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

Electrical System complaints

294 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

MULTIPLE ERROR MESSAGES APPEARING IN DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WITH DASH COMPUTER GIVING OUT RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES STATING SERVICE AIRBAG AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON BURNED OUT MY BATTERY. GEAR SHIFT MAKES LOUD BOOMING NOISE WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING CAR JOLTS AND HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REF…

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NHTSA ODI #10598797

85,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL ALARM WITH "SERVICE ESCAPE" AND "SERVICE TRACTION" --- BRAKE LIGHTS WILL THEN WORK OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD. WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT BEING PRESSED THEY ARE LIT BUT WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY BUT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME. HAVE ALSO HAD CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE ITSELF WHILE D…

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NHTSA ODI #10598715

83 miles · Jun 11, 2014

Electrical System

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WHEN WE DRIVE THIS AUTO IN THE RAIN, OR AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CAR GOES INTO THE "LIMP" MODE AND THE SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL THE CAR DRIES AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND IT STILL DOES THAT. WE NEVER DRIVE IT IF WE KNOW IT WILL BE RAINING BUT AM AFRAID THAT IF WE DO DRIVE IT AND IT STARTS RAINING, THAT THE CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING. NEITHER I NOR THE DEALER KNOWS WHAT IS GETTING WET AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM BUT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I SPOKE WITH [XXX] AT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS MORNING AND SHE SAID SHE HAS HAD OTHER CALLS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF ANYONE IS INVESTIGATING IT OR NOT. SHE ASKED IF I HAD NOTIFIED NHTSA AND I SAID I HAD NOT. SHE CONFIRMED THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597581

21,500 miles · Jun 10, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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FOLLOWING THE RECALL FIX FOR ID#93696 I EXPERIENCED THE "SERVICE ENC" WARNING. A SHORT TIME LATER I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE "TRACTION" WARNING COMING ON. I NOW HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. AND JUST RECENTLY I GET A INTERMITTENT DINGING SOUND, THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE SEATBELT WARNING, THAT COMES ON IN SPITE OF THE SEAT BELT BEING HOOKED SECURELY. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THESE ISSUES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE RUDA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE THEM BLOW ME OFF. I BECAME PERSISTENT AND CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY AND THEY INSTRUCTED RUDA TO REPLACE THE BREAK PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. HOWEVER THIS FIX HAS NOT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE. I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THIS $27,000 VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY, AT SOME POINT, ALSO EXPERIENCE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES AS WELL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM A PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENT WHO HAS TO DRIVE 2 HOURS ONE WAY TO SEE MY SPECIALIST. I HAVE ENOUGH STRESS IN MY LIFE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597511

113,058 miles · Jun 4, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN MY CAR STALLED. THE CABIN STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE. THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. THE LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUSE BOX IN THE TRUNK WAS MELTING THE JUNCTION BOX AND M…

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NHTSA ODI #10595997

69,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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I CALLED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS INCLUDED ON THE RECENT RECALL ISSUED MAY 14, HOWEVER THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE YET TO FIX. I WAS ALSO MADE AWARE THAT THIS RECALL FIX WOULD ONLY FIX THE BRAKE LAMPS AND THAT THE OTHER ISSUES I.E CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL ARE NOT A PART THIS RECALL. I AM ISSUING ANOTHER COMPLAINT DUE TO READING MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AND THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, NOT TO MENTION WITH THE BRAKE LAMPS STAYING ILLUMINATED AND TURN OFF WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED CURRENTLY. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SINCE THE ISSUES INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED AND HAS MADE ME A DISSATISFIED GM OWNER. I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND PRESSURE GM TO COMPLETELY FIX THESE DEFECTS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595931

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2014

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PUSHED. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS SITTING IN PARK OR BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED, THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF. NOT ONLY DOES THAT HAPPEN BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE PANEL GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND STAYS ON. THIS IS A HAZARD AS I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. THE FIRST TIME OF THE INCIDENT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER APPLIED SOME KIND OF LUBRICANT. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND HE REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY HAVE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE RECALL AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. [XXX] ARE THEY WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR OR DEATH BEFORE THEY RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEIRSELVES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THEM AGAIN IF THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE RESOLVED. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THEM. REALLY NEED THIS TO BE RESOLVED. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10595326

44,112 miles · May 27, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ENGAGE OR EVEN INDICATE THAT IT IS ON WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND SET - BUTTONS ARE APPLIED. THE UPPER REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594400

35,500 miles · May 20, 2014

Electrical SystemEngine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE BATTERY WAS RESET MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,500.

NHTSA ODI #10592806

68,000 miles · Apr 24, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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POWER STEERING WARNING PLUS THE CHECK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR, AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. WE WERE AT THE TIME IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS. WE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, TRIED AGAIN, AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. NONETHELESS THIS MADE FOR A SCARY TRIP DOWN MOUNTAIN ROADS. THIS FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN IN THE WINTER OF 2013-2014 IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. IN APRIL 2014 WE TOLD THE CHEVROLET SERVICE ADVISOR WHO SAID TO BRING IN THE CAR WHILE THE STEERING WAS NOT ON POWER. SO WE DID WITH DIFFICULT STEERING IN CITY TRAFFIC. THE ADVISOR DIAGNOSED STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. GM HAS OFFERED TO PAY PART OF THE PRICE OF REPAIR. THIS OFFER CAME AFTER EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH GM AND THE LOCAL DEALER WITH WHOM WE HAVE DONE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BUSINESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584665

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)