2010 Chevrolet Malibu: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
On the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, the failure owners report most often is other steering problem, and the reports cluster around 102,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other fuel system problem, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 71 out of 100, high risk for a 2010.
High risk for a 2010 — 136th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. 2,204 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Owners have reported 70 named failure modes on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, and the three most-reported carry 27% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other steering problem leads with 289 reports, about 4.3 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 75k to 138,000 miles.
Cruise control failure follows with 174 reports, usually reported between 44k to 100,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 143 reports, usually reported between 59k to 125,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into steering (439), adas (353) and electrical (309).
When these failures get reported
1,697 of the reports on the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 82,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 23% by 50,000 miles, 66% by 100,000 miles and 89% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 28 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 80,000 and 90,000 miles, which alone holds 10% of the dated reports.
16% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other fuel system problem around 54k, other wheel or tire problem around 57k, seat belt or retractor failure around 59k and ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure around 61k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 70. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 28 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 55 mention a crash, 17 a fire and 45 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.20, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other steering problem at $350–$2,400, cruise control failure at $200–$1,400, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
13% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other steering problem | steering | 289 | 233 | 75k | 102k | 138k | 4.3 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 174 | 144 | 44k | 62k | 100k | 2.6 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 143 | 90 | 59k | 85k | 126k | 2.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 124 | 109 | 59k | 88k | 128k | 1.8 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 97 | 67 | 67k | 89k | 100k | 1.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 91 | 79 | 37k | 69k | 96k | 1.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 87 | 60 | 40k | 77k | 103k | 1.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 85 | 64 | 45k | 81k | 109k | 1.3 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 81 | 47 | 82k | 121k | 159k | 1.2 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 78 | 70 | 82k | 102k | 149k | 1.2 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 76 | 65 | 51k | 70k | 98k | 1.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 71 | 50 | 58k | 80k | 108k | 1.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 61 | 37 | 39k | 72k | 80k | 0.9 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 60 | 45 | 55k | 65k | 85k | 0.9 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 54 | 42 | 51k | 74k | 99k | 0.8 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 49 | 47 | 59k | 94k | 115k | 0.7 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 37 | 22 | 34k | 59k | 99k | 0.5 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 33 | 28 | 13k | 57k | 99k | 0.5 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 28 | 26 | 36k | 104k | 115k | 0.4 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 25 | 19 | 81k | 105k | 140k | 0.4 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 23 | 19 | 69k | 94k | 98k | 0.3 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 20 | 19 | 78k | 105k | 123k | 0.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 20 | 18 | 55k | 84k | 89k | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 18 | 18 | 50k | 90k | 128k | 0.3 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 18 | 17 | 60k | 99k | 125k | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 17 | 14 | 74k | 78k | 95k | 0.3 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 15 | 12 | 38k | 61k | 72k | 0.2 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 14 | 11 | 50k | 138k | 143k | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 14 | 11 | 19k | 70k | 82k | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 13 | 9 | 42k | 54k | 75k | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 11 | 9 | 55k | 73k | 90k | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 11 | 11 | 33k | 70k | 85k | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 10 | 3 | — | 39k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 9 | 8 | 62k | 71k | 104k | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 8 | 2 | — | 67k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 8 | 8 | 66k | 80k | 89k | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 8 | 3 | — | 29k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 8 | 6 | — | 700 | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 8 | 3 | — | 1k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 6 | 3 | — | 85k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 6 | 6 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 6 | 6 | — | 88k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 5 | 2 | — | 50k | — | 0.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 52k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 5 | 5 | — | 103k | — | 0.1 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 5 | 5 | — | 107k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Seat, track or recliner failure | body | 5 | 2 | — | 91k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 4 | 4 | — | 108k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 2 | — | 37k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 89k | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 114k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 86k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 3 | 3 | — | 51k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 3 | 2 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 89k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag deployed without a crash | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$8,000 | Critical |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 2 | 1 | — | 24k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 107k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Intake carbon buildup | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 84k | — | 0.0 | $400–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 25k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 139k | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 14k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 119 | 82 | 31k | 65k | 90k | 1.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu draws about 33 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 96th percentile of complaint rates among 2010 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 67,792 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2010 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other steering problem
Can someone please see if the 2010 chevrolet malibu has the same steering as the cobalt? I have owned this car for 1 month now and have the same issue. Problem: over 45mph there is a disconnected feeling in the steering. On rough roads or on a windy day the car is hard to keep in your lane. I have had 3 other people drive the car and they confirm the under-steer feeling. Car is going back to the dealer ship this weekend to be investigated. *tr
Rented a brand new (45 miles) 2010 chevy malibu. Several times over 4 days, the power steering would give out briefly. This occurred while driving in mountain roads and could have been very dangerous. I returned the car with a note to the rental company. *tr
Cruise control failure
Vehicle was operating on cruise control at approx. 70 MPH on level road grade.. Driver pushed res+ button on steering wheel to increment cruise control set speed and the engine immediately went to wide-open-throttle. Driver immediately reacted by tapping brake pedal and the cruise control deactivated. I did not use the cruise control for the rest of our journey. Vehicle is a rental and this issue will be reported to rental agency upon vehicle turn-in on 5/10/10. *tr
Vehicle was operating on cruise control at approx. 70 MPH on level road grade.. Driver pushed res+ button on steering wheel to increment cruise control set speed and the engine immediately went to wide-open-throttle. Driver immediately reacted by tapping brake pedal and the cruise control deactivated. I did not use the cruise control for the rest of our journey. Vehicle is a rental and this issue will be reported to rental agency upon vehicle turn-in on 5/10/10. *tr
Other electrical problem
I bought a 2010 chevy malibu in november of 2010 and the car engine caught on fire in january of 2010. The vehicle was parked in my driveway while I was sleeping. At approximately 9 p.m. My neighbors awake me to notify me that my car was on fire. They had called 911 and the fire department had shown up shortly afterward. The fire came from the engine compartment. I notified american chevrolet in modesto, ca, where I had purchased the vehicle and they towed it to there dealership. Since then I have not been given a definitive answer as to what the root cause of the fire was, and what is being done to replace my vehicle or reimburse me for my cost. I haven't been compensated either for my loss of transportation. My insurance first said that the problem lied with general motors, but due to the prolong period of time are now getting involved in paying the car, where I will come out loosing all my investment. Fortunately, the car was parked outside, not inside my garage where the car would have gotten my new home on fires. I work graveyard and was asleep when the fire occurred. The fire department ruled that it look to be a defect. I…
The theft system is hanging up in my 2001 chevy malibu and making it not start. I can be stuck without it starting day or night. I have had it to the dealer numerous times at $500 each. They keep saying that it is not a recall and has to be paid 4 by me. On the internet there are numerous complaints about the same thing. Why r we responsible for this and it seems to b a constant problem? *tr
Recalls on the 2010 model year
NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, affecting an estimated 101,135 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module, steering, electrical system:wiring and power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication . Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1,145 vehicles 2019-01-16- Defect
- 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 overpressurized.
- Consequence
- If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.
STEERING
7,304 vehicles 2014-07-21- Defect
- Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
- Consequence
- A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
2,440,524 vehicles 2014-05-14- Defect
- 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 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These…
- Consequence
- Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
- 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 harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
426,240 vehicles 2012-09-18- Defect
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
- Consequence
- If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2010 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2010 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2010 — 136th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 29 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2025 comes out best at 62 and 2019 worst at 78, with 2010 itself at 71.
If the model year is negotiable, 2025, 2024, 2002, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 1998, 2003 and 2007 score lower than 2010 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2004–2010 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 68 and 2004 the weakest at 74.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2004-2010 generation, 2007 Chevrolet Malibu scores best at 68 and 2004 Chevrolet Malibu worst at 74.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other wheel or tire problem from about 13k, airbag failed to deploy in a crash from about 19k, other visibility problem from about 33k and seat belt or retractor failure from about 34k.
On a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other wheel or tire problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
2,204 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 2,204 reports, 1,697 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 77% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most-reported failures are other steering problem (289 reports, median 102,000 miles), cruise control failure (174 reports, median 62,000 miles) and other electrical problem (143 reports, median 85,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Other fuel system problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 40,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 82,000 miles.
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
It scores 71 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 136th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2010 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Malibu is best?
Within the 2004–2010 generation, 2007 scores best at 68 out of 100 and 2004 worst at 74. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed