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
1,363 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2019
AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING. IT FIRST HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO EXIT WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT AFTER ACCELERATION WOULDN'T WORK ENGINE POWER LOW, SERVICE TRACTION POPPED UP. ONCE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT SHAKES. I TURN OFF CAR FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THEN IT BACK ON AND IT DRIVES BUT HAPPENS AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 25, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CLUSTER PANEL STARTS SHOWING WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE STEERING, SERVICE ESC, AND THE MIL LIGHT WAS ON, THE CAR LOST POWER, LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD NO POWER, NO MATTER WHAT I DID, THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. THIS PUTTING MY FAMILY AND ME IN DANGER, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE IDL IN TULSA OKLAHOMA AT RUSH HOUR, VERY, VERY BUSY ROAD AT THAT TIME OF DAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WILL END UP GETTING SOMEONE KILLED. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE, ERRATIC AND VERY HARD TO DRIVE, YOU LOSE POWER (NO ACCELERATION) AND POWER STEERING. THE CAR HAS 142,000 MILES ON IT, THAT SEEMS TO BE WHEN IT HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLES ALSO.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 24, 2019
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 30MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND ECO ASSIST SHUTS OFF, WITH TRACTION CONTROL,TRACTION ASSIST, AND POWER STEERING . THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE AS I COULDN'T PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THESE ISSUES AND THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 10 MPH!! I SEE OTHER HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN NYS AND NOTHINGS BEEN DONE OR WHEN WE GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY JUST CLEAR THE CODES AND SAY NOTHINGS WRONG! THIS IS AN ISSUE AS IF SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME THEY WOULD OF HIT ME AS WHEN THESE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE CAR WENT FROM 30MPH DOWN TO 10 MPH AND THE CAR RAN ROUGH AND SLOW . PLEASE DO SOMETHING WITH THIS ISSUE AS ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING !
Electrical system, Feb 24, 2019
DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING RIGHT , PEOPLE INSIDE VEHICLE UNABLE TO EXIT UNLESS THEY CLIMB OUT THE WINDOWS AS DOORS SEEM TO UNLOCK BUT WONT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE . THIS IS A ISSUE BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF THE CRASH YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO ESCAPE . DEALERSHIP SAYS MY CAR IS FINE BUT I HAVE TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE WINDOW EACH DAY FOR WORK .
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 21, 2019
WHILE DRIVING 50MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY, POWER STEERING FAILED. SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING ALERTS DISPLAYED 2/19/19. DEALER IDENTIFIED STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR OUT OF CALIBRATION. TECHNICIAN RE-CALIBRATED SENSORS. APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE 2/20/19 THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 20, 2019
VEHICLE SUDDENLY POWERED DOWN TO 10 MPH, SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND SPUTTERED. ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE ACROSS DASH. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AT MIDNIGHT, PREGNANT WHILE IN ROUTE TO SEE DYING GRANDFATHER. IN ORDER TO GET HOME APPROX 60 MILES AWAY, HAD TO REMOVE BATTERY TERMINAL FOR A RESET. DEALER COULD NOT FIX DUE TO RESET ALAS CODE WAS CLEARED. DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AGAIN UNTIL OUT OF WARRANTY ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER. SLOWLY GOT TO DEALER. NEEDS NEW THROTTLE BODY. INITIALLY DEALER CLAIMED SERVICING WOULD BE COVERED DUE TO TSB AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ISSUE; HOWEVER, AFTER DIAGNOSIS DEALER DENIED ANY SPECIAL COVERAGES EXISTED FOR THIS ISSUE. APPARANTLY A $600 FIX, DENIED SERVICE AND REPLACED OURSELVES FOR $185 PART.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 19, 2019
DRIVING TO WORK AND OUT OF NOWHERE DASH STARTS DINGING AND FLASHES 'SERVICE ESC' THE. 'POWER STEERING' AND STEERING GETS STIFF (NO POWER STEERING). LUCKILY IT WAS JUST ME IN THE CAR AND NOT WITH MY 3 AND 5 YEAR OLD AND ALSO NOT ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY CAR HAS 157K MILES AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A GM EXTENDED COVERAGE ON IT UP TO 150K MILES FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND WAS NOT AWARE. I'M OVER THE 150K MILES NOW SO I'M STUCK WITH THE REPAIR BUT THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE GM!!
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I FELT A JUMP AS IF I HAD GONE OVER A BUMP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND STARTED TO LOOSE SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SIDE AND BRAKED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I PLACED THE SHIFT TO PARKING AND SHIFT IT TO DRIVE AS I PRESS ON GAS PADDLE THE VEHICLE JUMPED AGAIN AND WAS DRIVING AS IF ON THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE SPEED WOULDN'T ADVANCE. I SHIFTED ONCE AGAIN, AND IT VEHICLE JUMPED AGAIN. I GOOGLED AND IT MENTIONED THE SHIFT CABLE TAB COULD BE BROKEN. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE SHIFT CABLE AND THERE WAS NO TAB. MECHANIC REPLACED THE BUSHING AND IT FAILED ONCE AGAIN. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UN-DRIVABLE. I READ THAT GM WAS RECALLING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH 2008-2010 MALIBU. I'VE GOT IMAGES AND INVOICE BUT HAVING TROUBLE UPLOADING AT THIS TIME.
Engine, Feb 15, 2019
AFTER REPLACING A LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET, I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE CEASED ON ME, IT DIED OUT AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY PLACE
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 15, 2019
I HAVE SERVICE ESC LIGHT (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS THAT JUST RECENTLY CAME ON IN MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU. I HAVE CALLED GM AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT SUPPOSEDLY ISN'T UNDER MY VIN NUMBER [XXX], EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS LISTED IN THE RECALLS. I HAVE VISITED NUMEROUS SITES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE 2010 MALIBU'S AND HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEM REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT AGAIN SUPPOSEDLY WASN'T LISTED UNDER THEIR VIN. I WILL BE GETTING A LAWYER AND IF MY CAR CAUSES ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT I HAVE GIVEN ALL INFORMATION TO GO FORWARD WITH A LAWSUIT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR FROM GM!!!!!!!! NOW I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WILL COST ME!!!! I DON'T KNOW WHY I AM EVEN BOTHERING TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE NOTHING WILL BE DONE!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 12, 2019
HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT.
Steering, Wheels, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 11, 2019
POWER STEERING WARNING COMES ON. ESC. TRACTION STEERING IS STIFF TO TURN IS HARD.
Steering, Feb 6, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. A FAILURE CODE REGARDING THE POWER STEERING ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. TOM KELLEY CHEVROLET BUICK (1313 S 13TH ST, DECATUR, IN 46733, (260) 724-8525) STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING, BUT THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 150,000 MILE LIMIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ALSO MENTIONED THE MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. *TT *TR
Steering, Feb 4, 2019
STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND HAS A HESITATION WHEN TURNING
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 4, 2019
WE PURCHASED THIS MALIBU LT 2010 IN SEPTEMBER 2018, IT HAD UNDER 100,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY & THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT & THE ESC & POWERSTEERING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I SHUT THE CAR OFF & TURNED IT BACK ON IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL 3 DAYS LATER. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY & IT DID IT AGAIN POWERSTEERING WENT OUT & THE ESC & POWERSTEERING WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON & ITS BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE. IT HAD DONE IT IN MID TURNS, DRIVIBG STRAIGHT, ANY TIME IT FEELS LIKE IT.I CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEN ITS ABOUT TO DO IT. I FEEL LIKE A PULL A CATCH I WOULD SAY. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY EHEN YOU HAVE TEENAGE DRIVERS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD. I'VE FOUBD MULTIPLE ONLINE REPORTS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM OVET THE PAST FEE DAYS AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING.
Exterior lighting, Feb 4, 2019
THE HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) OF MY VEHICLE KEEP GOING OUT, I DONE CHANGES IT 3 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. EVERYONE THAT HAS THE SAME CAR AS ME HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AS WELL. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE WIRING BUT IT'S BECOMING A BIG PROBLEM
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 31, 2019
BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY 2018 93 K MILES JAN OF 2019 WITH 124 K ON IT REPLACED FRONT TIRES AND BRAKES AND ROTORS IMMEDIATELY GOT IN TO TEST DRIVE STEERING HAD A VIOLENT TWITCH. TOOK IT TO HAVE STEERING SENSOR RECALIBRATED .. GOT IN CAR ZERO ELECTRIC STEERING.. UNHOOKED BATTERY.. HOOKED BACK UP STEERING EXTREMELY LOSE WITH EVEN WORSE TWITCH TWITCH STARTED IN PARK WHILE RUNNING AND HAS PROGRESSED TO A TWITCH ALL THE TIME WHILE RUNNING.. BY TWITCH I MEAN A VIOLENT LEFT TO RIGHT VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL
Steering, Jan 30, 2019
POWER STEERING IS BEING AFFECTED. HARD TO STEER.
Service brakes, Jan 27, 2019
VEHICLE CAN SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT BRAKE BEING APPLIED
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 26, 2019
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR NOT ONLY HE DRIVER BUT OTHERS FOLLOWING BEHIND. BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHILE DRIVING FOLLOWING CARS CRASH DETECTION SYSTEMS ENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE AWHILE. IT WAS "FIXED" BY A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ONCE ALREADY BUT IT IS BACK. HUGE CONCERN FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD DRIVING THE CAR.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 26, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPG CAR RPG DROPPED TO NOTHING, COULDN'T USE THE ACCELERATOR. ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GOT IT GOING AGAIN THEN NOT EVEN 5 MINS LATER CAR STARTED SHAKING BADLY, COULDN'T USE THE ACCELERATOR, PULLED OVER. DASH FLASHES WITH ESC. SERVICE, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE REDUCED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COLDER MONTHS, FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT WAS SEPTEMBER. WENT OUT TODAY TO WARM UP MY CAR AS IT WAS ICED AND SNOWED OVER, WHILE CLEANING IT OFF IT WAS FINE. CAME BACK INSIDE TO FINISH GETTING READY TO GO AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO MY CAR, IT WAS SHAKING, RPM WAS BOUNCING BETWEEN 1-3, ALL THE NOTICES WERE ON THE DASH AGAIN. TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK TO SEE IF IT WOULD RESOLVE, COULDN'T GET IT TO GO ABOVE 15 MPG. I'VE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS GARAGES TO GET LOOKED AT, ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ONE "FIXED" THE ENGINE, ANOTHER DID AN OIL CHANGE AND FILTER CHANGE, ONE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR, ETC. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT SOMEWHERE THEY "FIX" IT FOR IT TO RUN FOR A WEEK OR SO AT A TIME TIL THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. LUCKILY IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION. BEEN TOLD ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS WELL BUT I'M TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY FOR IT NOT TO FIX THE UNDERLYING ISSUE WHICH NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS. I AM UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE SO I AM STUCK WITH WHAT I CURRENTLY HAVE.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 25, 2019
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER 2018, IT HAD 123,500 MILES ON IT. THIS MORNING AS MY SON WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, WARNING LIGHT "SERVICE ECS" CAME ON, AND HE HAD NO POWER STEERING! WE TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AGAIN, SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO A SAFE SPOT TO PARK. THIS WAS A HORRIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE ONLINE REPORTS ABOUT TODAY IN MY SEARCH FOR SOME ANSWERS.
Steering, Jan 24, 2019
I PUT BRAND NEW RIMS AND TIRES ON THE 2010 MALIBU AND RECEIVED AN ALIGNMENT. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MY ESC POWER STEERING LIGHTS CAME ON! FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED.
Steering, Jan 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DRIVABLE, BUT AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO DRIVE.
Power train, Jan 16, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THROUGH A INTERSECTION THE CAR SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO ONLY BE MOVED WHEN PUT INTO 2ND GEAR WITH THE MANUAL MODE. REVERSE WAS GONE. THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO ISSUES TO THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE HAND.