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

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND INDICATED THAT MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, A FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL WAS EXPERIENCED AND THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO DETER THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE, AND THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10806729

116,000 miles · Nov 18, 2015

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING IN REVERSE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE SO CHEVY CHARGED ME FULL PRICE FOR DIAGNOSTICS BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE ALREADY DONE, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WE REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH. A MONTH LATER PROBLEM PERSISTED, CHEVY DEALERSHIP CHARGED $50 FOR RELEARNING BRAKE POSITION, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED IN RECALL REPAIRS. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL/ESC LIGHT IS ON, AND CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. I AM NOW TAKING IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE CHARGING ME AN ADDITIONAL $50 JUST TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. I FEEL I SHOULDN'T BE CHARGED FOR ANY OF THIS SINCE IT ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF DURING THE REPAIRS DONE FOR RECALL #: 14V252000. THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING ERROR THAT GM SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING AND REPAIRING AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. I KNOW I CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY AFTER READING NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI #10794706

109,460 miles · Nov 13, 2015

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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THE CAR HAS CONSISTENT SERVICE ESC / SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT WARNINGS THAT CAUSE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE MOST SERIOUS NOW IS THAT THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS BUEN CONSTANTLY AS IF I'M RIDING MY BRAKES. IT ALSO DISENGAGES THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR 3 YEARS, 7 REPAIRS AND IT'S NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT MOST RECENTLY TO CAPITOL CHEVROLET IN AUSTIN. THEY SIMPLY REPLACED THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING PART AGAIN. I HAVE CASE COMPLAINT WITH GM, BUT NO RESOLUTION YET. IT OCCURS NOW EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. IT USED TO BE INTERMITTENT

NHTSA ODI #10790305

42,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY, WHICH AFFECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR AND PEDAL POSITION SENOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10789293

116,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015

Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCE MY STEERING COLUMN VIBRATE START TO VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY AN ELECTROINC WARNING STATING POWER STEERING ALONG WITH A SERVICE ESC. MY POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE. I PARKED AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. AFTER WAITING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, I STARTED MY CAR AND EV…

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NHTSA ODI #10789174

65,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015

Structure

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DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS BEEN FAILING, POWER DOOR LOCK ON DRIVERS DOOR FAILS QUITE OFTEN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DRIVER CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR EITHER WITH THE POWER UNLOCK OR MANUALLY WITH THE DOOR LOCK IN THE UP POSITION OR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. IT IS LIKE THE DOOR MECHANISM IS DISABLED. DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR NOT HAPPENS WHEN PARKED OR THE CAR HAS JUST COME TO A STOP. THE DRIVER MUST CRAWL OVER THE CENTER DIVIDER AND OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE TO EXIT OR BACK OVER TO DRIVE THE CAR. HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR $350 AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER ON NOVEMBER 11TH BUT THINK THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM AS I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 TO 2010 MALIBU CARS AND CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE BEING TRAPPED IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10787779

113,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W…

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NHTSA ODI #10786316

63,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I WAS AT BURGER KING DRIVE THRU AND WHEN I GOT DONE ORDERING I TRIED TO PULL AROUND AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAM ON AND MY ESC LIGHT . I COULD NOT TURN IT WAS VERY HARD I HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR AND IT FIXED IT SELF. THIS BETTER BE A RECALL BEC WHY DO I GOT TO SPEND MY MONEY TO FIX THIS IT'S BS

NHTSA ODI #10786111

112,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015

Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS REENGAGED. SHORTLY AFTER IT FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP…

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NHTSA ODI #10786079

92,000 miles · Oct 22, 2015

Electrical System

MY CAR WOULDN'T START, SO I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET. THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WAS ON, IT TOLD ME TO UNPLUG MY BATTERY SO THE CAR WOULD REBOOT THE SYSTEM. I DID THAT, THEN IT STARTED. IT HAPPENS NOW ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT YEAR THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT, BUT PREVIOUS YEARS IT WAS. I HAVE NO NOTICE…

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NHTSA ODI #10785266

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)