2010 Chevrolet Malibu Problems and Recalls (1,359 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu is Steering (31% of 1,359 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,359 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?

415 of 1,359 filings named Steering (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Lights (173 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2009 has 1,527 reports on file; this year has 1,359. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 415 complaints · 30.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 40
  • Fires 14
  • Injuries 47
  • Deaths 0
All Chevrolet Malibu years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 415 of 1,359 owner complaints (30.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 415 complaints, 30.5% of reports Steering (STEERING) 8 crash reports 1 fire reports 415 · 30.5% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 173 complaints, 12.7% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 173 · 12.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 126 complaints, 9.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 crash reports 4 fire reports 126 · 9.3% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 99 complaints, 7.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 99 · 7.3% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 90 complaints, 6.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 18 crash reports 90 · 6.6% Engine (ENGINE): 63 complaints, 4.6% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 63 · 4.6% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 56 complaints, 4.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 56 · 4.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 53 complaints, 3.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 53 · 3.9% Wheels (WHEELS): 30 complaints, 2.2% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 crash reports 30 · 2.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 243 complaints, 17.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 5 crash reports 6 fire reports 243 · 17.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 415 30.5% 8 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 173 12.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 126 9.3% 3 crashes · 4 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 99 7.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 90 6.6% 18 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 63 4.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 56 4.1% 2 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 53 3.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 30 2.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 243 17.9% 5 crashes · 6 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2009; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2012. 2009-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2010-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2011-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2012-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2013-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2013-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2014-Q2: 79 owner reports 79 2014-Q3: 57 owner reports 57 2014-Q4: 39 owner reports 39 2015-Q1: 61 owner reports 61 2015-Q2: 33 owner reports 33 2015-Q3: 41 owner reports 41 2015-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2016-Q1: 35 owner reports 35 2016-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2016-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 2016-Q4: 39 owner reports 39 2017-Q1: 44 owner reports 44 2017-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2017-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2017-Q4: 31 owner reports 31 2018-Q1: 55 owner reports 55 2018-Q2: 39 owner reports 39 2018-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2018-Q4: 39 owner reports 39 2019-Q1: 59 owner reports 59 2019-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2019-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2019-Q4: 37 owner reports 37 2020-Q1: 52 owner reports 52 2020-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2020-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2020-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2021-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2021-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2021-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2022-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2022-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2022-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2022-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2023-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2009 Oct 2026 Recall campaign 12V460000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V460000 Recall campaign 14V252000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V252000 Recall campaign 14E044000 ◆ Recall campaign 14E044000 Recall campaign 19V019000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V019000
  • Campaign 12V460000 was reported 1,023 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V252000 was reported 1,534 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V019000 was reported 3,179 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q4 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 5
2010-Q2 Owner reports 6
2010-Q3 Owner reports 17
2010-Q4 Owner reports 13
2011-Q1 Owner reports 4
2011-Q2 Owner reports 3
2011-Q3 Owner reports 7
2011-Q4 Owner reports 4
2012-Q1 Owner reports 3
2012-Q2 Owner reports 5
2012-Q3 Owner reports 9
2012-Q4 Owner reports 12
2013-Q1 Owner reports 18
2013-Q2 Owner reports 15
2013-Q3 Owner reports 34
2013-Q4 Owner reports 20
2014-Q1 Owner reports 36
2014-Q2 Owner reports 79
2014-Q3 Owner reports 57
2014-Q4 Owner reports 39
2015-Q1 Owner reports 61
2015-Q2 Owner reports 33
2015-Q3 Owner reports 41
2015-Q4 Owner reports 26
2016-Q1 Owner reports 35
2016-Q2 Owner reports 29
2016-Q3 Owner reports 42
2016-Q4 Owner reports 39
2017-Q1 Owner reports 44
2017-Q2 Owner reports 31
2017-Q3 Owner reports 23
2017-Q4 Owner reports 31
2018-Q1 Owner reports 55
2018-Q2 Owner reports 39
2018-Q3 Owner reports 23
2018-Q4 Owner reports 39
2019-Q1 Owner reports 59
2019-Q2 Owner reports 17
2019-Q3 Owner reports 26
2019-Q4 Owner reports 37
2020-Q1 Owner reports 52
2020-Q2 Owner reports 15
2020-Q3 Owner reports 12
2020-Q4 Owner reports 20
2021-Q1 Owner reports 18
2021-Q2 Owner reports 10
2021-Q3 Owner reports 3
2021-Q4 Owner reports 10
2022-Q1 Owner reports 10
2022-Q2 Owner reports 9
2022-Q3 Owner reports 5
2022-Q4 Owner reports 9
2023-Q1 Owner reports 12
2023-Q2 Owner reports 8
2023-Q3 Owner reports 5
2023-Q4 Owner reports 6
2024-Q1 Owner reports 5
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 3
2024-Q4 Owner reports 4
2025-Q1 Owner reports 4
2025-Q2 Owner reports 5
2025-Q4 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 6
2026-Q2 Owner reports 3
2026-Q3 Owner reports 4
2026-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 12V460000
Recall campaign 1 14V252000
Recall campaign 1 14E044000
Recall campaign 1 19V019000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 12V460000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 14E044000

    Safety recall 14E044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 14V252000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 19V019000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 1,359 complaints · page 1 of 55
2026-10-08Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11769997
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ESC light is on and steering started to be hard to steer . My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety for myself and others was a very risky.. vehicle was inspected by dealership, but was told that vehicle could not be scanned.
2026-09-22TIRESUnclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11766064
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. After starting the vehicle with the transmission in park(P), the gear shift indicator indicated that the transmission was in drive(D). The transmission was shifted into drive(D), and the vehicle jerked and the engine revved loudly, but the vehicle failed to move. The TPMS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the gear shifter was loose while shifting, and the vehicle rolled forward while parked. The contact shifted the gear shifter back and forth and then shifted into park(P) before the proper gear was recognized. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V460000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
2026-09-09Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11762987
CrashFireInjuryDeath
They do not have brake lights. I was behind them for probably 3-5 miles, their blinkers and other lights seemed to work because they were just the plain lights cars have. They are also a red chevy.
2026-07-23Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11752487
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after driving for 5 miles, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, with the message "Service Traction" displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as intended after cooling down; however, the failure recurred after driving 5 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with high resistance in the BCM harness. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); which was previously performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the recall repair was a one-time free-of-charge repair. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
2026-07-20Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11751580
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking and locked up, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. A dealer or an independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the warranty on the vehicle had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
2026-05-16Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11738341
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Power steering has gone out.
2026-05-11Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11737052
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1.The ESC system and power steering lights come on and sometimes go off making it extremely unsafe to drive due to not having proper control of the steering wheel. It is available for inspections at any time. 2.Being able to turn and use steering wheel correctly puts me and my family at risk for collisions. 3.confirmed by a code reader. And personal Mechanic. 4. No inspections have been made at dealership u called and they said there was no recall. 5. No other than the steering wheel moving on its own when at a stop light.
2026-05-09Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11736746
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Power steering went out and I'm told it's a sensor that is in the steering column. Very expensive to have fixed due to location of the sensor. I seen a recall for this problem however it is only good for 150,000 miles or 10 years. I just purchased this car 2 years ago with 172,000 miles. This recall should still be valid if it hasn't been repaired. I almost wrecked the car not realizing this happened while driving.
2026-03-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11726490
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 might break off causing the driver to sustain serious injury. The sudden shift in the seat could cause the driver to panic resulting in an accident. I have not yet taken it into the dealer for review. This problem has been reported to your website as well as RepairPal and The Center for Auto Safety websites. No one has, as of now, inspected this failure. There are no warning lights or other sources avaliable to inform of this danger.
2026-03-04Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11722023
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?

Owners named Steering most often — 415 of 1,359 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline, Electrical, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources