2010 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,359 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,071 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 449 of 1,359 complaints (33.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 465 | 34.2% |
| Braking behavior | 318 | 23.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 143 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 109 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 66 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 449 |
| Electrical System | 288 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 227 |
| Service Brakes | 183 |
| Exterior Lighting | 176 |
| Air Bags | 140 |
| Power Train | 120 |
| Engine | 115 |
Steering: 449; Electrical System: 288; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 227; Service Brakes: 183; Exterior Lighting: 176; Air Bags: 140; Power Train: 120; Engine: 115
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 119 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 122 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 220 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 244 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 256 |
| 150,000 and above | 110 |
Under 25,000: 119; 25,000 to 49,999: 122; 50,000 to 74,999: 220; 75,000 to 99,999: 244; 100,000 to 149,999: 256; 150,000 and above: 110
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (256). 288 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 87 |
| 2014 | 212 |
| 2015 | 161 |
| 2016 | 145 |
| 2017 | 129 |
| 2018 | 156 |
| 2019 | 138 |
| 2020 | 99 |
| 2021 | 41 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2009: 2; 2010: 42; 2011: 18; 2012: 29; 2013: 87; 2014: 212; 2015: 161; 2016: 145; 2017: 129; 2018: 156; 2019: 138; 2020: 99; 2021: 41; 2022: 33; 2023: 32; 2024: 13; 2025: 11; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 465 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 318 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 143 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10304727 · 2010-02-03 (February 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
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329472 · 2010-05-09 (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
Owner-reported narrative. 23,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318582 · 2010-03-10 (March 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 L…
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328980 · 2010-05-05 (May 5, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305659 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
AT 500 MILES, A NOXIOUS ODOR SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT EMANATES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358620 · 2010-10-01 (October 1, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED FROM 35 MPH TO 10 MPH AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 1,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340771 · 2010-06-30 (June 30, 2010)
I PURCHASED A 2010 CHEVY MALIBU ON MONDAY JUNE 28TH AT FINNEGAN CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON TEXAS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD 14 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MY FAMILY AND I STARTED TO DRIVE BACK HOME TO KENTUCKY AND AT ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE UNIT, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO ACT UP WITH FLUCTUATIONS AND THEN DROPPED TO 0, UPON WHICH WE CALLED ON-STAR AS AN EMERGENCY AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID WE COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE IT CHECKED WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE STOPPED FOR GAS AND RESTARTED OUR TRAVEL WHEN AT 450 IT STARTED BECOMING WORS…
Owner-reported narrative. 491 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341788 · 2010-07-07 (July 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 19 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND AROUND THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS LOW, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330349 · 2010-05-13 (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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347757 · 2010-08-06 (August 6, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN EYE INJURY DUE TO THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE LEFT WITH THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE DEALER TO MAINTAIN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522963 · 2013-07-02 (July 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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10522963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583693 · 2014-04-19 (April 19, 2014)
I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR THAT I BELIEVE TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE I FOUND TODAY (4/19/2014) WHEN I SMELLED GAS OUTSIDE OF MY CAR. UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH MY CAR I FOUND MY GAS TANK LEAKING ONTO MY EXHAUST PIPE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR. ONE OF THE OTHER SERIOUS ISSUES I HAVE FOUND WITH MY CAR INCLUDE A BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE. MY CAR WAS OCCASIONALLY SHOWING A "SERVICE TRACTION/ ESC" ERROR CODE, WHICH COULD NOT BE EXPLAINED BY ANY…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,144 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583693 at NHTSA ↗