2010 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems

I was driving down the highway when the passenger side curtain airbags deployed for no reason. Air bag deployment stunned the driver, but fortunately did not cause accident.

NHTSA ID

11660211

Incident

May 10, 2025

Connector for airbags sensor wiring has a problem which is address in General Motors document Recall 13040A Dated April 2014. There is a warning on the dash about the airbags not operational. We have never been contacted by General Motors about this problem, but other Chevrolet Malibu owners are have the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11626955

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

THE PASSANGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE RADIO LIGHTS UP BUT NO SOUND FOR RADIO OR TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA ID

11607252

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

My airbag light just recently came on driver frontal airbag may explode NHTSA-19001900 Power steering NHTSA- 14E044000 u joint premature failure Electrical system all out of wack NHSTA-14V252000 bcm resistance result in voltage fluctuations in brake Power train- NHTSA 12V460000 4 speed automatic transmission the tabs on transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate

NHTSA ID

11562183

Incident

Nov 7, 2023

Head light wire is out , electrical wire is messing up . Car is shaking bad and won’t start . Air bag light is on

NHTSA ID

11534616

Incident

Jul 21, 2023

I was driving down the road after I bought the car and the steering suddenly went out the DIC said "service esc" and "service traction" and I could barely move the steering wheel I was lucky to be on a country road because if I was on the highway I could have lost complete control and caused an accident I took it to a mechanic and they said "the dielectric grease in the bcm connector wore out" when I googled it I saw there was a recall but when I contacted the dealer they said there was nothing they could do for me. this is very concerning as who knows how many malibus steering could randomly go out over such a stupid problem i could be available if you would like to inspect the car/systems

NHTSA ID

11528235

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

Air bag light randomly pop on . Electrical system is so bad that I only have 1 head light and it’s very dangerous driving at night like that .

NHTSA ID

11524361

Incident

Apr 12, 2022

First off the power steering goes out and can only be fixed by applying dielectric grease to the bcm but that will fix it. second the airbag light will randomly go on but this can also be remedy by fixing the yellow connection under the passenger seat try jiggling it if that doesnt fix it just cut the two wires off the connector's and splice with crimp connectors. hope this helps you as much as it did me :)

NHTSA ID

11517767

Incident

Apr 12, 2023

Was driving down highway at approximately 70 to 75 miles per hour when my drivers side window airbag and seat airbag deployed. It hit my face shoulder and arm. There was no collision and I was able to keep control of the vehicle for the most part. I swerved a little but regained control quickly. My seat belt is locked and is no longer usable

NHTSA ID

11516208

Incident

Apr 7, 2023

DEALER NOT ASSISTING IN RECALL REPAIRS THAT WEREN’T CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

11491526

Incident

Oct 29, 2022

MY CAR AIR PASSENGER DONT DETECT MY SEATBELT SAYS IM NOT BUCKLE AND I AM DONT KNOW IF ITS A WIRE MY LIGHTING INSIDE GOES ON AND OFF AND MY CAR SMELLS TOO MUCH GASOLINE

NHTSA ID

11479599

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

The airbag don’t work, I just payed 1200$ to replace the computer pc because the car wouldn’t start and that didn’t solve the problem the check engine light is always on, the car have electrical problems; if I run the Ac it blows hot and then the car go to engine power reduces within 4 minutes. If I drive the car it will go on engine power reduce after 6 minutes because the fan is not working due to the fact that that car has electrical problems and the fan is not getting enough power to warm the car up and the engine gets real hot and it go to making a loud rumbling noise and growling and I can only drive 10 mph and 40 mph the fastest but then the car go to shaking and wen I try to park the car it’s shaking Nd rumbling which can cause an accident

NHTSA ID

11435855

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

The passenger light beam will not come on it also messes with my radio it turns it to the aux I keep replacing the Bub in the harness and it's still not working not not to mention the car felt like a lost of power due to I guess the trance when turning a corner or pulling off. The air bag light comes on a few days and turn off.

NHTSA ID

11435097

Incident

Jan 6, 2021

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS/SIDE AND FRONT ARE DEFECTIVE FOR MY VEHICLE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP IN FINDING OUT WHAT I DO NOW...THE VEHICLE AND I WAS INVOLVED IN A WREAK AND I WAS INJURED BADLY AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.....? I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HWY AT POSTED SPEED WHEN I WAS STRUCK...FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN THE L-FENDER AND HOOD...THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11389391

Incident

Nov 3, 2020

Mileage

136,567 mi

FROM THE MINUTE I DROVE MY CAR OFF THE LOT THE DASH HAS BEEN SAYING 'SERVICE AIRBAGS'. A WEEK AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING I LOST POWER STEERING. THE DASH SAID 'SERVICE ESC' AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT POPPED UP ON THE DASH. IF I TURN OFF MY CAR FOR A WHILE THE POWER STEERING MAY STILL WORK WHEN I START IT BACK UP, BUT EVENTUALLY I LOSE POWER STEERING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11386570

Incident

Dec 28, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CENTER BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE AIR BAGS AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE REGAINED STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY TWO ATTEMPTS AT RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WERE NEEDED BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED POWER STEERING MODULE AND MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11377047

Incident

Apr 13, 2020

Mileage

113,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED FROM A BUY HERE PAY HERE AND MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AFTER BUYING MY CAR I STARTED NOTICING DIFFERENT LITTLE QUIRKS HERE AND THERE WITH MY CAR, LIKE IF IT'S WET OUTSIDE MY BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER DO NOT WORK OR IT LOOKS LIKE I AM RIDING MY BREAKS, IF IT'S WET OUT MY CAR HESITANTS WHILE DRIVING, MY CHECK AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON, THE TRACTION CONTROL SIGNAL IS ON, MY STEERING ARM MAKES A VERY WEIRD NOISE SOMETIMES THE LIST GOES ON AND WHEN I DECIDED TO CHECK AND SEE IF MY CAR HAD ANY RECALLS ON IT, TO MY DISCOVERY THERE IS AT LEAST 4 ONE JUST FROM 2019 AND ALL SOUNDS SO VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING FOR MONTHS. I AM HOPING TO RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION BACK ON WHAT TO DO NEXT.

NHTSA ID

11376461

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON 04/08/2020 AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11322605

Incident

Apr 8, 2020

Mileage

128,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED,WENT TO ACCELERATE,AND SUDDEN HARD SHIFT AS IT ACCELERATED. AFTER A FEW MILES,LOST ALL GEARS AFTER 2ND GEAR.ON INTERSTATE AT TIME WHEN LOST GEARS & CLOSE TO GETTING INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO ASC CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO LEARN THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED,WIRING FROM BATTERY TO STARTED BURNED UP,BATTERY FAILUREM ALTERNATOR FAILED, AND ECM FAILED AS WELL. REPAIR COST APPROX $4600.00. SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ALSO & P0013 CODE. LOOKED UP VEH HISTORY, SHOWS RECALLS ON SOME OF THIS WERE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED, BUT HARD TO BELIEVE. 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION, SO GM WON'T HONOR.

NHTSA ID

11300693

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

103,000 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. IF I MOVE PASSENGER SEAT SOMETIMES IT GOES OFF. 37,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11298319

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

37,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. PURCHASED CAR USED AND I AM NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR SOMEONE IN THE FRONT SEAT. NO ACCIDENT YET,BUT I HAVE CONCERNS. IT IS ON GOING AS TO A CERTAIN DATE.

NHTSA ID

11265504

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

MY AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF AND COMING ON. MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BUT I FILL AS THOUGH IT SHOULD OF BEEN.

NHTSA ID

11241573

Incident

Feb 25, 2019

WHEN DRIVING CAR AIR BAG LIGHT HAS FLASHED ON AND OFF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS EACH TIME AS SOON AS STEERING WHEEL MOVE POSITION THE LIGHT GOES OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL YEAR BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED.

NHTSA ID

11196720

Incident

Mar 21, 2019

Mileage

172,000 mi

ON MARCH 1, 2017 AT 28981 MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, (NOT THE FIRST TIME). THE NEXT DAY, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND THE ABS LIGHTS BOTH ALSO CAME ON. IN BOTH OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CHARGED ME $153 TO GET A DIAGNOSIS.THEY WANTED ANOTHER $850 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP THAT DID IT FOR $190. THESE WERE 2 SEPARATE PROBLEMS, ONE WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT (A CONNECTION UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT), AND THE OTHER WAS A SENSOR IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL (THE STABILITY/ABS LIGHT).

NHTSA ID

11182838

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

28,981 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A CLAIM FOR THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11169834

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi