TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
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 →
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, TC AND ASC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC WARNINGS. CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, SLOWED TO 5 MPH MAX. PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. RESTARTED CAR, SEEMED FINE. SINCE I HAPPENED TO BE ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. AT STOPLIGHT, CAR DID SAME THING, VIOLENT SHAKING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS. THANKFULLY, I MADE IT INTO DEALER LOT. TURNED CAR OFF. HAD TO RE-START TO PULL TO SERVICE DOOR. AGAIN, DID FINE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. AGREE WITH OTHER COMPLAINANTS...IF THIS HAPPENS MID-INTERSECTION OR ON THE INTERSTATE LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP AND THE ESC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN WEEKS OF THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED. THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,903.
DRIVING 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ LIGHT CAME ON.GOT MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWERING DOWN.CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR.PULLED INTO CVS PHARMACY LOT.TURNED CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED.DROVE AROUND LOT FOR 1 MINUTE.JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF LOT AND ENTER EXPRESSWAY.CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.UNABLE TO RE-START.WAITED 2 HOUR'S FOR TOW ON STAR ROAD SIDE SERVICE.PLAN TO HAVE CAR TOWED MONDAY MORNING.WILL CHECK FOR ESC RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR
I HAVE A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND WHEN IT RAIN THE DRIVER SIDE ON THE INSIDE ALWAYS GETS WET. ITS THE LEFT SIDE ONLY THAT HAS WATER ON IT. THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE HAS THIS CAR FOR A YEAR. YES IT DOES HAVE A SUNROOF BUT NO WATER IS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF TIMES IT COULD BE THE DRAIN TUBE. *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, GAS TANK FULL, WIRING IS GOOD, SPARK PLUGS ARE BRAND NEW, JUST WON'T START AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECREASED TO 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHOOK AND THE TRACTION, THE ESC AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE RAPIDLY AND THE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,533.
REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND JERKING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, SHOOK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,200.
DRIVING DURING SNOW AND ICE, ESC INDICATOR CAME ON, PUSHED THE TC AND IT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY, THE CAR GOES ONLY ABOUT 20MPH WITH JERKING MOTION, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, FLUID FROM SOMEWHERE DRAIN ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. CAR SAT STILL FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS AND STILL DID THE SAME THING. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED, LOW TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON, AND COULD GO OVER 40 MPH. WE STOPPED AND LET IT SIT FOR APPX 5 MINUTES, AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY SON HAS AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER WE WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP AND IT READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. WE REMOVED IT AND CLEANED IT WITH MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CLEANER AND REPLACED IT. AS SOON AS WE STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CAR DROVE FINE UNTIL 2-7-2015 WHERE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AT APPX 74,700 MILES. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN CIRCLEVILLE) ON 2-14-15. THEY TESTED IT AND IT SHOWED THE CODE P2135 #PIP2019 THEY CHECKED CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION & DAMAGE , BUT FOUND NOTHING. THEY RAN THE THROTTLE SWEEP TEST. IT TESTED OK. THEY CLEARED THE CODE & DROVE & COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE PARTS BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TO BRING IT IN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR EVERY DAY TO COLUMBUS OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, ON STATE HIGHWAYS. I'M SCARED THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN DURING RUSH HOUR AND SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN LIKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND OR LOSS OF LIFE TO SOMEONE. SO, DOES GM THINK PARTS COST MORE THAN A LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE?????? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE APPEARED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10MPH. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY CRAWL FORWARD. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. AGAIN, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AND THIS TIME THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE AS NORMAL, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND THAT NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I HAVE READ ON CHEVY FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY CAN FIND AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT FRAME IS BROKE. UPON INSPECTION BY MYSELF, IT'S A WELD FAILURE (A MANUFACTURING DEFECT). A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT'S BROKE AND THE VERBIAGE THEY USED WAS "SEAT RISER CRACKING FREE". IN USE, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT, AND IF THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKE AND NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME/BODY IN MY MIND THIS IS A FAILED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED GENERAL MOTORS DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY ABOUT REPAIRING THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I'M THINKING THEY ARE LIABLE IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS AS WE JUST NOTICED IT WHILE IN USE. *TR
TWO ISSUES EXIST: 1. THE THROTTLE BODY PREMATURELY WORE OUT AND CAUSED VARIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, INSTABILITY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR SLOWED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL AND ECS INDICATORS. STEERING ALSO WAS DIFFICULT WHILE THE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. 2. THE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM/ECU) THAT IS THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS NOT COMPLETELY SEALED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INSIDE WHICH STARTED TO CORRODE THE PINS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED INSTABILITY IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. *JS
SERVICE AIRBAG DISPLAY MESSAGE CAME ON. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SDM. $902 TO FIX. DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. *MW THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL/ THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED, WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF RECALL 14V252000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED, WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE ESC ERROR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE AT APPROX 25 MPH, ALL OF THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID "LOSS OF ENGINE POWER" THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME AN THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MAILBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CAM SOLENOIDS. *TR
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
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).
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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 F
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
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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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