repaired · 2020 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2010 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,363 owner complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-019 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 13, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
1,363 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
454Steering12 crash/fire/injury
295Electrical system12 crash/fire/injury
227Electronic stability control (ESC)3 crash/fire/injury
194Exterior lighting3 crash/fire/injury
184Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
144Air bags33 crash/fire/injury
133Power train3 crash/fire/injury
116Vehicle speed control
115Engine
27619 other systems26 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 454 | 12 |
| Electrical system | 295 | 12 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 227 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 194 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 184 | 7 |
| Air bags | 144 | 33 |
| Power train | 133 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 116 | 4 |
| Engine | 115 | 1 |
| 19 other systems | 276 | 26 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 371 steering complaints. 49% were reported before 100,000 miles.
30under 30k miles181under 100k miles190100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
27 owners mentioned a cost$900median
Middle half: $686 – $1,048
Electronic stability control (ESC)
10 owners mentioned a cost$665median
Middle half: $413 – $1,025
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$402median
Middle half: $180 – $500
Air bags
8 owners mentioned a cost$825median
Middle half: $406 – $1,200
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2010 Chevrolet Malibu 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
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…
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…
Own a 2010 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.