10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 24 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 26 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 45,380 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there were no recalls addressing the failure. The failure and current mileages were 53,000.
- San Diego , CA, USA
Purchased car on June 28, 2012 and a week later the service air bag message started showing. Took the car to the Chevy dealership and was told that other models have this issue. They are charging $500 to replace the wire harness on a two year old car. Since this error can cause the bag to accidentally inflate, this is a huge safety issue.
- Scottsbluff, NE, USA
"service air bag" light came on. Apparently not covered under my extended warranty. Was in an accident in April that afflicted the driver side but the air bag sensor under the passenger seat was the one throwing the code. I've had them both replaced. I was told by the dealership that were recalls on this part in other cars.
- Wichita Falls , TX, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that another individual was driving the vehicle when the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Alamogordo, NM, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle was impacted by another vehicle from the passenger side and none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 68,000...updated 03/21/12 updated 06/06/12
- Bloomington, MN, USA
This car has had this ongoing problem with the air bag light. I have had this vehicle to 3 different dealers, and the problem goes away for a while. The air bag warning light comes on intermittently. The previous time, the light came on at 35000 miles. The dealer could not get it to repeat. Car now has 50000 miles and the light is coming on again. No one can tell us, if we are protected, by the air bag if the warning light is on. There seems to be plenty other people with same problem if you do a search on the internet.
- Culleoka, TN, USA
Driver side door could not be opened with manually from inside, or with the key or auto opener. Driver had to exit over the counsel and out the passenger side. When I turned it into the dealership, I was told it was the actuator malfunction and that they would replace it. They didn't seem too concerned that this was a new issue and what I believe a serious safety issue, in addition I have had to take this vehicle six times to the dealership because of the "service air bag" indicator light keeps coming on. Another safety issue that had a recall but was not fixed yet.
- Madison Lake, MN, USA
Service airbag indicator light on my 2010 Chevy Malibu keeps coming on and going out.
- Newark, CA, USA
I want to file a compliant and make you aware that the 2010 Chevy Malibu's have an airbag deployment issue. My airbag did not deploy when a hit a deer head-on at 50 mph's because the airbag wire was severed by the cracked plastic air intake cover on the engine during the accident. I fortunately was fine due to having my seatbelt on, but I was curious why the airbag did not work deploy at the speed I was going when the accident happened. Upon inspection, my repair shop discovered the wire was severed by the plastic air intake cover and also found out this a common issue in the 4 cylinder 2010 Chevy Malibu's. I would like to see Chevy issue a recall to fix this problem in the 2010 Malibu's.
- Millstadt, IL, USA
The contact was loaned a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the vehicle became involved in a crash. The vehicle was flipped over yet the air bags did not deploy. The driver and two passengers were reported injured. A police report was available. The driver was transported to the hospital via ambulance for serious injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the authorized dealer that loaned the contact the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected for the cause of failure and was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 4,600.
- Jenks, OK, USA
Brand new 2010 Chevrolet Malibu leaks when rains and it runs into my floorboard, airbags and wire harness causing car to short out. Most of the time the lights in dash won't work.
- South Boston, VA, USA
The contact owns 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was driving approximately 20 mph when suddenly another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy with the level of force involved. There was no personal injury. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 9,000.
- Elizabeth, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal grinding coming from the brakes when depressed. The contact also stated there was an increase in stopping distance. The dealer replaced the brake pads. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times where the brakes pads were continuously replaced but to no avail. In addition, there was an unusual clicking coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The dealer replaced the front axle yet the failure persisted in the front driver side of the vehicle. When applying the brake, there was a loud roar coming from the vehicle and when activating the air conditioning unit, the contact observed anti-freeze expelling from the interior vents. The air bag warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 700 and the current mileage was 7,600.
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA
The contact rented a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving up a hill at 10 mph, the passenger side air bag deployed. The rental company towed the vehicle back to the rental facility. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the air bag deploying. There was no collision or road hazard that would have caused the failure to occur. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 14,745. Updated 10/28/10. Updated 10/28/10
- Monkton, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the consumer was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered minor injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not examined to determine the cause of failure. The failure and current mileages were 806. Updated 10/05/10 updated 10/07/10
- Rochester, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu lt. While driving with a passenger, the front and passenger side air bags would not engage. The air bag on light should have illuminated once the seats were occupied. The dealer advised that the vehicle was operating as designed. The dealer advised that the passenger would have to be at least 105-115 pounds before the air bag would activate, according to safety standards, and the passenger was only 100 pounds. The dealer advised he would have an engineer investigate the vehicle further. The engineer also advised that the vehicle was operating as designed. The failure mileage was 1,000 and the current mileage was 6,400. Updated 10/21/10. Updated 10/25/10
- East Amherst, NY, USA
2010 Malibu; I've had it just over 3 months; air bag light continually lit up; took to dealership; I've waited over a week; they ordered 5 modules to replace safety air bag system; to replace they had to remove both front seats; cut the tracks of the seats out; order new tracks and has to weld them back in the car; how safe is this car going to be at this point? I only wish for a different car at this point as I have 2 year old that I Transport in this car and do not feel safe even with them replacing all the modules.
- Huber Heights, OH, USA
The airbag warning light is on my 2010 Chevy Malibu I bought 2 months ago. A brand new car with 6 miles when I bought it. I took the car to the dealership since last week Tuesday and the car is still there. I was told that there was a problem with the airbag connector and that they are still waiting for the part.
- Germantown, MD, USA
- Amherst, OH, USA