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: steering
214 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 28, 2019, crash
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EARLY MORNING OF OCTOBER 17TH 2018, MY TIE ROD END SNAPPED IN MY VEHICLE, CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE COUNTY ROAD INTO A TREE HEAD ON GOING 60 MPH. I ALSO WAS NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT SO FORTUNATELY I AM STILL HERE TO WRITE THIS. ITS BEEN A ROAD TO RECOVERY AND STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO BUT THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKED INTO SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANY ONE ELSE. I UNDERSTAND ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BUT THIS IS PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIVES IF THIS IS A FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 18, 2019
SERVICE ESC MESSAGE - ESC OFF MESSAGE - AND POWER STEERING MESSAGES COME ON AND I CANNOT TURN MY CAR. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON DAILY COMMUTE AND CAUSES ME TO BE PUT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY ON THE EXPRESSWAYS. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A PLACE TO PULL OVER. THESE INDICATORS HAPPENS WHETHER DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE STAYS ON.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 14, 2019
ESC OFF "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHTS FLASHED ON UPON START OF VEHICLE, POWER STEERING WAS OFF/NOT WORKING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ERRORS DISAPPEARED AND IT WAS DRIVEABLE. THIS HAPPENED 7-8 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS, AS IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING, AND THIS WAS A DANGER AT TIMES ON ICY ROADS IN NORTH DAKOTA!!
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 10, 2019
UPON STARTING MY 2011 MALIBU, THE ALERT TONE SOUNDED AND A MESSAGE APPEARED FLASHING "POWER STEERING AND ALSO ESC". IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEEL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED A MINUTE, THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. IT WAS FINE, BUT HAS DONE THE SAME THING SEVERAL AT LEAST ONCE DAILY OVER THE LAST WEEK. WHEN ERROR MESSAGE IS NOT PRESENT, THE WHEEL PULSES & MOVES- WHILE IN PARK AND IN DRIVE. 149,700 MILES ON CAR.
Steering, Feb 7, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU, I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE FOR POWER STEERING. I TRIED THE STEERING AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE STEERING FELT NORMAL, SO I DROVE IT ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO START THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERS AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS LIT UP IN THE DASHBOARD AND AGAIN, THE WHEEL WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND AT THE POINT I NEEDED A TOW. I WANT TO ADD THAT THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED, SO I WAS GETTING NO POWER AT ALL TO THE CAR. IN MY SPARE TIME AND WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK I LOCATED A BULLETIN ON-LINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BULLETIN 15356, WHICH WILL COVER YOUR CAR, IF YOU HAVE OWNED IT LAST THEN 10 YEARS AND IT HAS LESS THEN 150K MILES ON IT, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT GM AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED, BUT LEARNED WHEN CHECKING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE, IT WAS COVERED. IT IS NICE THAT GM PUT THIS BULLETIN OUT TO COVER THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT OF TIME AND MILEAGE. THIS IS NOT FAIR! WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERS, 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE POWER STEERING FAILURE. GM REPLACED TORQUE SENSOR AND THE MOTOR MODULE. APPARENTLY BOTH FAILED AND FORTUNATELY BOTH WERE COVERED UNDER THE "SPECIAL WARRANTY BULLETIN 15356, WHICH I AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT. I AM STILL UPSET THOUGH, BECAUSE GM KNOWS THAT THE POWERING STEERING A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO COVER THE PEOPLE THAT SPENT THEIR HARD OWNED DOLLARS ON BUYING YOUR CAR, ONLY FOR THEM TO GET SCREWED LATER WHEN THE POWERING STEERING SYSTEM FAIL PREMATURELY. I PICKED UP THE CAR TODAY FROM THE DEALER AND SO FAR, IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING OKAY. IF THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS, I HOPE IT HAPPENS BEFORE I OWN THE CAR FOR 10 YEARS, OR BEFORE MY MILES GET TO 150K
Steering, Jan 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK GM SUPER STORE (LOCATED AT 1193 W SAGINAW RD, VASSAR, MI 48768, (989) 823-8523) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Steering, Jan 26, 2019
ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING IS FAILING. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT TIMES AND OTHER TIMES THE WHEEL CAN'T BE TURNED. NOTICED THIS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TRYING TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE.
Steering, Jan 22, 2019
LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM. OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS, ROADS, WEATHER, ETC.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 11, 2019
CAR SHUT OFF AFTER DRIVING TO THE STORE, IT WOULDN'T START AND SAID SERVICE ESC
Steering, Jan 9, 2019
STEERING WHEELS SHAKES WHILE PARKED BY ITSELF
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 2, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. POWER STEERING AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE BCAR WAS WARMING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT COMES AND GOES AS IT PLEASES SOMETIMES WHILE IN MOTION, SOMETIMES WHILE STATIONARY, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OR STEER. IT ALSO MAKES MY CAR FEEL AS IF THE WHEELS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF THE FRONT END. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON AND WON'T GO OFF. GUESSING IT DOESN'T WORK. PULLED SOME CODES BUT NOTHING FOR POWER STEERING, ATTACHED ARE A FEW IMAGES OF A FEW CODES THAT WERE PULLED. NOT ALL CODES.
Steering, Dec 31, 2018, crash
THE NIGHT OF 12/29/2018 ABOUT 10PM AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 45MPH I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU HOME FROM THE MOUNTAINS AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND WE ALMOST RAN OFF OF THE ROAD DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. A SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN AND BEING IN A DARK REMOTE AREA WITH NO CELL SERVICE I SLOWLY DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE REASON I HAD OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND GM IS AWARE OF THIS OBVIOUS (POTENTIAL DEADLY) SAFETY ISSUE BUT I'VE OWNED THIS CAR 6 YEARS AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. A CHECK VIN OF RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE DO NOT SHOW THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A "SPECIAL COVERAGE' WHERE GM WILL REPAIR THIS STEERING PROBLEM AT NO COST BUT I WAS TOLD MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THIS 'SPECIAL COVERAGE' BECAUSE I HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT?!!!! I HAVE A CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT GM IS AWARE OF BUT BECAUSE THE CAR HAS OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT THEY WON'T REPAIR IT. I'M DISABLED WITH DIMINISHED STRENGTH AND I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT PLACING MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. GM SHOULD REPAIR MY DANGEROUS CAR AND BE PROACTIVE ENOUGH TO PREVENT AN OBVIOUS VEHICLE SAFETY RISK TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 25, 2018
SINCE OF BOUGHT THE CAR FROM DEALER THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND IN THE WINTER MONTHS IF I GET STUCK I CAN'T SHUT OFF TRACTION CONTROL TO TRY AND GET OUT BECAUSE IT IS DISABLED. HAS POWER REDUCED
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 12, 2018
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE WILL FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE LOCKED AND CANNOT BE TURNED. WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE MESSAGE MAY BE GONE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE AGAIN OR OTHER TIMES IT WILL STILL BE LOCKED AND THE MESSAGE PERSISTS. ALSO WHEN DRIVING AND SITTING IN IDLE THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS AND VIBRATES ON ITS OWN AND MAKES A WEIRD RATTLING/RUBBING SOUND, ESP. WHEN IN PARK. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE LAST YEAR AND MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP "FIXED" IT FOR NO COST SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE ISSUE, BUT NOW THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 8, 2018
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND THEN IT CAME BACK MOMENTARILY, AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN A LITTLE LATER. THANKFULLY IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT NOW I HAVEN'T HAD POWER STEERING IN OVER 4 MONTHS AND IT'S STARTING TO CAUSE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY ARMS AND HANDS FROM THE CONSTANT STRESS TO DRIVE, AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I WAS QUOTED AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT JUST TO LOOK AT CAR TO GET DIAGNOSIS.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 24, 2018
THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO STRESSFULLY GET IT HOME OFF THE MAIN ROAD. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR WAS FINE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ON AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES. IF I WAS TRAVELING ANY FASTER THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT
Steering, Aug 12, 2018
THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL IS DETERIORATING CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. THE HANDS EITHER SLIP OFF THE WHEEL OR CATCH CAUSING AN ABRUPT STOP WHILE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE MATERIAL IS DETERIORATING AT A RATE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE DOWN TO THE METAL AND NOT PROVIDE ANY PROTECTION TO THE OPERATOR AND WOULD CAUSE INJURY.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 6, 2018
UPON DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND LIGHTS FLASHED WITH A DING. THE ESC LIGHT IS ON AND THE DASH IS PROMPTING "POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ESC" THIS HAS MADE DRIVING AND TURNING DIFFICULT. CAR IS NOW PARKED UNTIL IT CAN GO TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART WHICH ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT AN ISSUE. THE NEXT DAY IT PROGRESSED TO EVERYTIME I START THE CAR AND ATTEMPT TO TURN THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AND THE WARNINGS FLASH.
Steering, Apr 23, 2018
MY 2011 MALIBU HAS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS THAT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED HARD TO STEER AND ON DASHBOARD SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING. IT WILL GO OUT AND THEN GO BACK TO DRIVING NORMAL BACK AND FORTH.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, WHICH CLEARED THE FAILURE CODE EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED ONE RECALL AND SEVEN TSBS FOR THE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Apr 2, 2018
MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CHECK POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON. IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR, IT WILL START WORKING, BUT SHAKES WHEN AT A STOP. YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IT SHAKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IN NUMEROUS SITUATIONS. PLEASE ADD THIS TO 14V153000
Steering, Mar 19, 2018
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED IN A CURVED PART OF THE HIGHWAY AT ~45 MPH. WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE DRIVE HOME WHICH WAS ~2 MILES. RESTARTED THE CAR AT HOME AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE UNTIL 5 DAYS LATER - SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING ILLUMINATED ON DASH.
Steering, Mar 19, 2018
CHEVY MALIBU 2011 STEERING MALFUNCTION. AT 130,000 MILEAGE, MY ELECTRICAL STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING FORCING IT INTO MANUAL DRIVE. CODE 15356. MY CAR WAS UNDER SPECIAL WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR AT 150,000 MILES OR UNDER. I CALLED THE NATIONAL HOTLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR GM THAT SPOKE WITH A DEALERSHIP OF CHOICE TO FIX IT AT NO COST.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 16, 2018
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN STOPPED AT IDLE AND SHAKES SLIGHTLY WHEN DRIVING, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE THE POWER STEERING SOME TIMES DOES NOT WORK AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE APPEARS. I CAN TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND EVERYTHING WORKS BUT WHEEL STILL SHAKES.
Steering, Mar 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING AND ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INVOLVED IN SPECIAL COVERAGE NUMBER: 15356; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE NO LONGER MET THE STIPULATIONS FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.