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

89,700 miles · Feb 10, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. I PULLED OVER, TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING CAME BACK TO NORMAL AND LIGHTS WENT OFF ONLY TO COME BACK ON AND LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. NOW I CAN HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS JERKING. I WILL BE CONTACTING GM ABOUT THIS AS I SEE THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL 2010 CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TO NO AVAIL. NOT GOOD! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563696

56,000 miles · Feb 9, 2014

Latches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU ( AND OTHER VEHICLES SIMILARLY EQUIPPED) WERE MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. THIS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLE OWNERS. THESE DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS WILL FAIL AND BEGIN CYCLING WITHOUT ANY INPUT BY THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. A TYPICAL VEHICLE WILL BE LOCKED BY THE OPERATOR USING THE KEY FOB AND WHEN THE OPERATOR RETURNS, THE DOORS WILL HAVE BEEN UNLOCKED ESSENTIALLY BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR PERSONS TRAVELING THROUGH HIGH CRIME AREAS THINKING THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND THE DOOR HAS UNLOCKED BY ITSELF. CARJACKERS ARE NOT DETERRED BY AN UNLOCKED DOOR. ALSO, IT PLACES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN DANGER OF BEING PARTIALLY EJECTED IN A ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT DUE TO THE UNLOCKED CONDITION OF THE DOOR WHICH HAS UNLOCKED ITSELF, AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY ACTION BY THE OPERATOR OR PASSENGER. THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE AND GM DEALERS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CHARGE $300 TO $500 PER DOOR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE REGARDING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE OVERALL VEHICLE SAFETY WHICH SHOULD LAST LONG AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS ARE ALREADY MALFUNCTIONING. THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF GM CONSUMERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL GEN 7 MALIBU AND ANY OTHER GM VEHICLES WHICH WERE EQUIPPED WITH THESE DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE FACTORY ACTUATORS WITH NON-DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENTS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563620

95,000 miles · Feb 6, 2014

Steering

OUR 2010 MALIBU STARTED HAVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMING ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. AFRAID WE WILL LOOSE POWER AND NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563244

38,000 miles · Feb 3, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT PRESSING THE BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF WITHOUT TAPPING THE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED . I CYCLE POWER TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN COMES BACK ON. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS THE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10562785

140,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014

Steering

THE POWER STEERING SENSOR IS BAD AND TO REPAIR IT THEY SAY THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND WOULD BE BAD IF THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SO FAR THE STEERING HAS ONLY FAILED WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THREE DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561893

84,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014

Electrical SystemSeats

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK REST. THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT THAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE SEAT OVERNIGHT. THE HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE WIRES VISIBLE IN THE BURNED HOLE THAT WAS IN THE BACK REST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 4/1/14*CN THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE WIRES HAD SHORTED AND BURNED OUT. UPDATED 04/23/14

NHTSA ODI #10561857

89,500 miles · Jan 27, 2014

Steering

Read full complaint

TRAVELING APPROX 40MPH, ESC SENSOR WENT OFF AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS BEGINNING A RIGHT HAND TURN. TURNED OFF THE CAR AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND RESTARTED, SERVICE ESC LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WERE BACK TO NORMAL. CONTINUED TO HAVE THE INTERMITTENT ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO NOW WHERE IT STAYS ON. CAR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL, BUT TURNING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WOULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME PEOPLE. GM SERVICE IS $900 FOR A NEW POWER STEERING MOTOR + LABOR. I GENERALLY AM WILLING TO PAY TO GET SERVICE, BUT ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS AND MANY MODELS OF GM VEHICLES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE WARRANTIED/RECALLED OUTSIDE OF BUMPER TO BUMPER AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF IT WERE TO GO OFF AND BE THE CAUSE OF ANY ACCIDENT. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, IT HAS WARRANTIED IN THE PAST BASED ON THE MALIBU FORUM INFORMATION (2008 AND PREVIOUS). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561689

41,564 miles · Jan 23, 2014

Wheels

WE HAD TO CONTINUALLY ADD AIR TO ONE TIRE. THINKING WE A HAD A NAIL, WE TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP. THE RIM WAS DEFECTIVE. THAT WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD 41,564 MILES. WE REPLACED IT. ANOTHER RIM WENT BAD AFTER 50,688 MILES. RIMS SHOULD NOT GO BAD. THERE MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE FABRICATION OF THE RIMS AND MALIBU OWNERS ARE PAYING F…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10561197

28,000 miles · Jan 19, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

Read full complaint

I WAS TRAVELLING SOUTH ON A 4 LANE ROAD THAT HAS A TURN LANE IN THE MIDDLE. MY 2 RIGHT LANES WERE STOPPED SO I PROCEEDED INTO THE TURN LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE MY LEFT TURN A CAR CAME ACROSS THE STOPPED LANES AND PROCEEDED TO PULL I FRONT OF ME TAKING OFF THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING SEVERE PAIN IN MY CHEST. I AM SURE THAT MY TRAUMA WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560571

31,240 miles · Jan 15, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WE WERE DRIVING ON OUR WAY HOME FROM CHURCH MY WIFE AND I AT 45 MPH WHEN WE LOST THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT NOTICE.THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS A MIRACLE I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AT THE RATE OF SPEED THAT WE WERE GOING CONSIDERING I AM A [XXX] YEAR OLD DIABETIC. THANK YOU JESUS! *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUME…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10560133

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)