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

52,000 miles · Sep 15, 2017

Power TrainSteering

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POWER STEERING FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2017. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN NOVEMBER 2016 FOR THE SAME CONDITION. THERE IS A RECALL FOR CHEVY MALIBUS UP UNTIL THE 2009 MODEL YEAR AND CLEARLY THERE IS A WEAKNESS IN THE 2010. THIS FAILURE WAS WHILE I WAS PARKED IN A TIGHT SPOT AND COULDN'T GET OUT. I RESTARTED THE CAR UNTIL IT RECALIBRATED, BUT IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY GO AGAIN. REPEAT OF PREVIOUS PROBLEM. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AFTER COMPLETE FAILURE AT 48,000 MILES IN JANUARY 2017. THAT WAS A MERE $4600. IT FAILED WHILE IN MOTION, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS UPHILL FROM MY HOME AND I WAS ABLE TO ROLL IT TO THE CURB.

NHTSA ODI #11023678

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2017

SeatsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT NEEDED TO BE R…

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NHTSA ODI #11023625

100,000 miles · Sep 14, 2017

Exterior LightingService Brakes

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WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE (NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS) THAT WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AT TIMES WHEN NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON ACTING AS IF I WAS BREAKING AND WHEN I BRAKE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN OFF (SO IN OTHER WORDS IT IS REVERSED). AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THIS BEGAN TO HAVE LIKELY STARTED OCCURRING THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO APPEAR; "ESC" AND SERVICE TRACTION" (I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RELATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND NOTED WARNING LIGHTS). I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WITH MY FAMILY IN IT AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT GIVING OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME THE APPROPRIATE INDICATION OF WHAT MY VEHICLES INTENTIONS ARE. THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING, WHEN IN MOTION, STATIONARY, HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET. POTENTIALLY PARTS THAT MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR; BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), BAS, AND HARNESS CONNECTOR.

NHTSA ODI #11023426

118,785 miles · Sep 12, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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IN 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THE ESC SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ISSUES SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN THE PEDDLE WAS PUSHED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE ON WHEN YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. MY VEHICLE WAS "FIXED" AND WAS WORKING PROPERLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. MY CAR NOW, ONCE AGAIN, HAS THE SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF WARNINGS COMING ON IN MY VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. WHEN THE PEDAL IS RELEASED MY BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I WAS SIMPLY BRAKING FOR A LIGHT. MY BRAKES WORK JUST NOT THE LIGHTS TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM APPLYING MY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11022820

40,000 miles · Sep 6, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY ESC LIGHT IS GIVING ME A FAILURE WARNING

NHTSA ODI #11021733

10,200 miles · Sep 6, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

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THE VECHILE LOST SPEED AS I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. THE CAR WAS SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY AS IF IT WOULD ALL JUST FALL APART IN PIECES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AND ALSO RAPIDLY SHAKING. THE SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND A LIGHT WITH A CAR ON A CURVED ROAD WAS ALSO ON. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE STREERING COLOUMN OR AN ELECTRIAL ISSUE. I READ ON SOME RECALLS AND I THINK IT IS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL #14E044000. HOWEVER, WHEN I SEARCH MY VIN IT IS NOT LISTED UNDER IT. YET IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11021699

131,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, BOTH OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED INDIVIDUALLY BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AT ONCE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM BROWNE CHEVROLET OF TAMPA, FLORIDA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUITS IN BOTH OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE FAULTY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE YEAR AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #11021603

60,000 miles · Sep 2, 2017

Exterior Lighting

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DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. IVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS, SINCE NOVEMEBER 2013, AND IVE CHANGED THE LOW BEAM BULB AT LEAST 6 TIMES. IVE USED DIFFERENT LIGHTBULB MANUFACTURERS. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE ITS NOT THE BULBS ITSELF, BUT RATHER AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IVE ALSO CHECKED THE LOW BEAM FUSE EACH TIME THE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, AND THE FUSE WAS STILL GOOD, BUT I CHANGED IT ANYWAY. THIS HAPPENED WHEN CAR WAS IN MOTION, IDLING, AND UPON BEING STARTED.

NHTSA ODI #11021220

86,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017

Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE CAME LOOSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. PLACED THE CAR IN PARK BUT IT CONTINUED TO MOVE. CABLE IS MISSING CENTER PIECE (CLIP?) THAT HOLDS IT TO TRANSMISSION LEVER. THIS CAR WAS RECALLED AND "FIXED" FOR THIS CONDITION LESS THAN 4 YEARS AGO. OBVIOUSLY THEIR REPAIR IS INFERIOR......IF INDEED IT WAS DONE AS THEY…

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NHTSA ODI #11020060

72,000 miles · Aug 25, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE IN MOTION, MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY GIVING ME A "SERVICE TRACTION" "ESC OFF" NOTICE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #11019626

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)