10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,384 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Apr 012015

Malibu

  • 74,000 miles
My car wouldn't move after shifting into reverse. I immediately called GM, because my car is till covered under the power tran warranty. Car gets towed to webb dealership( very poor customer service). They replace the transmission on Thursday 040/09. Receive a call from [xxx] with webb Chevy stating and I quote. "[xxx] the transmission was replaced successfully, but you have other problems the check engine light is on and the car will not get any power to accelerate. In order for us to diagnose the problem you would need to have another diagnostic test done for 119.00". get call today from [xxx] saying oh we did the diagnostic test and it came back its the throttle body needs replacing its no good and the cost will be $513.41 plus tax. How could this be "????? why isn't this covered under the power tran warranty??" the throttle body is related to the engine... I am confused and very upset and disappointed with GM poor services and vehicle and webb Chevy. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Blue Island, IL, USA

problem #33

Mar 102015

Malibu

  • 83,535 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at 30 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the service ESC was displayed across the message board and the engine lost power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that a sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,535.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #32

Jan 122015

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle lost power and the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the accelerator pedal was not sending the proper amount of fuel to the engine. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Eufaula, AL, USA

problem #31

Mar 012015

Malibu

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at 60 mph, the vehicle stalled and the engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 9,000.

- Grandview, MO, USA

problem #30

Mar 012015

Malibu

  • 975 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the engine stalled as the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred two times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 975. The VIN was unavailable.

- Grandview, MO, USA

problem #29

Dec 192014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 55,500 miles
4 times in the last 4-6 weeks, check engine light came on then "service traction" then "reduced engine power" & the car loses power and starts shuddering violently. Worst situation was going 70mph on the highway & had to get to the shoulder & slowly make my way to the exit because so little power. Same situation each time but not always at high speed. Shut off the car, restarted & check light still on but could drive. Kept it to 40mph & under. Very afraid of it happening again & will not drive on a highway where my life & others would surely be in danger if I can't get to a shoulder & out of traffic.

- Champlin, MN, USA

problem #28

Feb 122015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 46,274 miles
2010 Chevy Malibu with the 2.4 eco tec. 47000 miles and already burning oil. Already replaced the intake and had wiring troubles.wheel bearing went out at 27000 miles what a pos.

- Poy Sippi, WI, USA

problem #27

Jan 242015

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
I received a safety recall notice via mail from GM due to a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety. The notice clearly stated why the (Chevrolet Malibu 2010) was being recalled. The reasons for the recall indeed persisted in the vehicle that I was currently operating so I had it serviced as stated in the notice to do. Messages such as: (engine power reduced, service ESC, service traction control, as well as service airbag) appeared. After a couple of days of having the vehicle serviced, the same problems that existed before resumed. What now!?

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #26

Dec 082014

Malibu

  • 56,000 miles
Driving the vehicle at 70 mph on the highway when I received the following messages in the dic: "service ESC" "service traction control" and "eng reduced pwr." Vehicle would not accelerate past 60 mph, and that was with pedal all the way to the floor. When I had to stop, the engine shook. Luckily, I was able to drive the vehicle home - although, at one point, I was driving 20 mph on the highway acceleration lane because the car could not accelerate at all. The messages cleared when I shut the engine off and turned it back on; however, the engine light remained on. Dealer found dtc of "P2135" and replaced the throttle body. They said it was not covered under the emissions/engine/powertrain warranty and charged $500 for the repair.

- Blacklick, OH, USA

problem #25

Dec 092014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 50,850 miles
Exiting the freeway my car display flashed "ESC off" "reduce engine power". my car continued to reduce power until it eventually shut down. I was in Chicago rush hour traffic and could not pull all the way over before the car shut down. My car was disable in the middle of the street for about 5 minutes. When I started it back up it was fine, however the engine light stayed on. I continued to try to make my drive home and it happened again about twenty minutes later. This time I was not in a safe neighborhood. I did make it to the parking lane and set there for approximately five minutes before restarting the car. The engine reduced power on me again approximately ten minutes from my house. I was able to get out of the way of traffic again. The final time was as I was parallel parking my car in front of my home and I just let it shut off after I parked. I drove the car today and the engine light is on but it has not stopped. This was extremely scary and concerning. Having your engine shut down own a freeway is terrifying and dangerous. I have read several complaints on line about other Malibu owners experiencing the same issue. I can't believe there has not been a recall for this thus far.

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #24

Mar 052012

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
When the cars had about 60000 miles the check engine light started coming on, gauges shut off, ac would not work gas mileage would drop after taking it to different dealer ships we had different reasons for the problem. All of the expensive and they were note sure it would help son by unhooking the battery it would sometimes clear the problem for a short time, but it would always return. Now with 100,000 and about first of 2014 the engine started shutting off while driving down the road, traction control would come on by itself and lower power light would come on plus all the other problems with two your boys this can be scary. We have had the recall done with the bms cable which didn't do anything to help the problem the dealership which was in West jefferson, nc left there tools in the car and note very professional, mack browns in boone said it had no recall were rude and didn't do anything. We have changed the cam shaft sensors and when we get he money another suggestion is the throttle body sensor which is part of an assembly which is expensive but we have no choice can't trade it in like this so were stuck. This is the worst car experience I have ever had no more Chevrolet for us.

- Cornelius, NC, USA

problem #23

Oct 242014

Malibu

  • 55,255 miles
Had the spacer for the BCM put in for the safety recall on October 17,2104. Today October 24,2014, I turned the key to start the car and it immediately started to accelerate while in park, it then began to hesitate and want to stall. The ESC warning light came on and the car read 'reduced engine power' immediately after, the car stalled and the car read 'engine disabled'. I turned the key to off, and since I was quite a distance from home I waited about 10 minutes and restarted the car. The car started but the check engine light remained on. I drove the car home and it would barely accelerate to the appropriate speed.

- Brookville, PA, USA

problem #22

Sep 272014

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The dealer stated that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #21

Nov 142013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
While driving suddenly the car jerked (like a transmission error) and then the message on the display would show "service ESC" and "traction off". I brought the car in first to run an electrical test, where they reprogrammed a sensor (cost=$158.95). A few days later the very same issue happened and at this time when I came to a stop sign I went to accelerate and my car had shut itself off. I then brought it in where the found codes regarding the manifold absolute pressure (map) sensor problems. The service place then monitored both the computer data for the map sensor and the actual sensor data during test drive and found that when the problem occurs the computer data drops out but the sensor data remains the same, they suggested that it could be a possible wiring problem, and I agreed to have them replace the sensor.(cost+$275.15). Nothing happened until a few weeks later and the very same issue occurred. My husband played around with some wires and had noticed that there was a possible way that condensate could get into where the sensors were and so he fixed that issue. I have not had this issue since then. Just wanting to see if there is a recall for this problem and to get a proper fix.

- Jenison, MI, USA

problem #20

Aug 122014

Malibu

  • 67,000 miles
Vehicle was parked and caught on fire when it was not running. The vehicle was in use earlier in the day. The fire started under the hood and burned the entire front of the car and caused some interior damage as well.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #19

Mar 102014

Malibu

  • 26,000 miles
The engine has an eco-tech it is getting fuel in oil, you can smell it on cap. This is causing the engine to burn oil, use more gas.the car only has 27000 miles on it. Excellent condition. Using oil at an accelerated rate, you have to monitor or valves chatter. The motor cant last in this state, please add to recall list.

- Greensburg, KY, USA

problem #18

May 152014

Malibu

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

problem #17

Oct 122011

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 23,555 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the headlights and instrument panel failed. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 23,555. Updated 11/20/14 updated 8/4/2015

- Milton, WA, USA

problem #16

Mar 122014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the instrument panel failed. The contact mentioned that the clock was reset, the low engine compression, and the check transmission lights illuminated. Additionally, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle jerked. The vehicle was restarted and resumed to normal. The failure occurred on four different occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000 and the current mileage was 87,401. Updated 10/23/14 the dealer informed the consumer, the throttle body needed to be replaced. Updated 10/30/14

- Loris, NC, USA

problem #15

Dec 232010

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that in cooler weather, the power steering would become very shaky and no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 70,000. Updated 8/11/14 the consumer stated when the steering was cold, there was a chatter and a constant growling noise. Also, the check engine light illuminated. Updated 08/26/14

- Blandford, MA, USA

Read the next 14 complaints »