2010 Chevrolet Malibu: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Aug 8, 2024 · FL

The front doors on the car lock and unlock them selves and often you have to climb into the backseat from the front seat to exit the car. This is a serious danger if you were in an accident or the car was on fire. Hi I am [XXX] and it’s almost impossible for me to climb over the seats the way the cockpit is made. When the car locks itself it’s impossible to unlock the car using the door locks inside by pulling them up or using the key in the drivers door nothing works. The car can be completely locked and hours later maybe the next day the drivers door will be open on its own. This is happened several times in the rain soaking the driver seat. The only way to unlock the doors if they lock on their own it’s to play with a key fob pressing lock unlock maybe 100 times and you might get lucky and it unlocks. I spent three days once before I could enter my car using the key fob as I explained earlier. The door came open one time while the car was going forward and luckily I was in a Walmart parking lot or there’s no telling what would’ve happened. When the car was shifted into drive the door locks clicked down but that still did not stop the door from opening. I purchased the car two months ago for $7000 and the dealer is going to do nothing they stressed as is. I have read online there are thousands of these complaints for the same thing and GM has not acknowledged the problem to date. Complaints I have read also stated they have done different repairs to the doors which are quite costly but they were to no avail. This seems like a very serious and dangerous problem being trapped inside a car especially in Florida where I live and the temperatures in a car can reach 140 degrees. If the car is running you can’t even exit the back doors once you crawl over the seats it has to be shut off. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 8, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · NC

Both low beam headlights keeps going out I changed both harness 4 times and they keep coming on and going off. Also window brake light lights up when it wants to when I press the brake and both front door speakers keeps coming on and going off. Sometimes the switch on driver side door will lock/unlock doors and sometimes it want. At this point I don't know what the issue is that's causing this my mechanic thinks it's an electrical issue that's causing all of this. Also key fob stopped working so I changed the battery still didn't work took to see if maybe it needed to be reprogrammed but was told once again my car has some electrical issues.

Filed May 8, 2018 · 88,649 miles · PA

So I'm putting the car in park the driver side door would not unlock you can't use the key fob you also can't use it inside handle to open it or the outside and it'll stay lost 4 days and then unlock itself it'll be okay for a few days and then the same thing happens all over again this is a safety issue if you can't get out of your car in a hurry when there is an accident or you need to to me this is a safety issue you never know when it's going to happen it can be working fine you can go into the store you can come out you can't get in the car or you can get in the car to come home and I can't get out of the car yes I bought my car used from tregembo motors and of course that part's not under warranty I've looked at all the reviews this is a been a known problem for years and gm is aware of it they need to fix it this isn't the first time I've been locked in or out of my car this has been going on for over a month

Filed Apr 1, 2017 · Body · 50,000 miles · UT

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. Someone elderly it would most certainly be impossible.

Filed Aug 10, 2016 · Locks · 30,197 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. While the vehicle was parked, the front driver side door failed to unlock from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the key fob also failed to unlock the driver's door. The contact was able to use other doors to exit the vehicle. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was operated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver door lock assembly failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,197. Updated 09/29/16*lj

Filed Feb 25, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 145,000 miles · WV

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. The pull handle inside the car feels like it is not engaging with the components to unlatch the door, and the same feeling is observed when trying to open the car on the outside using the outside door handle.

Filed Feb 9, 2014 · Locks · 56,000 miles · TX

The 2010 chevy malibu ( and other vehicles similarly equipped) were manufactured with defective door lock actuators. This has been experienced by thousands of gm vehicle owners. These defective actuators will fail and begin cycling without any input by the vehicle operator. A typical vehicle will be locked by the operator using the key fob and when the operator returns, the doors will have been unlocked essentially by themselves. This is a serious safety issue for persons traveling through high crime areas thinking the door is locked and the door has unlocked by itself. Carjackers are not deterred by an unlocked door. Also, it places the driver and passengers in danger of being partially ejected in a roll-over accident due to the unlocked condition of the door which has unlocked itself, again, without any action by the operator or passenger. These defective parts were installed at the time of manufacture and gm dealers are more than happy to charge $300 to $500 per door to replace the defective actuators. This is unconscionable regarding an integral part of the overall vehicle safety which should last long after the purchase of the vehicle. My vehicle has only 56,000 miles on it and the defective actuators are already malfunctioning. There are many thousands of gm consumers who are dealing with the same problem. Gm should be required to recall all gen 7 malibu and any other gm vehicles which were equipped with these defective actuators. Gm should be required to replace these defective factory actuators with non-defective replacements at no cost to the consumer.

Filed Mar 28, 2013 · Locks · 39,300 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the key fob failed to unlock the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the solder joint needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 39,300. *tr updated 05/23/13*lj updated 05/29/2013