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

Service Brakes complaints

184 reports

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25,000 miles · Jan 30, 2015

Service BrakesVisibility/wiper

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKES, THE REAR ROTORS AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10679895

171,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015

Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BREAK LIGHT ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING) AND 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ODI #10678255

96,087 miles · Nov 25, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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8/29/2014 CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING ON CAR ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARRING LIGHTS GOING OFF. CAR WAS TAKEN TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT WAS TOLD THAT REAR SPEED SENSORS WERE NOT WORKING AND PAID 200 DOLLARS FOR A REPAIR. DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT HOME AND THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING ALONG WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY FOUND FRAYED WIRE AND FIXED IT FOR NO CHARGE. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP CHARGED A DX FEE TO TELL ME IT WAS THE BCM. FINALLY A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WHEN THE PART CAME IN MY CARE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. I AM PAYING FOR A CARE THAT I CANT EVEN DRIVE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF AND GM SAYS THAT I CAN BRING IT IN IF ITS NOT FROM THE RECALL I WILL HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER FEE TO HAVE A DX DONE ON IT. JUST REALLY AGGRAVATED NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A GM PRODUCT. ASKED WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM OTHERS NOT ABLE TO SEE IF I AM STOPPING AND WAS ADVISED THAT GM WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE...UPDATED 01/06/15 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660930

56,000 miles · Aug 23, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

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I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ONE MORNING MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, BUT I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OFF. AT THIS VERY SAME TIME WHEN I TRIED TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN ISSUE. SOME DAYS IT WORKS CORRECTLY BUT OTHER DAYS THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BY GM FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, RECALL ID# 14V252000, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED MY VIN # THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS TO THEM IN ORDER TO FIX IT. I READ THE RECALL AND IT IS EXACTLY THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING. PLEASE HELP AND ADD MINE, AND I'M SURE OTHERS, VIN#'S TO THIS RECALL BEFORE SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627756

71,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND ALL FOUR TIRES SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618094

40,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Service Brakes

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WHEN I START DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE STREET THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. IF I TAP THE PEDDLE THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THE COME BACK ON AGAIN AND STAY ON. WHEN I TOUCH THE BRAKES TOSLOW DOWN THEY GO OFF AND DO NOT COME ON UNTIL I APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THEM. THE TRACTION SERVICE LIGHTS COMES ON SPORADICALLY HAVE TAKEN THIS IN TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY CANT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE ON IT. WHAT AM I TO DO. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615604

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2014

Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610888

90,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE GM DEALER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED THE "BRAKE SIGNAL" AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN I CALLED GM DEALER LAST WEEK, THEY STATED THAT THE "CHARGES WOULD BE AT LEAST $150 TO CONNECT TO THE COMPUTER AND RUN DIAGNOSTICS". WELL, SINCE I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 FOR THE LAST 3 VISITS, WHERE THEY DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND FIXED SOMETHING WAS NOT TORN UP, WHY WOULD I WASTE MONEY ON THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL.. GM STATES THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD FOR ONE YEAR ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY ARE RECALLING THE 2010 CHEV MALIBU FOR AT THIS TIME. SUPPOSEDLY, THEY WILL RECALL MINE LATER.. I GUESS I JUST WAIT AND HOPE I DO NOT HAVE A WRECK UNTIL THEN. DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY FEEL AS IF I HAVE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUMPED IT. THE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS THEN COME ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS THEN COME ON WHEN I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED. WHEN I DO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS BEGAN. IT ALSO USES MORE GAS SINCE MY CAR THINKS I AM RIDING MY BRAKES AND PRESSING THE GAS ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610384

69,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014

Service BrakesTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING ENGAGED AND TURNED OFF WHEN THEY WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TPN SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 8/22/14*CN UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

NHTSA ODI #10607493

27,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED KNEE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10607389

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)