10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,449 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
Headlight connection overheats making headlight go out. ABS control locks brakes durring normal driving. Rear brake lights engage while driving without pressing on brake.
- Dayton, OH, USA
On 12. 06. 2018 the power steering code C0454. Last year Nov. 2018, it was the timing chain, then the ESC, which is still unresolved, then I had to put in a new transmission.
- Gilmanton Iw, NH, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 50 mph, the brake indicator illuminated independently. In addition, the service traction control warning indicator illuminated and the cruise control became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired on February 19, 2015 per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control); however, the failure recurred twice. Jeff wyler springfield Chevrolet (located at 2237 w 1st St, springfield, oh 45504, (937) 525-4646) was notified. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided case number: [xxx]. the approximate failure mileage was 163,000. *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).
- New Carlisle, OH, USA
My brake lights are on when I am driving and then when the brakes are pressed the brake lights go off. It's a scary thing because it really confuses the cars behind me.
- Fuquay Varina, NC, USA
The brakes lights stay on while driving and go off when the brake pedal is depressed. The traction control service alert comes on the dash also. Concerned that numerous identical complaints found on the car complaints web site noting the dealers have no clue how to fix the issue. Meanwhile, occupants are at risk of rear collision due to brake lights not coming on during braking.
- Fairfax, VA, USA
The brake light comes on when the brakes are not being depressed and goes off when it is being depressed. This disengages the cruise control and also the service ESC light comes on when it happens. The 2014 recall was done by the dealer and yet the problem keeps occurring. There was an update to the recall and this was also done but has not fixed the problem. This issue seems to happen intermittently and randomly.
- Lebanon, OH, USA
The stop lamps come on all by themself, if the lamps are illuminated they will turn off when the brake pedal is pressed. This also affects the traction controls and stability control, the warning light illuminates on the instrument panel. Also cruise control becomes inoperative. GM has acknowledged this and has an extended warranty for this problem. However they've capped it at 150,000 miles which puts me out of warranty. When I spoke to GM they admitted this and said because I wasn't the original owner I wouldn't be notified. They don't want to help!
- North Attleboro, MA, USA
Service ESC, service traction, picture of car skidding, tires need air and picture of tire that looks flat keeps coming up on my panel. This never happened prior to having new tires and brakes put on my car at hendrix Chevrolet in durham, nc. I only have 40+ thousand miles on my car. At 20,000 my right front rotar and brakes had to be replace because it was roaring and I literally had to have it towed to my home. I bought the car new when my son worked at hendrix (thought it was a good idea). He wasn't working there when this happened but he fixed it and then hendrix said they could not reimburse me because he wasn't a current employee. I love my car but have had nothing but problems with it! please let me know what to do to get the first issues I mentioned corrected! I'm getting different answers from everyone I talk too. I see many people on the internet are complaining of the same problem with their Malibu as well!
- Hillsborough, NC, USA
"takata recall" my seat-belt light stays on when I have my seat-belt on, my ESC light keeps blinking as well as my traction control light. My brake lights stay on while I am driving and go off when I brake.
- Richmond, VA, USA
My brake lights are illuminated when I do not push on the brake when I do push on the brake they disappear I can't put my cruise control on when this happens this happens while I'm driving it started happening about a month ago at a hundred and ninety-eight thousand miles but it would go away I was able to turn the car off and back on and it would be fine now it is like that at all times
- Northglenn, CO, USA
I purchased this car in September 2016 and not more than two days of owning it my ESC lights disabled and my brake lights were stuck on, I brought it into the dealership and they replaced the break pedal sensor, and the lights came on again, I brought it in again and they once again replaced the sensor, this problem has yet to be fixed almost two years later, the ESC constantly disables and the brake lights come on and stay stuck I am lucky I have not been in an accident. The dealership I bought it from have failed on several occasions to fix this problem. Now they are telling me I will have to pay for a problem that they never actually fixed. I will be driving and my check traction light will come on and my ESC light will say off. You can see by the attached document I originally reported this problem on 9/26/2016, I purchased the car September 24, 2016... two days later and this issue started occurring and now two years later and it is still not fixed.
- Timberlake, OH, USA
Service ESC and service traction lights on. Brake lights on when not pushing brake, then off when pushing brake. While driving and while stationary
- Hessmer, LA, USA
My tail lights come on without pressing the pedal and they do not come on, when the pedal is pressed. Very, very close to being rear ended. All roads and at all speeds. Cruise control is also affected. ESC light has come on. Very dangerous situation. NHTSA says there is a recall, Chevrolet says there is not.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The brake lights illuminate without pressing on the brakes. I remember there being a recall before and I took my car in and it got fixed however it is doing it again. And my air bag light goes on and off all the time.
- La Porte, TX, USA
Defective door latches. Both driver side front and back door problems since I purchased my 2010 Chevrolet Malibu back in 2012. Driver door would not open or not shut. Contacted GM twice and no assistance from GM. I purchased a aftermarket door latch and replaced the driver door latch in Jan 2018 and have no more problem since. Driver back door I have not been able to open since 2015 and because the back door wont open, there is no way to replace the latch. If a fire or accident happens there is no exit from drivers side back door. Without warning on a 7 year old vehicle, the transmission failed in Aug 2017 136000 miles. Expensive replacement.
- Midvale, UT, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. When the brake pedal was depressed, the tail lamp failed to illuminate. The traction control warning indicator illuminated. Ourisman Chevrolet of bowie (16610 governors bridge rd, bowie, md) repaired the vehicle per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000(service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the brake light switch was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
- Lothian, MD, USA
I have been noticing and been told my brake lights were on while driving down road and at times my cruise control would not function and it happens during day when I can't tell and at night which obviously is more apparent but not any less dangerous...putting two together my brake lights would be coming on and when I press the pedal to slow down they go off...I bought this car used and after googling to find a fix I see there are many recalls and complaints regarding this issue with this year make and model...as it does not list my VIN to be involved with any recalls it's concerning that the safety of my kids and I could be at risk. I cannot find any positive fix to the problem yet and see many people spent hundreds to thousands at dealerships only to find the problem not fixed...if there's any assistance information or go to's you can provide I would be greatly appreciated
- Thorndale, TX, USA
I've had electrical problems with my car since I bought it. The dealer has never been able to fix it because my car never showed any "codes". my car has acceleration problems, the right head light socket harness keeps burning out and I'm also starting to have problems with my brake lights. My brake lights don't go on when I press on my brake and when I do they sometimes stay on after I take my foot off the brake. The acceleration problem happens on a full stop and on the highway. I usually give my self extra space to accelerate because my car fails at times. In the highway my car sometimes struggles to catch up to speed with the other cars. This problem has almost cause and accident several times.
- Passaic, NJ, USA
The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty engaging and disengaging the cruise control; disablement of crash the traction control, electronic stability control.
- Devils Lake, ND, USA
- Akron, OH, USA