10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 82,711 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
ESC service light comes on intermittently, brake lights are illuminated 100 % of the time, and cruise control doesn't work. The dealer did the recall a year ago and now I have these issues. Replaced brake position and reprogram for $140 but didn't fix. Dealer now wants to replace ABS modulator valve, BCM, and ABS control module for 1450.
- Elburn, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the service ESC warning indicator illuminated intermittently. In addition, the brake light illuminated without the pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the brake light stopped functioning after the pedal was depressed. In addition, the traction and cruise control failed. The failure occurred approximately six times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal position sensor needed to be replaced and the brake switch needed to be calibrated. The switch was calibrated; however, the failure recurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number" 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 05/11/16
- Lapeer, MI, USA
2010 Malibu lt, recall #13036 on this car and others, I took it to one of the local auto nation dealer in mid 2015, mind you I did not have any of the warning signs noted in the 14V-252 report. Now I see there is a recall #13036A, 13036B revisions, then about three weeks or so I was going home, major road 40 mph, a friend happened to be behind me, he flashed his light, I slowed, let my window down, he yelled your brake lights are out! I made it home it was dark my brake lights work at random, my traction control disengages and a service notice scrolls across reading: Service ESC, at times the engine will idle rough! GM: What the hell is going on with you guys, I have been a General Motors guy all my life, then I buy a 2010 in 2011 and it is already a road hazard for me and others on the road, not to mention, a piece of [xxx]! 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).
- Amarillo, TX, USA
While driving the car at normal traveling speed the electronic stability control shuts off and the car goes into manual steering which makes the car very difficult to control and has almost caused two accidents and has made me ark the car because I feel it is far too dangerous to drive. This started occurring february15th and continued until I parked the car on feb2st.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
The traction control light comes on and stays on. Will not turn off now my brakes do not work properly and causes the car to be hard to stop.
- Dayton, TX, USA
Vehicle model is experiencing ESC off/service traction when brakes are applied. Similar to recall involved with other model years but this car was not included in recalls. Dealer repair shop replaced brake pedal sensor twice and also the body control modual. Problem still persists. Vehicle experiences reduced acceleration while driving when the ESC off/service traction light is on.
- Waldorf, MD, USA
2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to ESC light continuously illuminating and trac control switch issues. The consumer stated after the part was replaced, the ESC light illuminated again. The consumer continued to report the trac service light was still displayed. The dealer stated it was a possible BCM internal failure. The consumer received a recall notice shortly thereafter regarding an issue with the BCM connection system which could result I a malfunction. One of the symptoms of the problem, as stated in the notice was traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features, if equipped may be disabled. The vehicle was repaired at no cost to the consumer
- Oakdale, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The ESC and low power warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
- Rochester, NY, USA
It first started when my stability light would come on and my car acted like it was going to die when I was in a stopping position. This happened about 3 times. Then I was at a stop light and my stability light came on and my car just died. I took my vehicle in to the dealership and they replaced my computer system. On my receipt they indicated due to short in the ECM. Replaced and reprogrammed the ECM. Since then there has been one time when my car acted like it was going to die. I turned off the heater and radio thinking something else was causing this to happen and my car did not die.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
The first time I had just left the car wash headed home, decided to stop at the park to finish cleaning the car, pulling up to park, the traction control disengages then the ( triangle with the car sliding image) appears, a service ESC notice popes up and the engine begins to run rough, at this point the traction control will not engage. The second time, I was pulling into my drive and the same thing happened. Both times when I turned the car off, wait a while and start the car again the message will not be there, but the traction control will not engage. This has happened twice in about 3-weeks. Is the car safe to drive with the traction control off?
- Amarillo, TX, USA
While driving home from work on October 2016 3 random lights on my dashboard appeared(engine light, service airbag light, ESC). They stayed on for about 2 hours then disappeared for the rest of the day. The following day, all three lights appeared and did not leave for 3 days, then disappeared. Then they reappeared for 2 days, then disappeared. The day after they disappeared, all lights appeared but the engine light. Now I only have ESC and service airbag which comes on and off.
- Owings Mills, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated and the check engine, stability control, and traction control warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician reset the computer; however, the failure recurred shortly after. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but they were unable to diagnose the failure. The contact mentioned that the throttle body was replaced, but failed to repair the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.
- Brunswick, ME, USA
12/4/15 night, dry conditions, expressway: In motion: Chime sounded and 2 warnings flash - service ESC & service traction. 15 minutes later, - city streets, dry, same issue with ESC and traction warning lights going on, plus almost rear ended. Irate driver behind me said my brake lights were out, but they were astonished when the break lights came on while I was outside the car. They asked me to press the pedal - no lights. 20 secs after lifting off the pedal, brake lights on. Major safety issue. Upon driving found brake lights always go off when brake pedal depressed, go on at other times randomly while driving and go off again when brake pedal depressed.
- Belleville, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control) and indicated that months after the recall repair, a failure related to the recall was experienced and that the recall remedy failed to deter the failure from occurring. The contact stated that the brake lights illuminated when the brake pedal was not applied, the cruise control failed to engage and disengage, and the stability traction control and the brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was awaiting a diagnosis and repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
- Lone Tree, CO, USA
I was at burger king drive thru and when I got done ordering I tried to pull around and my power steering light cam on and my ESC light. I could not turn it was very hard I had to turn off my car and it fixed it self. This better be a recall bec why do I got to spend my money to fix this it's
- Aurora, IL, USA
I have only been driving this car for 5 months. Purchased used at dealership. I do not drive far. All of a sudden ESC and "service traction" shows up on my dash. My rear break light turns on and I'm not touching the break. The "service traction ESC" shows up more and more frequently. To me, this is a big safety issue and I see that my car is doing the same as others but GM told me via phone call, "only certain VIN numbers are recalled". somethings wrong here. Is it going to take someone to be severely injured or worse for this to get handled" I believe in american made cars, but why aren't the rest of us with this make and model and year also in this recall" we are having the same problems! all I was doing while driving was driving 45 mph on a straight flat road, where speed limit was 50mph!
- Natrona Heights, PA, USA
1. difficulty putting car in gear need to put excessive brake pressure to change gears 2. "service ESC" "service traction" light flash daily 3. brake lights are often engaged and or won't engage 4. cruise control won't engage effectively all of these things happen while driving and in a parked position
- Belleville, MI, USA
I have had many issues with the cam shaft sensors/actuators on my 2010 Chevy Malibu and have had to have them replaced now 3 times. When this occurs my car seems to surge and sounds like it is going to turn off. The first time was in January, 2014. I was at a busy intersection and was afraid it was going to die right there in the middle of taking off. Somehow I made it a few more miles down the road before there was no other option but to pull over. I paid to have this fixed. The second time this occurred was in July, 2015. I was 6 states away from home and again was at a busy intersection when it began to surge and sounded like it was going to die. We made it to an auto store where the sparks plugs were changed and thankfully, we were able to make it home. However, after being home 1 week, I noticed the surging again and took it to a mechanic to have it looked at. The cam shaft sensors were replaced again. Upon leaving the mechanic's shop I knew it still wasn't fixed because I could still feel it surging. A week later I took it to a Chevy dealer who told me I needed the timing chain replaced and a new set of cam shaft actuators were put on this time. I have been told by the mechanic and the dealership that there have been many complaints about the cam shaft/actuators and I would like to see a recall put in place.
- Mount Orab, OH, USA
I was stopped at a stop sign to turn and when I accelerated a quick flash of the service ECM message came on and then disappeared, but the car stalled out in the middle of the intersection. When I tried to restart the car, it would turnover, run for 2 seconds and then die. I had the car towed to my house, where we charged the battery and took it over to autozone to have the electronics scanned, where it showed 3 codes: U0121, P0106, P0621. They scanned the battery and alternator, and all came up with a clean bill of health (so to speak). Upon reading online it looks like this was an issue in Malibu's 2004-2009 (which was recalled), and I believe they never fixed the issue and now 2010's may be affected. My worry is that this will happen again and it will be at a busier intersection or worse yet, on the highway.
- Jenison, MI, USA
- Keller, TX, USA