FaultScore

2010 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems

146 of the 2,204 complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu are about the airbag system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,000 miles.

F

146

Complaints

26

Crashes

0

Fires

22

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 140 95.9%
Frontal 3 2.1%
Side/Window 3 2.1%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Malibu year

1997 25 2.5%
1998 41 4.1%
1999 40 4.0%
2000 32 3.2%
2001 21 2.1%
2002 18 1.8%
2003 27 2.7%
2004 27 2.7%
2005 26 2.6%
2006 33 3.3%
2007 75 7.5%
2008 65 6.5%
2009 62 6.2%
2010 146 14.6%
2011 93 9.3%
2012 101 10.1%
2013 59 5.9%
2014 16 1.6%
2015 49 4.9%
2016 17 1.7%
2017 14 1.4%
2018 14 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Indianapolis, IN

AIR BAGS

I was driving down the highway when the passenger side curtain airbags deployed for no reason. Air bag deployment stunned the driver, but fortunately did not cause accident.

NHTSA complaint #11660211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rosamond, CA

AIR BAGS

Connector for airbags sensor wiring has a problem which is address in General Motors document Recall 13040A Dated April 2014. There is a warning on the dash about the airbags not operational. We have never been contacted by General Motors about this problem, but other Chevrolet Malibu owners are have the same problem.

NHTSA complaint #11626955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

THE PASSANGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE RADIO LIGHTS UP BUT NO SOUND FOR RADIO OR TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA complaint #11607252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Attleboro, MA

AIR BAGS

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 transmission the tabs on transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate

NHTSA complaint #11562183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

AIR BAGS

Head light wire is out , electrical wire is messing up . Car is shaking bad and won’t start . Air bag light is on

NHTSA complaint #11534616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelburne, VT

AIR BAGS

I was driving down the road after I bought the car and the steering suddenly went out the DIC said "service esc" and "service traction" and I could barely move the steering wheel I was lucky to be on a country road because if I was on the highway I could have lost complete control and caused an accident I took it to a mechanic and they said "the dielectric grease in the bcm connector wore out" when I googled it I saw there was a recall but when I contacted the dealer they said there was nothing they could do for me. this is very concerning as who knows how many malibus steering could randomly go out over such a stupid problem i could be available if you would like to inspect the car/systems

NHTSA complaint #11528235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Euless, TX

AIR BAGS

Air bag light randomly pop on . Electrical system is so bad that I only have 1 head light and it’s very dangerous driving at night like that .

NHTSA complaint #11524361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelburne, VT

AIR BAGS

First off the power steering goes out and can only be fixed by applying dielectric grease to the bcm but that will fix it. second the airbag light will randomly go on but this can also be remedy by fixing the yellow connection under the passenger seat try jiggling it if that doesnt fix it just cut the two wires off the connector's and splice with crimp connectors. hope this helps you as much as it did me :)

NHTSA complaint #11517767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, TN 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Was driving down highway at approximately 70 to 75 miles per hour when my drivers side window airbag and seat airbag deployed. It hit my face shoulder and arm. There was no collision and I was able to keep control of the vehicle for the most part. I swerved a little but regained control quickly. My seat belt is locked and is no longer usable

NHTSA complaint #11516208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, AL

AIR BAGS

DEALER NOT ASSISTING IN RECALL REPAIRS THAT WEREN’T CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #11491526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lemoore, CA

AIR BAGS

MY CAR AIR PASSENGER DONT DETECT MY SEATBELT SAYS IM NOT BUCKLE AND I AM DONT KNOW IF ITS A WIRE MY LIGHTING INSIDE GOES ON AND OFF AND MY CAR SMELLS TOO MUCH GASOLINE

NHTSA complaint #11479599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

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

NHTSA complaint #11435855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Castle, DE

AIR BAGS

The passenger light beam will not come on it also messes with my radio it turns it to the aux I keep replacing the Bub in the harness and it's still not working not not to mention the car felt like a lost of power due to I guess the trance when turning a corner or pulling off. The air bag light comes on a few days and turn off.

NHTSA complaint #11435097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,567 miles Texas City, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS/SIDE AND FRONT ARE DEFECTIVE FOR MY VEHICLE? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP IN FINDING OUT WHAT I DO NOW...THE VEHICLE AND I WAS INVOLVED IN A WREAK AND I WAS INJURED BADLY AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.....? I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HWY AT POSTED SPEED WHEN I WAS STRUCK...FIRST THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN THE L-FENDER AND HOOD...THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME ROLLED 3 OR 4 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11389391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Wichita, KS

AIR BAGS

FROM THE MINUTE I DROVE MY CAR OFF THE LOT THE DASH HAS BEEN SAYING 'SERVICE AIRBAGS'. A WEEK AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING I LOST POWER STEERING. THE DASH SAID 'SERVICE ESC' AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT POPPED UP ON THE DASH. IF I TURN OFF MY CAR FOR A WHILE THE POWER STEERING MAY STILL WORK WHEN I START IT BACK UP, BUT EVENTUALLY I LOSE POWER STEERING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11386570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 113,000 miles Jensen Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CENTER BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE AIR BAGS AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE REGAINED STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY TWO ATTEMPTS AT RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WERE NEEDED BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED POWER STEERING MODULE AND MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #11377047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corinna, ME

AIR BAGS

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED FROM A BUY HERE PAY HERE AND MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AFTER BUYING MY CAR I STARTED NOTICING DIFFERENT LITTLE QUIRKS HERE AND THERE WITH MY CAR, LIKE IF IT'S WET OUTSIDE MY BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER DO NOT WORK OR IT LOOKS LIKE I AM RIDING MY BREAKS, IF IT'S WET OUT MY CAR HESITANTS WHILE DRIVING, MY CHECK AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ON, THE TRACTION CONTROL SIGNAL IS ON, MY STEERING ARM MAKES A VERY WEIRD NOISE SOMETIMES THE LIST GOES ON AND WHEN I DECIDED TO CHECK AND SEE IF MY CAR HAD ANY RECALLS ON IT, TO MY DISCOVERY THERE IS AT LEAST 4 ONE JUST FROM 2019 AND ALL SOUNDS SO VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING FOR MONTHS. I AM HOPING TO RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION BACK ON WHAT TO DO NEXT.

NHTSA complaint #11376461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Reading, PA Crash

AIR BAGS

I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON 04/08/2020 AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11322605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Humboldt, SD

AIR BAGS

I WAS STOPPED,WENT TO ACCELERATE,AND SUDDEN HARD SHIFT AS IT ACCELERATED. AFTER A FEW MILES,LOST ALL GEARS AFTER 2ND GEAR.ON INTERSTATE AT TIME WHEN LOST GEARS & CLOSE TO GETTING INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO ASC CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO LEARN THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED,WIRING FROM BATTERY TO STARTED BURNED UP,BATTERY FAILUREM ALTERNATOR FAILED, AND ECM FAILED AS WELL. REPAIR COST APPROX $4600.00. SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ALSO & P0013 CODE. LOOKED UP VEH HISTORY, SHOWS RECALLS ON SOME OF THIS WERE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED, BUT HARD TO BELIEVE. 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION, SO GM WON'T HONOR.

NHTSA complaint #11300693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Lenexa, KS

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. IF I MOVE PASSENGER SEAT SOMETIMES IT GOES OFF. 37,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11298319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbiana, AL

AIR BAGS

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF. PURCHASED CAR USED AND I AM NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR SOMEONE IN THE FRONT SEAT. NO ACCIDENT YET,BUT I HAVE CONCERNS. IT IS ON GOING AS TO A CERTAIN DATE.

NHTSA complaint #11265504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, TX

AIR BAGS

MY AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF AND COMING ON. MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BUT I FILL AS THOUGH IT SHOULD OF BEEN.

NHTSA complaint #11241573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,000 miles Smith Creek, MI

AIR BAGS

WHEN DRIVING CAR AIR BAG LIGHT HAS FLASHED ON AND OFF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS EACH TIME AS SOON AS STEERING WHEEL MOVE POSITION THE LIGHT GOES OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL YEAR BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #11196720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,981 miles Sunny Isles Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

ON MARCH 1, 2017 AT 28981 MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, (NOT THE FIRST TIME). THE NEXT DAY, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND THE ABS LIGHTS BOTH ALSO CAME ON. IN BOTH OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY CHARGED ME $153 TO GET A DIAGNOSIS.THEY WANTED ANOTHER $850 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP THAT DID IT FOR $190. THESE WERE 2 SEPARATE PROBLEMS, ONE WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT (A CONNECTION UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT), AND THE OTHER WAS A SENSOR IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL (THE STABILITY/ABS LIGHT).

NHTSA complaint #11182838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles South Portland, ME Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A CLAIM FOR THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #11169834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles West Chester, PA

AIR BAGS

MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT (REGULAR LOW BEAM) KEEPS GOING OUT AND HAVING TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC REPLACED IT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER, AND IT IS OUT YET AGAIN, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS LATER. MY MECHANIC CAN'T FIND ANY REASON FOR IT. IN ADDITION, MY SERVICE AIR-BAG LIGHT IS ON, ALTHOUGH IT'S NEVER GONE OFF, AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT 63,000 MILES. REGARDING THE LIGHT - SO FAR, I'VE BEEN LUCKY THAT IT HASN'T CONTRIBUTED TO ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE DEER ARE VERY ACTIVE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AND ARE VERY COMMON IN OUR AREA.

NHTSA complaint #11155535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Gaylord, MI

AIR BAGS

SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE AIR BAGS, BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN PEDAL NOT PRESSED AND NOT ON WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED AND CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK PERIODICALLY. THESE MESSAGE APPEAR OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE SENSOR UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL REPLACED TWICE NOW. LAST TIME 14 MONTHS AGO SO NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11123777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Sherwood, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A POLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THE REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #11100387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Central Islip, NY

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. WHEN OFF AND I HIT A BUMP IT TURNS BACK ON. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I AM SCARED OF AN EMERGENCY IT WILL NOT FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #11091310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independents, MO

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING THE WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF A RELATED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED PER THE 'SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM'. IN ADDITION, IF THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATION RELATED TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE HAD A POTENTIAL FAILURE RELATED TO THE 'SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM'. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, BUT WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY AND THE POTENTIAL OF A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #11089012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems

← Full 2010 Chevrolet Malibu report