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

80,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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AT 70 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT OFF WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. I TOOK CAR INTO TURAN-FOLEY CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN GULFPORT, MS ON 4/08/15 AND THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BPP FOR $242.25, WHICH I HAD THEM COMPLETE. THEY ALSO SAID THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THE EBCM-BPMU WHICH WOULD COST OVER $1100.00. THE "SERVICE ESC" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 4/09/15. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY PERFORMANCE ISSUES SUCH AS I HAVE READ IN OTHER FORUMS REGARDING DECREASED POWER. RECALL # 13036 WAS COMPLETED ON CAR 10/14/14 BY DANTIN CHEVROLET WHICH ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS I AM NOW HAVING. I MENTIONED THIS TO TURAN-FOLEYS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT RE-OPEN A CLOSED RECALL. I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY AS I AVERAGE OVER 700 MILES A WEEK. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705325

77,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015

StructureVisibility/wiper

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OUR CHEVY MALIBU WAS BROAD SIDED ON THE RIDERS SIDE AT 10:10 AM ON THE FORTH OF APRIL, 2015. THIS WAS AT A YIELD INTERSECTION IN AIKEN, SC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH THIS CAR WITH VEHICLES COMING FROM THE LEFT. THIS ACCICENT WAS CLEARLY MY FAULT. HOWEVER, A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE WIDTH OF THE POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DOOR ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. WE OWN A 2005 SIMILAR MALIBU AND THE WIDTH OF THAT POST IS MUCH NARROWER AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SEEING VEHICLES COMING AT US FROM THE LEFT SIDE. HOWEVER, THE 2010 MALIBU HAS A MUCH WIDER POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DOOR AND IS SUFFICIENT TO HIDE VEHICLES COMING FROM THE LEFT. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A DESIGN SAFETY FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEERS. . I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE SIMILAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR DATA BASE TO CONFIRM SAME. OUR CAR WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE COLLISION AND IS CURRENTLY IN A BODY SHOP BEING REPAIRED. HOWEVER, I AM NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT KNOWING THAT THIS HAZORDOUS CONDITION STILL EXISTS. THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO YOUR AGENCY IN CASE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME CONDITION AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONVINCE GM THAT THEY HAVE CREATED A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE. THE WIDTH OF THIS COLUMN ON THE 2005 MALIBU IS 4 INCHES. THE WIDTH OF THE COLUMN ON THE 2010 MALIBU HAS TO ABE A GOOD SIX INCHES OR MORE SUFFICIENT TO BLOCK THE VIEW FROM THE DRIVERS SEET OF ONCOMING VEHICLES FROM THE LEFT. THANKS FOR YOU CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705258

74,000 miles · Apr 10, 2015

EnginePower Train

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MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED GM, BECAUSE MY CAR IS TILL COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAN WARRANTY. CAR GETS TOWED TO WEBB DEALERSHIP( VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE). THEY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THURSDAY 040/09. RECEIVE A CALL FROM [XXX] WITH WEBB CHEVY STATING AND I QUOTE. "[XXX] THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SUCCESSFULLY, BUT YOU HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GET ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE. IN ORDER FOR US TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE FOR 119.00". GET CALL TODAY FROM [XXX] SAYING OH WE DID THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT CAME BACK ITS THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACING ITS NO GOOD AND THE COST WILL BE 513.41 PLUS TAX. HOW COULD THIS BE ?????? WHY ISN'T THIS COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAN WARRANTY??? THE THROTTLE BODY IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE... I AM CONFUSED AND VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH GM POOR SERVICES AND VEHICLE AND WEBB CHEVY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704921

69,000 miles · Apr 10, 2015

Structure

DRIVERS DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AT TIMES. DRIVERS DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704894

100,000 miles · Apr 6, 2015

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABILITY TO STEER SEIZED AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10703854

83,535 miles · Apr 3, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ESC WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOW…

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NHTSA ODI #10703612

107,000 miles · Apr 3, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, I NOTICED THE STEERING SHAKE AND STIFFEN UP AND I HAD LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING. SOON AFTER THAT I HAD MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT CHEVY MALIBU'S DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP AND TORQUE SENSOR BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL (LTZ). WHICH DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. JUST BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT TRIM, THE PARTS WOULD BE DIFFERENT? IT DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE. IF THIS ISSUE IS OCCURRING IN CHEVY MALIBU'S, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ALL MALIBU'S REGARDLESS THE TRIM OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703450

66,000 miles · Apr 2, 2015

Steering

POWER STEERING IS MOSTLY GONE. KICKS IN FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER IGNITION, BUT CUTS OUT PRETTY SOON. FULL MANUAL STEERING NOW. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE OTHER EPS RECALL FROM GM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MANY GM SERVICE CENTERS ARE LYING ABOUT THE NECESSARY REPAIR WHEN YOU TAKE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES I…

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NHTSA ODI #10703322

149,000 miles · Apr 1, 2015

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. ....UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF UPDATED 10/3/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10703031

80,236 miles · Mar 31, 2015

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF T…

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NHTSA ODI #10702980

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)