2010 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, 10% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 74,200 miles. The words owners use most often: “traction control” (10% of reports).
- 133power train complaints
- 74,200median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Traction control: mentioned in 13 of 133 complaints (10%)
- Wave plate: mentioned in 10 of 133 complaints (8%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 8 of 133 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu at $4,050, and half of them between $3,900 and $4,500.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 115 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 133 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Malibu | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2024 Malibu | 6 | 14% | 45,000 |
| 2023 Malibu | 8 | 11% | 30,310 |
| 2022 Malibu | 23 | 23% | 38,000 |
| 2021 Malibu | 28 | 31% | 60,000 |
| 2020 Malibu | 58 | 29% | 72,500 |
| 2019 Malibu | 67 | 35% | 48,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 171 | 24% | 43,150 |
| 2017 Malibu | 139 | 20% | 48,875 |
| 2016 Malibu | 166 | 20% | 42,000 |
| 2015 Malibu | 31 | 11% | 83,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 52 | 15% | 51,890 |
| 2013 Malibu | 54 | 6% | 66,500 |
| 2012 Malibu | 49 | 5% | 74,500 |
| 2011 Malibu | 112 | 11% | 78,225 |
| 2010 Malibu | 133 | 10% | 74,200 |
| 2009 Malibu | 121 | 8% | 88,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 86 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 47 | 5% | 88,921 |
| 2006 Malibu | 43 | 4% | 100,000 |
| 2005 Malibu | 65 | 7% | 88,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 64 | 6% | 100,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 13 | 2% | 54,500 |
| 2002 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 114,045 |
| 2001 Malibu | 18 | 2% | 50,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 26 | 3% | 47,597 |
| 1999 Malibu | 21 | 3% | 60,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 50 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 9 | 2% | 57,800 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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 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.
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. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. After starting the vehicle with the transmission in park(P), the gear shift indicator indicated that the transmission was in drive(D). The transmission was shifted into drive(D), and the vehicle jerked and the engine revved loudly, but the vehicle failed to…
⢠Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. ⢠The failure of the power steering system made it extremely difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower speeds, which put my safety and the safety of others at risk by increasing the likelihood of an accident. It would turn…
My airbag light just recently came on driver frontal airbag may explode NHTSA-19001900 Power steering NHTSA- 14E044000 u joint premature failure Electrical system all out of wack NHSTA-14V252000 bcm resistance result in voltage fluctuations in brake Power train- NHTSA 12V460000 4 speed automatic…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2010 Chevrolet Malibus have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 133 owner complaints about power train for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu (10% of the 1,363 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 74,200 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,050 (half paid between $3,900 and $4,500), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 13 of 133 complaints, followed by “wave plate” (10).
Other 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems or power train problems across all Malibu years.