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.
Steering, Jun 16, 2010
RENTED A BRAND NEW (45 MILES) 2010 CHEVY MALIBU. SEVERAL TIMES OVER 4 DAYS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD GIVE OUT BRIEFLY. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN MOUNTAIN ROADS AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. I RETURNED THE CAR WITH A NOTE TO THE RENTAL COMPANY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 13, 2010
WE JUST LEASED A CHEVY MALIBU FROM EAST HILLS CHEVROLET AT 1039 NORTHERN BLVD. ROSLYN,N.Y.11576. WITHIN 2 DAYS THE NEW 2010 VEHICLE STALLED ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPWY AND COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO THE SCENE AND TOWED IT BACK TO THE DEALER.AFTER TWO [2] DAYS WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MGR. LEON, WHO STATED THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICK UP[05-13-0=10] WELL , AS MY DAUGHTER DROVE OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPT.,AGAIN WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR STALLED ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPWY AND SHE IS CURRENTLY WAITING AGAIN FOR THE POLICE TO RESPOND TO CALL A TOW BEING THAT THE ROADWAY IS RESTRICTED.THE SERVICE MGR, LEON, TOLD ME THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND THAT IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. I ASKED HIM IF THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE AND HE SAID YES ! AND NOW AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IT STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *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
Service brakes, Air, Equipment, May 5, 2010, crash
VERY DELAYED RESPONSE TO BRAKING. I WAS ABOUT FOUR CARS AWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT FELT LIKE I WAS JUST DRIVING WITH THE FOOT ON THE GAS VERY SLOWLY. ITS IN THE SHOP NOW BEING REPAIRED. BRAKES ARE SAID TO BE "NORMAL". LOL . *TR
Air bags, May 4, 2010
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU I BOUGHT 2 MONTHS AGO. A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 6 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE LAST WEEK TUESDAY AND THE CAR IS STILL THERE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR AND THAT THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 23, 2010
CHEVY MALIBU 2010 - BRAND NEW WITH 16MI ON ODOMETER. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 13, 2010
THE THEFT SYSTEM IS HANGING UP IN MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU AND MAKING IT NOT START. I CAN BE STUCK WITHOUT IT STARTING DAY OR NIGHT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AT $500 EACH. THEY KEEP SAYING THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL AND HAS TO BE PAID 4 BY ME. ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. WHY R WE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND IT SEEMS TO B A CONSTANT PROBLEM? *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
Electrical system, Mar 2, 2010, fire
I BOUGHT A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 AND THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN JANUARY OF 2010. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. AT APPROXIMATELY 9 P.M. MY NEIGHBORS AWAKE ME TO NOTIFY ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THEY HAD CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD SHOWN UP SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE FIRE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I NOTIFIED AMERICAN CHEVROLET IN MODESTO, CA, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOWED IT TO THERE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS, AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE OR REIMBURSE ME FOR MY COST. I HAVEN'T BEEN COMPENSATED EITHER FOR MY LOSS OF TRANSPORTATION. MY INSURANCE FIRST SAID THAT THE PROBLEM LIED WITH GENERAL MOTORS, BUT DUE TO THE PROLONG PERIOD OF TIME ARE NOW GETTING INVOLVED IN PAYING THE CAR, WHERE I WILL COME OUT LOOSING ALL MY INVESTMENT. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, NOT INSIDE MY GARAGE WHERE THE CAR WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MY NEW HOME ON FIRES. I WORK GRAVEYARD AND WAS ASLEEP WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THAT IT LOOK TO BE A DEFECT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD TAKE A LARGE CORPORATION WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO RESOLVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 4, 2010
AT 500 MILES, A NOXIOUS ODOR SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT EMANATES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Steering, Feb 3, 2010
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SEE IF THE 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS THE SAME STEERING AS THE COBALT? I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 1 MONTH NOW AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM: OVER 45MPH THERE IS A DISCONNECTED FEELING IN THE STEERING. ON ROUGH ROADS OR ON A WINDY DAY THE CAR IS HARD TO KEEP IN YOUR LANE. I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE CAR AND THEY CONFIRM THE UNDER-STEER FEELING. CAR IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP THIS WEEKEND TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
Tires, Dec 21, 2009
WE BOUGHT A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE SALESMAN SAID TO INFLATE THE TIRE TO 35 LBS. ONE TIRE (HANKOOK) LOST AIR FREQUENTLY. I WENT TO FILL THE TIRE AND THE TIRE HAD WRITTEN INFLATE TO 42 LBS. THE INFORMATION ON THE DOOR SAID TO INFLATE TO 32 LBS. THE TIRE TOOK ABOUT 38 LBS. BEFORE MY TIRE PUMP WOULDN'T FILL IT ANY MORE. I CALLED GM AND COMPLAINED. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS THE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID TO INFLATE TO WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE TIRE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? IF I OVER INFLATE, THE TIRES MAY BLOW OUT OR MAY BLOW UP (WHILE INFLATING). IF I UNDERINFLATE THE TIRES MAY ALSO BLOW OUT AND WILL GIVE POOR GAS MILEAGE. GM WAS NO HELP AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *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