Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.
- Consequence
- If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.
Brake Lights may or may not Randomly Illuminate
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
- Consequence
- Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
The Transmission Shift Cable May Detach
- Summary
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
- Consequence
- If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1,363)
1,363 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1,363 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 455 | 33.4% |
| Electrical system | 294 | 21.6% |
| Electronic stability control | 227 | 16.7% |
| Service brakes | 199 | 14.6% |
| Exterior lighting | 194 | 14.2% |
| Air bags | 145 | 10.6% |
| Power train | 133 | 9.8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 116 | 8.5% |
| Engine | 115 | 8.4% |
| Unknown or other | 63 | 4.6% |
How 2010 compares with other Malibu years
Best and worst Malibu years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,116 | 6 |
| 2007 | 977 | 3 |
| 2008 | 994 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1,534 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1,363 | 3 |
| 2011 | 978 | 3 |
| 2012 | 907 | 2 |
| 2013 | 923 | 11 |
| 2014 | 363 | 6 |
| 2015 | 270 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 29 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 306 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 29 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 33 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 33 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 30 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 30 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 29 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2010 Malibu for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2010 Chevrolet Malibu FAQ
How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 19V019000 (air bag), 14V252000 (brake), 12V460000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Owners filed 1,363 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (455), Electrical system (294), Electronic stability control (227) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 26 city, 34 highway and 29 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2010 Malibu compare with other years?
Among the 2006–2015 Chevrolet Malibu model years at least five years old, the 2015 drew the fewest complaints (270) and the 2009 the most (1,534). The 2010 drew 1,363. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.