YearToAvoid

2010 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 16 Malibu years

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu ranks worst of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 1,359 complaints, and 3 recalls. Steering (33% of complaints), electrical (31%), and brakes (27%) are the top problem areas, making it a year to avoid relative to other Malibu years.

Complaints
1,359
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
41 / 14
Injuries / deaths
47 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30 hwy

Top 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems

NHTSA owner 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 & Powertrain132 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body79 (6%)
  8. Other66 (5%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires48 (4%)
  10. Fuel System39 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the steering wheel locking up suddenly, sometimes at very low speeds, causing loss of control and collisions.
  • Some report the engine catching fire while the vehicle was parked and turned off, with smoke or flames coming from the engine compartment.
  • Several describe airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and side impacts, despite significant vehicle damage.
  • Owners report delayed brake response, where the vehicle continued rolling forward even after firm brake pedal pressure was applied.
  • One owner reported the front passenger seat dislodging from its track and fracturing during a rear-end collision, causing the passenger to strike the dashboard.
2010 Chevrolet Malibu complaints: complaints filed per quarter1302010 Q12012 Q22014 Q32016 Q42019 Q12021 Q22023 Q32026 Q1
2014 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (130).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid1001,359325
2011Avoid93978326
2012Avoid87906226

All Chevrolet Malibu years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010 Malibu ranks worst of all 16 model years covered, with a complaint index of 100 and 1,359 complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Malibu years.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Steering issues make up 33% of complaints, electrical system problems 31%, and brakes 27%, according to NHTSA data. Steering complaints had a median failure mileage of 100,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Malibu, covering airbags, brakes, and the automatic transmission shift cable. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2010 Malibu compare to other Malibu years?
The 2010 model has the highest complaint index (100) among all 16 years tracked, worse than 2011 (93) and far worse than newer years like 2021 and 2024, which are rated Best.

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.