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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,326 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2010 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #246

Apr 212021

Malibu

  • miles

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

Went to dealer to get a previous recall that was fixed but has since then failed again and they refuse to fix free of charge. The recall involved the brake system where brake lights illuminate while driving but not when actually pressing on brakes.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #245

Apr 112021

Malibu

  • 220,000 miles
While driving the cruise control will be set and all of a sudden turn off. The gauges on the dash would sporatically jump up and down and sometimes flatline as if the car was off. When braking the cruise control would engage if my hand pressed the button llocated on the steering wheel causing the vehicle to speed up while trying to slow down. The brake lights would be on while driving without pressing the brakes and would turn on once brakes were pressed. Recall work was reported to be completed January 2015 but problems still persist. There is also a bulletin for special coverage that is limited to 150,000 miles which I don't recieve because my vehicle is over that mileage but the dangers of the vehicle still persist. These problems have been present since I purchased the car 2 or 3 years ago. The last incident happened just 2 days ago. I cantacted Chevy and they said they couldn't cover it because of the miles.

- Washington, NC, USA

problem #244

Apr 052021

Malibu

  • 103,923 miles
When making a turn at any speed, the power steering goes out and the dash says "power steering - ESC service". turning off the car and waiting a minute temporarily fixed the issue

- Northglenn, CO, USA

problem #243

May 152020

Malibu

  • 125,000 miles

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

Passenger side low beam fuse keeps blowing

- Nevada, OH, USA

problem #242

Feb 102021

Malibu

  • 122,370 miles
One day I was on the highway with my kids and the power steering light came on and my wheel locked and it was very hard to turn it. It was very scary going 50 mph trying to get off a exit and not being able to turn my wheel. I needed just have to let my car sit because I cld not afford the cost to get it fixed and I didn't do anything to cause that I called Chevy gave them my VIN number and they said there wasn't a recall but I see ppl with Malibu's have the same issue. This cld have been deadly me and my 2 kids could have gotten severely hurt that's not okay that this happened

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #241

Jan 022021

Malibu

  • 27,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the brake lights would illuminate. The contact stated that the traction control and ESC warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The brake pedal sensor was replaced however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was still awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.

- Glen Park, NY, USA

problem #240

Feb 192021

Malibu

  • 170,000 miles

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

Third brake light sometimes works often does not work

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #239

Jan 012021

Malibu

  • 143,000 miles
It is the power steering and it shuts off no warning, locks steering wheel up I'm not strong enough to turn it when it does. The ESC light comes on and traction control goes off. It is triggered at times by cold weather but can cause an accident.

- Madisonville, KY, USA

problem #238

Jan 202021

Malibu

  • 123,000 miles
While traveling at 60 mph, lost power for a split second then regained. About 5 miles toward destination, at a traffic light I was attempting to make a right turn & when I accelerated, the car completely died with line of traffic behind me. Should this car have died in the midst of heavy rush hour traffic we could have caused a serious accident with a chain reaction of vehicles piling up behind me & possible injuries.. we were slowly creeping around the corner trying to catch a clear path to proceed when the car went dead. There have previously been problems when after driving for 30 minutes then returning to the car it would not start, cranked but not start with no warning lights present.. but after repeated restart attempts it would start maybe an hour later. But this time it died in traffic 3 days ago and we had to be towed home, it still will not start. I've read online about many other Malibu owners having similar problems with concerns of accidents. No engine or dash lights came on and a dealer could not get it to code. The unsafe problem is the car dying in the traffic with no warning in front of a long line of traffic.

- Paris, KY, USA

problem #237

Jan 192021

Malibu

  • 155,000 miles
I could smell a faint electrical smoke smell while the car was running, then the instrument panel quit working completely. I then also noticed the driver side seat also quit heating.

- Elberfeld, IN, USA

problem #236

Jan 162021

Malibu

  • 104,613 miles

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

I had just left the gas station after filling up with gas I came to a stoplight and when I went to take off from a stop the car started sputtering and only going at very low power I turned the car around and noticed there was a tick in the steering wheel and it moved back and forth the steering became hard to turn as I lost my power steering then the car shut off when I started the car again it was still running at half power I managed to make it back to the house and upon restarting the car it was stuck in limp mode and was displaying power steering and electronic stability control lots on the dash after resetting the codes it runs properly but then kicks back into limp mode and loses steering ability of the electronic assist.

- Calvert City, KY, USA

problem #235

Aug 212020

Malibu

  • miles
The headlights keep breaking. The right side more often. I see these Malibu's on the road all the time with a headlight out. It's expensive to replace and shouldn't happen as often as it does.

- Downers Grove, IL, USA

problem #234

May 202020

Malibu

  • 148,000 miles
The power steering sensor stop's steering during driving and traction loss. This car is very dangerous and costly to repair. I pray nobody dies from this. I see many complaints about this from other owners.

- Vevay, IN, USA

problem #233

Dec 062020

Malibu

  • miles
The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed. The brake lights fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is pushed. This has been an on going problem and we only realize it still exists when one of our family is following the 2010 Malibu in another car. We had brought the vehicle in to a Chevrolet service center in the past and were charged for a "repair". when we again noticed the problem we brought the vehicle into a Firestone service center and they charged us for a "repair". we just noticed the problem again and now are afraid to drive the vehicle. A search of the VIN shows no unrepaired recalls so we are not sure if the original owner had already brought it in (we are the second owner) or if this particular VIN was not thought to be affected. Regardless, it sounds like a known problem and we are hoping not to have to pay a third time and then still have an issue. Please let us know our options. Thank you in advance.

- Buellton, CA, USA

problem #232

Nov 302020

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
I was driving down a city street when all of a sudden I lost the ability to steer my escl came on. My wheels locked up.I just bought the car in August and have had nothing but problems with it and I'm now concerned as well about airbag safety I'm scared about how risky and dangerous this car really is Malibu is most recalled vehicles had I known ahead I would never have purchased this deadly weapon. I'm 22 a single mom who is responsible and now have a vehicle issue and a potential deadly one at that. Please do something it's not an error on my end I know that for fact. And of course there's no driving it at all. So please take time to take this matter serious god bless

- Moore, OK, USA

problem #231

Oct 232019

Malibu

  • miles
I bought my car used from a buy here pay here and maybe a month or so after buying my car I started noticing different little quirks here and there with my car, like if it's wet outside my brake lights either do not work or it looks like I am riding my breaks, if it's wet out my car hesitants while driving, my check air bags light is on, the traction control signal is on, my steering arm makes a very weird noise sometimes the list goes on and when I decided to check and see if my car had any recalls on it, to my discovery there is at least 4 one just from 2019 and all sounds so very much like what my car has been doing for months. I am hoping to receive some information back on what to do next.

- Corinna, ME, USA

problem #230

Oct 012020

Malibu

  • 158,958 miles
Low beam head lights keep going out, no matter how much I get them fixed. I can bang on the front end and sometimes they'll come on, but sometimes not. Tired if replacing and or fixing them, every few months! also my svc tire monitor light keeps coming on and say low tire pressure and my tires are not low......

- Swartz Creek, MI, USA

problem #229

Sep 252019

Malibu

  • miles
Both low beam headlights keeps going out I changed both harness 4 times and they keep coming on and going off. Also window brake light lights up when it wants to when I press the brake and both front door speakers keeps coming on and going off. Sometimes the switch on driver side door will lock/unlock doors and sometimes it want. At this point I don't know what the issue is that's causing this my mechanic thinks it's an electrical issue that's causing all of this. Also key fob stopped working so I changed the battery still didn't work took to see if maybe it needed to be reprogrammed but was told once again my car has some electrical issues.

- Dudley, NC, USA

problem #228

Aug 032020

Malibu

  • 178,000 miles
While commuting to work from home on a main intersection a power reduction occurred causing the vehicle to lose power, speed, and the abilities to function normally close to work I parked in the nearest parking lot and scheduled a repair at a automotive shop... after inspecting it a mechanic replaced throttle body, gas pedal and air intake hose costing $860.. upon pickup about 5 minutes into driving a power reduction still occured upon reinspection and no codes in a diagnostic check my mechanic informed me he wasn't able to solve the problem...I than had the car towed to a local Chevy dealership who than ran a diagnostic check and did a few minor repairs and a cluster instrument coming out to $910..upon pickup from certified dealer a power reduction again reoccurring I had to pay a extra $100 to have it towed back to the dealer ship for repair for it being extremely dangerous to Transport it manually feeling the headache and the pain of costly repairs for a problem without a definite possible way of repairing I feel its a safety issue that has been over looked by GM Chevy now knowing the story of the power reducing in many GM vehicles I forsure would never recommend this auto maker.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #227

Mar 102020

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
Vehicle goes into power engine reduced mode/ESC off/ service traction control mode. The car loses speed and goes about 20 mph the RPM go crazy and car shakes violently. It has happened for the past 3 years and it happens while iddle, while driving it, while the ac is on or off it happens all the time. Ive replaced the throttle body twice, accelerator pedal 3 times, battery, map sensor, knock sensor, battery terminals, power train relay, spark plugs, cleaned all the corosion and its been at the Chevy dealer numerous times for this same issue and still the car is not fixed. Ive spent so much money and even Chevy cannot find whats wrong with this car. Its happened while on the highway, streets, while turning or stopped at a light. All my electrial dosent work. My passenger low beam light keeps blowing out and my speakers keep going in and out. There needs to be a recall on this car. This is just unacceptable and very dangerous.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

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