THE POWER STEERING CONTROL LOCKS UP THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE BRAKES PULSATES WHEN STOPPING CAUSE LOSING TRACTION. ESC CONTROL IS OFF. MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT DRIVE-ABLE.
2010 chevrolet Malibu electrical problems
moderate 214 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
214
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BREAKING. THE RIGHT SIDE MORE OFTEN. I SEE THESE MALIBU'S ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME WITH A HEADLIGHT OUT. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS IT DOES.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET IN OUR TOWN AFTER JUST WASHING OUR 2010 MALIBU AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND STARTED TO REDUCE POWER. WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON, THE SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ENG PWR SHOWED UP ON THE DISPLAY. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO…
I BOUGHT MY MALIBU IN 2014. FROM RON MARHOFER CHEVROLET. NOT KNOWING THERE WERE RECALLS ON MY CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IN 2016, WITH 75K MILES I WAS HAVING TROUBLES, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON WHEN I ACCELERATED THE GAS. GOT THE RECALL FIXED. NOW, AT 102K MILES AND 2 YEARS LATER, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING BACK ON. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $99 DIAGNOSTI…
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.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2010 chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 214 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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