Page 11 of 20 · complaints 501–550 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 Apr 20, 201785,000 milesIA

WHILE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED (BETW 10-20 MPH) ON 3/20/17, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, THE SERVICE ESC MESSAGE LIGHT TURNS ON, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNS ON (WITH MESSAGE THAT CAR WILL POWER DOWN). SO, IF I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF (BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN ON IT'S OWN), WAIT 2 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RESET, THEN GET RPM UP QUICK (SO THE SPEED IS QUICKLY ABOVE THE 20 MPH), THEN IT IS WOULDN'T DO IT AND I COULD GET IT TO THE MECHANIC. WHEN THE MECHANIC WENT TO CHECK IT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO NO LUCK WITH COMPUTER SCAN. HE PUT IN NEW BATTERY. SO I DROVE IT AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT AND HE REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL (COMPUTER CODE INDICATED A BAD SENSOR). HOWEVER, IT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. BRAND NEW BATTERY AND STILL DRAINING BATTERY (OVERNIGHT). MECHANIC THINKS A RELAY MAY BE STAYING OPEN SOMEWHERE HOWEVER ISN'T SURE. CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE SHAKING AND THAT SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGES COME ON WITH STATEMENT THAT VEHICLE WILL POWER DOWN (WHILE DRIVING). FIRST OCCURRED ON 3/20/2017 AND IS STILL OCCURRING 4/20/2017 (MECHANIC HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX)! BEEN DEALING WITH A SLOW BATTERY DRAIN SINCE PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2016. IF DIDN'T DRIVE CAR FOR 5 DAYS, BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD (4TH DAY WAS STILL OK). THEN IN MARCH 2017, OTHER ISSUE STARTED AND THE BATTERY DRAIN BECAME MUCH WORSE. NOW BRAND NEW BATTERY AND WILL DRAIN COMPLETELY DEAD OVERNIGHT. HUGE ELECTRICAL IS

Steering
Filed Apr 19, 201793,000 milesKY

HEATING/AIR DOESN'T WANT TO BLOW UNLESS A WINDOW OR SUNROOF IS OPEN AND CAR IS IN MOTION.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 17, 201797,000 milesCA

THE DASHBOARD SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THE RADIO AT TIMES GOES SILENT. THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF AND HAVING TO REPLACE. THE ECM OR ECU HAS WENT OUT. AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ONE. ON THIS WHILE THE CAR IS ON, DRIVING AND STATIONARY.

Power Train
Filed Apr 4, 2017100 milesFL

ACCORDING TO DEALER, A PRODUCT FAILURE OCCURRED. A PLATE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND DAMAGED 3RD, 4TH AND REAR GEARS. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS AND 78,000 MIKES WITH A YRANSMISSION FLUSH AT 60,000. DEALER STATES IT COULDNT BE A BAD FLUSH.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 4, 2017FL

SPEED SLOW DOWN ON A 55 MPH HIGHWAY TO 10 MPH AND WOULDNT GET NO SPEED AND IT THROTTLE AND SHAKE UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP THE MOST SCARY THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME I WENT FROM A FORD TO CHEVY THE MOST STUPID IDEA I COULD'VE EVER DONE AND EVER LIGHT ON DASH BOARD IS ON AND BLINKING TO BRAKE LIGHT,TRACTION LIGHT,ETC LIGHT, RADIO AND CLOCK LIGHTS THE SPEED DOOR AND WINDOW LIGHTS ITS TO MUCH TO DEAL WITH IM AFRAID THAT THIS CAR IS GONNA TAKE MY LIFE FROM ME BUT NOONE CAN FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR I'VE GOT AN OIL CHANGE TO SPARK PLUGS AND SO MUCH MORE DONE ON THIS CAR AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED THIS THE FOURTH TIME THIS CAR HAS PUT ME DOWN IN THE SIX MTHS OF ME HAVING THIS CAR SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP I LOVE THE CAR BUT ITS NOT A SAFE CAR TO HAVE AND I CAN EVEN EXCHANGE IT OUT FOR ANOTHER ONE AT LEAST THATS WHAT THE PEOPLE AT THE CAR LOT SAYS.

Seats
Filed Mar 31, 201776,782 milesGA

DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKING - NO NOTICE THE DRIVER SEAT RIGHT SIDE SAGS AND IS LOOSE MOVES AROUND. NORMAL GETTING IN AND OUT OF CAR. HAD DEALER LOOK AT IT AND SAID FRAME BROKEN. SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED 1100.00 VERIFIED SEAT FRAME BROKEN WITH CHEVROLET DEALER IN GA HAZARD DRIVING WHEN DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKS WITHOUT NOTICE.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 30, 201794,157 milesMI

THE ENGINE STARTS TO SPUTTER , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING . HAD IT IN CHEVROLET GARAGE AND NO CODE SHOWED UP THEY REPLACED A SENSOR TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED . PROBLEM RETURNED , THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL EXISTS. VERY DANGEROUS. NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT.

Engine
Filed Mar 30, 201766,500 milesNJ

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE THUS FAR. ONCE WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS FLASHED ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO REV ERRATICALLY AND ACTUALLY CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. SOME MESSAGES BEGAN TO COME UP ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AND THE MESSAGE THAT REMAINED WAS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM THE LIGHT TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER THE CAR WAS JERKING AND I COULD BARELY ACCELERATE. WHILE DRIVING THIS SLOWDOWN AND JERKING HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS FOR WHILE BEFORE HAPPENING AGAIN. ONCE PARKED, OPENING THE HOOD SHOWED A VIOLENTLY SHAKING ENGINE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MALIBU AROUND THAT TIME AND THE MILEAGE I HAVE ON THE CAR (66500). THE CULPRIT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY, FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER DRIVERS.

Seats
Filed Mar 28, 201767,800 milesCT

FOR SOMETIME NOW IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN I GET INTO THE DRIVER SEAT IT FEELS LIKE THE SEAT IS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE ISSUE WAS FELT BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AS I AFTER 1-2 YEARS WENT TO THE BACK SEAT TO THE REAR OF THE SEAT AND PUT MY HANDS UNDER THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SEAT AND LIFTED. THE SEAT MOVED! I THEN CALLED CHEVROLET TO SEE IF THEY HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT OR THE FRAME AND I WAS TOLD NO. I THEN TALKED WITH MCDERMOTT AND I WAS TOLD THE SEAT WOULD COST ME CLOSE TO $1,000 DOLLARS. I THEN CONTACTED CNA NATIONAL WARRANTY CORPORATION AND I HAVE BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE THROUGH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. CNA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE SEAT FRAME BUT WOULD COVER THE SEAT TRACK. I CALLED CHEVROLET AGAIN ON 03/27/2017 AND THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE SEAT? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I HAVE DEALT WITH A DRIVER SEAT BREAKING ON A CHEVROLET PRODUCT. I WEIGH 200LBS AND THE SEAT FRAME SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THIS SEAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND MOVEMENT FROM A HUMAN BODY WITH A SEAT BELT? I HAVE A CASE NUMBER FROM CHEVROLET: 2844719955. I'M WORKING ON GETTING A CASE NUMBER FROM CNA TODAY. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THE 2006, 2010, 2011 AND 2012 MALIBU ISSUES WITH CAR SEATS. I NEED THE SEAT REPLACED AND IT HAS DONE SOME DAMAGE TO THE CENTER CONSOLE FROM THE MOVEMENT FROM THE SEAT. THIS

Steering
Filed Mar 27, 201713,260 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,260.

Power Train
Filed Mar 22, 201795,000 milesMN

A KNOWN CHEVROLET ISSUE ON THEIR 2.4 L ENGINE CAUSED FAILURE IN MY AUTOMOBILE WHILE TRAVELLING 70 MPH ON I94 IN MINNESOTA. IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP WE MAY HAVE DIED. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO GM AND HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN OTHER VEHICLES BUT THE MALIBU THEY LEFT OUT. GM WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THIS. THE TIMING CHAIN, OR CHAIN TENSIONER, OR CHAIN GUIDES FAILED CAUSING THE CHAIN TO BREAK AND LOSE POWER WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN THE ROAD. EVERY GM MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO AFTER THIS HAPPENED HAS SAID THAT THESE VEHICLES REQUIRE AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES BUT GM STATES DIFFERENTLY. THEY SAY IF YOU FOLLOW GM STANDARDS THIS WILL HAPPEN ALMOST EVERY TIME. VEHICLE HAD UNDER 100,000 MILES ON ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MASS CASUALTY. AGAIN THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN ON GM VEHICLES AND THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL MORE PEOPLE WITH A MALIBU COME FORWARD. THIS NEED TO BE RESOLVED AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TRAVELLING DOWN THE ROADS IN MN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Power Train
Filed Mar 20, 2017125,000 milesNC

REACTOR GEAR BROKE, BLOWING INTO ALL PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. BROKE WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, WASN'T ABLE TO SPEED UP OR MOVE OUT OF FIRST GEAR. ALSO WAS NOT ABLE TO REVERSE. RESULTED IN A NEED FOR A TOTAL NEW TRANSMISSION.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 3, 201798,000 milesMA

CHECK LIGHT WITH EVAPORATIVE LEAK AT LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND APPROX 97800 MILES. DEALER REPLACED HEAVILY CORRODED FUEL PUMP MODULE, AND A WEEK LATER THE FUEL TANK ITSELF, ALSO DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. DEALER PROVIDED DISCOUNTS AND FREE LOANER, I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH DEALER. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH CHEVROLET FOR NOT PROPERLY DESIGNING THESE PARTS WHICH WERE HEAVILY CORRODED IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS. I AM OUT A SUBSTANTIAL SUM, ABOUT $1600, AND HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSTANCE. A FUEL OR VAPOR LEAK IS CERTAINLY DANGEROUS AND I ASSUME IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL EMISSIONS REGS. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND TO EMAIL. I WAS HOPING FOR SOME COMPENSATION AS I AM A LONGTIME/MULTI CHEVY OWNER. WHILE NOT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, IT SEEMS A FUEL LEAK IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND I WANTED TO LOG A COMPLAINT SO NHTSA CAN DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT EXISTS. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE ONLY MALIBU WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

Power Train
Filed Mar 2, 201792,000 milesIL

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAS BROKEN. IT IS THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT IS SITTING LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS VERY WORRISOME. WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT OR ANYTHING AND YOU GO TO TAKE OFF IT FEELS LIKE CAR SHUTS DOWN BRIEFLY AND THEN IT KICKS IN. THE PROBLEM CAN NEVER SEEM TO BE REPLICATED AT A DEALERSHIP IMAGINE THAT.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2017110,000 milesMD

THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED HIGH BEAM LAMPS ONLY THE LOW BEAM LAMPS ARE BLOWING OUT AFTER REPLACEMENT.

Seats
Filed Feb 28, 2017CT

I DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE FRONT SEAT BELTS, NOT SURE IF THE SEATS WERE REMOVED. SINCE THEN THE DRIVERS SEAT FELT AS IF IT WAS CLOSER TO THE CENTER CONSOLE AND LEANING MORE TO THE RIGHT NOT TO MENTION A TOOL (BATTERY POWERED ANGLE DRIVER) WAS FOUND IN THE BACK LEFT SEAT LATER AND RETURNED TO MCDERMOTT. MY SEAT IS LEANING MORE AND MORE AS TIME PASSES AND I WENT TO THE REAR SEAT TO LOOK AT THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE RIGHT SIDE MOUNTED TO THE FLOOR RAIL IS LIFTING UP? I THE SPOKE WITH CHEVROLET DIRECT ONLINE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND ME THE SEAT WITH MY SEAT BELT ON WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND MY SEAT IS ALSO DAMAGED FROM THE MOVEMENT, LEATHER SEAT. THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Engine
Filed Feb 20, 201772,000 milesND

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4 CYL. ECHO TECH ENGINE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THEY HAVE MANY VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ENGINE COME IN BUT THE MALIBU HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME ENGINE AS THE TRAVERSE RECALLS. NOT REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN AND PULLEYS WILL RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE.

Engine
Filed Feb 19, 201775,000 milesNY

VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING REDUCED POWER TO JUST IDLE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED INCLUDING "REDUCED POWER." I DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT ONLY 2 MPH AND THEN PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOUR (4) TIMES AND THEN THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. I DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM TO AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE TPS CONNECTOR FOR THE ECM. TSB # PIP5019 (DOC ID#2834731) IDENTIFIES REPAIR PROCEDURE TO REPLACE PINS/CONTACTS FOR THE TPS CONNECTOR. EVIDENCE IDENTIFIES A LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY REDUCE ENGINE POWER PLACING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT GREAT RISK.

Engine
Filed Feb 14, 201773,000 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 3, 2017IL

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STAYING ON.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 31, 2017130,000 milesMI

ENGINE REDUCED POWER MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. CAR MAY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ENGINE CODE IS P2135. IT HAPPENS BETWEEN 4-10 MINUTES AFTER STARTUP. WHEN IT HAPPENS WE HAVE TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH THE VEHICLE RUNS NORMAL AT THAT POINT. THIS IS A REPEATED DAILY PROCESS AND STILL IS NOT RESOLVED. WE REMOVED THIS VEHICLE FROM HIGHWAY USE DO TO THE UNSAFE CONDITION. IT IS WINTER HERE IN MICHIGAN AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ISSUE.. CAR HAS 130,000 MILES. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 29, 201799,000 milesOH

TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, BUT BREAK LIGHTS WORK, RADIO WILL CHANGE ON ITS OWN FROM TUNER TO AUX, DASH DOESNT STAY ILLUMINATED, POWER LOCKS AND WINDOWS DONT ALWAYS WORK. DOESNT MATTER IF ITS BEING DRIVEN OR SITTING. CHECKED FUSES THEY ARE ALL GOOD.

Steering
Filed Jan 27, 2017112,500 milesAZ

THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURS WHEN DRIVING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 24, 2017LA

THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT ON THIS VEHICLES , HAVE REPLACED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY JUST KEEP GOING OUT. MY AUNT HAS THE SAME MAKE , MODEL CAR AS I DO AND SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 12, 201778,450 milesWA

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK, AND THEN THE ALERTS ACROSS THE DASH CAME UP AS "SERVICE ESC", "SERVICE TRACTION", AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER PAYING $550.00 FOR THE REPAIR THE CAR SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL RECENTLY, ONLY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR THE SAME EXACT THING HAS HAPPENED, AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR, THERE IS NO RECALL AND I'LL EITHER HAVE TO TRADE THE CAR IN (WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO) OR JUST DRIVE IT AND HOPE THE PROBLEM WILL CORRECT ITSELF. I AM BEYOND SCARED TO DRIVE IT AS MY DAUGHTER IS IN THE CAR WITH ME, AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING A DEATH TRAP DOWN THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HELP.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 11, 201760,000 milesPA

THE DRIVER'S SIDE BODY SEAM OF MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. THIS ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO MY ELECTRICAL PANEL CAUSE CORROSION TO ALL OF MY WIRING. I DETERMINED THIS AFTER DRIVING DOWN A HIGH WAY AT 60 MPH AND HAVING MY CAR DROP DOWN TO 10 MPH WITH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS, ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNINGS ALL LIGHTING UP MY PANEL. IT HAD BEEN RAINING THAT DAY. I AM LUCKY THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FOLLOWING AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE BEHIND ME. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Crash
Filed Jan 10, 201760 milesGA

I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND MY MALIBU STOPPED AND APPEARED THE IMAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND THE MOTOR WAS SHAKING AND MY LIGHT OF CHECK ENGINE WAS ON AND MY CAR DID NOT ADVANCE MORE THEN 10 MILES. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 9, 201775,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE REDUCED ENGINE SERVICE AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, IN ADDITION TO A FEW OTHER UNIDENTIFIED WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A WHILE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 6, 201795,000 milesIA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 5, 201799,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON REMEDIED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 5, 201797,000 milesMN

TRANSMISSION, THE CAR JERKS AT ALL SPEEDS, SLOWS DOWN AND SPEEDS UP .THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT THE WORSE IT GETS.WHEN YOU GO TO TAKE OFF AND PUSH THE GAS IT'S LIKE YOU PUSHED THE GAS AND LET OFF AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN TAKES OFF . IT'D LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND THEN GRABBING .

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 3, 2017VA

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A VEHICLE. IT IS TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT NHTSA SHOULD ADDRESS, AND THAT IS: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. MY QUESTION IS: WHY DOESN'T NHTSA REQUIRE THEM ON EVERY VEHICLE. JUST OPEN YOUR EYES ON A RAINY DAY, OR ANY DAY AT DUSK, AND NOTICE HOW MANY DRIVERS FORGET TO TURN ON THEIR LIGHTS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME OUT OF A WELL LIGHTED SHOPPING CENTER ONTO A HIGHWAY AND HAVEN'T REALIZED THEY HAVEN'T TURNED THEIR LIGHTS ON. IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM, I CAN CITE FOUR INSTANCES WHERE IT HAS RESULTED IN CRASHES RESULTING IN DEATH AND THAT IS ONLY IN MY SMALL PART OF THE WORLD.

Steering
Filed Dec 28, 201692,000 milesWI

STEERING WHEEL "SHAKES" AS OF 12/2016 VEHICLE HAS APPROX 92,000 MILES PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN NOV 2010 FOUR NEW TIRES JUNE 2015 FULL ALIGNMENT AUGUST 2016. BRAND NEW BRAKE PADS AND BRAND NEW ROTORS, ALL 4 WHEELS, NOVEMBER 2016. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT (AND CONDITION): STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN RATTLING NOTICEABLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (40 MPH TO 75 MPH) AND WHILE TRACKING A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE HIT THE 40,000 MILE MARK. CAN FEEL SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL COINCIDENT WITH THIS RATTLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO TRACK A STRAIGHT LINE WHILE MOVING. THE RATTLE ALSO OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS LESS THAN 40 MPH, BUT IT HARDER TO DISCERN SINCE THE CITY STREET ROAD CONDITIONS IN SE WISCONSIN ARE TERRIBLE. STARTING ABOUT DECEMBER 2016, I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE (NOT SURE IF THIS OCCURS WHEN IT IS IN PARK). THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE DOING SOME KIND OF "HUNTING" AS THE RATTLING IS RANDOM. APPEARS TO BE INDEPENDENT OF TEMPERATURE AS THIS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS -10 DEG F AND AS WELL AT ABOUT 50 DEG F. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS ARE NORMAL. I CAN NOT DISCERN WHETHER THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING WHILE IN MOTION, OR WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. END. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 23, 2016159,000 milesPA

DROVE CAR THIS MORNING AND COUPLE MILES LATER THE CAR LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND SERVICE ESC LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS ENGINE LIGHT TOO. NOW CAR IS SLOWER AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO SHAKES REAL BAD WHEN STATIONARY. DRIVING AROUND 35-45 MPH. CAN'T DRIVE NOW DUE TO LOST POWER AND ESC ISSUES/ LOOKS LIKE IT IS A COMMON HISTORIC ISSUE WITH THESE MALIBU AS INTERNET IS POLLUTED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT AND LOOKS LIKE GM CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. AS WELL GM TELLS ME ON THE PHONE JUST NOW THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL NOTICE WHILE THE PROBLEMS GO BACK TO 2003 AND COVERS EVERY OTHER MALIBU EXCEPT MINE IT APPEARS. REALLY? BOUGHT IS LOCAL AS A PRE OWNED VEHICLE WITH ONLY ABOUT 30K ON IT. SOUNDS LIKE GM IS TRYING TO SKIRT THE ISSUE OF OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ME ON HOLD FOR SOME TIME NOW. HELP! *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 22, 201669,500 milesNC

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANOTHER PERSON ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT GO OFF. CLAIMS ADJUSTER DENIED THE REPAIR STATING THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2011 MALIBU'S AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WITHOUT CERTAINTY THAT IT WASN'T ON BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THIS LIGHT IS ANNOYING AND A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I AM DRIVING A FAULTY VEHICLE OF WHICH I COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I AM INVOLVED IN ANOTHER CRASH BECAUSE MY AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 21, 2016122,000 milesAZ

ON 12/19/2016 AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO A SURFACE STREET MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED A "POWER STEERING " MESSAGE. BEING UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR WENT FORWARD AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR ON MY RIGHT WHO WAS ALSO TURNING LEFT. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAK TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AND THE CARS BEHIND ALSO HAD TO SLAM THEIR BREAKS. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT EACH OTHER. RIGHT AFTER THAT DASHBOARD MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND MY CAR WAS ABLE TO TURN AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. THE NIGHT OF 12/20/2016 THE SAME HAPPENED BUT AS I WAS EXPECTING A PARKING LOT. A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT I STARTED TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD POP LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN AT A STOP OR RED LIGHT. I READ THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO GM AND NHTSA AND THAT OWNERS IN OTHER STATES HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR THAT PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE AND IT'S NOT LISTED AS A RECALL ON THE NHTSA OR GM WEBSITE FOR MY VIN. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 17, 201669,000 milesIL

AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I LOST MY ABILITY TO STEER. THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ESC" FLASHED ON MY DASH. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I MADE IT TO WORK. WHEN I LEFT WORK, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING JUST FINE.

Power Train
Filed Dec 16, 2016103,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

Seats
Filed Dec 13, 2016NJ

DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN AND LEANING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. SEEMS LIKE A BRACKET PROBLEM.

Engine
Filed Dec 2, 201673,000 milesCA

1. MY CAR IS 5 YEAR OLD AND 73,000 MILES. WE USE IT FOR COMMUTING TO WORK AND GROCERY. AND WE DO ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT DUBLIN CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON NOV 11TH, MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. THE FRONT TRUNK WAS SMOKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR HAS NO QUALITY PROBLEM WITH SUCH FEW YEARS AND RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. 2. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE CAR MAKING COMPANY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL DONE. BUT THEY SAID THE PART HAS NOT ARRIVED AND ASKED US TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CALL US. WE NEVER GET CALL FROM THEM. THIS TIME, I CALLED THEIR RECALL DEPARTMENT AND LEFT A MESSAGE. NEVER HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 15, 2016AL

WHEN I ENTERED MY CAR IN TURNED THE SWITCH TO START THE CAR AN THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF.

Engine
Filed Nov 11, 201698,616 milesMI

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND STARTED SMOKING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND BE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAD 98,616 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT GREAT COST AND INCONVENIENCE! GM ISSUED A BULLETIN FOR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET CRUZE (2011-2014) AND SONIC (2012-2014). IT IS BULLETIN NO.: 14371B. I CALLED GM TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT THEY SAY NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE IS NO BULLETIN OR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU.

Seat BeltsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 9, 20167,900 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, LEG, AND ARMS, WHICH CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,900.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 4, 2016135,000 milesNJ

FIRE IN TRUNK STARTED AT REAR FUSE PANEL. DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN DRIZZLE, TRUNK AJAR MESSAGE LIT, STOPPED TO CHECK IT & ENGINE STALLED AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, FOUND THE TRUNK SECURELY LATCHED, AND COULDN'T OPEN IT WITH KEY FOB OR BUTTON IN CABIN. THEN SAW PAINT TURNING BROWN (SCORCHING) AT REAR CORNER PANEL AT LOCATION OF REAR FUSE PANEL. BY THE TIME FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED THE CABIN AND TRUNK FULLY ENGULFED - TOTAL LOSS. *TR

Power TrainCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 3, 201678,000 milesMI

LATE LAST WEEK, AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, ONTO THE CITY STREET, MY FRONT WHEELS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AT 50 MPH (AS IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE). THIS ENDED UP IN SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME, CAUSING INJURIES AND SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CARS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 26, 201685,700 milesOH

MY VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS FLASH THE NO SEAT BELT SIGN. WHEN DRIVING UNBUCKLED, THE NO SEATBELT WARNING SIGN WILL APPEAR AND FLASH. HOWEVER, AFTER JUST A FEW MOMENTS THE WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN OFF. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE WARNING LIGHT WON'T EVEN TURN ON WHEN THE SEATBELT IS NOT FASTENED. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 6, 2016103,000 milesTX

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS THEN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE TO CLEAR TRAFFIC SUSPECT WAVE PLATE FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION

Steering
Filed Sep 26, 201682,000 milesMS

EPS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. IT MAKES THE STEERING REVERT TO MANUAL STEERING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR IS BAD. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I CAN RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THE EPS STARTS WORKING, BUT FAILS LATER.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 23, 2016MS

THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT CONTINUE TO BLOW, I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB 5 TIMES AND ALSO REPLACE A BURNT-OUT WIRE BUT THE BULB HAS BLOWN AGAIN AND IT'S GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 21, 201648,000 milesNY

AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY NORMALLY. HAD AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER BAG DEPLOYED LITTLE. PASSENGER NEVER DEPLOYED. CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY. INVOLVED WITH ANOTHER CAR THEIR'S FULLY DEPLOYED.

Reading these

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.

Full record for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu → · Every Malibu year → · How the figures are calculated →