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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,243 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 1 of 4)

problem #61

Sep 092024

Malibu

  • miles

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

The July 14, 2014 recall (13036) describes the issue perfectly. Brake lights come on when gas is pressed, goes off when brake pedal is pressed (very dangerous). Airbag, motor & traction control lights come on, message center says -??ESC-?? -??traction control-??. We have had the car on multiple diagnostic tools saying it-??s the module and the electrical isn-??t communicating with the module-?? according to the recall, it is EXACTLY what is happening. We bought the car recently for our NEW driver not knowing and after HOURS of research and going to mechanics it seems to be the SAME recall but this car/VIN is not included in the recall. My child is going to get rear ended because nothing is fixing the issue and this vin doesn-??t have any -??recalls-??

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #60

Aug 022024

Malibu

  • miles
The front doors on the car lock and unlock them selves and often you have to climb into the backseat from the front seat to exit the car. This is a serious danger if you were in an accident or the car was on fire. Hi I am [XXX] and it-??s almost impossible for me to climb over the seats the way the cockpit is made. When the car locks itself it-??s impossible to unlock the car using the door locks inside by pulling them up or using the key in the drivers door nothing works. The car can be completely locked and hours later maybe the next day the drivers door will be open on its own. This is happened several times in the rain soaking the driver seat. The only way to unlock the doors if they lock on their own it-??s to play with a key fob pressing lock unlock maybe 100 times and you might get lucky and it unlocks. I spent three days once before I could enter my car using the key fob as I explained earlier. The door came open one time while the car was going forward and luckily I was in a Walmart parking lot or there-??s no telling what would-??ve happened. When the car was shifted into drive the door locks clicked down but that still did not stop the door from opening. I purchased the car two months ago for $7000 and the dealer is going to do nothing they stressed as is. I have read online there are thousands of these complaints for the same thing and GM has not acknowledged the problem to date. Complaints I have read also stated they have done different repairs to the doors which are quite costly but they were to no avail. This seems like a very serious and dangerous problem being trapped inside a car especially in Florida where I live and the temperatures in a car can reach 140 degrees. If the car is running you can-??t even exit the back doors once you crawl over the seats it has to be shut off. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Bonita Springs , FL, USA

problem #59

Jan 102024

Malibu

  • miles
Driving down the highway, the car completely shuts down, states engine deactivated, engine power decreased, and traction light on, had to attempt to safely pull over, had to be towed, still trying to figure what's wrong, completely unsafe!

- Claypool, IN, USA

problem #58

Oct 012023

Malibu

  • miles

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

My brake lights are always on as if I am riding the brakes (which I am not) and when I apply the brakes they turn off. I also get a warning to service traction control and ESC. I understand that GM had a recall for this and the repair work was done on this vehicle but people are complaining that the repair is only temporary and the problem returns. I don't think I should have to pay for this to be repaired as it is a know problem with many GM cars, not just Malibu. The vehicle is useless as it is because it will definitely cause a accident.

- Bay City, MI, USA

problem #57

Oct 182023

Malibu

  • miles
I submitted a complaint regarding traction service/escape alerts at any given time of my 2010 Chevolet Malibu and have not received an acknowledgment of my complaint. Therefore I am hoping it has been resolved. Thank goodness, the car passed inspection on 10/17/2023 for which the complaint of the traction service alerts have affected my yearly inspection for at least 3 years. I am asking for the status of your assessment of my complaint. Thank you. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Bronx, NY, USA

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problem #56

Aug 112023

Malibu

  • miles
Transmission went out at 88740 miles. Paid over $3000 for it and there are still issues. This car is junk. I feel chevy should have repair all these issues on this car. Now it's the throttle body and transmission issues. It's non stop issues. I Baby this car out of fear to no avail.

- Yukon, OK, USA

problem #55

Jul 212023

Malibu

  • miles

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

Head light wire is out, electrical wire is messing up. Car is shaking bad and won-??t start. Air bag light is

- Arlington , TX, USA

problem #54

Feb 252023

Malibu

  • miles
Brake lights stay on while driving but turn off when braking, engine and traction control lights come on, car acts like it's going to die. This happens intermittently and sometimes without any warning lights. I noticed this again most recently within the last week and several times on 2/25/23. Vehicle has not yet been inspected but was previously taken in for the same issue in 2020. Dealership stated that since the lights weren't staying on and no codes were stored, they weren't required to make repairs. It goes without saying that driving with faulty lights can cause an accident and is also illegal. It is highly irresponsible of GM not to repair this known issue and of NHTSA not to issue a recall.

- Danville, IN, USA

problem #53

Nov 242022

Malibu

  • miles
I drive down the road and the brake lights come on I hit the brake then they go off. Randomly when I drive service esc service traction come on but as soon as I turn the car off and back on it is gone. Cruise control stopped working as well.

- Sandusky, OH, USA

problem #52

May 162022

Malibu

  • miles
My daughter was driving back from school in a very busy road and a message came up on the dash board that said engine power reduced and speed droped to 5 mph. I told her to park somewhere and turn off car for like 15 minutes and turn it back on and car still didnt accelerate. Had to go get her and leave car there. I just purchased this vehicle on November 2021.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #51

Sep 302021

Malibu

  • miles

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

I was driving and the service traction control came across my car the the engine powering down notification appeared, and the check engine light. I took it to advance auto and they hooked up the machine which gave them the code DTC P2138. I took it to a mechanic who said the accelerator pedal sensor needed to be replaced. I replaced it and I'm still having the same issue. This time when it came on the pedal completely lost power until I turned the car off and restarted it.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #50

May 072021

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchase the 2010 Chevy malibu, 6/2013. The service traction lights comes on periodically until I am forced to take it in for service. I had to take the car in for this same problem at least 4 times, more or less, also the last time I took the car in, the technician was not able to reset the sensors. A more seasoned tech had to reset the sensors. I am filing a report, because this cost me money every time I take it to the dealer and it is certain a safety issue for me to continue to drive the car with the service traction light coming on and off and stationary at times. It appears to be a defect in the auto system. I should not be required to have to take the car in every year for the same problem and putting myself and others at risk. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #49

Jan 192021

Malibu

  • 45 miles
While in motion I turn and my steering wheel locks up and on the screen power steering and ESC traction control off pops up it's locking up more frequently now and this is very dangerous. Then a couple days later my engine light pops on I figured it was because of the power steering ESC traction control problem but after serval days later I'm at work and the car want start. I try a couple times and gives it some gas then it started so I was on my way then maybe 15 minutes down the road the steering wheels locks up again and the same message pops up on the screen this is really weird and again dangerous.

- Dudley, NC, USA

problem #48

Dec 082020

Malibu

  • 147,000 miles
Exterior brake lights come on & cruise control shuts off. When in motion.

- Lennox, SD, USA

problem #47

Sep 062020

Malibu

  • miles
Transmission keeps going out

- Midwest City, OK, USA

problem #46

Jul 032020

Malibu

  • miles
My driver seat is broke from the bottom of floor and my gas pedal stick and jump when I hit the gas pedal

- Freeport, IL, USA

problem #45

Feb 012020

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
Dash lights: ESC off, service ESC light, brake system (!), ABS system, power steering, lights flash and all gauges fluctuate. I have replaced the main control module, as well as power steering module at dealership, and the problem still continues!!!! have read about other same models doing this same problem. It will come on, and then next time I start my vehicle, it stops. Then comes back on. Sometimes stays on for weeks. Or is gone for weeks.this has happened even with professional repairs. This happens when stationary and idling and while driving.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #44

Mar 032020

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
Drove to the store and when I started my car to leave my steering wheel was locked up and on my dash read power steering, service ESC, service air bag and traction light was on.

- Poteau, OK, USA

problem #43

Sep 042019

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
Brake lights remain on while pedal's not activated, and turn off when pedal is pressed. ESC and traction error messages appear while driving, usually when coming to a complete stop at any given time. The lighting issue seems to coincide with the appearance of said error messages.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #42

Sep 132019

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
I have been having a problem with my car running really funny. Sometimes it won't start. Then at times it will start but if you put it in gear to drive. It goes very slow. This happen in 2016 before. I got a letter from GM to take it in to be fixed. When I take it in. My car resets. And the dealer tells me they can't fix it. The letter I received from GM is saying I have until 2020 to get it fixed. The first time it happened I had very low miles.

- Clairton, PA, USA

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