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

Exterior Lighting complaints

194 reports

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39,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016

Exterior Lighting

SAFETY RECALL 13036B BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTION THIRD BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WILL GO OFF WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WILL ONLY ENGAGE WHEN PEDAL IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. ALSO EFFECTS TRACTION CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL AND SHIFTING IN/OUT OF PARK. DEALER SAID IT WAS ALREADY FIXED, I HAVE NO RECORD OF IT. THEY, …

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NHTSA ODI #10850907

100,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING AFTER THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE CALIBRATED. THE SWITCH WAS CALIBRATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER" 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10850677

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ESC LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATING AND TRAC CONTROL SWITCH ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED, THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO REPORT THE TRAC SERVICE LIGHT WAS STILL DISPLAYED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A POSSIBLE BCM INTERNAL FAILURE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SHORTLY THEREAFTER REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE BCM CONNECTION SYSTEM WHICH COULD RESULT I A MALFUNCTION. ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM, AS STATED IN THE NOTICE WAS TRACTION CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND PANIC BRAKING ASSIST FEATURES, IF EQUIPPED MAY BE DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER *JB

NHTSA ODI #10692454

101,238 miles · Dec 6, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

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12/4/15 NIGHT, DRY CONDITIONS, EXPRESSWAY: IN MOTION: CHIME SOUNDED AND 2 WARNINGS FLASH - SERVICE ESC & SERVICE TRACTION. 15 MINUTES LATER, - CITY STREETS, DRY, SAME ISSUE WITH ESC AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON, PLUS ALMOST REAR ENDED. IRATE DRIVER BEHIND ME SAID MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT, BUT THEY WERE ASTONISHED WHEN THE BREAK LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS OUTSIDE THE CAR. THEY ASKED ME TO PRESS THE PEDAL - NO LIGHTS. 20 SECS AFTER LIFTING OFF THE PEDAL, BRAKE LIGHTS ON. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. UPON DRIVING FOUND BRAKE LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, GO ON AT OTHER TIMES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AND GO OFF AGAIN WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED.

NHTSA ODI #10808667

48,200 miles · Oct 8, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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I HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS. PURCHASED USED AT DEALERSHIP. I DO NOT DRIVE FAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN ESC AND "SERVICE TRACTION" SHOWS UP ON MY DASH. MY REAR BREAK LIGHT TURNS ON AND I'M NOT TOUCHING THE BREAK. THE "SERVICE TRACTION ESC" SHOWS UP MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. TO ME, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I SEE THAT MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME AS OTHERS BUT GM TOLD ME VIA PHONE CALL, "ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS ARE RECALLED". SOMETHINGS WRONG HERE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE TO BE SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE FOR THIS TO GET HANDLED? I BELIEVE IN AMERICAN MADE CARS, BUT WHY AREN'T THE REST OF US WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR ALSO IN THIS RECALL? WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS! ALL I WAS DOING WHILE DRIVING WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD, WHERE SPEED LIMIT WAS 50MPH!

NHTSA ODI #10780755

98,000 miles · Oct 1, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

1. DIFFICULTY PUTTING CAR IN GEAR NEED TO PUT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PRESSURE TO CHANGE GEARS 2. "SERVICE ESC" "SERVICE TRACTION" LIGHT FLASH DAILY 3. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OFTEN ENGAGED AND OR WON'T ENGAGE 4. CRUISE CONTROL WON'T ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND IN A PARKED POSITION

NHTSA ODI #10778937

106,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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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

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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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

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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

134,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND MY CRUISE CONTROL CUT OFF BY ITSELF THEN I NOTICED BY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED MY CAR OFF THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND PROCEEDED TO WORK. MY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WHEN I CAME HOME LATER THAT EVENING MY BRAKE LIGHT WERE WORKING AGAIN, WHEN I TRIED TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL IT WENT OFF AGAIN BY ITSELF AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE IT SENSE. NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME I JUST HOPE NOBODY RUNS INTO THE BACK OF ME. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. MY INSIDE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK WITH THIS HAPPENING TO MY CAR. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS THINGS TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. ITS GETTING TO BE A HEADACHE BUY A CAR AND NOW ITS DANGEROUS I JUST HOPE I CAN GET IT TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10762903

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)