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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,340 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

engine problem

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2010 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #91

Mar 072019

Malibu

  • 105,470 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall my car made a hum sound while accelerating when I just got in it on my 2 minute journey home. While going straight, the car no longer continued to accelerate and stopped on the street. After restarting the car, the engine light turned on and would still not move in any gear.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #90

Feb 242019

Malibu

  • 159,000 miles
Driving home from work about 30mph and all of a sudden the car looses power and eco assist shuts off, with traction control, traction assist, and power steering. This seems like a safety issue as I couldn't pull off to the side of the road due to these issues and the car would only go 10 mph!! I see other have complained about this issue in nys and nothings been done or when we go to the dealership they just clear the codes and say nothings wrong! this is an issue as if someone was behind me they would of hit me as when these light came on the dash with the check engine light the car went from 30mph down to 10 mph and the car ran rough and slow. Please do something with this issue as alot of people complaining !

- Jamestown, NY, USA

problem #89

Feb 192019

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
Vehicle suddenly powered down to 10 mph, shook violently and sputtered. Engine light, traction control light and service ESC message across dash. This left me stranded at midnight, pregnant while in route to see dying grandfather. In order to get home approx 60 miles away, had to remove battery terminal for a reset. Dealer could not fix due to reset alas code was cleared. Did not experience this issue again until out of warranty almost one year later. Slowly got to dealer. Needs new throttle body. Initially dealer claimed servicing would be covered due to tsb and extended warranty for issue; however, after diagnosis dealer denied any special coverages existed for this issue. Apparantly a $600 fix, denied service and replaced ourselves for $185 part.

- West St Paul, MN, USA

problem #88

Feb 122019

Malibu

  • 124,523 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After replacing a leaking valve cover gasket, I took it for a test drive, after approximately 17 miles, without any warning the engine ceased on me, it died out and had to be towed back to my place

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #87

Jan 262019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
While driving at 60mpg car rpg dropped to nothing, couldn't use the accelerator. Able to move to the side of the road. Got it going again then not even 5 mins later car started shaking badly, couldn't use the accelerator, pulled over. Dash flashes with ESC. Service, traction control, engine reduced and check engine light comes on. This problem has been on going for well over a year. Has nothing to do with colder months, first time it happened it was September. Went out today to warm up my car as it was iced and snowed over, while cleaning it off it was fine. Came back inside to finish getting ready to go and when I came out to my car, it was shaking, RPM was bouncing between 1-3, all the notices were on the dash again. Took it for a drive around the block to see if it would resolve, couldn't get it to go above 15 mpg. I've taken it to numerous garages to get looked at, its always something different. One "fixed" the engine, another did an oil change and filter change, one changed the alternator, etc. Everytime I take it somewhere they "fix" it for it to run for a week or so at a time til this happens again. Luckily it has not caused any accidents but I will not drive it in this condition. Been told its an electrical problem as well but I'm tired of spending money for it not to fix the underlying issue which no one can seem to figure out. I have learned this is a problem for a lot of Chevy Malibu owners. I am unable to get another vehicle so I am stuck with what I currently have.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #86

Dec 062018

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
Engine reduced power. Vehicle "engine reduced power light" activates and vehicle is unresponsive and stalls, shakes violently. Numerous complaints online involving GM models. Issued special coverage adjustment, but will not cover all vehicles with the same problem.

- Lisle, IL, USA

problem #85

Dec 102018

Malibu

  • 98,327 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving on expressway check engine light came one followed by traction control, reduced engine power, and loss of power. I couldn't accelerate and I was in the fast lane when it happened going 70 mph. I lost power and luckily I was able to make it over to the shoulder. Car started shaking badly. I cut it off and restarted it. Went away few miles down the road it happened again. For the past 2 years it's been happening only during cold months between December and February. This is a serious safety issue

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #84

Nov 272018

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 75 mph, the electronic stability control active and check engine indicators illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle decelerated from 75 mph to 40 mph. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Ironton, OH, USA

problem #83

Jul 252018

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
Timing chain bolts sheered off, causing chain to come off and other things to break, resulting in loss of power while driving on major highway.

- Markesan, WI, USA

problem #82

Aug 292018

Malibu

  • 125,000 miles
Power reduced engine, traction control,

- Deming, NM, USA

problem #81

Aug 012018

Malibu

  • 100,615 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving and making turns, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and shook violently. There was no warning indicator illuminated. In addition, while driving approximately 40 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started to decelerate and the temperature gauge increased. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 100,615.

- Patterson, NJ, USA

problem #80

Nov 012017

Malibu

  • 91,000 miles
Everytime I turn left there is some kind of clicking grinding noise.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #79

Jun 042018

Malibu

  • 127,800 miles
Malibu decreases speed and downshifts and engine power reduced comes up in message center, no bumps, hard braking, no carwashes, simply driving down the road at 45mph and car illuminates engine light. Several parts have been replaced already for example throttle body, knock sensor, maf sensor, battery, fuse box, accelerator pedal all of these parts and my issue still persists. Several complaints have been made for this year make and model therefore I do not feel like this is an isolated issue.

- El Mirage, AZ, USA

problem #78

Jun 012017

Malibu

  • miles
The electrical randomly malfunctions sometimes the interior and exterior lights won't work and they randomly come on or go off while driving. While I was driving down the highway the headlights stopped working and it was almost dark out side I had to pull over and turn off the car and restart it a couple times before they came back on. There is a leak somewhere that causes the car to overheat. The motor blower for the heating and cooling will also randomly stop working. The windshield wipers broke and after replacing and fixing the part they broke again while I was driving down a crowded highway in the pouring rain. I fixed the windshield wipers 2 times and they still continue to malfunction and quit working. The exauhst has a leak. The transmission malfunctions and doesn't shift right while driving it takes forever to shift and one time while driving the vehicle started to lose power and would barely drive when I would give it gas and the brakes wouldn't work it was like that for about 8 minutes before it finally started to work properly. There is a piece that connects to the transmission that keeps coming undone causing the vehicle to not be able to shift gears. I started the vehicle and tried to put it in drive but it wouldn't work and I fixed the problem and upon arriving at my destination the vehicle went into park but continued to move I had to use the emergency brake to stop it. The warning light for the engine, traction control stability and the tires has been on for several months. The turn signals randomly quit working while driving when I first turn them on they don't work but after a couple seconds they start to work. The mid flap came off while I was driving 55 mph down the highway and almost caused me to wreck. The parts affected is the electrical, body, power train, lighting, wheels, suspension, brakes, visibility/wipers and the engine.

- Stout, OH, USA

problem #77

Mar 152018

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
The first time my vehicle died while driving I was slowing down to turn right. The engine died and I turned off the vehicle, tried to restart and it would not stay started. I had it towed to the dealership and they could not duplicate the problem or get the car to give them codes so they had me pick it up. The 2nd time the car died on the freeway a week later. I was going 60mph trying to keep acceleration when it lost power. Thankfully I was near an exit and I was able to pull to the side of the exit. Again had it towed to the dealership. They duplicated the problem but have not been able to figure out what's causing it.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #76

Nov 092017

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 45 mph, the steering wheel seized and the contact was unable to steer the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle experienced a lack of engine power. The vehicle was pulled over and the ESC, power steering, and engine power reduced warning indicators illuminated after the failure. The vehicle had to be restarted to operate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ESC failed. The dealer (gray-daniels Chevrolet, 6080 interstate 55 North frontage rd, jackson, ms 39211) informed the contact they would repair the vehicle for a fee. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Yazoo City, MS, USA

problem #75

Jan 082018

Malibu

  • 96,000 miles
My car currently has the engine light on and will suddenly slow down and shake violently. The reading on the dash says low traction ecs off and then flashed engine power reduced. I have taken my car to several mechanics and they can not figure out what the problem is. I am currently spending money to fix several different things and none of them are working. I have read many forums where Chevy owners are having the same problem but yet there is no recall. This is a major safety issue when driving on a highway and then all of a sudden your car slows down suddenly and significantly. My car has slowed while I was idle, driving on the street, and driving on the highway.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #74

Nov 192017

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 40 mph, the steering column required excessive effort to operate the vehicle normally. In addition, the vehicle experienced a lack of engine power and would not accelerate past 40 mph. The contact stated that the ESC, power steering, and engine power reduced warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle control sensor and the power steering assembly were defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #73

Oct 052017

Malibu

  • 173,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the reduce power, check engine, and ESC service traction indicators illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an unknown independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle box, idle control sensor, module control sensor, throttle position sensor, oxygen control sensor, and the transmission control module needed to be repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,000.

- Oak Park, MI, USA

problem #72

Sep 252017

Malibu

  • miles
The seat belt keeps dinging like the seatbelt is not connected to the seatbelt latch and it is. The engine light comes on and off. I have taken it to the dealership the light goes off so they can never figure out what's wrong with it. Except once which it came back to it being the solenoid sensor. They fixed it. But, engine light still comes on. The seatbelt dings doing the whole ride or if your siting still. The engine light comes on off and on. Just bought the car 9/23/2017.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

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