2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Common Problems
Ranked from 521 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
46 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Power steering failure
141complaintsSafety riskSteeringSteering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn, leading to loss of vehicle control.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 2
Brake lights malfunction
90complaintsSafety riskBrakesBrake lights turn on and off intermittently without pressing the brake pedal.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) issues
55complaintsHigh severityElectricalESC issues cause the vehicle to shake, lose power, and become difficult to control.
Related recall: 14V252000
- 4
Power steering intermittently fails
36complaintsHigh severitySteeringPower steering intermittently fails, requiring the vehicle to be restarted to restore function.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 5
Headlight failure
32complaintsMedium severityOtherHeadlights frequently fail, requiring frequent replacements.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Engine performance issues
28complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine stalls, loses power, or enters reduced power mode, causing safety concerns.
- 7
Power steering failure at high speeds
28complaintsSafety riskSteeringThe power steering system fails at high speeds, making it difficult to steer the vehicle.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 8
Headlights fail
27complaintsMedium severityOtherHeadlights, particularly the low beam, fail to stay on and often require frequent replacement.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Brake Light Malfunction
21complaintsMedium severityBrakesBrake lights malfunction, sometimes working and sometimes not, reducing visibility and safety.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Steering Assist Failure
20complaintsHigh severitySteeringPower steering assist and electronic stability control fail, making the steering wheel hard to turn and causing the vehicle to lose control.
Related recall: 14E044000
- 11
Electrical system issues causing headlight failures
17complaintsMedium severityElectricalHeadlights repeatedly fail, requiring frequent replacement due to electrical system issues.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14V252000
- 12
Engine oil consumption
17complaintsMedium severityFuel systemEngine consumes excessive oil, requiring frequent refills and potentially leading to engine damage.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Air bag system issues
16complaintsSafety riskElectricalAir bag warning lights persist, indicating potential failure during an accident, posing safety risks.
Related recall: 14V252000
- 14
Brake lights fail to illuminate properly
13complaintsLow severityBrakesBrake lights fail to turn on when brakes are applied, causing reduced visibility to other vehicles.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control system failures
13complaintsHigh severityElectricalESC and traction control system warnings appear, causing vehicle instability and potential loss of control.
Related recall: 14V252000
- 16
Steering wheel lock-up
11complaintsSafety riskSteeringThe steering wheel locks up, making it difficult to steer the vehicle.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 17
Steering wheel vibration and difficulty
10complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering wheel vibrates and becomes hard to turn, affecting vehicle control and driving comfort.
Related recall: 14E044000
- 18
Engine stalling
8complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls intermittently, causing the vehicle to stop while driving.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 19
Power steering failure due to torque sensor malfunction
8complaintsSafety riskSteeringThe torque sensor in the power steering system fails, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn and the power steering to stop working.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 20
Steering wheel shakes and jerks uncontrollably
8complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering wheel shakes and jerks uncontrollably, affecting driving abilities and safety.
Related recall: 14E044000
- 21
Cruise control failure
7complaintsMedium severityElectricalCruise control does not engage or disengages unexpectedly, disrupting driving and potentially causing accidents.
Related recall: 14V252000
- 22
Steering column vibration and warning lights
7complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering column vibrates and warning lights appear, making steering difficult and potentially dangerous.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 23
Power steering failure due to control module issues
6complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe power steering control module fails, causing the steering to become unresponsive and difficult to control.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 24
Steering wheel locks up while driving
6complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering wheel locks up while driving, making it impossible to steer the vehicle, posing a significant safety risk.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 25
Traction control and ESC warning lights with intermittent operation
6complaintsMedium severityElectricalTraction control and ESC warning lights come on intermittently, and power steering assist fault message appears.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14V252000
- 26
Brake light malfunction due to wiring or module issues
5complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe brake lights malfunction, illuminating without the brake pedal being pressed, posing a safety risk.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 27
Steering wheel locks up with power steering failure
5complaintsSafety riskSteeringSteering wheel locks up, and power steering assist fault message appears. Vehicle can be restarted to regain power steering.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 28
Air bag system malfunctions
4complaintsHigh severityOtherAir bags fail to deploy during collisions, posing a serious safety risk.
- 29
Brake lights illuminate without brake pedal being pressed
4complaintsMedium severityBrakesBrake lights turn on unexpectedly, causing confusion and potential safety concerns.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 30
Electrical system failure causing cruise control to shut off
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe electrical system fails, causing the cruise control to shut off at high speeds and the service ESC light to illuminate.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14V252000
- 31
Steering wheel lockup
4complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering wheel becomes locked and difficult to turn, posing a significant safety risk while driving.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 32
Steering wheel vibration and loss of power steering due to sensor issues
4complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe power steering sensor fails, causing the steering wheel to vibrate and the power steering to stop working.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 33
Power steering warning light and malfunction
3complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe power steering warning light illuminates and the system malfunctions, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14E044000
- 34
Steering wheel seizure at low speeds
3complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel seizes at low speeds, making it difficult to steer the vehicle.
Related recall: 14E044000
- 35
Transmission issues leading to random shifting and slippage
3complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission randomly shifts and slips, causing the vehicle to lose power and control, potentially leading to accidents.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 12V460000
- 36
air bag deployment failure
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe air bags fail to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
Related recall: 14V252000
- 37
Electronic stability control (ESC) warning light
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalESC warning light comes on intermittently, sometimes with other service warnings.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 14V252000
- 38
Electronic stability control failure leading to loss of control
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe electronic stability control fails, causing the vehicle to lose control.
- 39
Engine performance issues at high speeds
2complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine power reduces and vehicle decelerates at high speeds, causing loss of control.
- 40
Engine stall at idle due to fuel system failure
2complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe fuel system fails, causing the engine to stall at idle.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 41
Engine stalling at high speeds due to throttle body failure
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe throttle body fails, causing the engine to stall at high speeds, which can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 42
Steering assist failure at low speeds
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering wheel shakes back and forth at low speeds, causing rapid left-to-right wheel turns.
Related recall: 14E044000
- 43
Transmission failure and gear shifting issues
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission fails, causing the vehicle to not change gears and the engine light to come on.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 12V460000
- 44
transmission failure to shift gears
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to shift gears properly, causing the vehicle to surge and hesitate.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 12V460000
- 45
Transmission slipping at high speeds
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission shifts without power, causing the vehicle to lose speed in traffic.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 12V460000
- 46
Vehicle speed control failure
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalVehicle speed control fails, causing cruise control to engage itself and warning lights to come on.
Related recall: 14V252000
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.