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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Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2016

Air BagsPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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FIRST REPAIR, AIRBAG SERVICE REQUIRED. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE. 2ND REPAIR, ESC MAINTENANCE REQUIRED, TRACTION SERVICE REQUIRED, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, VEHICLE WILL NOT LEAVE NEUTRAL. IF GAS IS APPLIED VEHICLE JUMPS AND SHAKES. 3RD IS SAME AS 2ND AND 4TH VISIT IS SAME AS PREVIOUS EXCEPT WHEN I RECEIVED OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE IT COULD NOT MAKE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AFTER MENTIONING THE LEMON LAW THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW TRYING TO BLAME THIS TECHNICALLY 5TH VISIT ON AN IGNITION COIL EVEN THOUGH ESC MAINTENANCE MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED WITH TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE PWR REDUCED, THE VEHOCLE WAS STILL SHAKIG, AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WHEN IT WASN'T BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #10876506

92,958 miles · Jun 7, 2016

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATORS HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE, AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING ) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,958.

NHTSA ODI #10872888

65,000 miles · May 27, 2016

Power Train

WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, CHECKED AND FOUND PLASTIC TABS THAT HOLD TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TOGETHER WERE BROKEN AS INDICATED IN GM RECALL NOTICE 12106C. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY CAR'S VIN. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO)

NHTSA ODI #10871272

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes

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BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONS, BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BE ILLUMINATING WHEN BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED ALSO GEAR SHIFTER IS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF PARK SERVICE ESC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED IN JULY 2011, SEPTEMBER 2012. AUGUST 2013. SEPTEMBER 2014, AND FEBRUARY 2016 FOR THE SAME ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. GM DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM RECALL # 13036 BUT ONCE THEY REPAIR IT, THEY CONSIDER THE RECALL CLOSED EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10860230

45,000 miles · Apr 15, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingCrashInjury

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RIGHT NOW I HAVE THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ON AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME. I TOOK EACH TIME TO CHEVY CLASSIC IN GRAPEVINE TX AND THEY TOLD ME NO CODES THE 1ST TIME, TOOK IT TO CLAY COOLEY IN IRVING--LIGHT CAME ON THEN NO CODES THEY SHOWED. TODAY 4-15=16 LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I TOOK IT TO CLASSIC CHEVY AND THEY FOUND 3 CODES THIS TIME. THEY SAY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS! I SHOULD NOT SINCE THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON 5/14/2014 FOR 2010 MALIBU'S. MY CAR IS DOING THIS NOW !@!!@ IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO ME!! I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR ON THE ROAD FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I DON'T WANT TO BE A STATISTIC IF WE HAVE A CAR CRASH AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE CHEVY KEPT MAKING EXCUSES TO NOT FIX MY CRAP CAR FOR ME. THE OTHER RECALL WAS THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOT ILLUMINATING I GOT THAT LETTER A LITTLE TOO LATE . SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME IN OCT 2012 WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MAYBE THOSE STUPID BACK BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING THEN!!!!!! SOMEONE AT CLASSIC OR CLAY COOOLYE CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS ESC LIGHT ON MY CAR AND FIX ALL THE RECALLS FOR FREE. I ALSO HAVE AN EPS RECALL LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME BUT SOMEONE AT CHEVY TOLD ME THE LIGHT HAS TO COME ON FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS IT HAS NO MATTER IF THE LIGHT IS ON OR NOT. BUT THE LIGHT IS ON FOR SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION RIGHT NOW!@ GM OR CHEVY NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT AND FIX THIS CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ONLY LUBRICATED AND SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SERVICE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT. ALSO, THE FRONT AXLE WAS LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #10859777

70,000 miles · Apr 12, 2016

Power Train

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY WENT OUT. IT WAS SLIPPING WITH RPM GOING OUT OF CONTROL. ONCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING MY SPEED AND ACCELERATION WERE NOT SYNCHRONIZING SO I HAD TO EXIT. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. MY CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD BEEN KEPT UP TO PAR S…

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NHTSA ODI #10855174

105,000 miles · Feb 9, 2016

Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BUT STOPPED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10825186

63,850 miles · Jan 21, 2016

EnginePower Train

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU 2LT FWD. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2013, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER USED A FAULTY 3-5 REVERSE WAVE PLATE. THIS IS THE SAME WAVE PLATE THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IN THE RECALL OF SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THE 2007-2009 MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS SOME SORT OF FREELOADER BECAUSE I DIDNT NOT FEEL A CAR WITH 63000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE A BAD TRANSMISSION. WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE THE 3-5 WAVE PLATE FELL APART AND SHREDDED MY TRANSMISSION. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC, THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NOT ONCE NOT TWICE BUT 3 TIMES. AS THE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE THE 1ST 2 TIMES THE CAR STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY, THE VERY FIRST TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE COMPUTER SHOWED THE FAULT CODES IN THE COMPUTER FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STATING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION ERROR SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THEM REPEAT IT WAS FINE. 2 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PAY $500 AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING AND PLEADING AS MY CAR WAS ONLY 5 YRS OLD WITH LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT, BUT ALL WARANTEES HAD JUST CONVENIENTLY EXPIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS MUST BE LOOKED INTO, THIS IS THE 2ND COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE FILED DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND IT HAS BEEN DOCUEMENTED THAT IF IT HAPPENS ONCE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT ANY SAFER THAN THE EARLIER MODELS AND NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WERE THE 2007-2009 MODELS WITH THE SAME FAULTY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IF NOT THEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY CAR MY DAUGHTER OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE, OR A DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. AS CARS SHOULD NOT JUST STOP ACCELERATING BECAUSE OF CHEVYS NEGLECT TO SEE THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10821527

62,300 miles · Dec 27, 2015

EnginePower Train

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ON 9/15/15 I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG FROM MY FRONT END, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GM THEY FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER (AFTER 2 WEEKS) TO HAVE IT FIXED OR LOOKED AT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS ON AT THE TIME RESET IT SELF BUT THE 2CODES FOUND IN THE COMPUTER WERE THE P0716 AND P0717 TRANSMISSION CODES BUT SINCE THEY WERE HISTORIC (WHICH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON EXCEPT FOR THE BREAK LIGHT ISSUE) THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS FINE. I PICKED IT UP AND OFF I WENT. 12 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE BUCKED MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHREDDED. THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT CODES WERE IN THE COMPUTER THIS TIME. BUT AS I STATED WAS AN ISSUE WITH VEHICLES FROM 2007 -2009 THE 3-5 WAVE PLATE BROKE AND CONTAMINATED MY TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS STILL NOT 100% RUNNING RIGHT. THE CAR STILL HESITATES AND JUMPS AND HAS A HARD SHIFT WITH ISSUES ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI #10816364

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

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)