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

What owners actually said

1,360 reports

89,300 miles · Apr 29, 2020

Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

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MY CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING, SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, BRAKE SYSTEM (!), ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ALL FLASH, AND ALL OF MY GAUGES FLUCTUATE SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING, AND I HAVE HAD MY CONTROL COMPUTER NODULE REPLACED, AS WELL AS MY POWER STEERING MODULE REPLACED AT LYNCH CHEVROLET IN KENOSHA, WI. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SHIFTS/JERKS, AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR SIGN, MY CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING ME TO BE IN AN INTERSECTION FOR LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T TAKE OFF. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKS INTO DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE ALL OF THESE SERVICE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. THIS FEELS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. IT STARTED IN JANUARY AND IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN DESPITE REPLACING PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #11322739

128,000 miles · Apr 28, 2020

Air BagsCrash

I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON 04/08/2020 AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11322605

120,445 miles · Apr 26, 2020

Steering

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MY CAR STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHILE IN MOTION, TURNING, BACKING OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND RATTLES AS WELL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING IT MAKES THIS RATTLE SOUND RIGHT BEFORE IT GETS TIGHT. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE ISSUE MY MECHANIC LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR AND THERE WAS. WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY STATED THAT THERE WASN'T. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ONLINE MYSELF THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME ISSUE. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 14E044000 STEERING SHAFT.

NHTSA ODI #11322248

164,000 miles · Apr 17, 2020

Exterior Lighting

MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I CHANGED IT, AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN IMMEDIATELY. I LOOKED AT THE WIRING, AND IT HAD MELTED THE CONNECTORS. I REPLACED THE PIGTAIL WIRING PART, AND IT CONTINUES TO GO OUT AS SOON AS I PUT A NEW HEADLIGHT IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321400

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2020

Exterior Lighting

WITHIN A YEAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS IN MY 2010 CHEVI MALIBU REPLACED 7 TIMES. THAT IS INSANE! IT IS TIME CONSUMING, EXPENSIVE AND UNEXCEPTIONAL. THE REPLACEMENT IS NO EASY FIX AS THE BUMPER AND WHEEL COVER HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO GET ACCESS. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND NEEDS A RECALL TO FIX THIS ONCE FOR A…

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NHTSA ODI #11321007

80,000 miles · Apr 6, 2020

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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DASH LIGHTS: ESC OFF, SERVICE ESC LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM (!), ABS SYSTEM, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS FLASH AND ALL GAUGES FLUCTUATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE MAIN CONTROL MODULE, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING MODULE AT DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES!!!! HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER SAME MODELS DOING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL COME ON, AND THEN NEXT TIME I START MY VEHICLE, IT STOPS. THEN COMES BACK ON. SOMETIMES STAYS ON FOR WEEKS. OR IS GONE FOR WEEKS.THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN WITH PROFESSIONAL REPAIRS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND IDLING AND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11320355

106,000 miles · Apr 6, 2020

Steering

POWER STEERING HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. MILEAGE AT 106,000. GENERALLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS. ALL CONTROL IS LOST MAKING IT DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ISSUE IS RESOLVED WITH A RESTART, HOWEVER SOMETIMES IT DOES COME BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #11320320

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE 5TH TIME IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT LAST WEEK AND EXACTLY A WEEK LATER, IT IS BACK OUT ON THE SAME SIDE, 6TH TIME. IN THE PAST, I'VE HAD BOTH REPLACED WHEN ONE BLOWS OUT BECAUSE OF HOW YOU HAVE ACCESS THE HEADLIGHTS, THE CAR REPAIR SHOPS CHARGES ME $180 AND UP. IMAGINE ME HAVING TO DOING THIS THAT MUCH BECAUSE IT IS MANDATORY TO GET REPAIRED. I CAN NOT DRIVE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OR NONE. ONE BLOWS AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER BLOWS OR THE SAME. IT IS HARD TO TELL EXACTLY AT WHAT POINT IT HAPPENS BECAUSE AT TIMES YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT IS OUT UNTIL SOMEONE CALLS YOU OR A KIND DRIVER LET'S YOU KNOW. I FOUND OUT THIS LAST TIME BY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE AND SEEING THE DIM GLARE ON THE FRONT WALL AS I WAS PULLING IN. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR A RESOLUTION. PEOPLE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR REPAIRS AND NO LUCK. THIS MUST BE RECALLED. THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU DESIGN TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT MAKES IT HIGHLY INCONVENIENT FOR MY POCKETS DUE TO THE COST OF LABOR. MANY SHOPS HAVE REFUSED SERVICING ME BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT BY TAKING OFF THE BUMPER AND THE NUMBER OF SCREWS TO BE REMOVED ETC. I HAVE HAD TO MISS WORK, GO IN LATE OR LEAVE EARLY TO GET MY HEADLIGHT/S REPLACED. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNLUCKY BEING AN OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11320067

105,000 miles · Apr 1, 2020

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE TRANSMISSION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11319922

85,000 miles · Mar 30, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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REPEATING HEADLAMP FAILURE. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN PAST YEAR. BOTH BULBS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) HAVE BEEN REPLACED DURING SERVICE THOUGH ONLY ONE HAD FAILED, IN HOPES OF EXTENDING TIME BETWEEN THE NEXT REQUIRED SERVICE. HEADLAMP BULB REPLACEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLEX, REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE FRONT-END/BUMPER ASSEMBLY TO ACCESS THE LAMP ASSEMBLY, USUALLY REQUIRING BODY SHOP EXPERTISE AND COST (>$200+) VERSUS A QUICK DIY JOB OR LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC. INTERNET SEARCHES INDICATE MANY CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, POINTING TO A FAILED DESIGN BY CHEVROLET WITH THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING TIME CIRCUITRY CAUSING HIGH CURRENTS LEADING TO HIGH TEMPERATURES AND OVERHEATING/MELTING/DEFORMED CONNECTORS, PIGTAIL AND WIRING COMPONENTS. A VEHICLE WITHOUT TWO WORKING HEADLAMPS IS AN OPERATIONAL, CITATIONAL AND SAFETY HAZARD, THUS DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THIS DESIGN PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED BY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11319746

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)