2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,363 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 41 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 47 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 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.
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 19V019000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringJul 21, 2014
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 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.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Sep 18, 2012
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign 12V460000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
133 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 17, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH AND OVER, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO JERK AND PULL THE VEHICLE WITH A STRONG FORWARD FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES YET THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,333. UPDATED 12/15/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AT TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MISS GEARS. UPDATED 12/27/10
Power train, Aug 7, 2010
I JUST TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2010 MALIBU WITH 50 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO ACCELERATE ONTO A HIGHWAY. AT THIS TIME THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. THE ENGINE DIDN'T REV AND THE TRANS FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. NEXT THE TRANS SLAMMED INTO GEAR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IT SHOULD. NOT TOO SAFE. *TR
Power train, Aug 6, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOLENOID WAS FAULTY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURERS PERMISSION TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,000. UPDATED 10/13/10*BF UPDATED 10/19/10*JB
Power train, Jul 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 19 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND AROUND THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS LOW, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
Power train, Equipment, Jun 30, 2010
I PURCHASED A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU ON MONDAY JUNE 28TH AT FINNEGAN CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON TEXAS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD 14 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY FAMILY AND I STARTED TO DRIVE BACK HOME TO KENTUCKY AND AT ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE UNIT, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO ACT UP WITH FLUCTUATIONS AND THEN DROPPED TO 0, UPON WHICH WE CALLED ON-STAR AS AN EMERGENCY AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID WE COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE IT CHECKED WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE STOPPED FOR GAS AND RESTARTED OUR TRAVEL WHEN AT 450 IT STARTED BECOMING WORSE. WE CHECKED AGAIN WITH ON-STAR AND THEY SAID IT HAD 3 ERROR SINGLES BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK. AT 491 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MILES AND HOUR AND ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT BUT MY SON WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. WE DIDN'T CONTINUE BUT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO GWATNEY CHEVY IN JACKSONVILLE, AR. THEY NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION AND THEY ROAD TESTED THE CAR AND IT WOULD MAKE IT TO KENTUCKY. I TOOK OVER DRIVING AND JUST 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, LOST COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION CONTROL AT 72 MILES PER HOUR IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AGAIN DO TO THE DROP IN SPEED. THIS IS TWO EPISODES WITH THIS VEHICLE IN 24 HOURS AND NO ASSURANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CAR IS BACK IN GWATNEY CHEVY IN JACKSONVILLE, AR. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 9, 2010
VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX. 70 MPH ON LEVEL ROAD GRADE.. DRIVER PUSHED RES+ BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL TO INCREMENT CRUISE CONTROL SET SPEED AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY REACTED BY TAPPING BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED. I DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE REST OF OUR JOURNEY. VEHICLE IS A RENTAL AND THIS ISSUE WILL BE REPORTED TO RENTAL AGENCY UPON VEHICLE TURN-IN ON 5/10/10. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 23, 2010
CHEVY MALIBU 2010 - BRAND NEW WITH 16MI ON ODOMETER. *TR
Power train, Nov 30, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED PROCEEDING TO A COMPLETE STOP. SUDDENLY, DURING ACCELERATION FROM THE FULL STOP WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HESITATED FOR NEARLY A SECOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. UPDATED 12/30/09