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

Power Train complaints

132 reports

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104,000 miles · Jun 26, 2017

Power Train

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2010 WITH 5 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I FIRST REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY "BUMPED" WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 30, 000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE. I REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN APPROXIMATELY 90,000 WHEN I TOOK HER IN FOR HER 100,000 SERVICE. WITHIN 4,000 MILES OF THIS COMPLETE CHECK-UP AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY ! I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IT THERE WAS A RECALL AFTER DISCOVERING THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ON THE MALIBU FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I THEN CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD OR WERE WILLING TO DO TO HELP OFFSET THIS COST ETC. THERE IS NO WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY IN A 2010 VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 100,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED OVER COMPLETELY BY THE DEALERSHIP. I REALIZE THAT MY CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD AND WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR THIS TO BE COVERED COMPLETELY, BUT HONESTLY, I WOULD HAVE SETTLED FOR A LITTLE COMPENSATION AND GENUINE CONCERN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAMCO WHERE IS COST ME IN EXCESS ON $3,000 TO HAVE THE BROKEN WAVE PLATES REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST MALIBU TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND SEEK RESTITUTION IF THAT IS A POSSIBLE OUTCOME.

NHTSA ODI #11001428

72,000 miles · Jun 15, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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SINCE I DROVE THIS CAR OFF THE LOT IN 2010, ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO, THIS CAR WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT GREATLY REDUCING THE SPEED. IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ENGINE BRAKING. IT WAS UNDER AN UNFIXED RECALL WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE DEALERSHIP, PARKWAY CHEVROLET, MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. GIVEN THE SUDDEN DECELERATION THAT THIS CAUSES, AND THE ONLY RESOLUTION IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, I FEEL THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. THE MOST COMMON TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN THE DRIVER IS CHANGING LANES AND THEY GO OVER A RAISED LANE MARKER - ONE OF THOSE LITTLE DOTS SEPARATING LANES IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS TWO DAYS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #10995337

80,000 miles · Jun 5, 2017

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REICHARD CHEVROLET DEALER LOCATED IN BROOKVILLE, OH TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WAVE PLATE LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY B…

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NHTSA ODI #10993155

70,000 miles · Apr 17, 2017

Power Train

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET. CAR ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES. LATER DISCOVERED IT WAS DUE TO A BROKEN GEAR SHAPED PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. SHOWS BAD QUALITY, SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 70K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10978864

30,000 miles · Mar 31, 2017

Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

2010 CHEVY MALIBU. BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #10969710

86,000 miles · Mar 14, 2017

Power Train

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I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CAR WAS SUDDENLY LOSING POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE REVERSE GEAR WOULD, AT TIMES, FAIL TO ENGAGE. THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S 3-5-REVERSE GEAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. IN 2015 GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY (BULLETIN NO. 14404, DATED MARCH 2015) FOR THE 2007 TO 2009 CHEVY MALIBU (6 SPEED MODEL) THAT COVERS THE 3-5-REVERSE WAVE PLATE REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. ALSO, I NOTICED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SHEET THAT THE DEALERSHIP OMITTED THE PRODUCTION DATE OF THE VEHICLE BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED IN 2009. THE 'IN-SERVICE DATE' IS 12/15/09. BASED ON THE SITUATION I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY CAR, THEY DID NOT FIX THIS DEFECT WHEN THEY INTRODUCED THE 2010 MODEL. I EXPLAINED THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND ALSO TO THEIR CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10965988

92,320 miles · Mar 13, 2017

Power Train

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ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO 65 MPH TRAFFIC AND RPM'S RED LINED AND I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND I ALMOST GET HIT FROM BEHIND WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. NO 3RD OR 5TH GEAR. ALSO, FOUND NO REVERSE ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO SAFETY. TURNS OUT TO BE A FAILED 3-5-R WAVE PLATE. SCARY STUFF WHEN YOU ARE RED LINING AND GOING NOWHERE! SENT INFORMATION TO CHEVROLET AS IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM (CRACKED 3-5-R WAVE PLATE) FOR 2008-2009 AND ALL THESE PARTS FAIL AT LESS THAN 100K MILES. TROUBLE I AM HAVING IS THAT CHEVROLET CLAIMS I DO NOT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE WAVE PLATE IN MY 2010, YET THE FAILURE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL FOR EARLIER MODELS. $4000 LATER AND NO HELP FROM GM. YET, IF YOU GO ON LINE, TONS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME WAVE PLATE PROBLEM AT LESS THAN 100K MILES FOR CARS LATER THAN 2009. VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT GET REAR ENDED BY A CAR IN MERGING TRAFFIC. OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. GM NEEDS TO ADMIT THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WAVE PLATE AND RECALL ALL MALIBU CARS FROM 2008-2012 BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. MY CLAIM IS IF I HAVE THE SAME WAVE PLATE ISSUE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES THEN EITHER I DO NOT HAVE THE NEW/IMPROVED WAVE PLATE SPECIFICATION OR IT'S AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. EITHER WAY, GM SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM FOR SAFETY REASONS. I HAVE ATTACHED THE SB FOR 2008-2009.

NHTSA ODI #10960375

94,000 miles · Jan 14, 2017

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO NEUTRAL, SLIPPING SHIFTS WITHOUT POWER IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. WITH INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION POWER THIS CAUSED A SERIOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND LIMP IT HOME. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART AND THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED THE 3-5-R WAVE PLATE FAILURE, THE PLATE HAS A FLAW THAT CAUSES IT TO BREAK APART AND JUST CHEW UP YOUR TRANSMISSION, THIS PART IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT BREAKS AND A FULL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION IS REQUIRED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW AND THE NEW PARTS THAT ARE USED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ARE RE-ENGINEERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A 6T40 TRANSMISSION, THE BIGGER BROTHER TO THIS TRANSMISSION THE (6T70 AND 6T75) HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ENGINEERING FAILURE. CHEVY KNOW ABOUT THIS FAILURE BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE TRANSMISSION AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. IT COST ME 2500 DOLLARS AND ITS A DRIVING HAZARD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED FAILURE AND HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10945297

40,006 miles · Jan 6, 2017

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. AN HOUR LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT SHUT OFF AGAIN AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAVE PLATES (3RD, 5TH, AND 10TH) FAILED AND NEEDED TO…

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NHTSA ODI #10940186

140,000 miles · Jan 3, 2017

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING AND THEN CAME TO A STOP TO PULL ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WHEN I TURNED ON THE HIGH WAY MY MALIBU WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, AS A SEMI PULLED UP BEHIND ME I HAD TO PUT IT ALMOST IN A DITCH SO I WOULDN'T GET HIT. MY MECHANIC SAYS ITS THE 3,5,R WAVE PLATE AND THAT HE LOOKED AT ALL THE MALIBU FORUMS ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NEVER BUYING A CHEVY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939209

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)