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2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 25% of relevant complaints.
Better than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 315 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 19%).
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 262 of 1,048 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (25%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 40%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 262 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
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.…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Chevrolet Malibu? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 262 of 1,048 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (25%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 12V460000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Malibu years are better?
The 2010 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Chevrolet Malibu years we track (25%). The other years run higher.
Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.