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2010 Chevrolet Malibu

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Malibu.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu is a passenger car that requires 5 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for maintenance, representing the model's eighth generation on the market. With 1,359 total owner complaints logged and four associated recalls, steering emerged as the primary concern during this model year, a notable issue that shaped consumer perception of the vehicle. When viewed against the Malibu's broader complaint history spanning 1997 to 2025, the 2010 model falls well below the peak of 1,697 complaints recorded in 2004, though it remains substantially elevated compared to the model's contemporary low of just seven complaints in 2025, indicating that while this generation experienced significant reliability challenges, Chevrolet has since substantially improved the Malibu's dependability track record.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 590 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeMALIBU LS P225/50R17OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179 alt 12690386
Engine air filter22676970
Spark plug12681663 alt 12681660
Battery88866263
Front wiper blades19432584 alt 19432583
Serpentine belt12577771 alt 12629347
Thermostat12622410 alt 12591881

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.7 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3415 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Malibu of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.00 sec — 2010 2LT
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20102LT 2.4L I-49.00 sec16.80 sec169 hpFWD
2009Hybrid 2.4L I-4 + Elec 10-kW9.20 sec17.10 sec164 hpFWD
2008LTZ V6 3.6L V66.40 sec15.00 sec252 hpFWD
2008LTZ V6 3.6L V66.50 sec15.10 sec252 hpFWD
2008LTZ V6 3.6L V66.50 sec15.10 sec252 hpFWD
20082LT V6 3.6L V67.10 sec15.60 sec252 hpFWD
2008LTZ 2.4L I-48.60 sec16.70 sec169 hpFWD
20081LT 2.4L I-48.70 sec16.70 sec169 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-6.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca
Standard BCI Group Number90

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)DI: 50-60, MFI: 56-62
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance1.25-1.75 @ 50-90 degreesF DI ohms
Engine Compression140

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.551 in / 1.023 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.551 in / 1.023 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 12574 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1installation, 92 ft. lbs., step 2: remove bolt, step 3: install new bolt, 92 ft. lbs., step 4: 13092 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 15074 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miFuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Malibu sits at a pivotal point in the model's federal record: complaints fell to 1,359 from the 2009 peak of 1,509 but remained well above the 976 and 904 seen in 2011 and 2012, while recalls held at four — matching 2011 and improving on 2009's six. Steering dominates the 2010 complaint profile with 307 reports, followed by air bags (83), power train (70), and exterior lighting (68); the data does not specify root causes for these categories. Crash and fire complaints totaled 41 and 14 respectively, and no investigations were opened for the model year. Technical service bulletins climbed steadily across the generation, reaching 1,258 for 2010 and continuing upward to 1,304 and 1,339 in the next two years, indicating growing dealer-level service activity even as owner complaints declined. The 2010 year reflects a transitional improvement in reported problems but still carries a higher complaint volume than the subsequent model years. For a buyer prioritizing lower federal complaint density, 2011 or 2012 represent cleaner records; 2010 is acceptable if priced to reflect its mid-pack standing.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1258
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,359
Owner complaints
41 involved a crash · 14 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,359 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering307
Air Bags83
Power Train70
Exterior Lighting68
Electrical System56
Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)42
Service Brakes36
Engine29

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V019000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 16/01/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being… Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at…

14V252000Electrical System:WiringReported 14/05/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1258 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Malibu. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 batteryVehicles taking 5 qtEngine oil filter 12731179Engine air filter 22676970Spark plug 12681663Battery 88866263

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 Malibu take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 Malibu have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.