Problems · by component
2010 Chevrolet Malibu seats problems
25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu cite seats, 2% of all 1,365 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
25
2% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
What owners say about the seats
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The driver's seat bracket broke causing the seat to sag to the right and for the back of the seat to rise up. Pictures were taken and are attached. Available for inspection until fixed. The view is from the front. My finger points to the failed weld. In an accident, the seat might break off causing the driver to sustain serious injury. The sudden shift in the seat could cause the driver to panic resulting in an accident. I have not yet taken it into the dealer for review. This problem has been reported to your website as well as RepairPal and The Center for Auto Safety websites. No one has, as of now, inspected this failure. There are no warning lights or other sources avaliable to inform of this danger.”
“I COULD SMELL A FAINT ELECTRICAL SMOKE SMELL WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. I THEN ALSO NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ALSO QUIT HEATING.”
“WHEN DRIVING IT THE TRANSMISSION DON'T KICK IN UNTIL YOU GET PASS 30 MILES AND THEN IT'S DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE A RECALL ON SOME OF THE OTHER 2010 CHEVY MALIBU JUST TRYING TO SEE WHY MY VIN NUMBER HASN'T BEEN RECALL.I HAVE TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS OWN SOMETIME SO I WON'T BE IN A RECK GETTING MY GRANDKIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL I FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY BUT THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION SO IF YOU CAN PLEAS CHECK AND SEE IF I HAVE A RECALL ON MY VIN NUMBER IT WOULD PLEASE BE APPRECIATE SIGN A CARING GRANDMOTHER TRYING TO KEEP HER FAMILY SAFE 🙏🏽🙏🏽”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.”
“FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE , AIRBAG WARNING FAULT LIGHT ON. . THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF $800. I FEEL THAT MY FAMILY AND MY SAFETY IS AT RISK DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT GM IS AWARE OF WITH ITS AIRBAG COMPONENTS. AIRBAGS SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, AND IF THEY ARE FAILING THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THOSE FAULTY DESIGNED PARTS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNERS.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMOKE ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT BURNED A HOLE INTO THE SEAT FABRIC AND THE BACK OF THE CONTACT'S SWEATER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE AND THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.”
Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.