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

204,504 miles · Sep 22, 2015

Steering

Read full complaint

WE HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND WERE IN THE DRIVE THROUGH WAITING ON OUR FOOD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. WE HAD TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE WAITED ABOUT 1 1/2 AND TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING. THE NEXT MORNING WE RENTED A CAR AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER SHIP TO GET REPAIRED. THEY CALLED US BACK LATER IN THE DAY TO TELL US THAT THE SENSOR WENT OUT ON THE POWER STEERING AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2010. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT WE WERE NOT COVERED DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. IN LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE HUNDRED'S OF OTHER PEOPLE THE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2010 MODELS. WHY IS THIS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL IF THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. WE PAID $671 OUR OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10767423

45,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10766518

106,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015

Exterior LightingService Brakes

Read full complaint

I HAVE FILED ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOW AFTER HAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED, I AM BACK AGAIN. MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU,[XXX], THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS NOT ENGAGED. BY PRESSING HARD ENOUGH ON THE BRAKES (WHICH CANNOT BE DONE WHEN SLOWING DOWN, OR A SIMPLE BRAKE), THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO COME ON. I HAVE HAD THE RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AND NOW HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED, THIS PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND ARE ON WHEN THEY SHOULD BE OFF AND VICE VERSA. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY (GM) BY CHAT, EMAIL, AND PHONE AND STILL CANNOT GET HELP ON GETTING THIS FIXED APPROPRIATELY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10766334

66,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

Read full complaint

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN TO TURN AND WHEN I ACCELERATED A QUICK FLASH OF THE SERVICE ECM MESSAGE CAME ON AND THEN DISAPPEARED, BUT THE CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD TURNOVER, RUN FOR 2 SECONDS AND THEN DIE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE, WHERE WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND TOOK IT OVER TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THE ELECTRONICS SCANNED, WHERE IT SHOWED 3 CODES: U0121, P0106, P0621. THEY SCANNED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, AND ALL CAME UP WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH (SO TO SPEAK). UPON READING ONLINE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN MALIBU'S 2004-2009 (WHICH WAS RECALLED), AND I BELIEVE THEY NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE AND NOW 2010'S MAY BE AFFECTED. MY WORRY IS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT WILL BE AT A BUSIER INTERSECTION OR WORSE YET, ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10765339

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

ONE NIGHT I WAS LEAVING WORK AND I REALIZED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT WORKING, INDICATING THAT MY BULB WAS OUT. BUT BY THE TIME I MADE IT HOME IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED THAT MY BLINKER WAS NOT WORKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I FOUND THAT WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE ON THE PARK LIGHT OR BLINKER DOES NOT WORK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF THE BLINKER OR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE CONSOLE FLASHES WITH NUMBERS THEN WITH THE LINES. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2010 MALIBU WITH THE BCM BODY CONTROL MODULE. THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS LUMINATE WITH OUT YOU STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. WHAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN IS THAT IS ALSO AFFECTS THE BLINKERS, BRAKE AND PARK LIGHTS. IT CAN ALSO BURN OUT YOUR BULBS. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE I TAKE A CHANCE ON MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND CHANGING LANES WITHOUT GETTING HIT. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND I PRAY EVERY DAY THAT WE MAKE A SAFE JOURNEY. THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI #10765056

98,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT NIGHT, THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE FAILED RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10765009

118,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015

StructureUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

I WENT TO OPEN MY FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR (FROM THE OUTSIDE) AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I CLIMBED THROUGH THE PASSENGER FRONT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE...IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. USING THE PALM OF MY HAND, I BUMPED THE EFFECTED DOOR ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR PANEL, BY THE HANDLE AND IT OPENED. I LUBED THE INSIDE DOOR CATCH AREA AS MUCH AS I COULD AND IT SEEMED OK. 48 HOURS LATER, I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES DURING THIS TIME FRAME WHERE I WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT BOUNCED BACK OPEN AGAIN. IT SEEMS THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEVER CAUGHT THE POST ON THE FRAME. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. AN ELDERLY OR DISABLED DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. NOT EVERYONE IS PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF FOLDING THEMSELVES UP AND CLIMBING OVER THE ARMREST INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO, IT STANDS TO REASON THAT IF THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH SHUT, IT MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10763610

25,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015

Air Bags

VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON INTERMEDIATELY. MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT EITHER BY SHAKING OR SLIDING WILL TURN ON/OFF THE AIR BAG LIGHT. SYMPTOM REOCCURS EVERY WEEKLY/BIWEEKLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM FOR THE 2010 MALIBU AND IS MOST LIKELY RELATED TO AIR BAG CONNECTOR UNDER …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10763471

90,575 miles · Sep 13, 2015

Seats

DRIVER SEAT WELD BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI #10763397

104,000 miles · Sep 13, 2015

Air Bags

Read full complaint

THE AIRBAG SENSOR GOES OFF DUE TO HEAT RISING. ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN CAR TEMPERATURE RISES. THIS PAST SUMMER I'VE HAD THE SENSOR GO OFF MORE THAN 3 TIMES A MONTH DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, I'M CURRENTLY UNSURE IF IT'LL EVEN DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT.I USUALLY HAVE TO REMOVE THE AIRBAG AND THEN CHECK FOR ANY DAMAGE TO IT AND THEN RE-INSERT IT. AIRBAG IS STILL THE ORIGINAL PART, NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED BEFORE. I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE POSTED ON CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM.

NHTSA ODI #10763395

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)