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: vehicle speed control
87 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 25, 2014
2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP MODE" WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT, LOW TRACTION WARNING AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT WOULD DISPLAY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY AND INSTANTLY LOSE POWER DOWN TO 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE RATHER VIOLENTLY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED 2 ERROR CODES. THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE SCREEN ON THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVE WAS RESTRICTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 26, 2014
I WAS DRIVEN IN HIGHWAY 40 MPH SUDDENLY I LOST CONTROL OF THE CARS' SPEED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED RESPONDING TO ITS NORMAL FUNCTIONS. THIS ULTIMATELY LOWERED MY SPEED DOWN TO 11 MPH. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME GETTING INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 26, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DISPLAYED SHOWED LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, REDUCED POWER ENGINE. AFTER QUICKLY PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE THE CAR BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL RESULTED IN NO ENGINE POWER. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 6, 2014
I CALLED AND MADE A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY REGARDING MY VEHICLE DROPPING FROM 60 MPH TO 30 MPH IN THE MIDST OF MORNING TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO LET THE CAR SIT IDLE WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN IT SHOULD RESET AND BE FINE. WELL, THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES THIS MORNING, 3 OF THOSE TIMES MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE ROADS WERE SLICK THIS MORNING WITH RAIN/SNOW AND MY CAR FIRST DID THIS AT INTERSTATE 35 AND ILLINOIS, I PULLED OVER FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. IT DID IT AGAIN AT INTERSTATE 35 AND REGAL ROW AND HAD TO AGAIN SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 MINUTES. I REACHED CARROLLTON AND IT DID IT AGAIN ON BELTLLINE ROAD AND THEN ON 161 AND TRINITY. MIND YOU, THE FIRST TWO INCIDENCES HAPPENED BEFORE DAYLIGHT. THE SECOND INCIDENT ALSO PUT US IN DANGER OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS AN 18 WHEELER WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AS THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND DECREASING SPEED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MOVE TO THE MEDIAN BEFORE I WAS SIDESWIPED. THE FIRST THREE INCIDENCES THE CAR DECREASED TO 30 MPH AND WOULD NOT INCREASE. ON THE FOURTH INCIDENT MY CAR WOULD NOT INCREASE PAST 25 MPH. THIS VEHICLE PUT ME IN MUCH DANGER THIS MORNING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER (SNOW) CONDITIONS IN OUR AREA. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 7, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAY TOO WORK , RUSH HOUR AND UNPLEASANT WEATHER. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SLOWED ITSELF DOWN, STARTED TO TREMBLE AND THE ;ENGINE POWER REDUCE / SERVICE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED SINCE CAR JUST DECIDED TO REDUCE ITS ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. CAR STARTED TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CALLED INTO WORK AND CAUTIOUSLY DROVE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD CAR WILL NOT BE LOOKED AT TIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT CALLS ME THE FOLLOWING MORNING , TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND NEEDS THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, DUE TO IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL DEFECT POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE COLD WEATHER. I ASKED WHY WOULD THE THROTTLE BODY DEFECT , BE THE CONSUMERS FAULT; I DIDN'T KNOW CARS CANT BE OUT IN THE COLD WEATHER. SO, I DECIDED TO LOOK UP THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU RECALLS/DEFECTS AND FOUND 22 OF 57 COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME CAR ISSUE/PROBLEM/DEFECT. SO, I ASK; WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN PUT UP FOR A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL, AND HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF??? THIS CAN CAUSE ALOT OF ACCIDENTS! AS IM SURE THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ENGINE POWER REDUCTION HAVE FELT AT THAT MOMENT AND TIME. SO NOW IM TOO PAY $546.00 (ESTIMATED) TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED TO USE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES. I THOUGHT CHEVROLET WAS A DEPENDABLE MAKER. ALL MY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND MY PARENTS HAVE PURCHASED CHEVYS- FROM TRAVERSE- MALIBU'S AND THEY ARE ALL SURPRISED THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 3, 2014
VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, LOW TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, ESC MESSAGE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 15 MPH, WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH THIS ISSUE. WAS LUCKY TO BE ON AN OUTER ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC THEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD CAR DIAGNOSED, FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED -- KNOW OF TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS, ONE ON A MALIBU, AND ONE ON ANOTHER CHEVY VEHICLE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jun 20, 2013
WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR LOST POWER. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE APP SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. FROM READING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS STYLE OF CHEVROLET, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE AT LEAST 2008. CONSUMERS ARE BEING FLEECED BY FAULTY PARTS AND/OR ENGINEERING (BASED ON THE COST OF THE REPAIR). *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 13, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN SPEED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 6, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER, SERVICE TRACTION, AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.*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
Vehicle speed control, Aug 7, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A 3-4 SECOND DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE WAY THE SYSTEM REACTS IN THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE SIGNAL FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES THROUGH THE COMPUTER FIRST AND THEN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSES THE DELAY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,800.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Apr 9, 2012
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