IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER FROM THE WINDSHIELD PILLAR PENETRATED THE VEHICLE AND WETTED THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1190–25K
12225–50K
22050–75K
24475–100K
256100–150K
110150K+
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
What owners actually said
1,360 reportsSTEEL WHEEL CRACKED IN WELD RESULTING IN SLOW AIR LEAK AND LOW TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE (ON SEPARATE WHEELS) ON THIS CAR WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR WRECKED. THIS IS HAPPENING SO OFTEN TO OWNERS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND USED WHEELS. *TR
STEEL WHEELS CRACKED BEHIND WELD FOR SECOND TIME CAUSING SMALL AIR LEAK AND LOW TIRE,WHEELS NEVER STRUCK ANYTHING AND WERE NEVER ABUSED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 2011 TO ANOTHER OF THE WHEELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE RESTARTING IT TO REGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE RESTARTING IT TO REGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 97,000.
THE AIR BAG SERVICE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WENT BACK OFF BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALER. NEVERTHELESS I TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I KEEP DRIVING IT TO SEE IF THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON SO THAT THEY …
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THE AIR BAG SERVICE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WENT BACK OFF BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALER. NEVERTHELESS I TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I KEEP DRIVING IT TO SEE IF THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON SO THAT THEY COULD GET A CODE TO DIAGNOSE. I ASKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS RECALL TO SEE IF THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A HISTORICAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL AND THAT THERE ARE STILL ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAGS ON THIS MODEL. SINCE THEN THE AIR BAG SERVICE MESSAGE CONTINUES TO COME ON AND THEN AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME,RANGING FROM A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO A COUPLE OF HOURS, GOES BACK OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL ON AIR BAG CONNECTORS WHICH WE HAD COMPLETED ON 5/25/2011. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO WARNING AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT HAVE THE AIR BAGS WORK. *TR
ON MARCH 24,2014 AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER MAKING A LEFT TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, LUCKILY THE CAR THAT WAS AHEAD OF ME WAS ABLE TO MOVE. I WENT UP ON A CURB BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS I WAS TURNING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GORDEN CHEVROLET IN GARDEN CITY ON THE FOLLOWING DAY MARCH 25,2014 THEY VERIFIED MY C…
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ON MARCH 24,2014 AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER MAKING A LEFT TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, LUCKILY THE CAR THAT WAS AHEAD OF ME WAS ABLE TO MOVE. I WENT UP ON A CURB BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS I WAS TURNING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GORDEN CHEVROLET IN GARDEN CITY ON THE FOLLOWING DAY MARCH 25,2014 THEY VERIFIED MY CONCERN, THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AND MODULE. NECESSARY TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AND CONTROL MODULE $1259.00...THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE RECALL LIST ALSO, I AM SO UPSET THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE NOW AFTER I PAID MY CAR NOTE LAST WEEK I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED. REALLY GM??? *TR
I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO BACKUP. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO "PARK" AND THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION RETURNED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON (3) OCCASIONS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, BU…
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I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO BACKUP. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO "PARK" AND THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION RETURNED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON (3) OCCASIONS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ONLINE ON (3) OCCASIONS TO GM, BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED. I'M SURPRISED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL CONCERNING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PS... SORRY, BUT I DON'T ANSWER PHONE CALLS THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,375 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVING IN VERY BUSY CITY TRAFFIC AND I ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I DROVE IT HOME BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO MAKE A TURN. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND I PULLED IT UP ON COMPUTER AND I SEE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND YEAR. IT COST ME $ 823.63 TO GET THE STEERING COLU…
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DRIVING IN VERY BUSY CITY TRAFFIC AND I ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I DROVE IT HOME BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO MAKE A TURN. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND I PULLED IT UP ON COMPUTER AND I SEE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND YEAR. IT COST ME $ 823.63 TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED AND RECALIBRATED. *TR
FOR NO REASON POWER STEERING WENT STIFF. *TR
Official recalls
319V019000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.