Page 10 of 20 · complaints 451–500 of 978

2011 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2011 record →

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 22, 201872,000 milesTN

VERY DANGEROUS REDUCED ENGINE POWER WILL OCCUR AT ANY TIME. I COULD BE DRIVING 70 MPH AND IT WILL DROP TO 5MPH. SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED!! I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR REPLACED BEC THAT'S THE CODE THAT WAS BEING TRANSMITTED AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 3 DAYS. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AS I'M DRIVING MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN HOME ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WILL DROP SPEED AND VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND NOT GO OVER 10MPH.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 20, 201889,500 milesOH

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPUTER ASSISTED POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FIXED AT DOUG CHEVROLET 1-12-2018. NOW (AFTER THE WARRANTY REPAIR OF A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR) WHEN DRIVING FOUR DAYS LATER HE LOST POWER, VEHICLE FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCED POWER AND SLOWED IMMEDIATELY FROM 45 TO 5 MPH AND HE WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME. THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING WAS IMMEDIATE AND DRASTIC AND CARS BEHIND HIM WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT.

Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2018112,659 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "REDUCE POWER" ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. JACK WINEGARDNER CHEVROLET (11001 INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE THROTTLE BODY WARRANTY EXTENSION AND SPECIAL COVERAGE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,659. 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).*JB

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 201810 milesIA

TAKATA RECALL DEALERS ARE TO ATTACH THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE BCM WITH A SPACER, APPLY DIELECTRIC LUBRICANT TO BOTH THE BCM AND HARNESS CONNECTOR AND ON THE BAS AND HARNESS CONNECTOR, AND RELEARN THE BRAKE PEDAL HOME POSITION FREE OF CHARGE. AND ALSO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTBOARD LAP ANCHOR MOUNTING BRACKET TO RE-LOCATE THE TENSIONER 30MM REARWARD. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CABLE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LAP PRETENSIONER. THESE REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 11, 201870,000 milesNM

WHILE TURNING ONTO A STREET MY ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. AFTER ENTERING TRAFFIC MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL NOTICE APPEARED AS DID INFORMATION INFORMING ME I HAD REDUCED ENGINE POWER. UPON LOOKING UP THIS PROBLEM I LEARNED THAT MANY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2011 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU AROUND THE SAME 70,000-80,000 MILES.

Wheels
Filed Jan 11, 201834,000 milesIN

THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN FAILED WITH LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, WHICH COST JUST OVER $400. IF THE BEARING WOULD HAVE FULLY FAILED PRIOR TO MY SEEKING REPAIRS, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEPARATED TIRE AND BEARING FROM THE REST OF THE VEHICLE OR A LOCKED UP WHEEL, WHICH COULD HAVE STEERED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT INJURY, DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE DEALERSHIP AND PARENT COMPANY OFFERED NO COMPENSATION OR INVESTIGATION, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THEY'VE REPAIRED MANY MALIBUS WITH WITH SAME ISSUE. I ASKED TO SEE THE FAILED PART, AND SAW EVIDENCE OF EXTREME HEAT BUILD-UP AND SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE TO TURNING OF THE BEARING.

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire1 injured
Filed Jan 10, 201869,621 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE CONTACT'S COAT. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BURNED ON THE BACK UNDER THE RIGHT SHOULDER BLADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (LITHIA CHEVROLET OF REDDING, 200 E. CYPRESS AVENUE, REDDING, CA, 96002) ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,621. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAT MODULE, SEAT COVER, AND PAD WAS REPLACED ON 02/13/17. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 5, 201884,000 milesMN

MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WONT FUNCTION.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 4, 2018127,210 milesSC

FAULT CODES POWER STEERING AND BREAK LIGHT SHOW UP ON DASH BOARD. CODES WILL NOT CLEAR THUS CUSSING THE VEHICLE A NO START NO CRANK. THE VEHICLE WHILE BE DRIVEN INSTRUMENT GUAGES GO IN AND OUT CAUSING IT TO THROW CODES RANDOMLY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 3, 2018100,000 milesNM

MY CHEVY MALIBU HAS HAD TWO LEAKING STEEL RIMS. THE FIRST TIME ONE OF MY RIMS WAS LEAKING IT WAS WHILE IT WAS PARKED. I KEPT PUTTING AIR IN MY TIRE AND WOULD NOT STAY FOR LONG. I HAD TO ADD AIR AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A DAY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP WHEN MY TIRE STARTED TO SLOWLY LOOSE AIR AND I HAD TO FILL IT UP A FEW TIMES JUST TO MAKE IT HOME SINCE STEEL RIMS FOR MY CHEVY MALIBU ARE SO HARD TO FIND SINCE ITS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT CHEVROLET HAS YET TO ADDRESS.

Steering
Filed Dec 31, 201744,000 milesPA

STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO WORK . ON THE SCREEN CAME UP POWER STEERING ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ALSO ON AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE CABLE AND BATTERY. WAS GOING TO GO TO THE STORE TODAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED NO POWER STEERING. NOT REALLY DRIVING THE CAR THIS WEEKEND. IT'S DANGEROUS IF IT WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS FILED A COMPLAINT IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A LITTLE BIT AND RESTART I HAVE POWER STEERING AGAIN

Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2017130,000 milesSD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THAT THE ACCELERATION WOULD BEGAN TO DECREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PLACE IT IN PARK TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, INDICATING THE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE, AND ESC FAILED AND NEEDED SERVICING. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND RECEIVED ERROR CODE P-2135, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR POSITION NEEDED REPAIRING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Air BagsCrash4 injured
Filed Dec 22, 201760,070 milesCA

AIRBAGS AND SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, STEERING LOCKED UP AND WHEEL SEPARATED FORM AXEL

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 19, 2017TX

I CALL WYLIE MUSSER MOTOR S FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY WILL REPAIR WHEN THEY HAVE THE ORDER. IT HAS BEEN 2 YEARS AND STILL NO CALL BACK FOR SERVICE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 14, 201778,733 milesMI

THE SENSOR FOR AIRBAGS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ME ALL THE TIME SOMETIMES IT WILL BUT MOST THE TIME WONT

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 10, 2017OH

DRIVERS FLOOR WAS SOAKING WET AFTER A RAINY NIGHT SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS BEEN READING SERVICE ESC AND NOW IT WONT START.

Exterior Lighting › HeadlightsFire
Filed Nov 29, 2017200,000 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP FAILED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HARNESS TO THE LOW BEAMS WAS BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE HARNESS BURNED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HARNESS WAS REPLACED ONE TIME ALSO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (JIM GLOVER CHEVROLET IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA) THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2017204,000 milesOH

POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 27, 2017GA

'TAKATA RECALL' THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE LIGHT BECAME DIM. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, I HEARN A CHIME AND THE DASH SHOWS 'POWER STEERING' AND 'SERVICE ESC'. THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK; ONLY FLICKER N THE DASH AND LOOSE POWER.

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 20, 2017NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER RECALL REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS). THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED FROM THE BASE CONNECTION. THE BUCKLE LOCKED IN PLACE, BUT THE PART WAS FRACTURED; THEREFORE, THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT SECURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER (WEST HERR CHEVROLET OF HAMBURG, 5025 SOUTHWESTERN BLVD, HAMBURG, NY 14075, (716) 217-4129) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Power Train
Filed Nov 16, 201743,070 milesIL

I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT ALTHOUGH IT IS A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OLD, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS RELATED TO THE COMPLAINT I RECENTLY SUBMITTED, COMPLAINT NUMBER: 11045010, PLUS CHEVROLET NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2014 AT ABOUT 2PM I AM GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AS I AM ABOUT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AND START TO ACCELERATION I FEEL A SURGE AND THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I AM ABLE TO I PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CONTACT THE SHOP WHERE I TAKE MY CAR TO BE SERVICED AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING. BRACH'S AUTO RUNS A ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND THE CODES ARE P0700 AND P2714. THE MANAGER ASKS IF MY CAR IS STILL UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND IT WAS STILL UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO HE SUGGESTS I CONTACT CHEVROLET. I FIRST CONTACT WEBB CHEVY OAK LAWN WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL 2 WEEKS AWAY SO I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE AND SPOKE WITH A REP WHO HELPED ME TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH KINGDOM CHEVROLET AND TO RECEIVE A GM RENTAL. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE LICENSED SHOP WHERE I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS FEE I HAD ALREADY HAD COMPLETED. KINGDOM CHEVROLET CAME UP WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC CODES AS BRACH'S AUTO AND SUGGESTED A THROTTLE BODY SERVICE AND FUEL INJECTION SERVICE FOR RUNNING ISSUES. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED I TOOK IT BACK TO BRACH'S AUTO TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND IT WAS SUGGESTED T

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 14, 201796,000 milesNJ

FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. HAD TO CLIMB OVER SEAT TO GET OUT OF THE BACK DOOR. CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 13, 201780,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

Power Train
Filed Nov 9, 201784,000 milesIL

ON NOVEMBER 1, 2017, WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY I HEAR THIS LOUD REVVING NOISE, I TURN MY RADIO OFF AND REALIZE IT IS MY CAR MAKING THE NOISE AND THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF IN HOPES OF THE ERROR CLEARING OUT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, WHEN IT WAS SAVE TO DO SO, I PULLED BACK INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS AS I COULD NOT GO OVER 20 TO 30 MPH WITHOUT THE RPM GOING UP. I MADE IT HOME, TRIED TO BACK INTO MY GARAGE ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE, PULLED AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND PARKED THE CAR. SINCE IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT, I CALLED CHEVROLET THE NEXT DAY AND THE ONLY THING THEY COULD HELP ME WITH WAS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS AS MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR MODELS 2007 THRU 2009 FOR THE SAME ISSUES. MY SERVICE ADVISER CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY TO TELL ME IT WAS DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THEY FOUND METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION AND HIS ADVICE WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. MY DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS P0776( PRESSURE SOLENOID 2 STUCK OFF), MY BILL $3946 FOR CAR THAT HAS 84000 MILES ON IT. A CAR THAT I AM STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE ON. WHEN I PURCHASED IT 4 YEARS AGO IT HAD JUST UNDER 30000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DONE EVERYT

Engine
Filed Nov 7, 201795,000 milesNY

TIMING CHAIN, ENGINE NOISE

Power Train
Filed Nov 6, 201799,000 milesMD

EVER SINCE PURCHASING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU, IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM SHIFTING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED IT SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG. I TOLD THEM IT SEEMED LIKE IT HAD A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS ESPECIALLY GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I COULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND IT STARTED TO OVER HEAT AND STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT UNTIL I GOT THE SPEEDOMETER UP TO 95. IMAGINE BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR CAR JUST STOPS SHIFTING GEARS. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES TO BE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG JUST TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. AFTER TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A WAVE PLATE REPAIR WHICH WOULD MEAN REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT PLACES ALL QUOTING ME THE SAME AMOUNT OF $3000. WHILE AT TWO OF THE AUTO SHOPS I RAN INTO 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH MALIBU THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AND MY CAR AND THEIRS HAS LESS THAN 100K MILES

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 30, 201755,000 milesMI

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 25, 201770,800 milesFL

THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATOR AND THE CHIMES SOUND WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS ENGAGED IT GOES OFF AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON AS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU FOR THE SAME CONDITION

Steering
Filed Oct 2, 2017DE

RIGTH TURN POWER STEERING STOP WORKING OLMOST HAVE A ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR COMING POWER STEERING ESC ON

Steering
Filed Sep 22, 2017155,000 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND SHOOK THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Sep 9, 2017130,000 milesCA

THE SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION SENSORS FLASH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. THE CAR LOSES POWER AND LURCHES AND BUCKS. THE CAR RUNS REALLY ROUGH AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! THE DEALER SAID THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED $1700 WORTH OF CLEANING, BUT DIDN'T MENTION ANY OF THE STUFF WE FOUND FROM OUR RESEARCH.

Steering
Filed Sep 8, 201791,419 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,419.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 7, 2017122,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WIGGLED AND MADE A SQUEAKY AND GRINDING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC (21800 WOODWARD AVE, FERNDALE, MI 48220 (248) 547-6100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE MOTOR TO THE ELECTRICAL STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2017154,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

Power Train
Filed Sep 5, 201730,654 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WYMER CHEVROLET IN CUMBERLAND, MD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,654.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 30, 2017138,900 milesAZ

SERVICE TRACTION AND ESC OFF ARE THE MESSAGES THAT POP UP. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON. UNABLE TO DISABLE ENABLE/DISABLE WITH THE TC BUTTON. WHILE DRIVING THE TWO MESSAGES APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WON'T TURN OFF AND THE ESC FEATURE IS OFF. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE WERE 3 RECALLS FOR THE 2011 MALIBU. I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU AND WHEN I MADE A SEARCH WITH THE VIN IT SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS. ON VEHICLEHISTORY.COM I MADE A VIN SEARCH AND THE RECALLS WERE FOUND. THE RECALL ON THE 2011 MALIBU WAS FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT THERE COULD BE DISABLEMENT OF CRASH AVOIDANCE FEATURES SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND PANIC BRAKING ASSIST FEATURES.

SteeringCrash
Filed Aug 21, 201783,000 milesIL

ON 8/20/2017 AT AROUND 9:30PM I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK BACK-ROAD IN LEMONT, ILL. (BLUFF RD. TO BE EXACT) I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 20MILES AN HOUR & NEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON & MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO HAVE NO CONTROL OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PUMPED MY BRAKES SO NOT TO GO OFF THE ROAD. AFTER LOSING CONTROL I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO STEER MY WAY HOME BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DARK BACK ROAD. VERY SCARY!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO GET MY CAR FIXED. AUTO MECHANICS ARE ON STRIKE HERE

Seats
Filed Aug 16, 201799,100 milesNJ

THE FRAME ATTACHED TO THE BASE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COLLAPSED WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO SWERVE BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANYTHING AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE SEAT IS LEANING TO THE RIGHT . I GOT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED THEM TO REPAIR IT AND FILED A REPORT CASE# 8-3168765111. FILE NOTICE WITH GM AND I AM AWAITING A DETERMINATION ON MY CLAIM, I AM HOPEFUL THAT GM WILL HONOR MY CLAIM AND INVESTIGATE PRODUCTION ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE LEAD TO THIS ISSUE. I REVIEWED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS .HOPEFULLY NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM,

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 12, 2017TN

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2017 YR. EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN (20MPH OR LESS) OR STOP MY CAR STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE ESC AND TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LINE COMES ON AND STARTS BLINKING. ALSO, THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT IS LOOSING POWER. ONCE I TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL NOT GO FAST AT ALL. IT IS LIKE IT HAS TO BUILD POWER BACK UP. IT IS NOW THE SUMMER TIME AND I CANNOT TURN ON MY AC BECAUSE IF I AM DRIVING LESS THE 40MPH, MY CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER MY HOOD EXCEPT MY ENGINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND ONE PARTICULAR ONE TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. HOW? WHEN I SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE. THIS IS A 2011 HOW COULD THERE BE A BAD ENGINE IN ALL THESE CARS. I TRIED TO TAKE MY CAR TO CHEVY DUE TO A RECALL THAT IS OUT FOR THE ESC ON THESE CARS AND SINCE MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE LOCATION IN WHICH THE RECALL CAME FROM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS FOR A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU, THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET HIT AND KILLED. I AM AT A STOPPING POINT. MY CAR TAG EXPIRES IN DEC I NEED TO FIND A RESOLUTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.. TO BEAT IT ALL I STILL AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. FML

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 13, 2017122,000 milesMI

WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING MY VEHICLE WILL SAY SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE IT WILL SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI. I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A DITCH. IN THE WINTER IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. NOT IN WINTER MONTHS IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS ON 7/11/17. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS EVEN AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2017OH

LAST 3 YRS MY ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON. LAST AUG 2016 HAD THE CAR IF FOR THIS REPLACED A BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM CAME BACK 3 WEEKS LATER. WENT FOR 2 MORE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. MAY 2017 PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, WHEN THIS SERVICE ESC COMES ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE. THE LIGHT COMES ON DURING THE WARM MONTHS, EITHER DURING THE ACTUAL BRAKING OR WHEN I AM IN A STOP POSITION HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE. GM CUSTOMER CARE HAS BE OF NO HELP THUS FAR.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 3, 2017106,807 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS SCANNED FOR A CODE BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE CHEVROLET BUICK OWINGS MILLS DEALER LOCATED AT 11234 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESSED WHICH DECREASED SLIGHTLY THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. A CHIME SOUNDED BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HER TO NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT TO TAKE PHOTOS AND SEND THEM TO AN E-MAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CASE NUMBER FOR THE CONVERSATION WITH THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE WAS 8-3068861818. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), 14E44000

Power Train
Filed Jun 27, 20171 milesTX

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED, CAR "SQUEALED", CAR STARTED SHAKING, AND TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST FIRST GEAR. IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, HAD TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SAFETY. NO PRIOR NOTIFICATION (LIGHTS, WARNINGS, NOISES) THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CAR JUST RECENTLY EXCEEDED THE 100000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WAS NOTIFIED IT WAS THE WAKE PLATE THAT FAILED. CONSIDERING ALL OF THE OTHER CHEVY OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, I THINK CHEVY SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 18, 2017120,000 milesOH

ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE. IT REDUCES THE SPEED TO 5 MPH. YOU CAN TURN THE CAR OFF SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND IT RUNS FINE. IT DOES THIS DAILY. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS AND IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT EITHER.

Engine
Filed May 30, 201766,000 milesMN

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER GOING UP A HILL AND THEN LOST ALL POWER AS WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF TO AN EXIT RAMP. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP SINCE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE DRIVING HOME. AUTO MECHANIC SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN 6 YEARS AND ONLY 66,000 MILES. HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON OTHER MALIBUS. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed May 18, 2017180,000 milesMN

MY WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER VEHICAL RAN A RED LIGHT AND COLIDED WITH HER IN THE DRIVER FRONT AND HEAD ON TYPE. THE VEHICALS SIDE AIR BAGS AND THE DRIVER OR PASSANGER AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.THIS IS IN A POLICE REPORT AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR.THE TWO CARS COLIDED AT A INTERSECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF LACROSSE WIS AND THE OTHER VEHICAL WENT OVER MY CARS HOOD AND OVER TURNED. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS EXTRACTED FROM HIS VEHICAL WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE.

Engine
Filed May 16, 201733,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO INTO DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER OVERHAUL KIT, PISTONS, CONTROL SOLENOID, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed May 15, 2017162,000 milesSC

CAR SEAT (HEAT WARMER) CAUGHT ON FIRE

Traction Control System
Filed May 8, 2017134,000 milesWV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WHILE BEING OPERATED AT 80 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE SERVICE ESC, AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

Engine
Filed May 5, 20177,100 milesOH

MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN 2014 THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL THAT THE LIGHT WOULD EVENUALLY GO OUT. UPON PURCHASE IT HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT, BECAUSE THEY HAD IT FOR A FEW WEEKS DUE TO IT HAVING HAIL DAMAGE THE FINANCE COMPANY WOULDN'T APPROVE THE LOAN BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS RIDING OK UP UNTIL A FEW MONTHA AGO I NOTICED I WAS LOOSING POWER IT WAS DRIVING SLOWER, I STARTED FEELING IT TUGGING WHEN I WANTED TO PICK UP SPEED. THEN 3 DAYS AGO IT JUST WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE, WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH BACK TO DRIVING IT WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE ULTIMATELY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE TRANMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT. I BARELY DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT IT IS VERY CLEAN. I LOOKED UP ALL THE RECALLS ON MY CAR AND NONE OF THEM I WAS NOTIFIED FOR AND THERE ARE MANY. SO WHY AM I NOT GETTING A LETTER ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY GONE OUT. UP UNTIL NOW I WAS IN LOVE WITH THIS CHEVROLET MALIBU AND WAS A DEVOTED CUSTOMER ADVISING PEOPLE THIS WAS A GOOD CAR, NOW I'M NOT SO SURE. LOOKING AT ALL THESE RECALLS ARE ALARMING.

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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