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, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 4, 2020
DROVE TO THE STORE AND WHEN I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND ON MY DASH READ POWER STEERING, SERVICE ESC, SERVICE AIR BAG AND TRACTION LIGHT WAS ON.
Steering, Mar 2, 2020
SERVICE ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN YOU LOOSE YOUR STEERING
Steering, Mar 2, 2020
POWER STEERING GOING OUT. ESC FOR OFF. IT IS THEN VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. I HAVE TO PULL OVER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 4 TIMES IN A 3 MILE DRIVE.
Electrical system, Feb 29, 2020
I HAVE TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2010 CHEVY MALIBU 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. TWICE HAS BEEN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I SEE OTHER 2009-2012 MALIBU. IT LOOKS AS IF THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLOGHT BEING OUT
Power train, Feb 26, 2020
OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A MONTH, 2010 CHEVY MALIBU BEGAN LOSING POWER STEERING. I WOULD TURN OFF CAR TO RESTART ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME OF EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CAR BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT EXPIRED 3 DAYS AFTER MY PROBLEM OCCURRED. LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION, WHEN STARTING CAR AND WHEN PARKED. SHAKING WHEEL.
Steering, Feb 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TUN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Steering, Feb 23, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL TWITCHES EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. A POWER STEERING ERROR MESSAGE COMES ACROSS THE DISPLAY RANDOMLY ON CERTAIN INSTANCES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE MESSAGE DISPLAYS, THE POWER STEERING FAILS ALTOGETHER. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN RE-ESTABLISHES THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER THE TWITCHING OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES. MALIBUS OF SIMILAR YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2020
I HAVE A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. NOT BURNING OUT, BUT QUITS WORKING! I CHANGED THE BULB ABOUT 5 TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T BURNING OUT. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK FINE. A FEW TIMES I COULD TAP ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON. I TOOK IT APART AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR WAS BROKEN AND SHORTED OUT, SO I ORDERED A NEW WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES FROM THE GROUND WIRE SPLIT TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, PUT IT TOGETHER AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 2 DAYS AND WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK THE FRONT END OFF AGIAN AND UNPLUGGED THE BULB AND PLUGGED IT BACK IN AND IT WORKS FINE AGAIN. I HAVE CHECKED ALL THE WIRES AND THE GROUND SCREW AND CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I HAVE ALSO LOOKED THIS UP AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS FROM 2009-2012 CHEVY MALIBU.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 21, 2020
ON THE DASH POWER STEERING WARNING COMES ON ALONG WITH SERVICE ESC THEN ESC IS OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OFF.. ALSO OF I'M IDLE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START JERKING BY ITS SELF
Steering, Feb 20, 2020
POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND DASH DISPLAY SHOWING "ESC POWER STEERING". NEXT TIME I START CAR POWER STEERING WORKS FOR A WHILE HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL STARTSTWITCHING/SHAKING BY ITSELF. POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE IN MOTION AND AT OTHER TIMES UPON START UP.
Steering, Feb 17, 2020
I HAVE A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU I HAVE IT SINCE JANUARY OF 2011. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES SINCE I OWE THE CAR IN DIFFERENT OCCATIONS AND THE CAR IN MOTION. TODAY, FEBRUARY 17TH, 2020 WAS THE LATEST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT IS VERY SCARY. THE CAR WHILE DRIVING GIVES ME THESE MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF AND POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSIBLE TO MOVE IT. EVERYTIME, I TURN THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, SLOW DOWN AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, PUT CAR IN PARKING AND WHEN I THANKFULLY I TURN THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND IT WORKS. BUT IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS AS THE CARS BEHIND ME, DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND ALMOST HIT ME.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 17, 2020
POWER STEERING OFF WILL APPEAR ON DASH WITH EACH OFF LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF.
Steering, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Feb 15, 2020
SERVICE EAS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON & THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL & NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS & UNSAFE.
Electrical system, Feb 10, 2020
2010 CHEVY MALIBU HAS HAD CONSTANT ISSUES WITH LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS EITHER BURNING OUT, HARNESS WIRE ISSUES, OR BULBS WORKING INTERMITTENT, I HAVE PAID TO HAVE BULBS REPLACED, HARNESSES REPLACED, AND EACH TIME THE FIX WILL WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS. THE LAST TIME THE HARNESSES WERE REPLACE WAS PROBABLY A YEAR OR TWO AGO, BUT I AM HAVING THE ISSUES AGAIN. DRIVING WITH A HEADLIGHT OUT IS ILLEGAL AND GM IS WELL AWARE OF ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL OF THESE ELECTRIC ISSUES AND FIX THE ISSUE PROPERLY. PRIOR THIS CAR HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT ISSUE GOT RESOLVED BY A RECALL. GM NEEDS TO DO A FULL INSPECTION ON THE WIRING AND SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THE SHORTS, THE FUSES TO BLOW, AND WORST OF ALL THE DANGERS OF HAVING EXTERIOR LIGHTS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A HUGE RISK AND COULD RESULT IN A DEADLY ACCIDENT IF NOT RESEARCHED AND RESOLVED PROPERLY
Exterior lighting, Feb 9, 2020
THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE FUSE WAS NOT BLOWN ANY OF THE THREE TIMES.
Steering, Feb 9, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, (VEHICLE IN MOTION), I SUDDENLY LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IN SOME INSTANCES IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN OR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE HIGHWAY COMES TO A BEND. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO RATTLE OR SHAKE AND MAKES NOISE.. THIS PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO BUT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT THIS PAST WEEK. AT TIMES IF I PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A SHORT TIME THEN RESTART IT, POWER STEERING IS RESTORED BUT SOMETIMES ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IT GOES OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. I HAVE READ THAT VEHICLES, SAME MAKE AND MODEL, HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS 'SAFETY' ISSUE BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES REGARDING GETTING THIS ISSUE FIXED.
Steering, Feb 8, 2020
LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING 2004 TO 2010 CHEVY MALIBUS. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE UP TO 2008 MODEL AND YET MY 2010 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE 2009 AND 2010 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 7, 2020
POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING IN AND OUT. CANT DRIVE CAR VERY FAR AT ALL. WHILE DRIVING.
Service brakes, Feb 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HIS BRAKES LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED WITH THE STABILITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (RON NORRIS BUICK GMC1350 S WASHINGTON AVE, TITUSVILLE, FL 32780) FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A REPLACEMENT STABILITY CONTROL MODULE. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S DAD WAS REFERENCING THIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Steering, Feb 5, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED AND VIBRATED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR THE FAILURE AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE. KENNY ROSS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC DEALER, LOCATED AT 11250 RTE 30, IRWIN, PA 15642, WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FAILURES STATED BY THE DEALER, THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 150,000 MILES THRESHOLD AND WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,028.
Exterior lighting, Feb 3, 2020
I HAVE A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. NOT BURNING OUT, BUT QUITS WORKING! I HAVE GONE TO CHANGE THE BULB AND WE REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T BURNT OUT. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE WORK FINE. WE WIGGLES SOME WIRES AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. A FEW TIMES WE COULD TAP ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON. SO WE PUT IT TOGETHER AGAIN AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 2 WEEKS OR SO BEFORE IT WENT OUT AGAIN.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 2, 2020
MY STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED A ACCIDENT ON A HIGHAY
Exterior lighting, Jan 31, 2020
PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. UPON REMOVAL OF THE 4TH HEADLIGHT I NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. I REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS WITH A NEW ONE AND NOW THE LOW BEAM DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I JUST RECEIVED A TICKET LAST NIGHT FROM THE POLICE. A FIX IT TICKET...AND NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO FIX THIS.
Structure, Jan 31, 2020
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN USING EITHER THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND I CAN USUALLY GET IT WORKING BY OPENING THE DOOR WINDOW AND MANUALLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PULLING AND RELEASING THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. SOMEHOW THIS REESTABLISHES THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND IT WILL OPEN. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
Exterior lighting, Jan 31, 2020
THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT STOPS WORKING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAVE REPLACED THE SAME BULB 4 TIMES. I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE AS THE INTERNET FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE.