2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 978 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 40 involved a crash and 17 involved a fire. 41 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 16, 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 overpressurized.
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 19V019000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsMay 8, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
Campaign 15V269000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringJul 21, 2014
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 14E044000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 14, 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 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 fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 14V252000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
235 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 16, 2013
DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND SERVICE ESC AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED. I HAD TO MANEUVER 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT IN RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. "FAULTY ALTERNATOR" RULED TO BE AT FAULT. NO WARNING THAT MORNING PRIOR TO EVENT. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON A LITTLE LONGER (5 MINUTES) THAN USUAL AND THEN WENT OFF. IT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN TO WARN OF SOMETHING WRONG. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INDIFFERENT SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE'S BBB AS THIS IS THE THIRD, AND MOST SEVERE ISSUE, I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT TWO YEARS QUITE YET. I DID RECEIVE A CALL BACK FROM GM. THEY ARE WORKING ON THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS LIFE THREATENING EVENT AS WELL AS THE OTHER PROBLEMS, WHICH WERE THE EXHAUST SOLENOID DIED ( SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE COVERING CAME OFF EXPOSING THE SHARP METAL IT IS MADE OF). *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 16, 2013
CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN RESET ITSELF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT MODE SHUT OFF AND ON AGAIN. REPORTED TO CHEVY DEALER, SAID IF LIGHT WASN'T ON THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT, IF THE WIPERS ARE WORKING PROPERLY THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT. DID THIS ON MY LAST OIL CHANGE. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 4, 2013
THE CONTACT JUST BOUGHT A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU USED NOVEMBER 2012. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE ESP, SLIPPERY /TRACTION LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCING ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR DECREASED SPEED TO 20MPH. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 2, 2013, fire
THE FUEL PUMP HAS BURNED CONNECTORS THAT ARE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, THE BOARD LIGHTS INTENSITY INCREASES OR DECREASES OR STAYS OFF, ALL FUSES ARE GOOD, THE GM IS AWARE OF THIS AND 72 HOURS AGO I'M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER , I HAVE FEAR THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I'M NOT USING THE CAR, WHERE I CAN SEND PICTURES OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHEN I OPENED THE CASE I ASK THEM GM CAR RENT IT AND REVISE MINE TO SEE IF IT WAS SAFE BUT UNTIL NOW NO RESPONSE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WANT THE CAR TO BURN. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2013
WENT OUT TO CRANK THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START. SENT IN TO BE FIXED. PICKED CAR UP TODAY AND INSIDE PANEL IS NOT WORKING NEITHER IS THE LIGHTS. I HAVE TO CALL SERVICE AGAIN IN THE A.M. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 27, 2012
BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND DROVE TO THE END OF STREET AND VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH TO MOVE INTO GEAR BY THE END OF THE STREET WHICH IS ROUGHLY 4 HOUSE DOWN FROM DRIVEWAY I BACKED OUT OF IT WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD SO I HAD TO BACK UP ALL THE WAY TO MY DRIVEWAY AND CAL DEALERSHIP TO TOW IN. MONDAY MORNING DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAID IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SENSOR IN TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS ORDERED AND CAR WAS BACK TO ME WITHIN TWO DAYS. I AM WORRIED THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM AS I HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH PREVIOUS 2009 FORD TAURUS X THAT JUST KEPT HAPPENING WITH AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION. WHEN YOU BUY A NEW CAR YOU DO NOT EXPECT THESE ISSUES. BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I DO NOT WANT THIS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY SINCE THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST HE WAS TRAVELING OR HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING ALONG DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO OFF AND ON DAY AND NIGHT NO SPEED INDICATION EITHER. UPDATED 11/03/2011 *LN *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jul 19, 2011
I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT OVER A SMALL HILL THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE SERVICE /ESC MESSAGE CAME ON. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT HAD NO POWER WHATSOEVER. WHEN I CALLED ONSTAR THEY SAID TO SHUT IT OFF FOR A MINUTE AND TURN IT BACK ON TO SEE IF THE CODE WOULD CLEAR. IT DIDN'T SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT TO BANKS CHEVROLET (NH). AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING (IT WAS FEBRUARY AND VERY COLD OUT) THE TOW OPERATOR ARRIVED. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, HE THEN STARTED IT AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE MESSAGE WAS GONE THE CAR HAD POWER AND HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT ON THE TOW TRUCK. THE GARAGE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT. THEY SAID A SERVICE BULLETIN DID GO OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WILL ADMIT IT DOES MAKE ME NERVOUS THE CAR WAS 1 MONTH IN MY POSSESSION WHEN THIS HAPPENED NOT EVEN 1500 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 7500 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF I HAD BEEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER AT A HIGH SPEED-THANK-GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!! BUT REALLY NO RESOLUTION THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED IT THEY DID HOWEVER GIVE ME SOME SONG AND DANCE ABOUT THINGS LOOSENING UP FROM GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. WELL I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST SO THAT IS PRETTY UNAVOIDABLE. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Tires, Jul 18, 2011
I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU, I CHANGED MY TIRES OUT ON MY CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LOW LIGHT CAME ON, THEN 3 DAYS LATER SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON, AN I INSTANTLY FELT LIKE I WAS IN A WRONG GEAR, POWER AND SPEED REDUCED, THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I'M UNDER THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY CAN I GET SERVICE, AND IS IT DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE. *KB
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 21, 2011
FROM MY WIFE: AFTER TWO PRIOR TRIPS IN THE SAME DAY (36 MILES AND 16 MILES ROUND TRIP RESPECTIVELY), MY 3RD OCCASION TO START THE CAR WAS MET WITH A GLARING WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". IT WAS FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE ESC/TRACTION CONTROL". I WAS PUZZLED BY THIS WHEN AFTER THAT BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT HAD TO GO TO GET TO A PERFORMANCE. THE ENGINE HAD BARELY ANY POWER AND IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FROZEN. I HAD TO CREEP ALONG WITH DRIVERS TAILGATING ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 30 MPH. AS SOON AS I REACHED MY DESTINATION (ONLY 4 MILES AWAY), I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND SO HE COULD COME TO GET THE CAR WHEN HE GOT BACK FROM HIS ERRAND. FROM HUSBAND AND PRIMARY DRIVER OF CAR: I ARRIVED TO DROP OFF ANOTHER CAR FOR MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME SCROLLING MESSAGES AND SLUGGISH RESPONSE. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS SAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE. WHEN I CALLED TO ARRANGE A TOW BACK TO CHEVY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR SO THAT DRIVERS CAN'T INADVERTENTLY DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. TODAY THE BROOKDALE CHEVROLET (MN) DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD EITHER PICK THE CAR UP, OR THEY WOULD KEEP IT ONE MORE DAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM TO IDENTIFY AND FIX THE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IF MY WIFE OR I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, IT COULD HAVE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FURTHER. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.