2010 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUST WON'T START SOMETIMES AND I HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE SAYING IT IS THE SECURITY MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE PREVENTING THE VEHICLE WON'T START. I'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE BUYING THIS PRODUCT. IT IS CHEVROLET MALIBU. NOTE, THIS IS MAYBE 15TH TIMES IT HAPPEN TO ME WITHIN 2 MONTHS PERIOD OF TIME.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AND WILL NOT OPEN SOMETIMES AND WILL NOT CLOSE SOMETIMES WHEN OPENED. WHEN IT WONT OPEN IT FEELS LIKE THE HANDLES ARE NOT GRABBING ANYTHING. THE DOOR JAMS ARE CLEAR OF ANY DEBRIS. WHEN IT WONT SHUT IT WILL SOUND LIKE IT DID BUT WILL BOUNCE OPEN. THE DOOR OPENED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE LOCK KNOBS MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN YOU UNLOCK THEM BUT THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN SOMETIMES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 DAYS. IT WILL NOT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND THE DOOR CAME OPEN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I DID NOT HIT ANY HOLES OR BUMPS. *TR
CAR DOOR WILL GO OUT. CAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AND WILL BE STUCK CLOSED. CAR WAS STATIONARY. HAD TO GO OUT THROUGH THE WINDOWS. COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU WERE IN AN EMERGENCY AND COULDN'T EXIT VEICHLE BECAUSE THE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN.
WAS TURNING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND THE RPM WAS AT 5 BUT I WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH.
THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) WENT OUT AND THE DEALER OR GM WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS DESPITE THERE BEING KNOWN ISSUES AND RECALLS INVOLVING ISSUES WITH THE BCM. THE GAUGE WILL NOT WORK CORRECTLY, THE LIGHTS FLICKER, THE SHIFTING IS AFFECTED, ETC. PLEASE SEE RECALLS 14V252000, 14V252000, 14V252000 & 14V252000.
I AM A PHYSICIAN AND I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY, 2010. MY SON IS CURRENTLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MICHIGAN WHILE ATTENDING MEDICAL SCHOOL. FOR THE PAST 5 MONTHS HE HAVE EXPERIENCED DISABLING OF THE CRASH AVOIDANCE FEATURES INCLUDING THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WITH THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTS ON AND OFF ON THE DASH. THESE ARE ALL COMPATIBLE WITH RECALL NUMBER 13036 OF THIS CHEVROLET MALIBU AND HE CALLED MATTHEWS-HARGEAVES CHEVROLET IN ROYAL OAK, MI AND THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100 FOR THEM TO LOOK UP THE RECALL SO I DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AT THAT TIME. HE ALSO HAD THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LIGHT WHICH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THEY GAVE HIM THE SAME ANSWER. DURING THE PAST 10 DAYS THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING GOING ON WHEN NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES AND GOING OFF WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. HE WAS NOTIFIED BY TWO OTHER DRIVERS AND NOTICED IT IN THE GARAGE AND THEN HAD THE POLICE CHECK THEM. HE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE FLOWN UP TO DETROIT AND WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MATTHEWS-HARGREAVES MYSELF TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I HAVE THE RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELT WHICH IS NOT FIXED BUT WHEN I PUT UP THE VIN NUMBER IT NOW SHOWS NO RECALLS AND THAT CANNOT BE CORRECT. I NOW HAVE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM (RECALL NUMBER 13036) BUT IF STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FURTHER FROM CHEVROLET AND THE DEALER IS DEMANDING $100 JUST TO CHECK. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND AM SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THESE EVENTS HAVE HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
HAD TO GET A REPAIR ON THE EXHAUST VVT SOLENOID FOR THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE ENGINE. CODES: P0013 & P0014.
DRIVING TO DROP OFF KIDS AT SCHOOL HAD A ODOR OF PLASTIC AND WIRE BURNING AS SOON AS MY CHILD GOT OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF CAR SHUT OFF FEET AWAY FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE ODOR AND SMOKE STARTED GETTING REALLY NOTHING WORKED ALL POWER WAS OFF .GOT OFF RIGHT AWAY NOTICE THE SMOKE COMING FROM TRUNK COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK WITH REMOTE OR BUTTON . ONCE WE GOT THE TRUNK OPEN INSPECTED TRUNK AREA A FUSE BLOCK AND FUSES WERE ALL MELTED AND BURNT. *TR
THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOORS ARE LOCKED WHEN THE CAR STOPS AT THE P PARK. AND ONLY OPEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STARTING THE ENGINE AND SWITCHING SPEED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SECURITY PROBLEM.
MY CAR WOULDN'T START, SO I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET. THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WAS ON, IT TOLD ME TO UNPLUG MY BATTERY SO THE CAR WOULD REBOOT THE SYSTEM. I DID THAT, THEN IT STARTED. IT HAPPENS NOW ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT YEAR THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT, BUT PREVIOUS YEARS IT WAS. I HAVE NO NOTICE WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, THE CAR IS PARKED . IT JUST WON'T TURN ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER SAFELY. WHILE PARKED, A POLICE OFFICER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE TRUNK WAS MANUALLY OPENED BY THE FIREMEN AND THEY NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FUSE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,700.
WHILE DRIVING , IF THE KEYS ARE WIGGLED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN. TOTAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. WIGGLE KEYS AROUND AND WAIT 2 MIN.+-, CAR WILL START AND DRIVE OK. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SO FAR. TAKING TO CHEVY DEALER ON 12/7/2015.
2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER CHANGED ADDRESS. *TA THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHERE CAN HE TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO GET FIXED, REGARDING THE RECALL. *JB
WHEN WE DRIVE THIS AUTO IN THE RAIN, OR AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE CAR GOES INTO THE "LIMP" MODE AND THE SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL THE CAR DRIES AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND IT STILL DOES THAT. WE NEVER DRIVE IT IF WE KNOW IT WILL BE RAINING BUT AM AFRAID THAT IF WE DO DRIVE IT AND IT STARTS RAINING, THAT THE CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING. NEITHER I NOR THE DEALER KNOWS WHAT IS GETTING WET AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM BUT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I SPOKE WITH [XXX] AT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS MORNING AND SHE SAID SHE HAS HAD OTHER CALLS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF ANYONE IS INVESTIGATING IT OR NOT. SHE ASKED IF I HAD NOTIFIED NHTSA AND I SAID I HAD NOT. SHE CONFIRMED THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FOLLOWED SAFETY RECALL LETTER INSTRUCTIONS TO SCHEDULE INSTALLATION OF BODY CONTROL MODULE PART KOOZ CHEVY DEALER IN WHITE MARSH, MD SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE PART AND WILL TAKE 3 WEEKS TO ORDER I OBJECT TO THIS FAILURE SINCE LETTER SAYS TO ACT QUICKLY SINCE I AM AT RISK OF CRASH. *TR
TEMP. GAUGE IS NOT WORKING AND THE AIR-COND. IS NOT WORKING. *TR
I NOTICED MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. MY DRIVER SEAT BELT IS FASTENED, BUT THE SEATBELT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND CHIME INTERMITTENTLY AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I ENSURED ALL CABLES WERE CONNECTED, BUT THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE PROBLEM. I'VE INSPECTED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE INSERT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE WHEN I FASTEN MY SEATBELT, THE LIGHT GOES OFF. WHILE I'M DRIVING, ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND CHIME AND THEN TURN OFF, THEN MOMENTS LATER IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NOV 2, 2013, SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AT START, WON'T TURN OFF EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF, RESTARTING. LIGHT STAYS ON APPROX. 1 HR., TURNS OFF AFTER NEXT RESTART. NOV. 10, 2013, HEAR "DING" - DRIVING IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC JUST BEFORE SUNDOWN. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH TURN OFF, INCLUDING RADIO. TURN CAR OFF & RESTART. NO DASH LIGHTS, NO RADIO. TURN DASH LIGHT KNOB "OFF" & THEN "ON". LIGHTS RESET. NOV 28, 2013, DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE "CHOKES" FOR SPLIT SECOND, BUT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. LESS POWERFUL "CHOKES" NEXT 30-45 MINS. SIMILAR SPORADIC EPISODES CONTINUE -- LAST ONE MARCH 1, 2014. INITIALLY THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS BAD GAS/CONTAMINATED FUEL. CHANGED TO MAJOR OIL COMPANIES FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. HASN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THE CAR. IN APRIL & MAY 2013, POWER STEERING SHUT-OFF, AND VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS/DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATED. DEALER FINALLY INSTALLED ENTIRELY NEW FUSE PANEL, AND THOSE PROBLEMS HAVEN'T OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR
ME AND MY MOTHER WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP CUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. EARLIER THAT DAY MY CAR SEEMS AS IF IT DIDN'T WANT TO START . IF FINALLY STARTED AND WHEN IT DID THE OUTCOME WAS IT CUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. SEVERAL OTHERS WHOM I KNOW THAT HAVE CHEVROLET MALIBU'S ARE ALSO HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND I THINK CHEVROLET NEEDS TO TAKE THE TIME AND CHECK THE IGNITION M. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HOWEVER, THE TRACTION LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ON JAN 15, 2014, AT 2PM, WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON A DRY ROAD, THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED A WARNING OF "ICE POSSIBLE". OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AT THE TIME WERE IN THE HIGH 30'S. THE NEXT DAY, JAN 16, 2014, AGAIN AROUND 2PM WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ON A DRY ROAD, THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED A WARNING OF "ICE POSSIBLE" FOLLOWED BY A WARNING OF "ABS FAILURE" AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BY A "LOW POWER" WARNING MESSAGE. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE LOW POWER WARNING THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY WENT BLACK, NO FLASHERS, TURN SIGNALS, OR LIGHTS. STEERING AND BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL BUT WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE DURING FOUR ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY POWER AVAILABLE. THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED AND WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO START EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY. WE DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
I DRIVE IN THE CITY, AN HOUR TO WORK, SINGLE FEMALE ON A BUDGET AND MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3X FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO FIX TO IT. I AM FURIOUS, SICK TO MY STOMACH AND SAD ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE THREE ISSUES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED: 1) BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING DEPRESSED, AND STAYS ON, AND/OR DOES NOT COME ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. 2)"SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC" WARNINGS COME ON AND REMAIN ON. 3) CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. YOU CAN HAVE ONE, TWO OR ALL THREE OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. ANY OF THE THREE CAN OCCUR FIRST. THEY CAN OCCUR EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR SOME WEEKS, THEN NOT OCCUR AT ALL FOR A FEW DAYS OR OCCASIONALLY EVEN WEEKS. CAN OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES AFTER AN HOUR OR MORE OF DRIVING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, HOT, COLD, WET OR DRY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND NOW SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME THAN WHEN FIRST BEGAN. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu has 56 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.