE LOT WITHOUT GETTING IT REPAIRED FOR THE REASON OF A SAFETY ISSUE LOSING POWER STEERING. I DID OBJECT TO THIS REPAIR BUT WAS ASSURED BY GM SUPPORT THAT A BULLETIN COVERING MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU WOULD BE COMING OUT AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND I WOULD RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT FORM. HESITANT, I DID DO THE REPAIR OF $996. AFTER A WEEK OF CALLING GM SUPPORT WITH ESCALATING MY SITUATION AND MANY UNRETURNED PHONE CALLS I WAS PERSISTENT IN CALLING BACK. UNFORTUNATELY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE CONFIRMED ISSUE AS THE RECALL BULLETIN 14116 FOR THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING THAT IS COVERED ONLY UNTIL 2009. MY 2010 IS NOT COVERED AND THERE IS NO RECALL BULLETIN ANYONE IS AWARE OF THAT WILL COVER THIS ISSUE FOR THE REASON MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE YEARS, IF IT EVER WILL HAPPEN AT ALL. THIS IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGING THAT IT WAS OFFICIALLY VERIFIED THAT I HAVE THE SAME EPS ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF CARS ARE RECEIVING REPAIRS AND MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE YEAR AND VIN NUMBER. EVEN MORE DISCOURAGING IS THAT GM WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IN THIS ISSUE. WHY DID WE EVER BAIL THIS COMPANY OUT WITH TAXPAYER MONEY? TOO BIG TO FAIL? TOO BIG TO CARE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587209

149,000 miles · May 8, 2014

Steering

WAS DRIVING A CURVY ROAD WHEN A DIGITAL WARNING ON THE COLUMN SOUNDED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE. I CHECKED WENT A GOT THE STEERING FIXED AT A DEALER SHIP AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 2008-2009 MALIBU, THE 2009 AND 2010 HHR AND THE 2010 COBALTS …

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NHTSA ODI #10587177

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2014

Air BagsPower TrainSeats

2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, SHE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. ALSO, THE AIR BAG ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TWICE, WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT WO…

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NHTSA ODI #10585889

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2014

Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

2010 CHEVY MALIBU PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR LOCK IS IN THE UNLOCK POSITION BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE UNLOCKED THE PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON, THE KEY REMOTE AND THE PHYSICAL KEY. THE LOCK ITSELF GOES UP AND DOWN WHEN THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED AND KEY REMOTE BUTTON IS PRESSED, …

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NHTSA ODI #10585850

116,000 miles · May 1, 2014

Steering

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I STARTED MY CAR TO BACK UP AND THE SERVICE ESC INDICATOR CAME ON AND THEN THE SERVICE POWER STEERING CAME ON. I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED BACKING UP BUT COULD BARELY MOVE THE CAR. I ENDED UP SHUTTING THE CARE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. THIS WENT ON FOR A DAY OR SO. ONCE WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT PART OF THE HIGH WAY, WITH CHILDREN INSIDE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE RECALL ON ALL MODELS PRIOR TO MY 2010 AND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHY DOESN'T GM EXTEND THE WARRANTY OR PAY FOR THIS. IT IS COSTING ME $700 TO BE FIXED. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN IS BEING REPLACED. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 14 DAYS. THIS IS SO WRONG AND I WILL NEVER EVER BOY ANOTHER GM CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585832

82,000 miles · Apr 30, 2014

Service BrakesInjury

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ON THIS DATE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART ON VACATION. I GOT IN MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. IT WAS IN PARK. I INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO CALL AAA. WHILE SHE WAS GONE I OPENED THE DOOR TO TRY AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. FOOLISHLY I GOT BEHIND THE CAR TO STOP IT AND GOT SANDWICHED BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE NEIGHBORS. I BROKE BOTH MY LEGS, HAD SURGERY AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A MONTH AND AM HAVING THERAPY AND CANNOT WALK OR WORK. I REPORTED THIS TO GM IN LIVONIA MICHIGAN AS INSTRUCTED BY MY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. SINCE THEN TWICE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND HAS STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. SINCE I CANNOT WORK AND COULD NOT PAY MY BILLS I HAVE HAD TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585642

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)