2010 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 2193 complaints
2193
Total Complaints
82,000mi
Median Mileage
Steering
Top Issue
72
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
52,106
25th Percentile
82,000
Median Mileage
113,500
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Steering
445
Electrical System
285
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
226
Service Brakes
183
Exterior Lighting
175
Air Bags
139
Power Train
120
Engine
115
Vehicle Speed Control
111
Unknown Or Other
63
Severity Assessment
72
Crashes
17
Fires
90
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED PROCEEDING TO A COMPLETE STOP. SUDDENLY, DURING ACCELERATION FROM THE FULL STOP WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZ..."
"WE BOUGHT A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE SALESMAN SAID TO INFLATE THE TIRE TO 35 LBS. ONE TIRE (HANKOOK) LOST AIR FREQUENTLY. I WENT TO FILL THE TIRE AND THE TIRE HAD WRITTEN INFLATE TO 42 LBS. THE INFORMATION ON THE DOOR SAID TO INFLATE TO 32 LBS. THE TIRE TOOK ABOUT 38 LBS. BEFORE MY TIRE PUMP WOULD..."
"CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SEE IF THE 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS THE SAME STEERING AS THE COBALT? I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 1 MONTH NOW AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM: OVER 45MPH THERE IS A DISCONNECTED FEELING IN THE STEERING. ON ROUGH ROADS OR ON A WINDY DAY THE CAR IS HARD TO KEEP IN YOUR LANE. I HAV..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Steering
445 complaints
25th: 75,000 mi
Median: 100,000 mi
75th: 135,000 mi
Electrical System
285 complaints
25th: 54,100 mi
Median: 85,000 mi
75th: 120,000 mi
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
226 complaints
25th: 58,500 mi
Median: 85,000 mi
75th: 122,400 mi
Service Brakes
183 complaints
25th: 43,500 mi
Median: 73,400 mi
75th: 106,000 mi
Exterior Lighting
175 complaints
25th: 60,000 mi
Median: 99,000 mi
75th: 131,750 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
MI: 192
OH: 160
IL: 134
TX: 127
NY: 111
PA: 110
CA: 99
NC: 93
FL: 85
GA: 82
Who Files Complaints?
0.9%
Original Owners
99.1%
Second+ Owners
Chevrolet Malibu — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (4)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V019000 | 16/01/2019
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Wiring
Campaign 14V252000 | 14/05/2014
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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 let
Steering
Campaign 14E044000 | 21/07/2014
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.
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.
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Campaign 12V460000 | 18/09/2012
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
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 201
Protect Your Steering System
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Get a wheel alignment annually or after hitting a significant pothole
- Don't hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than a few seconds
- Check power steering fluid monthly on hydraulic systems
- Address wandering, vibration, or play in the wheel promptly
- Replace worn tie rod ends before they cause tire wear
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28