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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 1,361 safety complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu with the US government. Of those, 41 describe a crash, 14 mention a fire, 47 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 454 complaints, 33% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 82,000 miles, the median across the 1,072 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2009 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

1,361 complaints on file

1,361

Complaints

41

Describe a crash

14

Mention fire

47

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints fell 31% year on year: 11 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 16 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STEERING 454 · 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 294 · 22%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 227 · 17%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 194 · 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 184 · 14%
AIR BAGS 144 · 11%
POWER TRAIN 133 · 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 116 · 9%
ENGINE 115 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 63 · 5%
STRUCTURE 44 · 3%
WHEELS 33 · 2%
0 185 369

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 1,361.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 212.

224 168 112 56
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2009 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V019000 · January 16, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 1,145 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

14V252000 · May 14, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,440,524 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

12V460000 · September 18, 2012

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 426,240 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

3 injured · crash · 1,000 miles

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. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER FACE, A BROKEN FINGER, AND THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, ARM, AND HEAD. THE MICHIGAN POLICE REPORT NUMBER 9217521 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,000.

NHTSA complaint 10346373. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · 4,600 miles

TL*THE CONTACT WAS LOANED A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS FLIPPED OVER YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE REPORTED INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR SERIOUS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT LOANED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600.

NHTSA complaint 10360538. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

2 injured · crash · 1,680 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 17 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT DISLODGED FROM THE TRACK RAIL AND FRACTURED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO STRIKE THE DASHBOARD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,680. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ

NHTSA complaint 10462449. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 61,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSHED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE TWO OF THE PASSENGER'S WERE INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BRUISES TO THE HEAD AND CHEST. IN ADDITION, SHE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE FROM THE WINDOW EXPLODING ON IMPACT AND FROM THE CURTAIN AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA complaint 10493306. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

122,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11766064, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
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.

NHTSA complaint 11762987. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

160,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11752487, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

146,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11751580. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Power steering has gone out.

NHTSA complaint 11738341. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
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.

NHTSA complaint 11737052. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Malibu

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 11 1 —
2024 42 2 —
2023 70 2 —
2022 98 1 —
2021 89 2 —
2020 198 1 1
2019 191 1 —
2018 698 6 —
2017 702 4 —
2016 837 9 1
2015 270 3 1
2014 351 6 1
2013 835 9 —
2012 907 2 —
2011 978 3 —

Other 2010 Chevrolet models

Equinox 784 Traverse 669 Cobalt 574 HHR 515 Impala 441 Silverado 1500 363 Tahoe 314 Camaro 295

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst