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

68,000 miles · Dec 17, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING 60MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5MPH AND STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING, AND I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL TO THE SHOULDER LANE, "REDUCED ENGINE SPEED" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH "ESC TRACTION CONTROL". RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER, IT DID THE SAME TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10935949

108,000 miles · Dec 13, 2016

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2010 MALIBU WITH 108,XXX MILES, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT VARIOUS TIMES, BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ISSUE CONTINUES. NO HELP FROM DEALER EXCEPT OFFER TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10935150

51,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016

EngineSuspensionWheels

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ONE OF MY NEW TIRES CONTINUALLY DEFLATE. AFTER TAKING TO TIRE CO. 6OF8WKS TO GET AIR, I WAS TOLD I HAVE A CRACKED WHEEL AND WILL PAY $500 FOR A USED WHEEL OR UP TO $1000 FOR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO REPLACE IT. I PAY $50 EXTRA F/PLATINUM WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY FOR AIRBAG SVC'ING TO GET INSPECTION--AND $100 DEDUCTIBLE FROM WARRANTY COMPANY. IN 2YRS, I'VE PAID $1200 F/WARRANTY PLUS $150 DEDUCTIBLE@AUTHORIZED SERVICE CTR-PINKERTON CHEV IN LYNCHBURG, VA-AND IT TOOK 3 WEEKS THAT I HAD TO BUM A RIDE TO WORK OR PAY A CAB. NOW, I'M RIDING ON A "DONUT" AND MY GAS MILEAGE IS <8MPG........W/A $389 CAR NOTE AND $200 CAR INSURANCE NOTE.

NHTSA ODI #10934854

96,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016

Vehicle Speed Control

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FREEWAY DRIVING SPEED OF 65 MPH. TURNED OFF FREEWAY ON TO A 50 MPH ROAD. ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE ESC LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND REDUCED DRIVING TO ONLY 20 MPH. DROVE 5 MILES IN LIMP MODE TO GET HOME. GOT A "P1235" CODE. AFTER LEAVING CAR FOR AN HOUR AND RESTARTING, IT DRIVE NORMALLY BUT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE P1235 CODE IS STORED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND CAR DROVE AS NORMAL. HE THINKS IT IS A BUTTON ON THE GAS PEDAL OR A THROTTLE BODY. BOTH ARE EXPENSIVE OPTIONS AND SHOULD BE UNDER SOME WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10934727

65,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016

Electrical SystemEngine

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WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT IDLE (STOP LIGHT), THE ENGINE SURGES AND SPUTTERS AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL / ECS LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE CAR WILL THEN ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY ONLY UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH. I HAD THE CAR FIXED AT A GM DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR A VEHICLE RECALL ON THE MAIN BODY WIRING CONNECTOR TO BCM. NOTE: THE GM FIX IS TO "CLEAN" THE CONNECTOR AND ADD DIELECTRIC GREASE TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE CAR WAS FINE AFTER THAT UNTIL NOW. I'VE SEEN MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THE "FIX" IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

NHTSA ODI #10934588

159,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016

Steering

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THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC POWER STEER FAILED WITH NO WARNING WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG A NORMAL SUBURBAN ROAD. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AS SHE COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAGEDY THAT RESULTED, BUT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WE TOWED IT TO OUR HOME THEN TO A GM STORE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT IS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITHIN GM AND PUBLIC FORUMS ACROSS. I WAS INFORMED THAT GM HAS CREATED A SPECIAL POLICY #15356 TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS AT THE GM STORE, EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY TO 150K MILES & OUR VEHICLE HAS 159K MILES SO WE WEREN'T COVERED. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY MAINTENANCE THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS, THERE WASN'T ANY PROCEDURE. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS NO SET MILEAGE THAT THIS CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS A FAULTY DESIGN & NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ! THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IS SURE TO THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS/ INJURY/ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933828

100,000 miles · Dec 5, 2016

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10929866

79,000 miles · Dec 2, 2016

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN BEGAN TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE AND JUMPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10929553

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2016

Electrical SystemFire

DRIVING TO DROP OFF KIDS AT SCHOOL HAD A ODOR OF PLASTIC AND WIRE BURNING AS SOON AS MY CHILD GOT OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF CAR SHUT OFF FEET AWAY FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE ODOR AND SMOKE STARTED GETTING REALLY NOTHING WORKED ALL POWER WAS OFF .GOT OFF RIGHT AWAY NOTICE THE SMOKE COMING FROM TRUNK COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK WITH REMOTE OR B…

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NHTSA ODI #10928934

48,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016

Steering

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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON CITY STREET, CHIME RANG AND POWER STEERING CUT OUT. CAR WAS STILL STEERABLE WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, BUT BECAME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AT LOW SPEEDS. SUDDEN MANEUVER AT SLOWER SPEED WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, BUT CUT OUT AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME. I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS FOUR MODEL YEARS OF THE SAME SERIES OF CHEVROLET MALIBUS. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ABOUT 48,000. CLEARLY, THE 2010 MALIBU NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928404

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)