10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,743 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #20

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 #19

Oct 272020

Malibu

  • 105,600 miles
Drivers seat frame has broke in 2 places causing the seat to be unstable.

- Washington, IL, USA

problem #18

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 #17

Oct 022019

Malibu

  • miles
When driving it the transmission don't kick in until you get pass 30 miles and then it's doing everything that you have a recall on some of the other 2010 Chevy Malibu just trying to see why my VIN number hasn't been recall.I have to put my emergency lights own sometime so I won't be in a reck getting my grandkids to and from school I fear for our safety but this is my only transportation so if you can pleas check and see if I have a recall on my VIN number it would please be appreciate sign a caring grandmother trying to keep her family safe 🙏🏽🙏🏽

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #16

Jan 022017

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles
Seat frame welds are broken, bottom front right side tube on drivers seat.

- Kearney, MO, USA

problem #15

Nov 012016

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
Faulty passenger presence module, airbag warning fault light on.. the dealership recommended the replacement of the module at my own expense of $800. I feel that my family and my safety is at risk due to a faulty design that GM is aware of with its airbag components. Airbags should be working for the life of the vehicle, and if they are failing the manufacturer should replace those faulty designed parts at no expense to the owners.

- Cheswick, PA, USA

problem #14

Feb 252016

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle with the driver side heating seat activated, there suddenly was a burning odor. The driver discovered at burnt hole in the back area of the driver seat. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000. Updated 05/11/16

- Norwood, MA, USA

problem #13

Sep 122015

Malibu

  • 90,575 miles
Driver seat weld broken.

- Morganville, NJ, USA

problem #12

Jul 032015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,450 miles
While driving my vehicle, the power assisted front seat moved forward approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch on the right portion of the seat. This also happened when turning the vehicle as well, e.g. if to the left the right portion of the seat would move forward, if the turn was to the right the right portion of the seat would move back. Eventually the driver's seat sloped downward to the right. This created a hazardous situation while driving. I have owned many cars and never once have I had a seat break like this. Apparently this is a problem with GM vehicles from what I have been able to read. GM refused to admit that this is their fault and I am out almost a $1,000 to have there problem fixed...updated 09/22/15

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #11

Mar 282015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
My wife had turned on the seat heater. After a period of time she felt the back of the seat getting very hot and then smelled something burning and saw smoke inside the car.. she leaned forward and then turned off the switch to the seat heater. I examined the seat and discovered a dime sized burn through hole in the seat. The burn trough is approximately shoulder high on the seat.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #10

Oct 012014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 72,560 miles
Drivers seat frame broke at two weld areas. Vehicle has never sustained any damage to seat. Seat framed just failed. Dealership and welding shops have all told me this is a safety issue and should never have happened.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

problem #9

Sep 292014

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
Drivers seat (power) broken away from sliding seat track on back passenger side of driver seat allowing complete seat to tilt and hit door during right turn affecting ability to drive vehicle.

- Linden, MI, USA

problem #8

Jan 172014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The driver heated seat began smoking and left a burn hole in middle back rest of seat.

- Laplace, LA, USA

problem #7

Apr 012014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Support bar underneath the driver's seat severed and the result was that the seat came off of the right bracket. The seat was resting on only the left bracket. General Motors would not cover under any warranty even though car was undriveable due to serious safety concern. General Motors stated that I somehow had caused the support bar to break. It cost me $750 for a new seat and the labor to replace. I am in possession of the seat and to me it looks like a faulty weld or a defective support bar. I find it impossible that I some how broke a thick steel bar just by getting in and out of the vehicle.

- Dudley, MA, USA

problem #6

Dec 202013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
Stopped behind traffic and the vehicle behind me did not. Not sure how fast they were going, but fast enough to hit the rear of my car 2 times and push me into the vehicle in front of me. The problem is-- my air bags did not deploy. I am having issues with back and neck since the seat belt did not hold me in place. The drivers seat broke, but the passengers seat belt held, but no air bags.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #5

Dec 292010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to transmission malfunction. The consumer stated a recall was issued regarding the transmission. However, she never received a letter. Also, the air bag illuminated and the dealer attempted to fix the problem twice, with no resolution. The consumer also stated the seat would move while driving. She stated there was rust on the seat track. The dealer claimed the seat was working properly.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #4

Jan 032014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact entered the parked vehicle and noticed a burn mark on the driver's side seat back rest. The defect was caused by a high voltage of heat that penetrated through the seat overnight. The heated seat had been activated when the vehicle was in operation prior to the failure. There were wires visible in the burned hole that was in the back rest. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000. Updated 4/1/14 the dealer inspected the vehicle, and acknowledged the wires had shorted and burned out. Updated 04/23/14

- Portsmith, VA, USA

problem #3

Mar 232010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 1,680 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 17 mph, a vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The police reported to the scene and a police report was filed. The contact suffered a concussion. The front passenger side seat dislodged from the track rail and fractured, causing the passenger to strike the dashboard. The passenger sustained a fractured back. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop and was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,680. Updated 01/29/13

- Fort Smith, AR, USA

problem #2

Sep 012010

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 0 miles
I have a pinched nerve because the head rests on my 2010 Malibu are tilted too far forward. This is a common complaint: discussions.consumerreports.org/N/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=cr-38auluxsuvgj&tid=8915 Chevy does not fix the problem.

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #1

Sep 102010

Malibu

  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated the front seats of the vehicle had broken away from the plate that the seats are welded too. The dealer stated that this had been a problem and that the manufacturer does have a replacement plate for these vehicles. The failure was found during a safety check notice the contact received. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The failure mileage and current mileages was 18000.

- Lewis, DE, USA