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

109,000 miles · Feb 4, 2017

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND TURNS OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS ENGAGED. IT IS ALSO ILLUMINATED WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND WHILE IDLING IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE DESPITE BEING ASSESSED BY A TECHNICIAN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON CLUSTER CONSTANTLY STAYS ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE TIRE SENSOR INDICATOR. THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS TOO. NO ONE EVER KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THESE ISSUES. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE EVERY TIME I GET IN IT. IT IS A DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROADWAYS WHEN A VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS IN ANY WAY. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE AS THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE MY FAMILY OWNS AT THIS TIME. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, GM HAS MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN OPERATION WITH THE SAME ISSUES. WHAT MAKES IT SO BAD, THE PROBLEMS DATE BACK AS FAR AS 2004. HOW DO YOU KEEP PRODUCING CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUES YEAR AFTER YEAR? ARE THERE NO REPERCUSSIONS? PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10949568

50,200 miles · Feb 3, 2017

EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE THROTTLE BODY REDUCED POWER MODE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. …

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NHTSA ODI #10949228

110,000 miles · Feb 2, 2017

Steering

SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING. CARS POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF AND DISPLAY SERVICE ESC. POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. CAR THEN NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10949038

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2017

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WITH A STRONG SHUDDER, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, ESC OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THE WARNING INDICATORS CONTINUED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10948859

152,068 miles · Jan 23, 2017

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH APPROACHING AN EXIT RAMP, A CHIME RANG AND A POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,068.

NHTSA ODI #10947123

54,200 miles · Jan 19, 2017

Electrical System

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DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AND WILL NOT OPEN SOMETIMES AND WILL NOT CLOSE SOMETIMES WHEN OPENED. WHEN IT WONT OPEN IT FEELS LIKE THE HANDLES ARE NOT GRABBING ANYTHING. THE DOOR JAMS ARE CLEAR OF ANY DEBRIS. WHEN IT WONT SHUT IT WILL SOUND LIKE IT DID BUT WILL BOUNCE OPEN. THE DOOR OPENED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE LOCK KNOBS MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN YOU UNLOCK THEM BUT THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN SOMETIMES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 DAYS. IT WILL NOT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND THE DOOR CAME OPEN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I DID NOT HIT ANY HOLES OR BUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946340

140,000 miles · Jan 19, 2017

Steering

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AFTER I START THE CAR, THE VEHICLE WILL CHIME AS THE DIC DISPLAYS "POWER STEERING" (USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY "SERVICE ESC" AND "SVC TIRE MONITOR"). THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL THEN COMPLETELY GIVE OUT MAKING IT VERY STRENUOUS TO USE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES THE CAR TO BE RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR POWER STEERING TO RUN AND WORK SMOOTHLY AGAIN. POWER STEERING OCCASIONALLY GIVES OUT DURING MANY TRIPS (REGARDLESS OF SPEED AND DISTANCE), WHILE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING VERY FEW TRIPS UNINTERRUPTED. I DRIVE A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 140K MILES ON IT - THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH MY ONLY PROBLEM THUS FAR, BUT HAS NOW OCCURRED EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT 4-5 DAYS IN A ROW.

NHTSA ODI #10946285

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2017

Structure

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IT IS A 2010 MALIBU LS. YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS CLOSING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY FROM THE OUTSIDE. I LOOKED AT THE CATCH AND THE AREA MIDWAY ON THE DOOR TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS CAUGHT IN IT OR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MISSING. I DIDNT SEE ANYTHING. I GOT IN AND SHUT THE DOOR AND IT CLOSED, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN IT IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED PUSHING THE POWER LOCK BUTTON INSIDE A FEW TIMES LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND IT STILL DOES NOT OPEN. WHEN YOU PULL THE LTACH ON THE INSIDE IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT CATCHING ANYTHING. I TRIED JUST USING THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT CATCHING ANYTHING. THE LOCKS STILL GO UP AND DOWN, WITH AND WITHOUT USING THE REMOTE. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THE RADIO STAYS ON WITH THE DOORS CLOSED AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE PASSANGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS WORK FINE.

NHTSA ODI #10945450

94,000 miles · Jan 14, 2017

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO NEUTRAL, SLIPPING SHIFTS WITHOUT POWER IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. WITH INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION POWER THIS CAUSED A SERIOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND LIMP IT HOME. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART AND THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED THE 3-5-R WAVE PLATE FAILURE, THE PLATE HAS A FLAW THAT CAUSES IT TO BREAK APART AND JUST CHEW UP YOUR TRANSMISSION, THIS PART IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT BREAKS AND A FULL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION IS REQUIRED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW AND THE NEW PARTS THAT ARE USED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ARE RE-ENGINEERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A 6T40 TRANSMISSION, THE BIGGER BROTHER TO THIS TRANSMISSION THE (6T70 AND 6T75) HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ENGINEERING FAILURE. CHEVY KNOW ABOUT THIS FAILURE BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE TRANSMISSION AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. IT COST ME 2500 DOLLARS AND ITS A DRIVING HAZARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED FAILURE AND HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10945297

96,999 miles · Jan 13, 2017

Unknown Or Other

CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ENGAGED MAINTAINS THE SPEED BUT WHEN CLIMBING A HILL THE RPM'S WON'T SHIFT THE CAR AND THEN ONCE THE CAR REACHES THE SET SPEED IT STILL WON'T SHIFT . THE SET SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROLS WON'T STAY WHEN DECENDING DOWN A HILL BUT WILL INCREASE WITH SPEED AND WON'T MAINTAIN THE SPEED YOU SET IT AT. THIS IS BAD FO…

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NHTSA ODI #10945117

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)