IllustrationI HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY PASSENGER LOW BEAM BULB 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS, DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND MY DRIVERS SIDE JUST BURNT OUT AFTER TWO MONTHS. AFTER RESEARCHING NUMEROUS FORMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FROM 2008-2012 MALIBUS
2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Malibu years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
650–25K
10125–50K
15950–75K
17575–100K
176100–150K
55150K+
731 reports with mileage · 246 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
130 reportsHEADLIGHT BULB BURNED OUT - AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE WITHOUT SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND TOOLS. THIS IS A SEVERELY SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR DEALER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN A HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. REPLACING THE LAMP REQUIRES REMOVING PARTS OF THE FENDER AND THE ENTIRE BUMPER, AND REQU…
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HEADLIGHT BULB BURNED OUT - AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE WITHOUT SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND TOOLS. THIS IS A SEVERELY SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR DEALER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN A HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. REPLACING THE LAMP REQUIRES REMOVING PARTS OF THE FENDER AND THE ENTIRE BUMPER, AND REQUIRES SOCKET WRENCHES AND MECHANICAL ABILITY BEYOND WHAT THE AVERAGE VEHICLE OWNER WILL HAVE. DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT BECAUSE GM COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WITHOUT TOOLS IS DANGEROUS.
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT HAS BURNT OUT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. I REPLACED IT WITH REGULAR LIGHTS THE FIRST 3 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME USED LED LIGHTS AND STILL BURNT OUT IN 8 MONTHS.
MY LOW BEAM LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. KEEP GOING OUT AFTER BEING FIXED THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IT KEEPS RECURRING OVER AND OVER ON MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LS. HEADLIGHT BULBS OR IT'S THE SOCKET KEEPS BURNING OUT.
DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT AFTER FREQUENT REPLACEMENT. PIGTAIL CONNECTIONS ARE ALL TIGHT AND PROPERLY ATTACHED.
MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I JUST HAD THE BULB CHANGED, AND IT WENT OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. 90% OF ALL CHEVY MALIBU'S USE ON THE ROAD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET A RECALL ABOUT THIS. IT'S VERY IRRITATING AND EXPENSIVE!
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED BULBS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AND THEN LIGHT WENT BACK OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. I THEN NOTICED THAT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, AND THIS TIME WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE IT, IT CAME ON WHEN I TOUCHED THE PIGTAIL SO I FIGURED THERE WAS A SHORT SOMEWHERE. WHEN I…
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MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED BULBS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AND THEN LIGHT WENT BACK OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES ON BOTH SIDES. I THEN NOTICED THAT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, AND THIS TIME WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE IT, IT CAME ON WHEN I TOUCHED THE PIGTAIL SO I FIGURED THERE WAS A SHORT SOMEWHERE. WHEN I TOOK THE LIGHTBULB OUT, I NOTICED THE PIGTAIL WAS FRIED, SO I CHANGED THE PIGTAIL AND BULB THIS TIME. A FEW WEEKS GO BY AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS TO THE OTHER SIDE. I CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB AND PIGTAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND I'VE NOT MENTIONED HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO CHANGE THE BULB. THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY PRETTY MUCH HAS TO COME OFF. THIS IS NOT EASY TO DO AND IS A PRETTY BAD DESIGN FLAW. SINCE I'VE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE PIGTAIL IS SHAKEN, I HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE BUMPER JUST TO GET TO THE LIGHT. SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS. FINALLY, I MUST ALSO ADD, I HAVE SEEN MORE THAN 10 CHEVY MALIBU'S, NOT SURE OF THE YEAR, BUT IS THE SAME MODEL AS MINE, WITH A HEADLIGHT MISSING. IT MAKES ME WONDER, ARE THESE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE? DO THESE PEOPLE MAYBE JUST HAVE A HEADLIGHT BLOWN BUT KNOWS THE HEADACHE IT IS TO REMOVE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY JUST TO CHANGE HEADLIGHT? HAVE THESE PEOPLE GOTTEN TIRED OF CHANGING THE HEADLIGHT BECAUSE IT KEEPS BLOWING OUT? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
PASSENAGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. TWICE WITHIN 3 WEEKS. TWICE THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. HAVE ALSO REPLACED DRIVER SIDE TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS. OVERALL HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE 5 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY WITH ALL FINDINGS.
FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET A WARNING COMES ACROSS THAT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THEN THE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON. THE CAR THEN DROPS TO 5 MPH AND STOPS. I TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THERE IS NOTHING. I WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND TRY AGAIN AND IT START…
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FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET A WARNING COMES ACROSS THAT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THEN THE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON. THE CAR THEN DROPS TO 5 MPH AND STOPS. I TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THERE IS NOTHING. I WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTS UP AND I'M ABLE TO DRIVE IT.
LOWBEAM CONSTANTLY GOES OUT. AFTER RESTARTING THE COMPUTER THE FUSE HAS FIRE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN.
Official recalls
319V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
15V269000 · Seat Belts
May 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
May 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control
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.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
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.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
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.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Electrical System:wiring
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.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.