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2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 25% of relevant complaints.
Better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 315 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 19%).
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 262 of 1,048 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (25%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 40%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2010 compares with other Chevrolet Malibu years
Of the 14 Chevrolet Malibu years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the best on engine and transmission share (25%). The worst is the 2019 (66%). By volume, the 2010 drew 1,363 complaints (262 drivetrain), against 978 for the 2011.
Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid and best years →
2010 · 2011 Malibu problems · 2012 Malibu problems · 2013 Malibu problems · 2014 Malibu problems · 2015 Malibu problems · 2016 Malibu problems · 2017 Malibu problems · 2018 Malibu problems · 2019 Malibu problems · 2020 Malibu problems · 2021 Malibu problems · 2022 Malibu problems · 2023 Malibu problems
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 262 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2010 Chevrolet Malibu transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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…
Fix: 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.…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Chevrolet Malibu? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 262 of 1,048 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (25%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu is steering: 455 of 1,363 complaints (33%) name it, followed by electrical system (294) and electronic stability control (esc) (227). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 25% of the relevant total.
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 25% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Chevrolet Malibu years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 12V460000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Malibu years are better?
The 2010 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Chevrolet Malibu years we track (25%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-malibu
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.