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

104,000 miles · Jun 26, 2017

Power Train

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2010 WITH 5 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I FIRST REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY "BUMPED" WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 30, 000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE. I REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN APPROXIMATELY 90,000 WHEN I TOOK HER IN FOR HER 100,000 SERVICE. WITHIN 4,000 MILES OF THIS COMPLETE CHECK-UP AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY ! I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IT THERE WAS A RECALL AFTER DISCOVERING THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ON THE MALIBU FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I THEN CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD OR WERE WILLING TO DO TO HELP OFFSET THIS COST ETC. THERE IS NO WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY IN A 2010 VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 100,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED OVER COMPLETELY BY THE DEALERSHIP. I REALIZE THAT MY CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD AND WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR THIS TO BE COVERED COMPLETELY, BUT HONESTLY, I WOULD HAVE SETTLED FOR A LITTLE COMPENSATION AND GENUINE CONCERN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAMCO WHERE IS COST ME IN EXCESS ON $3,000 TO HAVE THE BROKEN WAVE PLATES REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST MALIBU TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND SEEK RESTITUTION IF THAT IS A POSSIBLE OUTCOME.

NHTSA ODI #11001428

87,000 miles · Jun 20, 2017

Electrical SystemService Brakes

TAKATA RECALL THE BREAKS ARE COMING ON WHEN THE BREAK IS NOT ENGAGED AND WHEN THE BREAK LIGHT IS ENGAGED IT DOESN'T COME ON. I HAVE BEEN TO GET A BREAK LIGHT SWITCHED OUT TWICE AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. OVER AND OVER AND THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ALSO SEEMS TO KEEP COMING ON AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY. I AM WASTIN…

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NHTSA ODI #11000135

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2017

Air Bags

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND A FRONT PASSENGER HAD BEEN SEATED IN THE SEATS, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WITH NO WARNING THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER AIR BAG IN THE CEILING DEPLOYED AS WELL. AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DIAGNOSE AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF HIGH HUMIDITY WAS A FACTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10995845

32,000 miles · Jun 17, 2017

Air Bags

THE "SERVICE AIRBAG SOON" MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAG MODULE IS FAULTY. THE CAR IS ONLY 7YRS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT, THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURES FAULTY PART I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AS …

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NHTSA ODI #10995681

72,000 miles · Jun 15, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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SINCE I DROVE THIS CAR OFF THE LOT IN 2010, ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO, THIS CAR WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT GREATLY REDUCING THE SPEED. IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ENGINE BRAKING. IT WAS UNDER AN UNFIXED RECALL WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE DEALERSHIP, PARKWAY CHEVROLET, MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. GIVEN THE SUDDEN DECELERATION THAT THIS CAUSES, AND THE ONLY RESOLUTION IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, I FEEL THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. THE MOST COMMON TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN THE DRIVER IS CHANGING LANES AND THEY GO OVER A RAISED LANE MARKER - ONE OF THOSE LITTLE DOTS SEPARATING LANES IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS TWO DAYS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #10995337

113,245 miles · Jun 15, 2017

Visibility/wiper

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BACK IN APRIL OF 2013, THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING DURING HEAVY RAIN AND HEAVY WINDS. TOOK CAR TO LOU FUSZ CHEVROLET OF ST. PETERS, MO (WHICH IS WHERE THE CAR WAS FIRST BOUGHT IN JUNE 2010). MY WIFE AND I WERE ADVISED THAT WIPER TRANSMISSION/MODULE LOOSE AT MOTOR. THE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. ON 6/30/14, DUE TO RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, BUT DUE TO THIS OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO AND 12,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY WIFE AND WERE TOLD IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT (MILEAGE 92284). ON 6/19/15, WIPER AGAIN GOES OUT DUE TO HEAVY RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (MILEAGE 113245). IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THE TECH FOUND THE WIPER TRANSMISSION LINK BAR WAS BROKEN. MY WIFE AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CAR WITH WIPERS BREAKING DOWN LIKE THIS ONE HAS. UPDATE ON THE PROBLEM: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR OCCURRED AGAIN TO WHERE IT WAS TAKEN TO THE LOU FUSZ ST PETERS, MO, LOCATION ON 5/22/17 WITH A MILEAGE OF 158455. THIS TIME MY WIFE AND I FIRST HAD TO PAY AROUND $400.00 TO REPAIR IT, AGAIN!! I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THESE ISSUE(S) TO NO AVAIL AT THIS TIME. MY CASE# WITH GM IS UNDER #[XXX]. THIS IS NOW A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES THE SAME ISSUE(S) WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON THE SAME CAR!!! THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND/OR A RECALL NEEDS TO OCCUR. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS ON THIS WEBSITE UNDER #10735008, #10992948, AND #10995266. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD!! NOW I AM ASKING SOMEONE FROM NHTSA TO CONTACT ME BY PHONE TO DISCUSS THIS SITUATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10995269

92,284 miles · Jun 15, 2017

Visibility/wiper

ON 6/30/14, DUE TO RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, BUT DUE TO THIS OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO AND 12,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY WIFE AND WERE TOLD IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT (MILEAGE 92284). THIS HAS ALSO BEEN FILED UNDER THIS WEBSITE UNDER 10735008 AND 10992948. THIS IS A…

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NHTSA ODI #10995266

55,000 miles · Jun 14, 2017

EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HOWARD PONTIAC OF AMHURST, ILLINOIS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PERFORMED A FUEL PUMP RELAY AND SEAT BELT RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPA…

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NHTSA ODI #10995109

141,000 miles · Jun 9, 2017

EngineSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (LOU BACHRODT CHEVROLET POMPANO BEACH, FL 33069 AT (954) 971-3000), BUT FAILED TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ODI #10994235

150,000 miles · Jun 8, 2017

Tires

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU EQUIPPED WITH FOUR HANKOOK OPTIMO H727 TIRES, SIZE: 225/50R/18 (NA). UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD CRACKING AND TREAD SURFACE DILAPIDATION OF THE INNER EDGE. THERE WAS ALSO EXPOSED STEEL BELTS AND EVIDENCE OF BUBBLING. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER (APPLE BEES AUTOMOTIVE LOCATED IN FOX POINT, WI) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10993934

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)