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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,664 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2010 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Jan 012016

Malibu

  • miles

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

Vehicle sunroof leaks through to center console, front dome light, carpets and speakers. This occurs at all times, stationary and in motion. More so after rain and car washing. I now have water stains, mold and smell throughout car.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #13

May 062016

Malibu

  • 22,117 miles
Car shuts off while driving! everything dies. Cannot restart. Happened twice. Dealer replaced sensor. Worked for a week, then died again in traffic. Towed back to dealer, who has no idea why this happens. No recall notice ever received from Chevy. But I found plenty of complaints by other owners as far back as 2003 while researching on internet.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #12

Feb 142016

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Driving aprox. 55 miles an hour, when suddenly a service ESC light appeared and the traction control light illuminated also at this time I lost almost all engine power and was almost unable to make it home.....

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

problem #11

Sep 012015

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles

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

I went to open my front, driver's side door (from the outside) and it would not open. I climbed through the passenger front and tried to open the driver's door from the inside...it still would not open. Using the palm of my hand, I bumped the effected door on the outside door panel, by the handle and it opened. I lubed the inside door catch area as much as I could and it seemed ok. 48 hours later, I was having the same problem. Additionally, there have been a few times during this time frame where I went to close the door and it bounced back open again. It seems that the door latch never caught the post on the frame. This is clearly a safety issue. An elderly or disabled driver may not be able to get out in the case of an emergency. Not everyone is physically capable of folding themselves up and climbing over the armrest into the passenger seat. Also, it stands to reason that if the door may not latch shut, it may open while driving down the road.

- Swartz Creek, MI, USA

problem #10

Sep 042015

Malibu

  • 66,880 miles
We got up this morning, went to get into our car and as I tried to unlock it I noticed my keyless entry would not unlock the door. I asked my boyfriend if his was working, and his wouldn't open the car either. So I unlocked the door manually and no alarm sounded. The dash didn't light up as it usually does either. I tried starting my car, the idiot lights came on as did my stereo, but the car never tried to turn over. We had no interior lights, no headlights, and not even hazards!! I thought hazards we're supposed to work in emergencies but apparently I was mistaken. Thank god we weren't broke down in the middle of a road or freeway. I've noticed other years of this particular car have a recall for an ignition switch, why not this one? because their stories sound just like mine. This car is being towed to the shop tomorrow morning. If it is the ignition switch, Chevy will be hearing from me.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

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problem #9

Sep 022015

Malibu

  • 89,421 miles
As I was driving a light came on that said ESC, traction, service ESC at one point it said traction off. It has happened numerous times sometimes I go to start the vehicle and the light is on and the car will not budge from park and I was stranded for over an hour in the evening all alone. Other time I was driving and the light came on and the brake lights are on the whole time and people were honking at me. My worst time was when I was driving going about 55 on a very dark road with my daughter in the car had about 40 miles to drive to get home and the light came on as I was driving and apparently then I had no brake lights at all ! all the way home no brake lights I was unaware of this until a car drove up on me almost hitting me from behind because he could not see me until he was right on me and I had to swerve over to the next lane to avoid being hit this was a very scary and traumatic incident for my daughter and I! this is beyond dangerous and something needs to be done, when I called the dealership they said their was a recall but that they had fixed it during my last oil change which I was never made aware of but case being if it was "fixed" then why am I still riding in a dangerous vehicle?! one day its okay and the next day I may be on the express way doing 55 hoping not to die due to a faulty system something needs to be done about this issue before someone is seriously hurt! I am disappointed in the way the Chevrolet dealership is just brushing this off as yes it was a recall but we took care of it supposedly so now that's not the problem in their words it's now your problem! I can say that by the way I have been treated and getting the run around and being scared to drive a vehicle that I no longer feel safe in has really really caused me to dislike Chevrolet!

- Wilmington, IL, USA

problem #8

Jul 092015

Malibu

  • 86,641 miles

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

I was driving through the intersection and the vehicle just stopped while going about 15-20 mph. The check engine light came on and I attempted to push the vehicle. The ABS has engaged and the vehicle would not move. Until giving gas and letting vehicle rev up to 4,000 RPM it jumped into gear and began to drive normal again. Now the vehicle drives but revs at 2-3 gear and then just slows down, there were 13 fault reads from cpu which were all transmission control module fault and cpu malfunction. This happened out of no where and standard maintenance does get performed. I am told my warranty expired 2 months ago because they said that's the month it went to the dealership. I thought it went off when the vehicle was driven off the lot. I am due to pcs in 56 days to a new duty station and now my family and I are in a bind, I love Chevrolet but I am at a loss right now with a very unsafe vehicle that will drive fine and out of no where rev up and just stop.

- Ogden, KS, USA

problem #7

Jun 082015

Malibu

  • miles
It first started on June 8th I went to the store and when I came out I unlocked my door with the key but the door wouldn't open from the inside or outside on the driver side. It appeared as if the latch weren't latching on in the inside of the door panel. I called around and finally someone was able to get me in by prying into my door and pressing the unlock button to unlock the other side. I climbed in for three days then out of nowhere it opened to my surprised. I was getting ready to take it in to see about getting it fixed when I went to get in that afternoon it stopped working again. Getting frustrated I made an appointment at Chevy but it would take 3 weeks to get in so I left the vehicle parked and used public transportation. A friend of mine tried to open it on July 5th 2015 and it still wont open. I have an new alarm and the only way I can drive it is still by climbing over to the driver seat almost 2 months later. There's a lot of complaints abouth the 2010 Malibu doors not opening and something needs to be done about it. I haven't reached the 50000 mile point yet on that car and I'm very frustrated because it's always something.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #6

Apr 272015

Malibu

  • 125,454 miles
The transmission failed on this vehicle. Iaw GM doc# 2894053 technical bulletin this is caused by a broken 3-5-R apply (waved) plate (507). The mechanic stated this plate is too thin for these vehicles and when they break down, they totally destroy a good transmission and the driver will never know until the vehicle is powering down to safe mode (going from 65 to 40 in less then a minute) and there is no reverse. The vehicle gave a false check engine light codes and never showed there was a inside transmission problem. Codes were P0776 and PI0780. If it was not for the fact that it was not a busy day. I could have easily been rear ended and then this 3-5-R defect would have been blamed on the crash. This is a known problem and this should be repalce by GM. This has cost me $2,881.88, and 3 lost work days. GM should be held accountable for their shoddy cheap parts.

- Sauquoit, NY, USA

problem #5

May 072015

Malibu

  • miles
Everytime it rains or I go thru a car wash water leaks in the car.. I've had the seal replaced and I'm still having the problem.. I'm concerned this could cause damage to other parts of my car.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #4

Mar 202015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 41,000 miles

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

When tried to put on the turn signal for the direction to the right, the turn signal arm wouldn't engage and had to try several times to get it to signal. Since then, the turn signal arm only works intermittently.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #3

Jul 262014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
I received a recall notice 1 week prior to this incident. Recall #13036. I was almost rear ended when my brake lights failed. I was on my way home from work and watched my stability control and traction warning lights come on. I contacted GM and was told that no replacement parts are available. GM also stated that they are not responsible for towing or a rental even though it is a defect in the design and/or manufacture of the body control module. I have been without a car for 4 days at this point and GM stated that no replacement parts are yet available. My car is a shiny peice of junk that I can pay for yet cannot drive because of the defect. I am a veteran and I am absolutely disgusted. All of the above problems are directly related to the defective part.

- Melrose Park, IL, USA

problem #2

Oct 092013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
First occurrence I was driving down the road and my warning lights came on for ESC off, service traction control, service ESC at 50 mph. At first it would only come on once every couple weeks but now it comes on almost every time I drive it. It varies (speed doesn't matter) whether or not going down the highway or stopping in a driveway when it comes on but warning lights will come on when you touch the brakes. I also observed that the brake lights stay on while going down the road (when its dark outside) but when you apply the brakes the brake lights go off. I feel this could be dangerous if someone is following behind you and thinks that you have let off the brakes but you are actually slowing down. I don't think that they have an apparent fix for this issue as I see several reports from vehicles ranging from 2008 to 2012 online complaining about this same issue. It is intermittent. When you turn the car off after this occurs the lights will go off. Sometimes only for a short period other times for a week weeks before it comes on again.

- Fowle, MI, USA

problem #1

Apr 152014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
I was driving back to work on my lunch break and three alerts came across the screen. 1)service ESC 2) engine power reduced 3) service traction. Tt my vehicle would barely gain speed. When I was forced to stop at a red light, and the light finally turned green I was nearly rear ended as the car behind me was accelerating, and my car would barely creep forward. I was able to make it to my work parking lot as my vehicle almost did not get up to speed. Our vehicle is going to a Chevrolet dealership tomorrow to determine what is causing this.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

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