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

50,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A SIDE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, IT IS LIKELY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY. CHEVROLET DID NOT RESPOND TO MY CONCERN AND I ENDED UP TRADING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A NON-GM PRODUCT. VIEWING THE RECENT RECALLS FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (THAT I REALIZE WAS NOT THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR) CAUSED ME TO REPORT THIS IN THE EVENT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573669

53,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND ACROSS THE INFORMATION CENTER SCREEN WILL SCROLL "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION, SERVICE ESC". WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND WHEN STOPPED YOU CAN RELEASE THE WHEEL AND VISUALLY SEE THE STEERING WHEEL JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I CALLED MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CALLS THEY HAVE RECEIVED ON OTHER MALIBU'S SHOWING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AND IT WOULD RUN APPROX. $900. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN THE MODELS 4-8 YEARS PRIOR TO MINE AND THAT THEY WERE ALLOWED TO FIX THOSE PER GM. IF THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE SAME MODEL OF CAR WHY WOULDN'T THAT FIX BE GRANDFATHER FOR FUTURE MODEL YEARS IF SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE? THE ISSUE I WAS TOLD IS FROM A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL ANGLE POSITION AND TORQUE SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573441

94,000 miles · Mar 17, 2014

Steering

THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT...IT HAS GONE OUT ON ME AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND I WENT INTO SOMEONE'S YARD ALMOST HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAVE A HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEELS WHEN IT GOES OUT AND MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR EVERYDAY. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND COULD INJURE SOMEONE. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE A RECALL OR GIVE VOU…

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NHTSA ODI #10572748

69,000 miles · Mar 16, 2014

Power Train

THE TPS SENSOR WAS SHOT. THE WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT. I GOT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BUCKING AND I GOT SCARED BECAUSE THE POWER OF THE ENGINE KEPT FLUCTUATING. I LATER READ ABOUT MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY BY GM! *…

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NHTSA ODI #10572704

59,898 miles · Mar 15, 2014

EnginePower Train

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THE VEHICLE IS A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU WITH LESS THEN 61,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT ON IT 3 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. ALL THREE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AN CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THEY FIXED MY TRANSMISSION THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE. AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS AFTER REPAIRS THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS TRULY DISAPPOINTING, AND IT HAS COST ME MONEY AND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572521

140,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014

EnginePower Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 1V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,700.

NHTSA ODI #10569444

32,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569183

52,157 miles · Mar 10, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A CITY STREET AND THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR'S RPM'S WERE SURGING BACK AND FORTH. I DID MANAGE TO GET THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND GET THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CLEANED OFF AS HE SAID IT WAS DIRTY. NOW THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY IS GOING OFF …

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NHTSA ODI #10568142

95,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED WITH THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568099

80,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014

Electrical System

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NOV 2, 2013, SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AT START, WON'T TURN OFF EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF, RESTARTING. LIGHT STAYS ON APPROX. 1 HR., TURNS OFF AFTER NEXT RESTART. NOV. 10, 2013, HEAR "DING" - DRIVING IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC JUST BEFORE SUNDOWN. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH TURN OFF, INCLUDING RADIO. TURN CAR OFF & RESTART. NO DASH LIGHTS, NO RADIO. TURN DASH LIGHT KNOB "OFF" & THEN "ON". LIGHTS RESET. NOV 28, 2013, DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE "CHOKES" FOR SPLIT SECOND, BUT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. LESS POWERFUL "CHOKES" NEXT 30-45 MINS. SIMILAR SPORADIC EPISODES CONTINUE -- LAST ONE MARCH 1, 2014. INITIALLY THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS BAD GAS/CONTAMINATED FUEL. CHANGED TO MAJOR OIL COMPANIES FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. HASN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THE CAR. IN APRIL & MAY 2013, POWER STEERING SHUT-OFF, AND VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS/DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATED. DEALER FINALLY INSTALLED ENTIRELY NEW FUSE PANEL, AND THOSE PROBLEMS HAVEN'T OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567094

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)