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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45,000 miles · May 29, 2014

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ECS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10594910

44,112 miles · May 27, 2014

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ENGAGE OR EVEN INDICATE THAT IT IS ON WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND SET - BUTTONS ARE APPLIED. THE UPPER REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594400

125,000 miles · May 18, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingPower Train

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SO ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED GOING OFF ALMOST EVERYTIME I DROVE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT IN KANNAPOLIS, NC CALLED CLASSIC CHEVROLET ON 5/3/14. THEY SAID I COULD PAY 98.00 TO GET IT HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER READER, BUT THE LIGHT WAS OFF SO I DECIDED I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE 98.00 TO WASTE. AS IT HAD BEEN HOOKED UP TO A CODE READER WHEN THE LIGHT WAS OFF BEFORE AND DIDN'T READ ANYTHING. THERE IS AN OPTION TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SO I WAS DRIVING WITH IT OFF. WE WENT TO MICHIGAN ON 5/8/14 IT WAS DRIVING FINE. LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WHEN WE WERE IN MICHIGAN IT STARTED GOING ON AGAIN, AGAIN DRIVING WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. IT WAS HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER AND NO CODES CAME UP AND LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND NEVER CAME BACK ON OUR WHOLE WAY HOME. NOTHING FELT OR SOUNDED DIFFERENT WITH THE DRIVING. DRIVING FINE TO DROP OFF OUR SON AT PRACTICE THIS MORNING 5/17/14, TURNED ON CAR TO GO PICK HIM UP AND COULDN'T REVERSE, BUT WOULD GO FORWARD. I HAD MY HUSBAND AND HIS BROTHER PUSH US OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE FOR THE FIRST 3 BLOCKS, THEN STARTED TO CHUG AND WOULDN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. I TURNED AROUND ON A CIRCLE DRIVE. WE LIVE ON A CULDESAC SO I PULLED AHEAD OF OUR HOUSE, SO WE COULD PUSH IT BACK IN THE DRIVE WAY. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME BACK OUT IT WAS LIKE LOCKED, WE COULDN'T PUSH IT IN REVERSE. THEN IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARD. MY HUSBAND UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND WAS ABLE TO REVERSE WITH STRUGGLE AND PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY WITH STRUGGLE. DURING ALL OF THIS, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN ILLUMINATING WHEN NOT BEING PUSHED AND SOMETIME THEY DON'T EVEN WORK. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592280

90,000 miles · May 16, 2014

Service BrakesSteering

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ESC AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

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NHTSA ODI #10588980

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2014

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED THEN LIGHTS GO OFF FOR A BRIEF MOMENT THEN GO BACK ON. WHILE ACCELERATING BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON. I HAVE NEARLY HAD SEVERAL CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE TWICE ALREADY. FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AND THAT LASTED A YEAR. IT RECURRED AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IN WHICH HE REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED. I AM STILL HAVING THIS OCCURRENCE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO HAVE THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. EVERY TIME THEY WANT A FEE PLUS REPAIR CHARGE. THEY ARE MAKING MONEY BOTH BY CAR PAYMENT AND REPAIRS. WHAT THE HELL??? FRUSTRATED WITH CHEVROLET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588742

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HAPPENED THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON. A MESSAGE APPEARED TO HAVE THOSE ITEMS SERVICED. THIS LASTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY 20 MINUTE DRIVE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND NO MESSAGE. THIS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES UNTIL DECEMBER. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON SHORTLY AFTER I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN JUST THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD STOP WORKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INCORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588638

82,000 miles · Apr 30, 2014

Service BrakesInjury

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ON THIS DATE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART ON VACATION. I GOT IN MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. IT WAS IN PARK. I INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO CALL AAA. WHILE SHE WAS GONE I OPENED THE DOOR TO TRY AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. FOOLISHLY I GOT BEHIND THE CAR TO STOP IT AND GOT SANDWICHED BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE NEIGHBORS. I BROKE BOTH MY LEGS, HAD SURGERY AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A MONTH AND AM HAVING THERAPY AND CANNOT WALK OR WORK. I REPORTED THIS TO GM IN LIVONIA MICHIGAN AS INSTRUCTED BY MY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING. SINCE THEN TWICE THE CAR HAS BEEN IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND HAS STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. SINCE I CANNOT WORK AND COULD NOT PAY MY BILLS I HAVE HAD TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585642

7,800 miles · Apr 1, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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ERROR 1. WARNING ERRORS ON DASHBOARD STATE SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION; NOTICED JUST AFTER OCT 2011 PURCHASE. BRAKE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS ON AND OFF TO THIS DAY (APRIL 2014). TWO SERVICES HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. ERROR 2. CRUISE CONTROL WOULD STOP WORKING ON IT'S OWN WHILE AT HWY SPEEDS; NOTICED DEC 2011. CRUISE CURRENTLY (APRIL 2014) WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ANY SPEED. ERROR 3. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON WITHOUT PEDAL DEPRESSION AT ANY SPEED AND CONVERSELY WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BRAKE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF; NOTICED APR 2012. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING ON AND OFF TODAY (APRIL 2014) . THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES ARE HUGE SAFETY CONCERNS AND WITH MORE THAN 20 ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED AND AT LEAST ONE CRASH, WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576567

45,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014

Service Brakes

I OWN A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN I AM NOT APPLYING THE BRAKE. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AND THE ISSUE IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WITHOUT ME APPLYING THE BRAKE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE TIME THE LIGHTS D…

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NHTSA ODI #10573889

32,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PUSHED. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS SITTING IN PARK OR BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED, THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569183

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)