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

90,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ESC AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT EVENTUALLY RESPONDED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND DID RESTART, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED THE ENTIRE TIME UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ACTUALLY BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AND SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10746772

97,145 miles · Aug 4, 2015

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,145.

NHTSA ODI #10746237

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2015

Air Bags

C AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE REROUTE WIREHARNESS-REPLACE CAUSE RECALL 04OCT12 MILEAGE25097 SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, VEHICLE NEVER IN ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, RECALL THEN NEVER CORRECTED 08AUG15 MILEAGE 51109

NHTSA ODI #10745981

68,924 miles · Jul 31, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARKED ON THE SHOULDER WHERE HE SWITCHED FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL AND PROCEEDED DRIVING. THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND T…

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NHTSA ODI #10745444

58,000 miles · Jul 23, 2015

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER BUT THE REMEDY DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10736083

59,450 miles · Jul 20, 2015

Seats

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE POWER ASSISTED FRONT SEAT MOVED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH ON THE RIGHT PORTION OF THE SEAT. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE AS WELL, E.G. IF TO THE LEFT THE RIGHT PORTION OF THE SEAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD, IF THE TURN WAS TO THE RIGHT THE RIGHT PORTION OF THE SEAT WOULD MOVE BACK. EVENTUALLY THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLOPED DOWNWARD TO THE RIGHT. THIS CREATED A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER ONCE HAVE I HAD A SEAT BREAK LIKE THIS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ. GM REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS THEIR FAULT AND I AM OUT ALMOST A $1,000.00 TO HAVE THERE PROBLEM FIXED ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10735289

67,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015

EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND WIRE HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10735259

106,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015

Service BrakesStructureInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME PLATING ON ALL THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WAS PEELING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN MINOR CUTS ON THE HAND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ESN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10735135

65,711 miles · Jul 19, 2015

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). HOWEVER, PHONE SERVICE REP SAID TO HAVE THE FUSE BOX REPLACED BECAUSE OF INTERNAL SHORT ON POWER SIDE OF WIPER MOTOR ON SIGNAL CIRCUIT. AFTER THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. YET, WE STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE FUSE BOX REPLACEMENT! IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THE TECH FOUND THE WIPER TRANSMISSION LINK BAR WAS BROKEN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS!! I FIND IT VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A WIPER MOTOR BREAK THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY CHARGED ON THE LAST ATTEMPT WHERE WE HAD TO PAY FOR A FUSE BOX, YET THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. MY WIFE AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH WIPERS BREAKING DOWN LIKE THIS ONE HAS. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10735008

86,641 miles · Jul 17, 2015

Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING ABOUT 15-20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VEHICLE. THE ABS HAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. UNTIL GIVING GAS AND LETTING VEHICLE REV UP TO 4,000 RPM IT JUMPED INTO GEAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMAL AGAIN. NOW THE VEHICLE DRIVES BUT REVS AT 2-3 GEAR AND THEN JUST SLOWS DOWN, THERE WERE 13 FAULT READS FROM CPU WHICH WERE ALL TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAULT AND CPU MALFUNCTION. THIS HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE AND STANDARD MAINTENANCE DOES GET PERFORMED. I AM TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT'S THE MONTH IT WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT IT WENT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT. I AM DUE TO PCS IN 56 DAYS TO A NEW DUTY STATION AND NOW MY FAMILY AND I ARE IN A BIND, I LOVE CHEVROLET BUT I AM AT A LOSS RIGHT NOW WITH A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT WILL DRIVE FINE AND OUT OF NO WHERE REV UP AND JUST STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10734739

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)