2010 Chevrolet Malibu: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 160,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after driving for 5 miles, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, with the message "Service Traction" displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as intended after cooling down; however, the failure recurred after driving 5 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with high resistance in the BCM harness. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); which was previously performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the recall repair was a one-time free-of-charge repair. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Jan 18, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 104,613 miles · KY

I had just left the gas station after filling up with gas I came to a stoplight and when I went to take off from a stop the car started sputtering and only going at very low power I turned the car around and noticed there was a tick in the steering wheel and it moved back and forth the steering became hard to turn as I lost my power steering then the car shut off when I started the car again it was still running at half power I managed to make it back to the house and upon restarting the car it was stuck in limp mode and was displaying power steering and electronic stability control lots on the dash after resetting the codes it runs properly but then kicks back into limp mode and loses steering ability of the electronic assist.

Filed Apr 27, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · OH

The electrical randomly malfunctions sometimes the interior and exterior lights won't work and they randomly come on or go off while driving. While I was driving down the highway the headlights stopped working and it was almost dark out side I had to pull over and turn off the car and restart it a couple times before they came back on. There is a leak somewhere that causes the car to overheat. The motor blower for the heating and cooling will also randomly stop working. The windshield wipers broke and after replacing and fixing the part they broke again while I was driving down a crowded highway in the pouring rain. I fixed the windshield wipers 2 times and they still continue to malfunction and quit working. The exauhst has a leak. The transmission malfunctions and doesn't shift right while driving it takes forever to shift and one time while driving the vehicle started to lose power and would barely drive when I would give it gas and the brakes wouldn't work it was like that for about 8 minutes before it finally started to work properly. There is a piece that connects to the transmission that keeps coming undone causing the vehicle to not be able to shift gears. I started the vehicle and tried to put it in drive but it wouldn't work and I fixed the problem and upon arriving at my destination the vehicle went into park but continued to move I had to use the emergency brake to stop it. The warning light for the engine, traction control stability and the tires has been on for several months. The turn signals randomly quit working while driving when I first turn them on they don't work but after a couple seconds they start to work. The mid flap came off while I was driving 55 MPH down the highway and almost caused me to wreck. The parts affected is the electrical, body, power train, lighting, wheels, suspension, brakes, visibility/wipers and the engine.

Filed Oct 1, 2017 · Transmission · 57,268 miles · IN

Transmission completly went out with no warning crossing a busy intersection. No lights came on, no noises, would barely go then jerked and excelleration noise as if I reved engine up but I didn't then pulled into parking spot and it wouldnt go into gear and would not move. When started later that day it ran fine and 2 minutes from home it did the exact same thing but now will not move at all and just whines. I read this is an ongoing issue for this model car and gm will not cover bc warranty rums oit before the 5 year 60,000 miles. Something needs done about this. My car only has 57000 miles on it.

Filed Jan 13, 2017 · 96,999 miles · NY

Cruise control when engaged maintains the speed but when climbing a hill the RPM's won't shift the car and then once the car reaches the set speed it still won't shift . The set speed with cruise controls won't stay when decending down a hill but will increase with speed and won't maintain the speed you set it at. This is bad for the engin and transmission as when you de activate the cruise controls the car shifts gears .

Filed Dec 12, 2016 · Acceleration · 96,000 miles · ID

Freeway driving speed of 65 MPH. Turned off freeway on to a 50 MPH road. Engine light, service ESC light and traction control lights all came on. Car went into "limp mode" and reduced driving to only 20 MPH. Drove 5 miles in limp mode to get home. Got a "p1235" code. After leaving car for an hour and restarting, it drive normally but, check engine light is still on and the p1235 code is stored. Took vehicle to a mechanic and car drove as normal. He thinks it is a button on the gas pedal or a throttle body. Both are expensive options and should be under some warranty. This vehicle is only 7 years old.

Filed Aug 25, 2016 · Brakes, Transmission · 71,000 miles · OK

As I pulled out from work, I noticed that as the car should have been going into second or third gear, the RPM's just revved. I was heading down a hill at the time, and when it got to around 30-35 MPH, the gear caught (thank goodness because it was starting to get a bit scary at that moment) and was able to be driven like normal. I had a few stop lights along the way home, and each time that I came to a complete stop and then started driving, the same thing would occur. As I got home, I called the nearest dealership, david stanley chevrolet here in oklahoma city, to make an appointment to have it looked at. It sat in the garage for the duration of the weekend, and then I took it in this morning (monday aug.22nd) for my appointment. As I was driving from my house to the dealership (around 8 miles) I noticed that it had gotten worse. A few times on the trip I did not think that it was going to make it the whole way there and then about a mile or so from the dealership, the check engine light came on. Later, I had to go in reverse after I arrived and found that the car would not shift into reverse. I dropped it off to have them do the diagnostic on it for $120. As I got home, my wife and I did some research on our car, trying to figure out what it might be while the diagnostic was taking place. I have to say that I was shocked by what I found. Website after website with comments from other chevy malibu owners ranging from 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 describing the exact same issues I was having. All describing a "broken 35r wave plate" that results in a "loss of reverse gear, slipping or harsh 3rd or 5th gear shift". .

Filed Aug 22, 2016 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · OK

As I pulled out from work, I noticed that as the car should have been going into second or third gear, the RPM's just revved. I was heading down a hill at the time, and when it got to around 30-35 MPH, the gear caught (thank goodness because it was starting to get a bit scary at that moment) and was able to be driven like normal. I had a few stop lights along the way home, and each time that I came to a complete stop and then started driving, the same thing would occur. As I got home, I called the nearest dealership, david stanley chevrolet here in oklahoma city, to make an appointment to have it looked at. It sat in the garage for the duration of the weekend, and then I took it in this morning (monday aug.22nd) for my appointment. As I was driving from my house to the dealership (around 8 miles) I noticed that it had gotten worse. A few times on the trip I did not think that it was going to make it the whole way there and then about a mile or so from the dealership, the check engine light came on. Later, I had to go in reverse after I arrived and found that the car would not shift into reverse. I dropped it off to have them do the diagnostic on it for $120. As I got home, my wife and I did some research on our car, trying to figure out what it might be while the diagnostic was taking place. I have to say that I was shocked by what I found. Website after website with comments from other chevy malibu owners ranging from 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 describing the exact same issues I was having. All describing a "broken 35r wave plate" that results in a "loss of reverse gear, slipping or harsh 3rd or 5th gear shift". My heart sank as I read some of the comments showing what was needed to fix it and then, of course the cost. Technician called back and its a broken wave plate. This is a serious issue! This is a warning..someone will get hurt.

Filed May 27, 2016 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · NJ

Will not shift into park, checked and found plastic tabs that hold transmission shift cable together were broken as indicated in gm recall notice 12106c. Contacted dealer and was told this recall does not affect my car's VIN. (see attached photo)

Filed Apr 25, 2015 · Transmission · 94,600 miles · CA

My 2010 chevy malibu lt 2.4l won't go into park and shifter feels loose. If I put it in park position it slides down to reverse. In order to take the key out the ignition I have to set my emergency brake put the shifter to (p) and take my keys out. When I do that I don't know if the parking is engaged or in reverse. Everything else works and drives just fine. I took it to a transmission shop and they told me that the component has a the federal safety agency safety recall in effect campaign # 12v460000. They recommended to take the car to the chevy dealer...I took the car to chevy dealer and they told me that there is no recall on that. Only recalls they have is #13036- #10085. They couldn't see my car at the moment do to being backed up. So I took it to toyota and they took it in. They told me they found shifter cable ripped and inop causing vehicle not to engage into gears properly. It seems that the federal safety agency safety recall #12v460000 sounds about right with what I read online.

Filed Sep 18, 2014 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 80,000 miles · FL

Car was recalled for #13036 from estero bay chevrolet 9/05/2014 estero florida.the car is still malfunctioning. Taken car back to dealer, they stated they check the work done. The car still shift out park and gets stuff in park and will not shift out without forcing the shifter and the brake. 9/18/2014 taken car back to dealer and told them the car is still malfunctioning. The said it did not do it for them. I stated you need to drive the car for at least half hour to malfunction. I feel gm is trying to fix the problem the cheapest way possible, by placing a washer and grease on the wire harness. I feel the entire bcm ( brake stabilty comtrol module) wire harness should be replaced. They have has the car for 2.1/2 days anc ould not fix it. I have proceeds to call gm about this problem.. I have not driven this car in 5 months because of the problems to the car. This car is used by my daughter and my infant grandson. I now have been making car payments on it for 5 months and could not use it. Very disappointmend in gm..

Filed May 18, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 125,000 miles · NC

So about 2 months ago the service traction light came on briefly and didn't come back on for a while. Then about 2 weeks ago it started going off almost everytime I drove. I brought it to the dealership that I bought it in kannapolis, nc called classic chevrolet on 5/3/14. They said I could pay 98.00 to get it hooked up to the computer reader, but the light was off so I decided I didn't really have 98.00 to waste. As it had been hooked up to a code reader when the light was off before and didn't read anything. There is an option to turn off the traction control so I was driving with it off. We went to michigan on 5/8/14 it was driving fine. Light never came on. When we were in michigan it started going on again, again driving with the traction control off. It was hooked up to a computer and no codes came up and light goes off when you turn it off and never came back on our whole way home. Nothing felt or sounded different with the driving. Driving fine to drop off our son at practice this morning 5/17/14, turned on car to go pick him up and couldn't reverse, but would go forward. I had my husband and his brother push us out of the driveway and it was driving fine for the first 3 blocks, then started to chug and wouldn't shift correctly leaving a stop light. I turned around on a circle drive. We live on a culdesac so I pulled ahead of our house, so we could push it back in the drive way. When my husband came back out it was like locked, we couldn't push it in reverse. Then it wouldn't go forward. My husband unhooked the battery and was able to reverse with struggle and pull into the driveway with struggle. During all of this, the brakes have been illuminating when not being pushed and sometime they don't even work.