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: steering
455 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 7, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE TRACTION POWER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (KENDALL AUTO MALL, 15700 IDAHO CENTER BLVD, NAMPA, ID 83687) AND STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VIN SEARCH REVEALED ONE RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Steering, Feb 6, 2018
STEERING POWER SHOWS IN MY CAR, LOOSING THE CONTROL OF MY WHEEL
Steering, Feb 5, 2018
PERIODICALLY, UPON INITIAL SWITCH-ON, POWER STEERING / ESC CONTROL ERROR MESSAGES FLASH AND POWER STEERING IS INOPERATIVE (VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN). SWITCHING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING USUALLY CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, WHILE IDLING (STOP LIGHT) THE STEERING WHEEL PULSES OR VIBRATES SLOWLY WITH NO HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TIME; AND HAS OCCASIONALLY HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVING. TAKING FOR REPAIR TOMORROW.
Steering, Feb 5, 2018
THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS MORNING IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK WHILE GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE. I WENT TO TURN ON THE OFF-RAMP AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED, FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL MESSAGES ON MY INFORMATION DISPLAY. (POWER STEERING, ESC) ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, MY POWER STEERING RETURNS. SINCE THEN IT CONTINUES TO SHUT DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING. AFTER LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE ONLINE, I NOTICE A LARGE RECALL ON 2010 MALIBU'S FOR THIS EXACT REASON, BUT SOMEHOW MINE IS NOT COVERED. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WHEN IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE? THIS IS BECOMING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
Steering, Engine, Feb 5, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE ESC, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC FAILED. THE DEALER (GRAY-DANIELS CHEVROLET, 6080 INTERSTATE 55 NORTH FRONTAGE RD, JACKSON, MS 39211) INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR A FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Steering, Feb 4, 2018
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING IN THE CAR NOT WORKING. IT WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BUT IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WILL WORK FINE FOR A FEW MILES.
Steering, Suspension, Air bags, Jan 31, 2018
2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING AND AIR BAG DEFECTS. *SMD THE CONSUER STATED THE STEERING WOULD SQUEAL AND GROWL, WHICH CREATED A VIBRATION MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.*JS
Steering, Jan 28, 2018
POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. ESC LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING. RESTARTED CAR AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY. GOT HOME AND RESTARTED CAR. LOST POWER STEERING. ESC LIGHT CAME ON SAID IT TURNED OFF.
Steering, Jan 28, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY, I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING HAD STARTED TO TICK WHENEVER I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I WAS THANKFUL THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. THE STEERING WOULD NOT COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE THEN RANDOMLY AN HOUR OR SO LATER WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ON BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TICK LIKE BEFORE, ONLY HARDER, THEN IT WENT BACK OUT AGAIN A SHORT WHILE LATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION. THANKFULLY THIS TIME, I WAS ALONE. EVER SINCE THAT TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS NOT RETURNED. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CHANGED AND THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, AFTER READING TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND CORRECTED. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS?
Steering, Jan 24, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS IN DRIVING MODE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED , CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 22, 2018
PULLED OUT OF CAR WASH AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY (SPEED LIMIT IS ONLY 40) THROUGH TOWN, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND LIGHT BEGAN DISPLAYING WITH AUDIBLE SOUND AS WELL AS SERVICE ESC. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS 150,760 WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A BULLETIN PUBLISHED REFERENCING THIS PROBLEM (15356) IN WHICH IT APPEARS TO ONLY WARRANT A REPAIR AT MANUFACTURER COST IF 150,000 MILES/TEN YEARS. FROM READING ONLINE FORUMS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO "JUST" MISS THE FAILURE AND MANUFACTURER REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED NO MATTER THE MILEAGE.
Steering, Jan 19, 2018
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, "SERVICE ESC" AND "POWER STEERING" IS DISPLAYED AND THE POWER STEERING IS DISABLED. OCCASIONALLY, TURNING OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTARTING IT, WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL, WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL TWITCHES BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT ME TOUCHING IT AT ALL TIMES WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON.
Steering, Engine, Jan 19, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF ENGINE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR AND THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 9, 2018
MALIBU SUDDENLY FLASHED SERVICE ESC/ ESC OFF/ POWER STEERING. ALL STEERING CONTROLS OF THE VEHICLE WERE LOST. CAR MUST BE STEERED MANUALLY. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF, ALL LIGHTS AND MESSAGES DISAPPEAR AND POWER STEERING WORKS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MILES BEFORE SAME MESSAGES APPEAR AND POWER STEERING IS LOST AGAIN. I CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY LOOKED UP ALL RECALLS ON MY CAR AND STATED THERE WERE TWO RECALLS, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE RELATED TO MY ISSUE. THEY WERE UNCERTAIN OF REASONING FOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING BUT HAVE HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT YEAR OF MALIBU.
Steering, Jan 8, 2018
MY VEHICLE WAS GIVING A WEIRD VIBE WHEN I DROVE IT BUT THE MECHANIC SAID IT JUST NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. SO I GOT THAT DONE. SHORTLY AFTER IT STARTED AGAIN, THIS TIME IT STARTED THIS WEIRD TWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, WARNING LIGHTS FOR POWER STEERING AND ECS FLASHED CONTINUOUSLY. I PARKED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO GO GET FLUID. WHEN I GOT BACK REALIZED NO RESERVOIR. SO I TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. HOWEVER, IT STOPS WORKING RANDOMLY WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF INDICATION.
Steering, Jan 8, 2018
I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING
Steering, Jan 7, 2018
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON THEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I TURN CAR OFF THEN RE START AND IT GOES AWAY. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME 7 TIMES THE OTHER DAY. IT GOES OUT JUST AFTER I START MY CAR SOMETIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY DRIVE TO WORK IS GOING AROUND A LOT OF CURVES. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I'VE READ THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS WITH OTHER DRIVERS. LUCKILY I'VE MANAGED TO COAST IN STRAIGHT WAYS TO STOP SIGNS SO I CAN TURN OFF AND RESTART MY CAR. I MAY NOT BE THAT LUCKY ALWAYS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 28, 2017
WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, AN INDICATOR LIGHT IMMEDIATELY REPORTED A NEED TO SERVICE MY ESC AND MY POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. NOW, WHEN DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN THERE IS NO TORQUE APPLIED TO THE WHEEL AND MAKES A CHATTERING NOISE PERIODICALLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WEEK NOW.
Steering, Dec 16, 2017
ESC-STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON, POWER STEERING ISSUE. CAR HAS TROUBLE TURNING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. GM HAS RECALLED 1/3/ MILLION CARS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE-AFFECTING MALIBU, COBALT'S AND HHR EDITIONS.
Steering, Dec 14, 2017
I AM CONSTANTLY GETTING A WARNING THAT MY POWER STEERING IS OUT AND "SERVICE ESC". I RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THEN I HAVE THE SAME WARNING SIGN ON THE DASH AND THE STEERING IS HARD AGAIN.
Steering, Dec 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OUTTEN CHEVROLET (1701 TILGHMAN ST, ALLENTOWN, PA 18104), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADJUSTED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO OUTTEN CHEVROLET, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 7, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CLOSED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. GM WAS SAID TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM IN MAY,2014. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN AFTER THE RECALL DATE, AND TOLD ITS CLOSED. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, NOT FIXED. TOLD BY CHEVY THAT IF THERE IS MORE REPAIRS TO BE DONE, IT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. SAME PROBLEM IT HAD BEFORE BUT THE BCM WAS NEVER REPLACED. I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING. WARNING CAME ACROSS STATED POWER STEERING & SERVICE ESC. HAD TO STOP, SHUT OFF ENGINE, START CAR, PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR 2 MINUTES AND HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME AT THE TIME. SCARY.
Steering, Nov 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY MANUALLY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE RECENT FAILURES WERE NOT REMEDIED USING THIS METHOD DUE TO THE FAILURE BEING MORE SEVERE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
Steering, Oct 31, 2017
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE DASHBOARD CHIMED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS HAS HAPPED TWO TIMES WITHIN THIS WEEK. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS DURING AN ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER A CURVE AND THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHTAWAY.
Steering, Oct 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SISBARRO DEMING SUPERSTORE (4211 NM-549, DEMING, NM 88030, (888) 445-0069) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,492.