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.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, May 21, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,800.
Air bags, May 21, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 21, 2014
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR A SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE MESSAGE WAS "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE ESC". THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THE FIRST TIME THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ATTEND AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON MAY 14, 2014 GM RECALLED CHEVROLET MALIBU'S FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2004-2014. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS DENIED HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I INFORMED THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL. GM INFORMED ME THAT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND MAYBE GET REIMBURSE AT A LATER TIME. I EXPLAINED MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD THAT GETS TRANSPORTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT CARE. THE LADY ON THE PHONE JUST KEPT REPEATING THAT I COULD PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT IT WAS ALL MODELS RECALLED FROM 2004-2012 BUT I AM STILL GETTING DENIED HELP. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, May 20, 2014
LIGHT ON DASH CONSOLE RANDOMLY COMES ON ALERTING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND ALSO REMINDING ME THAT I NEED TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT WHEN MY SEAT BELT IS ALREADY FASTENED PROPERLY. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE CAUGHT HELL FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THEM CORRECTED AND AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY PRODUCT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, May 19, 2014
AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT NIGHT, I UNLOCKED MY DOORS WITH THE KEY REMOTE AND I WENT TO REACH FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR A COUPLE TIMES AND I EVEN TRIED TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY BUT COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I FINALLY HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IN THE PAST WHEN I WENT TO SHUT MY DOOR IT WOULD JUST BOUNCE OF THE LATCH, AND I JUST ATTRIBUTED THAT TO IT NEEDED LUBRICATION. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CHEVY MALIBU FORUMS AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE. (HTTP://WWW.CHEVYMALIBUFORUM.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-3433.HTML). THIS IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS STILL A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN. I DID A LIVE CHAT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHAT IF I WERE TO GET HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT "UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS". MEANING, I HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE INJURED FOR THEM TO REPLACE A FAULTY DOOR LATCH. THERE IS ALREADY A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE REGARDLESS. I DON'T WANT TO END UP ANOTHER STATISTIC AND HAVE MY CAR RECALLED 11 YEARS LATER WHEN IT'S TOO LATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JS
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, May 18, 2014
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON I 84 ON ROUTE TO WORCESTER, MA. HAD TO COAST WITH NO POWER STEERING AND AVOID A TRUCK TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE. ENGINE STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES AND RAN FOR ANOTHER HR. LUCKILY THIS TIME, STOPPED FOR FUEL AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TO TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED.
Engine, May 16, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 35N ON MY WAY TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT PART OF 35 IS 70 MPH. IT WAS DARK AND I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH ME. WITH CARS SPEEDING PAST ME I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY DAUGHTER WAS VERY SHAKEN AS WAS I. CALLED MY BROTHER IN LAW TO COME PICK US UP. HE BASICALLY COASTED IT BACK TO HIS HOUSE ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY QUICK THINKING AND DRIVING ABILITY, I MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. VERY BAD FEELING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE WARNING LIGHT (SSIBLE) ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,400 . THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-95 IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAILED. FORTUNATELY, BOTH THE RAIN AND TRAFFIC WERE RELATIVELY LIGHT AND I HAD SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT INTERCHANGE. HAD IT HAPPENED ONE DAY LATER DURING THE HEAVY RAIN, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF THE WIPER LINKAGE DETACHING ITSELF FROM THE WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC BALL JOINT TYPE CONNECTOR. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 28, 2014
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 6 TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ABOUT 70 MILES OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA GOING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS. SUDDENLY MY TRACTION LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION CAME ON, THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR VERY SUDDENLY AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME COULD NOT STOP FAST ENOUGH AND THE ONLY REASON I WAS NOT HIT WAS BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TERRIFIED, I SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. SINCE I WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DARK, I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN TO GET HOME. I MADE IT TO ATLANTA, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ENTERING THE CITY ON THE LOOP. I BASICALLY COASTED HOME. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT JIM ELLIS CHEVROLET IN ATLANTA WHERE I LEFT IT LAST NIGHT. NEED IMMEDIATE HELP. MY ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND ON THIS FORUM. [XXX] MY POSTS ARE UNDER [XXX]3. I AM HOPING FOR SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION SO I WILL NOT HAVE TO RETAIN A LAWYER. *JS PARTS 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).
Power train, Apr 17, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REDUCE POWER MODE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AS THE ACCELERATION DECREASED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THIS FAILURE RECURRED EVERY 22 MILES TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Steering, Apr 17, 2014
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND YOU MAKE A RIGHT THERE IS A NOTICE SOUNDS LIKE COMING FROM RIGHT WHEEL AND RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. WHEN PARKING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES THE RUBBING SOUND. TOOK THE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A TUESDAY GOT OIL CHANGED AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY WAS OVER AND NEED BRAKES AND FUEL AND THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. WENT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP ON THURSDAY CHARGED $85. TO TELL ME THAT STEERING GEAR AND RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR A PRICE OF OVER $800. I DECLINED SERVICE SINCE NOT EQUIPPED FOR A BILL LIKE THAT SINCE THE CAR IS SO NEW. I BROUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW DECEMBER OF 2010. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD NEED REPLACING IN 3 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS SO THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE RECALL!!
Air bags, Apr 17, 2014
I HAD JUST GOT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CARS AIR BAG SENSORS. I HAD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS AFTER ONLY HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS SO THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM THE 1ST TIME THEY HAD TO ME THAT THIS WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 10000 MILES LATER THE LIGHT WAS ON AND OFF AGAIN AND DID NOT WANT TO FIX THIS AGAIN.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 16, 2014
WIPER SYSTEM FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. NEITHER WIPER BLADE MOVED. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PART COST $135 FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER PLUS $150 LABOR TO INSTALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY WARNING SUCH AS SLIPPAGE SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO SEE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AND EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO CHANGE LANES AND PULL OVER. *TT
Steering, Apr 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE WARNING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WAS DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS REDUCED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Power train, Apr 5, 2014
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 270 AT AROUND 50 TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED UPON BREAKING WITH A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN I WENT TO REACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED FREQUENTLY SO NOW WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAKE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION UNNECESSARY BUT THE CAR STILL CLUNKS OUT OF GEAR UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Steering, Apr 3, 2014
I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU 4DR SDN LT, THAT HAS A RATTLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE REPRODUCING THE SAME NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS IN PARKING LOTS AND IN CITY TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS UNDER 30 MPH ON COURSE ROADS/PAVEMENT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FIXED PER NOTICE #PI0372. THAT NOTICE ADVISED THE DEALER TO PUT TWO ADDITIONAL WAVE WASHERS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL CONNECTOR PIN WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE POWER BOOSTER PUSHROD. GUESS WHAT, I PICKED-UP MY CAR AFTER 6PM & EVERYONE IN SERVICE HAD GONE HOME..THE NOISE STILL EXISTS. OBVIOUSLY IF THE REPAIR TECH HAD TAKEN IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND LISTENED HE COULD HAVE HEARD AND FELT THAT THE NOISE WAS STILL VERY PREVALENT. NOW I MUST TAKE SOME MORE TIME OFF FROM WORK AND RETURN TO THE DEALER AND GO THRU THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING RATTLING AND OR FEELING LOOSE ON THEIR MALIBU 2011 ?? *TR
Steering, Apr 3, 2014
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WENT OUT....THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT...RAINING...BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT....TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Apr 2, 2014
I PURCHASED MY 2011 MALIBU IN APRIL 2012. INITIALLY, I WAS EXPERIENCING POWER SURGES UPON BREAKING. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND MY CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SENSOR. I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SURGES OCCASIONALLY. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE I WAS GETTING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON A ROUGH A SURFACE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS FINE FOR A YEAR, NOW THAT PROBLEM IS RETURNING. DURING THE WINTER 2013, MY REAR DEFROST STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR FUSE BLOCK WAS MELTED AND IT WILL COST $535 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. AND ANOTHER $230 TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED---- IT DOESN'T CONNECT SECURELY WITHOUT FIDDLING WITH IT. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ISSUED ON ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAVE READ BLOGS AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, AND THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Mar 27, 2014
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE NEXT MORNING IT DID NOT COME ON. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, SAME ISSUE, SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED. IT CONTINUED TO COME ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 400 FOR THE NEW PART AND ANOTHER 200 TO "FLASH" THE COMPUTER. THEY ALSO SAID OUR AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK AS LONG AS THIS LIGHT WAS ON. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND STAYED OFF. THEN ON 3/26/14, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND CONTINUES TO COME ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND SINCE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK, IT JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIX. *TR
Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 26, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING MY ESC POPPED ON MY MESSAGE BOARD ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE SPEED. SO I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY THROTTLE SENSOR. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AND IT STOPS THE MESSAGES FROM POPPING UP FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. THE CAR WON'T IDLE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF. NOW NORMALLY I WOULDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BUT TO GO GET IT FIXED. ME AND MY MOM HAVE THE SAME MALIBU SHE JUST HAD THE LT EDITION WELL HERS STARTED DOING THE SAME EXACT THING! YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT BOTH OF THESE CARS WAS JUST GONNA START DOING THE SAME THING AT THE EXACT SAME TIME! *TR
Seats, Mar 26, 2014, fire
AFTER HAVING REPAIRS MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DRIVERS SEAT HEATER NOT WORKING. THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ELEMENT WAS REPLACED, I HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WHEN THE SEAT STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. WITH THE HELP OF ANOTHER MOTORIST I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I RECEIVED SEVERE BURNS TO MY RIGHT LEG AND HANDS. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
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
Air bags, Mar 20, 2014
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE, AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO OUR DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH THE MALIBUS. THEY ADVISED US THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROL SYSTEM" HAD DIED AND THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK. THE SERVICE TO REPLACE THE "BRAIN" WOULD COST $1000 PARTS AND LABOR. AFTER THROWING A SMALL FIT THEY "GOT WITH THE CHEVY CUSTOMER TEAM" AND WERE ABLE TO DO IT FOR JUST COST OF PARTS ($400 +/-). WE PAID FOR THE SERVICE, AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE THE PARTS CARRIED A 1 YEAR WARRANTY, YIPPEE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER A HARD BRAKING EVENT, THAT THE CONTROL BOX SHORTS OUT. I THINK THAT IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF IT WAS SOMETHING INCONSEQUENTIAL, BUT THIS IS A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT. WE HAD TO GET IT FIXED, I'M NOT LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE HER CAR WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *TR