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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91,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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FIRST OCCURRENCE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ESC OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ESC AT 50 MPH. AT FIRST IT WOULD ONLY COME ON ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS BUT NOW IT COMES ON ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. IT VARIES (SPEED DOESN'T MATTER) WHETHER OR NOT GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT COMES ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES. I ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD (WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE) BUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. I FEEL THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU AND THINKS THAT YOU HAVE LET OFF THE BRAKES BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN APPARENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AS I SEE SEVERAL REPORTS FROM VEHICLES RANGING FROM 2008 TO 2012 ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AFTER THIS OCCURS THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. SOMETIMES ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OTHER TIMES FOR A WEEK WEEKS BEFORE IT COMES ON AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WERE NO HELP, DIDN'T EVEN TEST DRIVE IT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED, OTHER PERSON IN CAR SCREAMING AT ME, YELLING I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I JUST HOPE I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607087

59,207 miles · Jun 30, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

REAR EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN BRAKE WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MORE FIRMLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606979

95,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014

Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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NHTSA ODI #10606056

28,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED AND SHUT OFF WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ESC OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TRACTION IN THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604782

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

1,000 miles · Jun 12, 2014

Air BagsPower TrainService BrakesCrashInjury

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO DRAIN PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE SWAYED VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AS THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE USED TO REMOVE AN INJURED PASSENGER FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. *TR UPDATED 3/3/15*CN UPDATED 07/06/2017 *CT

NHTSA ODI #10597851

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

49,800 miles · Jun 2, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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ALL IN ONE WEEKEND (WHILE OUT OF TOWN) FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO CRUISE CONTROL COMMANDS (ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE) IF ENGAGED THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS. THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING OFF AND ON AT RANDOM WHILE EITHER SITTING OR DRIVING. THE ESC TRACKING IS TURNED OFF. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE RANDOMLY WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKES. TAPPING THE BRAKES GETS THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF, BUT IT TURNS ON AGAIN 5-6 SECONDS LATER. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN OR TAP THE BRAKE THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ONLY COMING ON WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE HARD STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE OVER A 40 MINUTE COMMUTE INTO THE CITY EACH DAY. ALSO, THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND BEEPING IS ON EVEN WHEN MY SEATBELT IS SECURED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THESE ITEMS REPLACE, AND I HAVE 4 YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR! THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE ITEMS IN MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595462

94,616 miles · May 31, 2014

Service Brakes

WHILE CAR IS ON. BRAKE LIGHTS WORK IN REVERSE. WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS PUSHED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT. WHEN PEDAL IS NOT ENGAGED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON. (WORKS IN REVERSE). SERVICE TRACTION, ECS WARING COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595265

35,626 miles · May 31, 2014

Exterior LightingService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, OCCURRING AT LEAST FIVE TIMES SINCE DATE ABOVE. ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS NOTED: 1. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ENGAGE, OR STOPS ENGAGING. INDICATOR LIGHT ON (/OFF WHEEL TOGGLE SWITCH), BUT NO ENGAGE. 2. "SERVICE ESC" AND ALTERNATING "TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING WITH ALARM TONE ON SPEEDO CLUSTER. ORANGE WARNING TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED, ALSO. 3. BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANT ON, WITH NO FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. OR, BRAKE LIGHTS CAN GO OFF WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONFUSING, POSSIBLY DANGEROUS, TO DRIVERS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING. ONCE AWARE OF THIS, FASHIONED A REFLECTOR FITTING JUST BEHIND THE REAR TOP MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT THAT REFLECTS INTO MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THESE PROBLEMS CAN CLEAR AFTER CAR IS STOPPED FOR A TIME (OVER 45 MINUTES) AND MAY NOT APPEAR AGAIN FOR ANOTHER UNKNOWN INTERVAL. ALREADY REPLACED (MARCH 31, 2014) A BRAKE POSITION SENSOR SWITCH ($186.60 - MY COST) AT LOCAL SELLING CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THIS DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WHEN ASKED, DEALER CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY TSBS OR OF OTHERS HAVING ISSUES SIMILAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595251

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)