2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. This model year has 1,356 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2010 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Considering a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 451 | 11 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 293 | 4 | 5 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 226 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 199 | 8 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 194 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 145 | 26 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 132 | 3 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 126 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 115 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 63 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 44 | 2 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 33 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 25 | 2 | 5 | — | |
| Traction Control System | 23 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 | — | 2 | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 16 | 3 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 15 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
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.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,356 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The driver's seat bracket broke causing the seat to sag to the right and for the back of the seat to rise up. Pictures were taken and are attached. Available for inspection until fixed. The view is from the front. My finger points to the failed weld. In an accident, the seat mi…
The power steering goes out at times. When I start up or when I am driving my steering will get harder and I get a power steering warning on the dash. If I shut the car off, sometimes it goes away but most of the time it does not.
In 2014 there was a recall issue on 2004 to 2009 Chevrolet malibus 2.4 l motors with the electric power steering assist motor. They were to be replaced with labor and free cost. A recall is a safety issue that has no expiration date. In 2015 GM issued a special coverage adjustmen…
My steering wheel is twitching & possibly failing due to the torque steering sensor & it is very unsafe to drive
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while reviewing O'Reilly diagnostic report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 159,000, and…
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that under previous vehicle ownership, the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control (ESC); however, the recal…
Power Steering Randomly Goes off taking the Traction Control with it. Terrible for the snow roads to have. Have to life the steering wheel slightly when starting to the car get it to work. Steering Angle Sensor or Torque Position Sensor Maybe??
I lost power steering while driving, making the wheel hard to turn. While the car is idle, the steering wheel shakes. Also “ESC” pops on on the dashboard.
Lug studs repeatedly snap at wheel no matter how installed.
The blinker level does not automatically shut off after the turn is preformed. It never has. Yes it can be inspected if asked. Because of this fault, people driving behind me have thought I am turning and have attempted to go around my vehicle, almost causing collision on sever…
The car will drive but is unable to turn. It's like the steering wheel is locked.
The issue I'm having is the traction light is on and my rear break lights stay on constantly. I took the car to a shop and had the break light switch replaced. Two days later the lights was back on. I did some research and there was a recall for the exact issue I'm have (NHTSA14…
I was driving down the highway when the passenger side curtain airbags deployed for no reason. Air bag deployment stunned the driver, but fortunately did not cause accident.
My power steering quit working
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact had been informed by other drivers that the brake lights failed to illuminate as intended while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake lights randomly illuminated while driving. The traction control warning l…
The shift lever does not want to release from park. I cant get it to go into drive. Traction light comes on and overrides cruise control. Refer to recall dated 5/14/2014 #14V252000 or GM recall 13036. It is in for repair now. Almost $500 for repair.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated while making a left turn, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver and the steering wheel vibrated. The vehicle was not ta…
Steering not working correctly it is ver hard to turn steering wheel. Cluster lights went out so dashboard lights do not work, brake lights not working seems to be electrical problems with the vehicle
This is in reference to GM Recall Number: 13036 - I noticed that from time to time the service traction warning comes on, service esc warning comes on, my cruise control stops working suddenly. I didn't think anything of it until I finally noticed my brake lights were illuminated…
Connector for airbags sensor wiring has a problem which is address in General Motors document Recall 13040A Dated April 2014. There is a warning on the dash about the airbags not operational. We have never been contacted by General Motors about this problem, but other Chevrolet M…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalls for 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2010 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,356 NHTSA owner complaints, 41 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (451 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
#1: Steering Defects (451 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (293 complaints). #3: Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (226 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has 41 crash-related complaints and 14 fire reports out of 1,356 total NHTSA complaints. 47 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
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. Full report just $4.99.