Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel was extremely rough to turn. Additionally, the air bag warning light would illuminate intermittently and the battery continued to drain prematurely. The contact also stated that the rear suspension was unstable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times but the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact was traveling on the highway when the rear suspension failure recurred and the vehicle swayed violently toward the driver's side of the vehicle. The steering wheel seized and as the contact applied force to the steering wheel, the steering wheel seized and the contact crashed into a tree. The air bags only partially deployed. The driver sustained severe injuries and the jaws of life were used to remove an injured passenger from the vehicle. A police report was filed. …
Door locks don't unlock the doors trapping occupants inside the car. Manual or electrical don't work. Modules are defective, and manual lock pull does not work either. Vehicle could be running or not running-still does not work. If you roll down the window and try the outside handle, still does not work. Solenoid, in the doors make a sound like the doors unlock, but they don't. Maybe one in the back will work, but very difficult to get out of the car. Your stuck with no options to get out. This is a very sever safty issue and needs to be address. Tried to but the car in drive, and back into park and turn off the car multiple times with no luck. Tried to rock the door lock switch does not help. Believe the modules are defective. Door pulls for unlocking the doors should still work, even if the power was lost. They do not. Tried while the vehicle was moving and stationary. …
On three separate occasions since the 2nd week in April I tried to open my car door using my key as I turned, although t2/15he lock locks and unlocks, the door would not close. I took it to a mechanic and they tried for about 20 minutes to close the door and it just bounced back open. I took it to a Chevrolet service center here in pa at which time the door latch connected with no signs of an issue. The service tech looked and the latch and said to me, "if it happens again, just lift up the latch and there should be no problem. Yesterday, I go to lunch, open the door with the key and everything was fine. I go to get out of the car and the door would not open. I tried for about 1/2 hour. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the chrome plating on all the interior door handles was peeling and caused the contact to sustain minor cuts on the hand. The contact mentioned that medical attention was not required. The contact also stated that the esn warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on four occasions where it was diagnosed that an unknown part needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. In addition, the contact stated that the brake light illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact also stated that when the brake pedal was depressed the brake light failed to illuminate. …
At random occasions, the front door latches will not work. Last November, the front passenger door did not open even after attempting to open it manually and using the power door lock switch. This morning, I had two issues with the driver door. First, it would not shut until after I used the button to manually lock the door ("used" meaning I pulled it up and pushed it down several times in quick succession). Then, after I parked my car, the driver door would not open until after pushing the button up and down several times, using the remote a couple times, rolling the window up and down, and pushing the button up and down again. I wonder if humidity and/or moisture May be affecting the doors' ability to function, as it had rained and/or snowed on both occasions; however, the weather has not affected the doors on other cars I have used to such an extent. …
I went to open my front, driver's side door (from the outside) and it would not open. I climbed through the passenger front and tried to open the driver's door from the inside...it still would not open. Using the palm of my hand, I bumped the effected door on the outside door panel, by the handle and it opened. I lubed the inside door catch area as much as I could and it seemed OK. 48 hours later, I was having the same problem. Additionally, there have been a few times during this time frame where I went to close the door and it bounced back open again. It seems that the door latch never caught the post on the frame. This is clearly a safety issue. An elderly or disabled driver May not be able to get out in the case of an emergency. Not everyone is physically capable of folding themselves up and climbing over the armrest into the passenger seat. …
Driver side door at times failed to open from either outside or inside. Keyfob remote properly lifts and lowers the lock knob lifter to lock or unlock position. Minutes, hours and one time, two days would go by then the door would eventually unlocks to open. Same for the driver side rear door however, I have not been able to open the door since 2015. Also, there are times when the driver door will not close unless I slam the door shut. I have tried to make programming changes on the door locking features through the on board computer and moving trans shiftier to different positions. No success. I have contacted the manufacture twice (2015 & 2016) and both time was told by Chevrolet they will not cover since out of warranty due to the miles on my 2010 Chevy Malibu. For me being a over weight older individual its difficult to exit and enter from the passenger door. …
My 2010 Chevy Malibu driver side front door will not open. Driver door will not open from the inside of the vehicle after the doors are unlocked or from the outside by pulling on the handle. It does not matter if you unlock from inside using unlock/lock button on door or outside using key fob, the door will not open. Major safety issue in the event of an accident or an emergency, the driver or passengers whose doors are affected will not be able to get out of the affected door. Tried penetrating oil and grease to lubricate actuator and has not fixed problem. Also happens randomly, does not matter temperature or weather conditions. No current recalls out on this issue, and repair costs range upwards of $350. …
Door locking mechanism in the drivers door has been failing, power door lock on drivers door fails quite often. When this happens the driver can not open the drivers door either with the power unlock or manually with the door lock in the up position or from the inside or outside of the drivers door with the door handle. It is like the door mechanism is disabled. Does not matter if the car is in motion or not happens when parked or the car has just come to a stop. The driver must crawl over the center divider and out the passenger side to exit or back over to drive the car. Have an appointment to get it repaired for $350 at the Chevrolet dealer on November 11th but think this should be covered by GM as I have read this is a common problem with 2008 to 2010 Malibu cars and certainly is a safety issue being trapped in the car.
"Takata recall": the door lock does not work at times. The door will not shut as well as the door's lock assembly not disengaging. The locking assembly will either not unlock or will not allow the door to stay latched. It happens without warning when moving, stationary, driving on any type of road or parking area. We had davidson Chevrolet in watertown, new york on March 7, 2016 for a seat belt problem and had the door looked at that day. We were informed it would cost over $500.00 to replace the part. This is very dangerous and I have almost fallen out of car while driving when this has happened. The car was not in an accident and nothing caused this to happen. The last date this happened was 10-27-2016. The first it happened was last year.
Body complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the body & structure of the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, 3% of the model year's 1,363 complaints. The component named most often is body (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Malibu body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Malibu body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.