2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Owners have filed 2,209 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come electrical system (13%) and stability control (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,209 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 72 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 90 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 1,703 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 167 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 127 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 231 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 273 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 317 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 189 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 137 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 132 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 74 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 26 |
| 200k+ miles | 30 |
What the data shows
Among the 1,703 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 82,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 100,000 miles (372 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 72 complaints mention a crash; 17 complaints mention a fire; 90 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2010 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 28 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu with enough data (952 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The steering wheel locked preventing me from having control of the steering which resulted into me hitting the back of another vehicle causing a rollover accident on a city street and my car is totally damaged
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. While driving 40 MPH the other driver crossed over the lane and crashed into the contacts vehicle head on. The driver frontal and passenger air bags failed to deploy. The driver, front passenger, and rear passenger seat belts failed to restrain the occupants. The driver sustained injuries to her head, arm and fingers.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power. In addition, the "service ESC, engine power reduced and traction control" was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on multiple occasions where it was diagnosed that the throttle body, the throttle body sensor, spark plugs, torque sensor, and the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that a carbon cleaning needed to be performed.
The brake lights come on while driving with out pressing the break pedal. When the brake pedal it pressed the lights go off. The cruise control is not fuctioning and the ESC indicator light comes on.