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
978 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Jan 30, 2015
THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR. I'M DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-50 WHEN MY ENGINE ALMOST CUTS OFF COMPLETELY. A LOUD THUMPING (LIKE A MIS FIRE) AND MY DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND READ SERVICE SVC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS DONE THIS IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP THEY SAID THEY TIGHTENED THE "WIRING HARNESS" WELL HOW CONVENIENT THAT NOW THAT MY BUMPER TO BUMPER IS GONE THEY WANNA REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK AND KILL SOMEONE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLING OUT INTO MAJOR TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT AND KILLED. *TR
Steering, Jan 25, 2015
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED VEH THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO NOT WORK. AT FIRST IT RARELY HAPPENED. I WOULD JUST RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN. NOW IT ALMOST NEVER WORKS. MY VEH WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. AND THE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. BY THE TIME THEY REALIZED IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE OTHER VEHICLES MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I AM STILL UNABLE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. SO I AM NOW DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND NO POWER STEERING. IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN REPORT THIS TO IN HOPES OF GETTING MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 24, 2015
CANNOT PASS INSPECTION! SHORT CIRCUIT FAULT - CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID FAULT. OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTION CONDITION IN THE SOLENOID. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DEFECT WITH CHEVY MALIBU AND OTHER MODELS AND MY VIN HAS NOT HAD ONE RECALL ISSUED ON IT - THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ALREADY ON OTHER MALIBU 2011 MODELS. NEED TO HAVE DATELINE NBC OR AN ATTORNEY INVESTIGATE VIN FRAUD FOR NOT HAVING MY VIN # ASSIGNED THESE RECALLS FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS RELATED TO THESE KNOWN SAFETY DEFECTS. *TR
Air bags, Jan 22, 2015
MY 2011 MALIBU WAS RECALLED FOR A BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DEVELOPED A "MALFUNCTION." DEALER STATES THAT THE SDM HAS FAILED. THE DEALER AND GM ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. THEIR POSITION IS THEY DID NOT CAUSE THE ISSUE AND IT IS JUST BAD TIMING. A FRIEND, WHO OWNS A 2010 MALIBU, JUST HAD THEIR CAR RECALLED FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE SDM. MORE TO THE POINT, WHAT INCENTIVE DOES A PERSON HAVE TO BRING A RECALLED VEHICLE IN, WHEN THE VEHICLE CAN BE RETURNED IN A FAR LESS SAFE CONDITION. I THINK THAT ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD BE DOUBTFUL THAT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THIS SITUATION. *TR
Engine, Jan 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Power train, Jan 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATED AND SHAKE CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOST POWER INDICATOR, THE ABS, AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 19, 2015
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NOTHING WAS HIT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. I TURNED THE CAR ON A HALF HOUR LATER AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND MESSAGE WERE GONE. 90 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND HAS STAYED ON. I CALLED CHEVY, THE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND CONNECTED ME TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF A DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST TO FIX IT. *TR
Engine, Jan 16, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT LAOS STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jan 13, 2015
DURING THE DEEP WINTER WE HAD IN DETROIT STARTING LAST JAN - THE CAR REDUCES SPEED AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED/SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION MESSAGE COMES- THIS HAPPEN ENDLESS TIMES AND STOPPED IN FEB 2014 THEN BEGAN THIS PAST WEEK JAN 8TH, 2015 AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. THE CAR WILL START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND DROPS SPEED AND POWER ENG REDUCED MESSAGE COMES - EVEN TRAVELING AT 70 MILES WITH 2 CHILDREN INN THE ICY, SNOWY ROADS OF MI . I HAVE BEEN LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT LOOKING AT THE CHEVY FORUMS AND OTHERS, THIS IS A CHEVROLET/GM DEFECT THAT NEEDS A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE BUT WE ALL CAN DO IS INCUR THE COST TO DIAGNOSE HOW EXACTLY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES ON THE ROADS. *TR
Air bags, Jan 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,573. .. UPDATED 02/19/15 *BF UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Engine, Jan 12, 2015
WAS IDLING AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND THE CAR DASH LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON. ECS OFF NOTIFICATION, TRANSACTION SYSTEM OFF WARNING LIGHT . CAR ENGINE WAS STUTTERING, THAN REVVING UP TO FASTER SPEED. HAD CAR BRAKE ON, TRIED PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STILL DID THE SLOW DOWN/SPEED UP ENGINE SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS, TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. ECS OFF LIGHT IS NOW DARK BUT ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL LIT UP. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 12, 2015
I WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE SNOW AND MY TRACTION CONTROL KEPT GOING ON. THEN SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG AND SUDDENLY MY SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 5-10 MPH AND MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND COULDN'T GET A GRIP ON THE ROAD AT ALL. THEN THE CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, ESC OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING. NORMALLY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 55MPH! AND I HAVE 2 KIDS! LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AND EXHAUST CAM ACTUATOR WHICH COST ME ALMOST $1000 AND WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. MY CAR IS ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD WITH 47000 MILES. *TR
Power train, Jan 12, 2015
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN JUNE 2012. BY DECEMBER 2012 AS I PRESSED THE GAS TO GET UP A HILL ON A DARK BUSY WITH MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND PLENTY OF TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD. MY BOYFRIEND HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR IN REVERSE FOR SEVERAL MILES TO GET US TO SAFETY. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE CHEVYDEALER IN UNION CITY GA WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS AND AFRAID TO REALLY PRESS ON THE GAS WHEN ACCELERATING. ABOUT A YEAR LATER STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WATER DRIPPING ON MY FOOT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER STANDING IN THE FLOOR BOARDS AND A LEAKY ROOF OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. NOW ABOUT A WEEK AGO STARTED HAVING REDUCED ENGINE POWER PROBLEMS. SO AFRAID FOR MY KIDS WHO ARE 15 14 AND 1. GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. GONNA HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY OUT OF POCKET SINCE I NOW HAVE 110000 MILES ON IT AND NO WARRANTY. *TR
Engine, Jan 9, 2015
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CAM SOLENOIDS. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 7, 2015
WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY OR ON THE STREETS THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER CUSTOMERS AS WELL. WHEN I WENT IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 5, 2015
THE ENGINE KEEPS REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CAR ENGINE POWER REDUCES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR SITS IDLE WARMING UP .THE THROTTLE BODY MUST BE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT PART OF THE CAR I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE CODES SAID THROTTLE BODY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 5, 2015
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BEING OUT OF TOWN ON 10/15/13 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 80MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE THEN THE "TRACTION LIGHT ,SERVICE ESC,ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF AND CAR WENT FROM GOING 80MPH TO 10MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE A BIG DIESEL TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME IN WHICH I WAS TO BE ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY THE DIESEL, IN WHICH I HAD MY (XXX) YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. ON DECEMBER 23,2014, THE SAME THING OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 60MPH IT REDUCES SPEED TO ALMOST ZERO MPH,SHAKES WITH THE "TRACTION SENSOR LIGHT AND "SERVICE ESC ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF COMES ON AND THE CAR STALLS! LEAVING ME STRANDED AND HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN! THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON ANYMORE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE!? I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE SECOND INCIDENT! I CALLED 2 CHEVROLET DEALERS IN FRESNO,CA I WAS TOLD THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS ASTOUNDING BECAUSE AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME CAR IS UNBELIEVABLE UNTIL THERE'S A LAW SUIT! *TRPARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 31, 2014
I WAS DRIVING TO MARYLAND FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK ON I95 GOING 70 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR MADE A NOISE AND SHOOK. THEN THE ESC MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL "SERVICE TRACTION ESC."THEN MY CAR SWITCHED TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 25 MPH. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND MAKE MY WAY OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO INCH MY WAY TO THE NEXT EXIT. WHEN I GOT TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR WAS SHAKING LIKE IT WOULD STALL OUT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY MADE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER I FINALLY MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. I WENT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT THE PART AND SERVICE WOULD COST ME 825 TO FIX AND THAT THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *JS
Electrical system, Dec 31, 2014
ONCE LAST WINTER I STARTED MY CAR AT 4:30 AM TO TRAVEL TO WORK. I NOTICED MY DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING. MY CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 15 MINUTES AND WAS WARMED UP. I CHOSE NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD. THIS SUMMER, MY CAR DID THE SAME THING AFTER WORK ONE DAY. THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT WORKING. I GOT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND IT STARTED WORKING. IT GREW MORE FREQUENT AND I ASKED THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE IT. WE PAID $90 FOR THAT. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD BE $500 SINCE IT HAD TO HAVE A SPECIALIZED KIT INSTALLED. I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR THE LAST 2 DAYS WITH NO HEAT WHATSOEVER IN 15 DEGREE WEATHER. IT HAS NOT SNOWED OR SLEETED SO I AM ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY EXCEPT WHEN MY WINDSHIELD STARTS TO FOG UP. GMC INSTALLED A FAULTY MOTOR BLOWER IN MY CAR AND NOW I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE ME TO WRECK AND DIE. *JS
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 31, 2014
SINCE MARCH 2014, I HAD INSTANCES WHERE THE CHEVY MALIBU I WAS DRIVING WARNED ME ON THE DASH THAT I NEEDED TO SERVICE THE ESC. IT WOULD TELL ME ESC TURNED OFF AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF. THIS MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. IT STARTED DOING IT MORE FREQUENTLY SO I CALLED GMC ON AUGUST 2ND. I HAD TO WAIT 2 WEEKS UNTIL THEY COULD GET ME IN TO THE DEALER. THIS WHOLE TIME MY CAR WAS SHUTTING OFF MY TRACTION CONTROL. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON SOLID AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. THEY PAID TO DIAGNOSE AND FOUND THAT MY 4TH CYLINDER WAS MISSING AND WAS LEAKING 45%. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, THEY SUGGESTED $140 FOR A CARBON COIL FLUSH TO SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLE FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 25TH THEY DID THE COIL FLUSH AT 10 AM. AT 1:06 I GOT THE MESSAGE THAT ESC ACTIVE. I WENT ON A 2 WEEK VACATION AND DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR. ON OCTOBER 12TH, AT 2:08PM ESC WARNING AND SHUT TRACTION CONTROL OFF. OCTOBER 13TH, AT 5AM THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON SOLID. ON OCTOBER 27TH, THEY REPLACE MY INTAKE/EXHAUST VALVE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WARNING LIGHTS SINCE THEN, BUT I DROVE FROM AUGUST TO THE END OF OCTOBER WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL. I CAN IMAGINE TRYING TO DRIVE IN HEAVY RAIN AND DYING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST. *JS
Air bags, Dec 29, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A WIRE CONNECTION THAT FAILED AND THE WIRING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,356.
Air bags, Dec 29, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 27, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU HOME TO TULSA OK FROM ARKANSAS MY CAR DROPPED SPEED, I LOST MY POWER STEERING, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON, SERVICE TRACTION ESC LIGHT CAME ON TOO. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH AND THEN THE CAR LOST SPEED DOWN TO 15 MPH. I WAS ALMOST HIT ON THE HIGHWAY. I MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A STORE BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I MADE IT HOME BARELY AND THE NEXT MORNING MY CAR STARTED AND I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MONDAY DEC. 22ND WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK TO GO HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I STOPPED AND TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS FINE. HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN MY FIANCE AND I WERE HEADED TO TEXAS TO BE WITH RELATIVES. WE HAD TO PULL OVER ABOUT 5 TIMES DUE TO THE CAR HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. MY FIANCE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF HE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG AND ALL HE FOUND WAS THAT OUR BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE ON ONE SIDE. WE FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP AND BUY A NEW BATTERY CABLE. WE MADE IT TO TEXAS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL WE WERE HEADED BACK HOME FROM TEXAS. WE MADE IT ABOUT HALFWAY HOME WHEN WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ABOUT 15 TIMES TOTAL. EACH TIME WE JUST TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A MOMENT. WE WOULD GET BACK IN THE CAR AND MAKE IT ABOUT 10MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE SAME ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. MY FIANCE FINALLY THOUGHT MAYBE OUR BATTERY WAS GOING BAD. WE STOPPED AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR $120 AND REPLACED IT. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY MADE IT ABOUT A MILE WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. WE WOULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR EOFF AND IT WOULD RUN GOOD FOR A MILE OR TWO AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AGAIN. WE DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HOME BUT WE FINALLY DID. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Dec 22, 2014
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TOLD ME THAT I LOST ENGINE POWER. THE ERROR MESSAGE SAYS "ENGINE POWER REDUCED/SERVICE TRACTION/SERVICE ESC". MY CAR LOST POWER FROM EX: 40 MPH TO 30 MPH, AND COULDN'T GO ABOVE 50 MPH DEPENDING ON THE GRADE OF THE ROADS. IT WOULD CLIMB SPEED VERY SLOWLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON UNTIL I PULLED OVER SAFELY. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T TOTALLY RESET; SOMETIMES IT WOULD. IT COMES BACK ON UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR