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2010 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,071 reports with mileage · 289 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 454 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 294 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 227 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

41 crash reports14 fire reports35 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

194 reports
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200,000 miles · Jan 4, 2020
Exterior Lighting

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THE BULBS ARE NOT BURNING OUT. IT'S SOMETHING IN THE ELECRICAL THAT'S CAUSING THIS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN & CHEVY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON &…

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THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THE BULBS ARE NOT BURNING OUT. IT'S SOMETHING IN THE ELECRICAL THAT'S CAUSING THIS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN & CHEVY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON & HAVE A FIX FOR IT. AFTER READING ON A BUNCH OF FORUMS, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. AFTER GETTING THE BULBS TO WORK, THEY ONLY WORK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS THEN GO OUT AGAIN. THIS QUESTIONNAIRE WANTS ME TO PUT IN A DATE THAT THIS HAPPENED BUT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS, SO I'LL JUST PUT IN THE MOST RECENT DATE.

NHTSA ODI #11297078

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2019
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY GONE OUT FOR THE 7 YRS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE SEARCHED FORUMS/MESSAGEBOARDS RELATED TO CAR PROBLEMS AND THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE TH…

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PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS HAVE REPEATEDLY GONE OUT FOR THE 7 YRS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. I HAVE SEARCHED FORUMS/MESSAGEBOARDS RELATED TO CAR PROBLEMS AND THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE LIGHT WHICH I CAN NOT DO MYSELF AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICING SHOP WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. HERE IS A WEBPAGE DEDICATED TO THE ISSUES. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897?SNTEMLID=3535135585#MSG1032451

NHTSA ODI #11288739

100,000 miles · Dec 7, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT, EVEN AFTER REPEATEDLY REPLACING HEADLIGHT. JUST YESTERDAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT TOO SO NO LOW BEAMS USABLE CURRENTLY. MY READING HAS BROUGHT ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IN 2008-2012 CHEVY MALIBUS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE PULLING VOLTAGE FROM THE LOW BEAMS WHICH IS INCREASIN…

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THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT, EVEN AFTER REPEATEDLY REPLACING HEADLIGHT. JUST YESTERDAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT TOO SO NO LOW BEAMS USABLE CURRENTLY. MY READING HAS BROUGHT ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IN 2008-2012 CHEVY MALIBUS, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE PULLING VOLTAGE FROM THE LOW BEAMS WHICH IS INCREASING THE AMPERAGE IN THE LOW BEAMS WHICH IS CAUSING OVERHEATING AND THEREFORE THE BULBS AND CONNECTORS TO GO OUT REPEATEDLY.

NHTSA ODI #11287684

110,000 miles · Nov 24, 2019
Exterior Lighting

MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WONT STAY ON. WHEN IT DIED I WENT TO REPLACE IT AND IT TURNED ON SO I WENT TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND IT TURNED OFF AGAIN, SO I TOOK IT BACK A PART. I WENT THROUGH THAT A FEW TIMES BEFORE GIVING UP

NHTSA ODI #11282089

133,000 miles · Nov 8, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING BUT THE FUSES ARE GOOD AND THE HEADLIGHTS AREN'T A MONTH OLD.

NHTSA ODI #11279064

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES IN A MATTER OF 2 YEARS GOES OUT COMES BACK ON THEN OFF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME HIT A BUMP AND IT MAY COME BACK ON BUT NOT ALL THE TIME

NHTSA ODI #11277497

120,000 miles · Oct 24, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT WILL LIGHT (AND STAY LIT) WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING DEPRESSED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED USING NORMAL FORCE TO SLOW THE CAR, THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED FURTHER AS IF TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THIS BEHAVIOR IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA ODI #11270587

110,000 miles · Oct 21, 2019
Exterior Lighting

I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHT UNIT DUE TO THE LOW BEAM CONNECTOR MELTING AND NOW ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, BOTH LOW BEAM CONNECTORS HAVE MELTED LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. BOTH TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING. ONCE ON CITY STREETS A…

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I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHT UNIT DUE TO THE LOW BEAM CONNECTOR MELTING AND NOW ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, BOTH LOW BEAM CONNECTORS HAVE MELTED LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. BOTH TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING. ONCE ON CITY STREETS AND TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE

NHTSA ODI #11270086

60,000 miles · Oct 16, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE PEDAL'S NOT ACTIVATED, AND TURN OFF WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED. ESC AND TRACTION ERROR MESSAGES APPEAR WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE LIGHTING ISSUE SEEMS TO COINCIDE WITH THE APPEARANCE OF SAID ERROR MESSAGES.

NHTSA ODI #11268991

70,000 miles · Oct 11, 2019
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

HEAD LIGHT LOW BEAM LIGHT BLOW OUT EVERY 2 MONTHS. I HAVE TO GET THIS REPLACED. THIS IS VERY EXPRESSIVE. THE WHOLE BUMPER HAVE TO BE REMOVED.

NHTSA ODI #11267828

Official recalls

3

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical System:wiring

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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

12V460000 · 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.