Worst 2010 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Electronic Stability Control
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 445 | 11 | 1 | 101,249 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 287 | 4 | 4 | 93,615 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 226 | 2 | — | 94,697 mi | |
| Brakes | 183 | 5 | — | 80,006 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 176 | 2 | 1 | 100,048 mi | |
| Airbags | 140 | 24 | — | 63,078 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 120 | 3 | — | 80,759 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 115 | — | 1 | 82,518 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 111 | 3 | 1 | 76,210 mi | |
| Fuel System | 31 | — | — | 90,224 mi | |
| Body Structure | 31 | 1 | — | 78,730 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 29 | 1 | — | 67,942 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 23 | 1 | — | 82,964 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 21 | 2 | 2 | 71,463 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 19 | — | 2 | 80,275 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 15 | 2 | — | 65,098 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 15 | 2 | — | 48,889 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 13 | — | — | 78,535 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 13 | — | — | 63,843 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 13 | — | — | 3,377 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 12 | 1 | — | 36,254 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 10 | — | — | 70,981 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 8 | — | — | 34,320 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 44,044 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 4 | — | 4 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,867,909 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
2010 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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