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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 →
977Owner complaints

Model-year median: 310.5

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
987
20081,509
20091,360
2010977
2011906
2012835
2013351
2014
Compare all Malibu years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
235Steering
213Electronic Stability Control (esc)
174Engine
160Exterior Lighting
130
All reported categories
Power Train
112Air Bags
93Vehicle Speed Control
87Unknown Or Other
60Seat Belts
53Seats
38Service Brakes
38Fuel/propulsion System
32Structure
19Traction Control System
15Engine And Engine Cooling
12Suspension
11Wheels
11Visibility/wiper
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Tires
6Visibility
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Forward Collision Avoidance
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Equipment
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

977 reports
130,000 miles · Dec 29, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

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 CONT…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11057478

60,070 miles · Dec 22, 2017
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #11056165

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2017
Seat BeltsSeats

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.

NHTSA ODI #11055568

78,733 miles · Dec 14, 2017
Unknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #11054689

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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

NHTSA ODI #11053806

204,000 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI #11051268

200,000 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

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 HAR…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11051204

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

'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.

NHTSA ODI #11048541

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2017
Seat Belts

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; THEREFOR…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11047595

43,070 miles · Nov 16, 2017
Power Train

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 …

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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 THAT I DO THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE WHICH I HAD COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI #11046494

Official recalls

3

19V019000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.