2010 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe loss of power steering, usually accompanied by power steering, service ESC and traction control messages on the dash, and repeated front headlamp failures. Complaints also cover rough or failed automatic transmissions, brake light and stability-control module behavior, and engine oil consumption with timing chain wear. Mileage on the sampled complaints ranges widely, from under 60,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many reports clustering around 80,000 to 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Intermittent loss of power steering assist

   • 420 complaints (31%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (349 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn at speed or while turning, often with the power steering warning light and service ESC or traction messages on the dash. Many owners say switching the vehicle off and restarting restores assist temporarily, and some report the wheel shaking or twitching before assist drops out. Several say dealers diagnosed the steering column or steering motor/module and that repairs were quoted or covered only under an expired special coverage; others report the vehicle was not repaired. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 70,000 to 175,000 miles, and often occurs while driving rather than only at start-up.

   Recall 14V252000

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel at low speed and watch for a power steering or service ESC message and any twitching. Ask whether the steering column or steering motor assembly has been replaced and whether any related special coverage was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “From the minute I drove my car off the lot the dash has been saying 'service airbags'. A week ago while I was driving I lost power steering. The dash said 'service ESC' and the traction control light popped up on the dash. If I turn off my car for a while the power steering may still work when I start it back up, but eventually I lose power steering again while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11386570, filed 2021-01, 160,000 miles

   “Power steering will randomly go out. I have to turn my vehicle off and turn it back on and then it works perfectly normal. When this happens I am moving and in the process of turning. It has happened once in january and once in march now. In january I took it to run a diagnostics on it right after and nothing came up.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316745, filed 2020-03, 141,580 miles
2. 2
   Electronic stability control

   Stability control and brake light module faults

   • 387 complaints (28%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (296 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $630 (median of 25 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report service ESC, service traction and brake warning lights appearing together, sometimes with the brake lights staying on when nobody is pressing the pedal or failing to light when braking. Complaints describe cruise control dropping out and, in some cases, the vehicle entering reduced-power mode after driving a short distance and recovering once cooled. Some owners report brake pedal position sensor replacements, a stability control module replacement, and diagnostics pointing to a body control module harness with high resistance. Mostly reported from about 60,000 to 165,000 miles, often as intermittent faults that reappear after repair.

   Recall 14V252000

   What to check: With the car parked, have someone watch the brake lights while you press and release the pedal, and check whether they are lit with no pedal input. Ask whether the brake pedal position sensor or stability control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brake pedal position sensor keeps failing intermittently while in motion, resulting in failed cruise control and reversing my brake lights. When the sensor fails, the cruise automatically turns off, like when the brake pedal is pushed. While actively in motion, the brake lights will turn on as if the pedal is engaged, however the brake lights turn off while actively braking the moving vehicle. The traction control light will be triggered and says service ESC when the brake pedal position sensor fails. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11406964, filed 2021-04, 65,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after driving for 5 miles, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, with the message Service Traction displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as intended after cooling down; however, the failure recurred after driving 5 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with high resistance in the BCM harness. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11752487, filed 2026-07, 160,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlamp repeatedly stops working, wiring damage

   • 71 complaints (5%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners report one low beam, often the passenger side, going dark even though the bulb is not burnt out, and sometimes both headlights cutting out while driving at night. Complaints describe tapping the assembly or wiggling wires to make the light return, and melted or broken connectors found in the headlamp wiring. In several reports the lamp went out again within days or weeks of a bulb or pigtail replacement, and owners note that replacing a bulb requires front-end disassembly. Typically reported between about 85,000 and 175,000 miles, with repeat failures every few weeks to a few months.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check both low beams and inspect the headlamp connectors and pigtail wiring for melting, corrosion or a loose fit. Ask whether the headlamp assemblies or harness have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2010 chevy Malibu and the passenger headlight keeps going out. Not burning out, but quits working! I changed the bulb about 5 times before I realized that it wasn't burning out. All the other lights on that side work fine. A few times I could tap on the headlight assembly and it would come back on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11310827, filed 2020-02, 130,000 miles

   “The passenger side low beam light stops working approximately every 6-8 weeks. I have owned the car for 6 months and have replaced the same bulb 4 times. I know I am not alone as the internet forums are filled with other Malibu owners reporting the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306232, filed 2020-01, 170,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission rough shifting or loss of gears

   • 271 complaints (20%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (229 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,800 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Complaints describe jerking or hard shifts, the transmission shifting on its own, failure to go into reverse, and in some cases loss of all gears above second with the check engine light on. Owners say shops diagnosed internal transmission failure and recommended replacement or rebuild; in one case a rebuilt transmission was installed under warranty and problems later returned. Another complaint describes the vehicle dropping to low speed on the highway before recovering after a restart. Reported from as low as about 35,000 miles up to roughly 140,000 miles, with several reports in the 45,000 to 110,000 mile range.

   Recall 12V460000

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and test-drive from cold, watching for delayed or harsh engagement into reverse and drive. Confirm whether the shift cable recall work (12V460000) has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In 2012, we were driving along and attempted to back into a parking spot, when the car refused to reverse. It started going slower than the usual speed limit, so I didn't know what to do. I pulled out to head home, but the car didn't get much speed, nor would it reverse at all. I had it towed and the transmission was burned out. I'd only had the car less than 30,000 miles. Chevrolet repaired or rebuilt the transmission. A year later, I was pulled over due to the tail lights not working. 2016 the car wouldn't pick up speed again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323439, filed 2020-05, 35,000 miles

   “I would be driving down the highway when the vehicle would start to shake and the power would drop to 20 MPH. This would happen anytime, any where. Turn vehicle off sit. A couple of minutes and would be ok to drive for awhile. If happens no matter what type of area driving. Highway city or even parking lot. Can not find problem with anything. Need immediate help with problem. Could cause accident and death on a busy highway or roadway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349319, filed 2020-08, 46,200 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Oil consumption and timing chain wear

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the check engine light coming on, high oil consumption between changes, and a mechanic identifying timing chain wear or a broken chain that damaged valves. Some owners say the failure was described to them as common for this engine and were referred to a dealer; in another case the engine was reported as seized and needing replacement. One owner also reported stalling and erratic running with unrelated electrical faults. Reported between roughly 55,000 and 170,000 miles; owners note consuming oil between scheduled changes.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive and ask for oil change records. Ask whether the timing chain or related components have been replaced and whether the oil life monitor has been reset properly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was making weird noise under the hood. I have maintained my car very well. Come to find out the timing chain broke and smashed all the valves. The mechanic said because of it being in a plastic mechanism, that's a problem and a bad design on Chevrolet's part. I have seen and heard many other people saying the same happened to them. Why hasn't this been recalled yet?”

   NHTSA complaint #11365640, filed 2020-10, 172,000 miles

   “I was stopped,went to accelerate,and sudden hard shift as it accelerated. After a few miles,lost all gears after 2nd gear.on interstate at time when lost gears & close to getting into major accident. Took it to asc certified mechanic to learn that the transmission failed,wiring from battery to started burned up,battery failurem alternator failed, and ECM failed as well. Repair cost approx $4600.00. Service airbag light & check engine light on also & p0013 code. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11300693, filed 2020-01, 103,000 miles

Buying note. On a used example of this model year, budget for a thorough steering and electrical inspection, since power steering assist loss and headlamp wiring faults come up repeatedly in owner reports. Confirm recall work (driver airbag inflator, stability control, shift cable) is complete and request service records for the transmission and oil changes.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.