Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 126 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 126, in the owner's own words
I have replaced my transmission in 2019. Car still has transmission problems. I’ve replaced my passenger headlight and lamp but the light still won’t work. My brake lights or back blinkers don’t work even after changing the fuses. Tire pressure light won’t go off. I have had this car since 2010..
Driving down the highway, the car completely shuts down, states engine deactivated, engine power decreased, and traction light on, had to attempt to safely pull over, had to be towed, still trying to figure what's wrong, completely unsafe!
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the engine / it stopped while I was driving / dealer charged me $2000 for a replacement engine, then after that my Power steering gave out , My ESC turns off and on / car jumps while driving my whole dashboard goes crazy How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the car stopped while i was driving multiple times , my kids were in the car for 2 of them, it stops with out warning. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes the Used car dealership i bought it from is well aware and basically not helping at all Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no , no warnings signs came on until after the engine was changed and they go on and off
You can be driving down the road and the car randomly loses speed and all the dash lights come on. Traction Control. Engine power reduced, ABS Brake light comes on. How is this problem not a recall yet? So many people have reported it and nothing has been done about it! Driving down the freeway is TERRIFYING and DANGEROUS! What is Chevrolet waiting for? A few serious accidents first? We already replaced the fuel pump and the timing chain!
The contact's mother owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was common and referred him to a dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the failure and provided the contact with an estimate for the repair. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving over rough roads, the vehicle displayed a Service Traction, Service EFC and EFC Off, and Engine Power Reduced messages. After coming to a complete stop and then the attempting to accelerate, the vehicle started to jerk. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who replaced the accelerator pedal twice however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was returned to the certified mechanic, and it was determined that water was leaking into the wiring harness and the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 265,000.
The car shut off while driving down the street. Lost all control over steering and braking components. After the car shut itself off was not able to get it to turn back on after several hours. Turned it back on but when attempted to drive it home, it shit itself off again. Still could not control steering wheel
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SCHOOL IN A VERY BUSY ROAD AND A MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASH BOARD THAT SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND SPEED DROPED TO 5 MPH. I TOLD HER TO PARK SOMEWHERE AND TURN OFF CAR FOR LIKE 15 MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON AND CAR STILL DIDNT ACCELERATE. HAD TO GO GET HER AND LEAVE CAR THERE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 2021.
The airbag don’t work, I just payed 1200$ to replace the computer pc because the car wouldn’t start and that didn’t solve the problem the check engine light is always on, the car have electrical problems; if I run the Ac it blows hot and then the car go to engine power reduces within 4 minutes. If I drive the car it will go on engine power reduce after 6 minutes because the fan is not working due to the fact that that car has electrical problems and the fan is not getting enough power to warm the car up and the engine gets real hot and it go to making a loud rumbling noise and growling and I can only drive 10 mph and 40 mph the fastest but then the car go to shaking and wen I try to park the car it’s shaking Nd rumbling which can cause an accident
I received a reduced power error,my car slowed to very low speed...I reserched the error message but it only have 2016-18 models with this problem...apparently 2010's have it as well,but there are no recalls or anything concerning the 2010 chevy malibu LTZ.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, LOST POWER FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN REGAINED. ABOUT 5 MILES TOWARD DESTINATION, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN & WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED WITH LINE OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. SHOULD THIS CAR HAVE DIED IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH A CHAIN REACTION OF VEHICLES PILING UP BEHIND ME & POSSIBLE INJURIES. . WE WERE SLOWLY CREEPING AROUND THE CORNER TRYING TO CATCH A CLEAR PATH TO PROCEED WHEN THE CAR WENT DEAD. THERE HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROBLEMS WHEN AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES THEN RETURNING TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START, CRANKED BUT NOT START WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT.. BUT AFTER REPEATED RESTART ATTEMPTS IT WOULD START MAYBE AN HOUR LATER. BUT THIS TIME IT DIED IN TRAFFIC 3 DAYS AGO AND WE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME, IT STILL WILL NOT START. I'VE READ ONLINE ABOUT MANY OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH CONCERNS OF ACCIDENTS. NO ENGINE OR DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND A DEALER COULD NOT GET IT TO CODE. THE UNSAFE PROBLEM IS THE CAR DYING IN THE TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING IN FRONT OF A LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC.
MY CAR WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR VERY WELL. COME TO FIND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SMASHED ALL THE VALVES. THE MECHANIC SAID BECAUSE OF IT BEING IN A PLASTIC MECHANISM, THAT'S A PROBLEM AND A BAD DESIGN ON CHEVROLET'S PART. I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD MANY OTHER PEOPLE SAYING THE SAME HAPPENED TO THEM. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED YET?
MY LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. AS OF NOW I DONT HAVE ANY HEADLIGHTS. AND I KEEP HAVING TRANSMISSION KIND OF ISSUES.
VEHICLE GOES INTO POWER ENGINE REDUCED MODE/ESC OFF/ SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MODE. THE CAR LOSES SPEED AND GOES ABOUT 20 MPH THE RPM GO CRAZY AND CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND IT HAPPENS WHILE IDDLE, WHILE DRIVING IT, WHILE THE AC IS ON OR OFF IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL 3 TIMES, BATTERY, MAP SENSOR, KNOCK SENSOR, BATTERY TERMINALS, POWER TRAIN RELAY, SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED ALL THE COROSION AND ITS BEEN AT THE CHEVY DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND STILL THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. IVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND EVEN CHEVY CANNOT FIND WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. ITS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, STREETS, WHILE TURNING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. ALL MY ELECTRIAL DOSENT WORK. MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM LIGHT KEEPS BLOWING OUT AND MY SPEAKERS KEEP GOING IN AND OUT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR. THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS.
DASH LIGHTS: ESC OFF, SERVICE ESC LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM (!), ABS SYSTEM, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS FLASH AND ALL GAUGES FLUCTUATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE MAIN CONTROL MODULE, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING MODULE AT DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES!!!! HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER SAME MODELS DOING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL COME ON, AND THEN NEXT TIME I START MY VEHICLE, IT STOPS. THEN COMES BACK ON. SOMETIMES STAYS ON FOR WEEKS. OR IS GONE FOR WEEKS.THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN WITH PROFESSIONAL REPAIRS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND IDLING AND WHILE DRIVING.
PULLED MY 2010MALIBU OUT OF GARAGE AND 15 MINUTES LATER TRIED TO PUT BACK IN GARAGE BUT ONLY HEARD CLICK, CLICK. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO SEVERAL AUTO SHOPS AND ALL SAID ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND NEED A NEW ENGINE.
I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM CREST AUTO MALL AND 1 WEEK LATER THE SUSPENSIONS GETS MESSED UP AND THEN 1 MONTH LATER THE ENGINE BLOWS UP NOW MY CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY!
CAR HESITATES TO CHANGE GEARS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND STALLS AFTER DRIVING REASONABLY SHORT DISTANCES. THE DRIVER FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS AND ARE ALREADY CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE.
I WAS DRIVING AND I NOTICED A DECLINE IN POWER FROM THE MOTOR. THEN THE DASH START READING REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL.
FEEL CIRCUIT EASY AND PROCESSOR CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION AGITATOR CIRCUIT
I BUY A BULB EVERY OTHER WEEK OR MONTH FOR MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE KEEPS GOING OUT
BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING WHEN NOT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. ECS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND THE CAR IS JERKING WHILE DRIVING.
I HAVE A 2010 AND REPEATEDLY HAVE ISSUES. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AS IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN RUSH HOUR. CAR DASH SAID SERVICE ABS, POWER, SAVER MODE, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ESC AND THEN DIED. I TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE PCM IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME. CAR HAS SINCE HAD LOSE OF POWER, SLUGGISH, DIES PERIODICALLY, AND NOW ALMOST 3 YEARS AFTER THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR NOT TO MENTION THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT IS ON THAT THEY ARE TELLING ME WILL COST AT LEAST 1000 DOLLARS AS WELL TO REPAIR AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT IT IS A SAFTEY CONCERN. MY CAR DIED AGAIN WHILE COMING THROUGH A INTERSECTION AND THE P0341 HAS COME UP AND BEEN REPLACE3D FOUR TIMES SINCE FEBRUARY 2019. THIS CAR IS A DANGER AND I AM FORCED TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT RUNS AS I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY INVESTED I CANT AFFORD A NEW ONE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND JUST ABOUT EVERY SENSOR UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING SPARK PLUGS AND BATTERY AND CAR IS STILL ACTING UP. WHY ARE THEY NOT HELPING US. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. IT STALLS SUDDENLY AND WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. I AM TERRIFIED TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP US'
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS GOING HOME FROM WORK, AND AROUND TOWN. NEVER STALLS IN THE EARLY MORNING (DARK OUT). THE WARMER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS THE MORE IT STALLS, WITH THE HOTTEST DAY SO FAR CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS COOLER OUT. MOST STALLS HAPPEN WITHIN 7 TO 15 MINUTES ON THE SECOND TRIP OF THE DAY (AROUND 2 PM), AND THE CAR HAS TO SIT FOR 20 SECONDS OR LONGER BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR THIS EVENT. THE ELECTRICAL POWER IS STILL ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE STALL IS QUIET AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE ONLY SPEEDS UP HOW FAST IT STALLS. MOST OF THE STALLS HAPPEN AT 1500 RPM OR LESS, AND 45 MPH OR LESS. THE STALLS HAPPEN WHILE MOVING, ACCELERATING, SLOWING DOWN, WHILE STOPPED IN GEAR, AND STOPPED IN PARK. THE EVENT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE POWER CUTS OUT WITH NO WARNING, AND THE RPM GAUGE AND CAR START SLOWING DOWN. IF THE CAR CAN COAST FOR 15 TO 20 SECONDS, IT HAS FIXED ITSELF AND STOPPED STALLING (AS LONG AS RPMS DID NOT DROP TOO FAR) ON A FEW OCCASIONS. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND IS GOING BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR SAME UNFIXED ISSUE. MOST DRIVING IS CITY DRIVING, AND IT HAS ONLY STALLED 2 TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 55 MPH. CAR HAS STALLED 51 TIMES SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WITH SOME ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. IT IS STALLING MORE AND MORE THE WARMER IT GETS OUTSIDE. DEALER WORK DURING THIS TIME THAT DID NOT FIX ISSUE ARE, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, TIMING CHAIN AND COMPUTER, BATTERY, CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTORS. DURING THE STALL EVENTS, MY LIVE SCANNER TOOL REPORTS BOTH O2 SENSORS GOT TO 0.00 VOLTS FROM START OF STALL TO END OF STALL. THE SHORT TERM FUEL TRIM GOES INTO THE 30 RANGE (LEAN), WHEN STALLING WHILE MOVING BUT NOT WHEN AT A STOP. NONE OF THIS LOGS ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER. VERY SCARY, HAVING YOUR CAR STOP WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR MADE A HUM SOUND WHILE ACCELERATING WHEN I JUST GOT IN IT ON MY 2 MINUTE JOURNEY HOME. WHILE GOING STRAIGHT, THE CAR NO LONGER CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND STOPPED ON THE STREET. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND WOULD STILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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