YearToAvoid

2010 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu ranks 2nd worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 95 and 1,361 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Steering (454 complaints, 33%) and electrical issues (419 complaints, 31%) lead the problem list, backed by 3 recalls.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
95/100
#2 of 21 Malibu years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
1,361
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
41
reported in complaints
Fires
14
Injuries
47
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2021
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
47 / 0

Top 2010 Chevy Malibu problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering454 (33%)
  2. Electrical System419 (31%)
  3. Brakes367 (27%)
  4. Engine222 (16%)
  5. Airbags144 (11%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain133 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body79 (6%)
  8. Other66 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires49 (4%)
  10. Fuel System39 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel locks up suddenly at low speed, leaving the driver unable to turn and resulting in a collision.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and side impacts, sometimes with the vehicle flipping over.
  • Delayed brake response causes the car to keep rolling after the pedal is applied, leading to rear-end collisions.
  • Engine compartment catches fire, in one case while the vehicle was parked overnight in a driveway.
  • Front passenger seat dislodges from its track and fractures during a rear-end collision, allowing the occupant to strike the dashboard.
2010 Chevrolet Malibu complaints: complaints filed per quarter802009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q12023 Q22025 Q4
1,361 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (80).

2010 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V019000Jan 16, 2019Airbags1,145 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 14V252000May 14, 2014Brakes2,440,524 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (esc)

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 12V460000Sep 18, 2012Transmission & Powertrain426,240 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

    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.

    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.

    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.

2010 Chevrolet Malibu fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Malibu years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Avoid80987423.5
2009Avoid1001,509523
2010Avoid951,361325
2011Avoid90978326
2012Avoid85906226

All Chevrolet Malibu years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA data ranks it 2nd worst of 21 Malibu model years, with a complaint index of 95 and 1,361 owner complaints, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Malibu years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Steering is the top problem area, with 454 complaints (33% share) and a median failure mileage of 100,000 miles, followed by electrical system issues at 419 complaints (31%).
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Malibu covering airbags, brakes, and the transmission shift cable; none are do-not-drive recalls.
Are airbags a problem on the 2010 Malibu?
Yes. NHTSA logged 144 airbag complaints (11% share) tied to 26 crashes, including reports of airbags failing to deploy during collisions.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA rates it at 25 mpg combined (22 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.