NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 1,363 owner complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: air bags, electrical system, and powertrain. Most-described problem: power steering problems or locked steering (288 complaints, 21%). Most-reported area: steering (455 complaints, 33%; median mileage when it happened: 100,300).
More complaints than a typical Malibu year
The 2010 drew 92 owner complaints in its first three years, against 65 for a typical Malibu year.
Years to avoid: 2013 and 2016 to 2018; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N182206630.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 (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.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 safety recall number 12106. Customers may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to www.safercar.gov.
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.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 12106.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Steering (Dorman Products, Inc., 14E-044).
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.
What owners report
Owners have filed 1,363 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Malibu. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Power steering problems or locked steering288 · 21%
Median 101,500 miles at failure, from 243 reports with mileage
Headlight or exterior light problems157 · 12%
Median 85,000 miles at failure, from 110 reports with mileage
Shaking, shuddering or vibration84 · 6%
Median 87,000 miles at failure, from 71 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode80 · 6%
Median 86,000 miles at failure, from 68 reports with mileage
Check engine light73 · 5%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 65 reports with mileage
Airbag warning light or airbag fault73 · 5%
Median 53,500 miles at failure, from 54 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off58 · 4%
Median 82,100 miles at failure, from 52 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration40 · 3%
Median 56,000 miles at failure, from 35 reports with mileage
Median 100,300 miles at failure, from 372 reports with mileage
Electrical system294 · 22%
Most named: instrument cluster/panel (3) · Median 85,000 miles at failure, from 196 reports with mileage
Stability control227 · 17%
Median 85,000 miles at failure, from 196 reports with mileage
Brakes198 · 15%
Median 72,200 miles at failure, from 142 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting194 · 14%
Most named: brake lights (13); headlights (4) · Median 96,600 miles at failure, from 136 reports with mileage
Air bags145 · 11%
Most named: frontal (3); side/window (3) · Median 55,000 miles at failure, from 103 reports with mileage
Powertrain133 · 10%
Most named: automatic transmission (13) · Median 74,200 miles at failure, from 115 reports with mileage
Unknown or other63 · 5%
Median 84,200 miles at failure, from 35 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Malibu recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2010 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Malibu drew the most (220) and the 2010 drew 92.
Owner complaints
2010: 1,363 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Complaints
2010
1,363
2011
978
2012
907
2013
922
2014
363
2015
270
2016
861
2017
724
2018
709
2019
193
2020
198
2021
89
2022
98
2023
70
2024
42
2025
11
Safety recalls
2010: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
11
2014
6
2015
3
2016
10
2017
4
2018
6
2019
1
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 1,363 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, the problems described most are power steering problems or locked steering (288), headlight or exterior light problems (157), and shaking, shuddering or vibration (84). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.
How do I check if my Malibu has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MALIBU, MALIBU HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.