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: vehicle speed control
116 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Nov 25, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR LOST POWER. SEVERAL VEHICLES ALMOST STRUCK ME ON HIGHWAY, VERY VERY, SCARY EXPERIENCE. . DURING DRIVING, FOLLOWING MESSAGES APPEARED: 1)ENG PWR REDUCED 2)SERVICE ESC 3)SERVICE TRACTION 4)ESC OFF 5) SERVICE AIRBAG. I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR SHUDDERED EXTREMELY BAD. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE I WAS NOT COMPRESSING THE BRAKE, AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE RPM JUMPED BETWEEN 3000-4000. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR APPROX 5 MIN. THE WARNING MESSAGES DISAPPEARED, HOWEVER SES LIGHT REMAINED. 2 CODES PRESENTED TODAY. 1)C0242 2)P2135. WILL BE CONTACTING CUSTOMER CARE, AND TAKING CAR TO DEALER TOMORROW. EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. NOT ALONE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE. CAR STILL RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING FOR SERVICE AIRBAG. -----------------------HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MYTMB6QOD4Y. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 24, 2013
CPO 2010 CHEVY MALIBU @59K NO KNOWN ISSUES PRIOR TO EXPLANATIONS ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR NEW TIRES AND HAD A MECH CHECK A CLICKING NOISE THAT I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE AND BEGIN TO MOVE. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM WHERE MY CV ENTERS THE TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVES THERE IS PLAY WITHIN A GEAR SOMEWHERE INTERNALLY. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER AND AM DUE TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE TOMORROW.... NOW HERE IS THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT THIS RANDOM ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON: ENGINE LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES: ENG PWR REDUCED SERVICE ESC SERVICE TRACTION ESC OFF THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AS IF IT WANTED TO DIE. ALONG WITH THIS, I HAD NO ACCELERATION AND THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS EXITING A TUNNEL ONTO A BRIDGE. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. ALL THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO SHOW, AND THE RPMS JUMPED AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED VIDEO. [XXX] I AGAIN SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MIN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT REMAINED ON WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT. I GATHERED THESE CODES THIS MORNING. C0242 P2135 -TPS THIS IS THE SECOND CAR IN 2 YEARS I HAVE BOUGHT FROM THIS DEALER, HERB CHAMBERS OF DANVERS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND CAR TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, ON TOP OF WHATEVER ELSE ITS DOING. I STILL OWE WELL OVER $10,000 ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD THIS CAR 9 MONTHS. I CAN TELL YOU I AM A GROWN MAN IN TEARS BECAUSE I WORK 44 HRS A WEEK IN A CAREER I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY TRAINING FOR AND NOW AM HAVING MASSIVE ISSUES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB AND THE DEALER COULD SEEM TO CARE LESS. *TR 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).
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 27, 2013
I WENT TO LEAVE ONE MORNING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ONLY WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WOULD IT FINALLY MOVE INTO DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING IT A DAY OR TWO MY SERVICE TRACTION AND MY SERVICE ESC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON SINCE JULY. AND NOW TODAY MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AN ALSO MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK THEY ARE OFF AND WILL NOT COME ON. WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THEY ARE ON CONSTANTLY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Engine, Oct 9, 2013
THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT WHICH CAUSED THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS TO FLASH, THE ALARM TO SOUND AND THE WORDS THAT THEY WERE OFF PLUS THE WORDS TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC SERVICE TO COME UP. AT THE TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEPT 16TH AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INTERMITTENT. BUT IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THEN ON 10/2/13 THE WARNINGS STAYED N PERMANENTLY FOR THREE DAYS FRIGHTENING MY WIFE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM USING SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Sep 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,200. UPDATED 11/13/13*LJ ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY WERE NOT NEEDED AND DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 11/14/13
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Aug 26, 2013
WHEN I START DRIVING MY CAR AT A LOW SPEED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON SAYING SERVICE ESC. THEN IT TURNS THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. WHILE THIS IS ON YOU CAN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SHAKES, AND THE RPM'S FLUCTUATES ABNORMALLY. ALSO, WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT IS OFF UNTIL I START MOVING AGAIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Aug 15, 2013
THE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING AS OF 8/15/13. ON 8/14/13, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING BUT THEN ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO LATER, IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE TRIED RESETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL BY TURNING THE CONTROL ON AND OFF HOWEVER THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY DASH LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES SO THERE IS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS THAT CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. *TR
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jul 21, 2013
AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON MY MALIBU, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS PRESSED LIGHTLY THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. AFTER THE PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED QUITE A BIT (WHILE BRAKING FOR STOPPING OR TO MAKE A SHARP TURN) THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL TURN BACK ON. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY, THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN A FEW SECONDS LATER. EVERY TIME THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 2, 2013
I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE HAD A ISSUE WITH THE ESC & SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE JIM ELLIS CHEVY DEALERSHIP ( PAID $105 FOR DIAGNOSTIC) AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR, I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD THEIR FUEL INJECTOR ( CYLINDER 1) REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS AFTERMARKET THAT I HAD TO PAY $267 TO REPLACE IT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HAD HIM PUT IN A GM INJECTOR AND STILL WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS, COILS, SHIFT SOLENOID, AND NONE OF THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE THEN STATED THAT THE BASE OF THE ISSUE WAS THE COMPUTER, I TOOK IT TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND THE NEXT MECHANIC STATED THE SAME THING,AFTER TALKING TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FROM SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, ITS THE COMPUTER. I TOOK IT TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET AND HAD ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC DONE ( WHICH WAS ANOTHER $100) AND ASKED THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE COMPUTER SINCE I WAS TOLD TWICE IT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE INJECTOR HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST $320. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TOO LONG AND LOOKING ONLINE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, CUSTOMER ARE SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY ON AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE ONGOING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jun 21, 2013
VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO ACTIVATE OR DISENGAGES UNEXPECTEDLY. BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 7, 2013
BRAKE LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY FLASH OR STAY ON WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES. THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ELECTRIC STABILITY CONTROL FAULT AND TRACTION CONTROL ALSO DISPLAY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 8, 2013
ON 2010 CHEVY MALIBU, CRUISE WOULD DISENGAGE PERIODICALLY. COMPLETE FAILURE OF CRUISE ALSO RESULTED IN BRAKE LIGHTS SAYING ON, JUST AS IN THIS ARTICLE. FIX WAS REPLACEMENT OF BCM (BODY/BRAKE? CONTROL MODULE) HTTP://WWW.DETROITNEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20130208/AUTO0103/302080415/PONTIAC-G6-BRAKE-LIGHT-RECALL-MAY-EXPAND?ODYSSEY=MOD|NEWSWELL|TEXT|FRONTPAGE|P. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jan 25, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE SPEED TO INDEPENDENTLY REDUCE TO 40 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND TO THE DEALER TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TESTS LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 5, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 38 MPH HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AFTER THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED. HE STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. REPORT 71-872396053 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHICH WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/23/11 *JB
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, Vehicle speed control, Mar 10, 2010
NEW MALIBU 2010 (14 MILES ON ODOMETER ON 02/27/2010) HAS SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IT HAS A VERY STRONG VIBRATION AND LOOKS LIKE ENGINE MAY STOP RUNNING EVERY MINUTE. WHEN ACCELERATING, ENGINE PROVIDES NOISE AND VIBRATION AND ENGINE GENERATES RATTLING NOISE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT ON 02/26/2010 DOES NOT LIKE TAKE TO PROVIDE REPAIR OR SO ON. GM DOES NOT RESPOND TO OUR E-MAILS AND CALLS, BUT WHEN COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED TO BBB WE GOT A CALL THAT SAID THAT IT IS GM LEGAL DEPARTMENT - NO LAST NAME OR POSITION, AND THE PERSON STARTED TO INTIMIDATE US. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN ASCENDING A SLOPE, NOT EVEN 30 DEGREES, AND HAVE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE BACK IMMEDIATELY ONCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKE. UPDATED 06/30/10.*JB