I purchased the car for my mother on 10/20/2015 from Mike Savoie Chevrolet in Troy, MI. At the time I had a concern because there was a message being displayed on the car “Service ESC”, I was informed by the dealer that it was a false message and there was no issue with the car, we should just disregard but if we had any problems to let him know moving forward. At that time we did not have issues with anything else. There was about 80,000 miles on the odometer when we bought it, there are only about 95,300 now. Recently the brake lights have been coming on when the brakes are not applied, we have taken the car to a mechanic three times for this issue but he has been unable to duplicate it, as a result he felt that the brake pedal sensor was at fault and replaced it, but the issue still exists, a wasted $200! My 17 year old grandson is now using the car, the issue occurred again today and I discovered that this issue may be associated with a recall which also includes the “Service ESC” message which has been on the car since I bought it. However, when I enter the VIN it shows no open recalls. Apparently it was not fixed and the dealer should have fixed it before I bought it or I should have been notified of the recall. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY GRANDSON’S SAFETY AND WILL NEED TO SWITCH MY CAR WITH HIM SO THAT HE CAN BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE! Not only do the brake lights come on when not applied, but you need to tap the brake to turn them off at that point other drivers are not aware that the brake is being applied. Taking the car back to the repairman today. Please help. Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter.
2010 Chevrolet Malibu lights complaints
Page 2 of 8: complaints 11 to 40 of 195, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My 3rd brake light works intermittently. I have bought my car just over a year ago from a pre-owned dealership.
Service electronic stability control light comes on and brake light comes on and off at times
The component that has malfunctioned or failed is the pigtail for the low beam headlight on the driver side. The safety issue is that I am driving with one headlight reducing the visibility of the road. The problem has been reproduced because this is the second time that I had to change the headlights. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or Insurance representative because the price would have been more than $300. There are no warning lamps or messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. It occurred two years ago. And once again this year.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle brake lights would flash without depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the ESC and TCM service warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control). The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the rear brake light remained illuminated. Additionally, while driving and while depressing the brake pedal, the rear brake lights would fail to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to spitzer chevrolet (33 e aurora rd, northfield, oh 44067) who attached the wiring harness to the bcm with a spacer and applied di-electric lubricant to the bcm and harness connector however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was repaired for the same failure several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,281.
While driving the cruise control will be set and all of a sudden turn off. The gauges on the dash would sporatically jump up and down and sometimes flatline as if the car was off. When braking the cruise control would engage if my hand pressed the button llocated on the steering wheel causing the vehicle to speed up while trying to slow down. The brake lights would be on while driving without pressing the brakes and would turn on once brakes were pressed. Recall work was reported to be completed january 2015 but problems still persist. There is also a bulletin for special coverage that is limited to 150,000 miles which I don't recieve because my vehicle is over that mileage but the dangers of the vehicle still persist. These problems have been present since I purchased the car 2 or 3 years ago. The last incident happened just 2 days ago. I cantacted chevy and they said they couldn't cover it because of the miles.
The headlights keep breaking. The right side more often. I see these malibu's on the road all the time with a headlight out. It's expensive to replace and shouldn't happen as often as it does.
Steering gets hard to maneuver while driving all lights come on on the dashboard and have to stop and reset vehicle, headlights work when they want to. I was driving on a highway when my steering got hard to use. I had to get on the shoulder and reset the battery, in order to get home safely
Exterior brake lights come on & cruise control shuts off. When in motion.
The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed. The brake lights fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is pushed. This has been an on going problem and we only realize it still exists when one of our family is following the 2010 malibu in another car. We had brought the vehicle in to a chevrolet service center in the past and were charged for a "repair". When we again noticed the problem we brought the vehicle into a firestone service center and they charged us for a "repair". We just noticed the problem again and now are afraid to drive the vehicle. A search of the VIN shows no unrepaired recalls so we are not sure if the original owner had already brought it in (we are the second owner) or if this particular VIN was not thought to be affected. Regardless, it sounds like a known problem and we are hoping not to have to pay a third time and then still have an issue. Please let us know our options. Thank you in advance.
The 3rd brake light comes on and off.
Low beam head lights keep going out, no matter how much I get them fixed. I can bang on the front end and sometimes they'll come on, but sometimes not. Tired if replacing and or fixing them, every few months! Also my svc tire monitor light keeps coming on and say low tire pressure and my tires are not low......
My lights keep going out. As of now I dont have any headlights. And I keep having transmission kind of issues.
Both low beam headlights keeps going out I changed both harness 4 times and they keep coming on and going off. Also window brake light lights up when it wants to when I press the brake and both front door speakers keeps coming on and going off. Sometimes the switch on driver side door will lock/unlock doors and sometimes it want. At this point I don't know what the issue is that's causing this my mechanic thinks it's an electrical issue that's causing all of this. Also key fob stopped working so I changed the battery still didn't work took to see if maybe it needed to be reprogrammed but was told once again my car has some electrical issues.
While commuting to work from home on a main intersection a power reduction occurred causing the vehicle to lose power, speed, and the abilities to function normally close to work I parked in the nearest parking lot and scheduled a repair at a automotive shop... After inspecting it a mechanic replaced throttle body, gas pedal and air intake hose costing $860.. Upon pickup about 5 minutes into driving a power reduction still occured upon reinspection and no codes in a diagnostic check my mechanic informed me he wasn't able to solve the problem...I than had the car towed to a local chevy dealership who than ran a diagnostic check and did a few minor repairs and a cluster instrument coming out to $910..upon pickup from certified dealer a power reduction again reoccurring I had to pay a extra $100 to have it towed back to the dealer ship for repair for it being extremely dangerous to transport it manually feeling the headache and the pain of costly repairs for a problem without a definite possible way of repairing I feel its a safety issue that has been over looked by gm chevy now knowing the story of the power reducing in many gm vehicles I forsure would never recommend this auto maker.
In 2012, we were driving along and attempted to back into a parking spot, when the car refused to reverse. It started going slower than the usual speed limit, so I didn't know what to do. I pulled out to head home, but the car didn't get much speed, nor would it reverse at all. I had it towed and the transmission was burned out. I'd only had the car less than 30,000 miles. Chevrolet repaired or rebuilt the transmission. A year later, I was pulled over due to the tail lights not working. 2016 the car wouldn't pick up speed again. I had it towed and the transmission had burned out again. We got it rebuilt a second time and now the lights, wipers, door locks, and windows aren't working again either. Obviously there's a manufacturer issue that needs reviewing on this year malibu.
Vehicle goes into power engine reduced mode/ESC off/ service traction control mode. The car loses speed and goes about 20 MPH the RPM go crazy and car shakes violently. It has happened for the past 3 years and it happens while iddle, while driving it, while the AC is on or off it happens all the time. Ive replaced the throttle body twice, accelerator pedal 3 times, battery, map sensor, knock sensor, battery terminals, power train relay, spark plugs, cleaned all the corosion and its been at the chevy dealer numerous times for this same issue and still the car is not fixed. Ive spent so much money and even chevy cannot find whats wrong with this car. Its happened while on the highway, streets, while turning or stopped at a light. All my electrial dosent work. My passenger low beam light keeps blowing out and my speakers keep going in and out. There needs to be a recall on this car. This is just unacceptable and very dangerous.
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.
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 all.
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.
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.
I have a 2010 chevy malibu and the passenger headlight keeps going out. Not burning out, but quits working! I changed the bulb about 5 times before I realized that it wasn't burning out. All the other lights on that side work fine. A few times I could tap on the headlight assembly and it would come back on. I took it apart and found that the plastic connector was broken and shorted out, so I ordered a new wiring harness that goes from the ground wire split to the headlight assembly, put it together and it worked fine for 2 days and went out again. I took the front end off agian and unplugged the bulb and plugged it back in and it works fine again. I have checked all the wires and the ground screw and can't find a problem. This continues to happen. I have also looked this up and a large number of people are having issues with this from 2009-2012 chevy malibu.
Service eas warning light comes on. Then the rear brake lights stay on. The service power steering warning light comes on & the car is very hard to control & nearly impossible to steer. This is extremely dangerous & unsafe.
The passenger side low beam headlight has gone out 3 times in the past 2 years. The fuse was not blown any of the three times.
I have a 2010 chevy malibu and the passenger headlight keeps going out. Not burning out, but quits working! I have gone to change the bulb and we realized that it wasn't burnt out. All the other lights on that side work fine. We wiggles some wires and it would work again. A few times we could tap on the headlight assembly and it would come back on. So we put it together again and it worked fine for 2 weeks or so before it went out again.
Passenger low beam headlight was replaced 4 times. Upon removal of the 4th headlight I noticed the wiring harness was melted. I replaced the wiring harness with a new one and now the low beam does not work at all. I just received a ticket last night from the police. A fix it ticket...and now I don't know how I am going to fix this.
The passenger side low beam light stops working approximately every 6-8 weeks. I have owned the car for 6 months and have replaced the same bulb 4 times. I know I am not alone as the internet forums are filled with other malibu owners reporting the same issue.
Low beam headlights comes on and off. While attempting to drive at night the driver side light would not come on. The next morning it came on. A few days later the passenger side light would not come on. Now both lights won't come on. I am only drive during daylight hours until they are replaced.
I dropped my 2010 malibu ([xxx]) off at matick chevy on 1/10/2020. I called 1/11/2020 and was told there was no charge and it was ready for pick up. That's all I was told. I didn't make it home before the same problem occurred: service traction error light on the dash board and all 3 brake lights are on - when no one is pressing on the brake. The car is in the garage and all 3 brake lights are on - no one is in the vehicle...I'm driving down the highway and all 3 brake lights are on - I'm not braking. This is a serious safety concern. Today is 1/19/2020 and I still don't have my vehicle and have not received a call - despite leaving a message for the service [xxx], on 1/16/19. He advised that this vehicle is covered under a special warranty program or policy - 150,000 miles or the year 2025?. The vehicle is 10 years old - dealerships don't fix anything for free, so that "special program" is indicative of the company taking responsibility and knowing that you have a problem with this vehicle. I have owned gm products all my life and for the first time do not know if my loyalty to the manufacturer or brand will continue. I am very disappointed in the way this situation has been handled. The vehicle have been serviced for this same problem twice previously. The only saving grace is that I demanded a loaner. Please help. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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