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

Steering complaints

454 reports

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80,000 miles · Dec 19, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AND IT WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROX…

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NHTSA ODI #10667303

20,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR…

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NHTSA ODI #10664789

126,000 miles · Dec 16, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10664697

84,820 miles · Nov 21, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR IT GOES OUT ,ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON ALSO WHEN IM GOING AROUND A CORNER THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AND IT FEELS LIKE ITS FLOATING ALMOST I BROUGHT IT IN AD THEY SAID IT WAS SEPARATION ,I JUST PUT NEW TIRES ON IT AND IT ISN'T RIGHT, ALSO MY ELECTRICAL SOMETHING IS WRONG THE RADIO LIGHT WILL BLINK OF THEN COME ON AND GO DIM, THERE IS ALSO A ALMOST GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THEFRONT RIGHT TIRE ,I PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE GOT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT WRONG WITH IT ,I BROUGHT IT IN ON WARRANTY AND THEY FIXED BRAKE LIGHT AND THAT'S IT, AND THEN THEY CHARGED ME FOR A LOANER CAR, {FRIENDLYCHEV}178.00.HOW CAN I BE CHARGED FOR A LOANER CAR ,AND THEY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING ELSE WHEN IT WASUNDER WARRANTY,I GOT SCAMMED !!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659957

23,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU LOSES POWER STEERING AT LOW RATES OF SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGERS WAY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. GM/CHEVY RECENTLY HAD A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE I AM HAVING HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT COVER THE 2010 MODEL UNDER THE RECALL. THE 2008-2012 MODELS OF THE CHEVY MALIBU USE THE SAME ELECTRONIC STEERING PARTS HOWEVER GM FEELS THEY ONLY NEED TO RECALL THE 2008 AND 2009 MODELS. THIS IS URGENT THAT THIS BE ADDRESSED WITH GM AND IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I ALSO WILL BE WRITING MY LOCAL AND STATE REGULATORS IN THE HOPES THAT THIS MAY SAVE LIVES AND DOCUMENT MY COMPLAINTS. PLEASE SEE GM RECALL BELOW. AGAIN THIS DOES NOT COVER THE 2010 MODEL EVEN THOUGH IT USES THE SAME PARTS! THIS HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY 2 CERTIFIED GM MECHANICS AS WELL AS 2 LOCAL MECHANICS. IF WE LOSE ONE MORE LIFE BECAUSE OF GM'S CARELESS ACTIONS THEN OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. I CAN BE REACH DIRECTLY BY EMAIL OR AT [XXX]. PLEASE HELP. IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, A MESSAGE DISPLAYS ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND A CHIME SOUNDS TO INFORM THE DRIVER. STEERING CONTROL CAN BE MAINTAINED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL REVERT TO MANUAL STEERING, BUT GREATER DRIVER EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. MODELS SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL ARE THE: CHEVROLET MALIBU: ALL MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005, AND SOME MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 VEHICLES SERVICE PARTS INSTALLED INTO CERTAIN VEHICLES BEFORE MAY 31, 2010 UNDER A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE, GM WILL REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE EITHER THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, THE STEERING COLUMN, THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL UNIT OR A COMBINATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL UNIT. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ODI #10659887

125,861 miles · Nov 12, 2014

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INPUT TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,861.

NHTSA ODI #10654530

91,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014

Steering

POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN MIDDLE OF LEFT HAND TURN. PULL OVER TURN CAR OFF START CAR POWER STEERING BACK ON. HAPPENS OFF AND ON EVERY FEW DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651948

99,000 miles · Oct 29, 2014

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN MY CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING HAS WORKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS TO FIX. THE POWER STEERING FAILED, HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED. GM HAS RECALLED EARLIER MODEL YEARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE RECALL NOTICE AT THIS URL: HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML GM HAS REFUSED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY DEFECT, TELL ME THE PART AT ISSUE OR OR INFORM ME AS TO WHETHER IT IS THE SAME PART THAT LED TO THE RECALL ON THE EARLIER MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650986

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2014

Air BagsSteeringCrash

MY SEAT BELT WARNING PINGS WHEN I AM BUCKLED UP AND GOES OFF AS FREQUENTLY AS IT WOULD IF I WAS NOT BUCKLED UP. MY "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT RANDOMLY POPS UP MY CAR REVS WHEN IM DRIVING AT THE SAME PACE ON A FLAT ROAD. WHICH IS SCARY BECAUSE IT SPEEDS UP TOO. MY DRIVING WHEEL STICKS SOMETIMES. I FEEL LIKE ITS NOT A SAFE CAR I …

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NHTSA ODI #10649856

58,500 miles · Oct 21, 2014

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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I WAS STOPPED TO WAIT ON ONCOMING CARS TO PASS TO TURN LEFT ONTO A STREET. AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN.IF, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED ALREADY, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO TURN, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE MY CHILD WAS SITTING. I HAD NO OPTION BUT TO DRIVE UP ON THE CURB. THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION AS THE 2008 AND 2009 MODEL MALIBU'S WHICH HAVE A RECALL ON THEM FOR STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM GM'S RECALL #14V15300 RECALLED 3/31/14. OBVIOUSLY THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE 2010 MODEL SINCE IT IS STILL OCCURING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FREELAND CHEV. WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO THE BAD TORQUE SENSOR. THIS COST ME 689.00 TO REPLACE, I FEEL GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND ADD THE 2010 MODEL MALIBU TO THE RECALL LIST SO THAT I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR ERROR AND SO THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT PUT TRUST IN PURCHASING THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE. TO NOTE I HAVE CONTACTED AND SPOKE WITH SEVERAL REPS AT GM NONE OF WHICH OFFERED ANY TYPE OF HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649074

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)