What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU IN 2012. SINCE THE PURCHASE I'VE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE RESOLVED WITH THE RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELT LAP ANCHOR TENSIONER CABLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR STALLING / LOSING POWER AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND BEGIN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALSO LOST TOTAL CONTROL DUE TO THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE CAR STALLING, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I LEFT WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE BEING DON;. I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I ALSO HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE THAT I'VE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH, NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE RECALLS ON IT. ALL OF THE ABOVE ISSUES HAVE BEEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, WHILE TURNING, AND ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY BACK SEAT IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE MOLDING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $200 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AFTER I CLEARLY TOLD THEM THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT COMING FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THEY TOOK DOWN THE HEADLINER ANYWAY AND SAID THAT THEY DID A TEST AND WATER COULD BE SEEN GUSHING FROM THIS AREA, BUT YET MY SEAT WAS NOT WET AS I HAD TOLD THEM WHERE THE SEAT GETS WET AT. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE MALIBU'S I JUST WANT GM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE A DIFFERENT BRAND OF VEHICLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 10850464

I WAS STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND MY DASH READ SERVICE AIRBAG. I STARTED TO DRIVE OFF AND THE DASH STARTED FLASHING SERVICE AIRBAG. WHEN IN MOTION AND AS I START IGNITION. ALSO MY SEATBELT SOMETIMES LOCK OR NOT LOCK AND IS VERY LOOSE AS I ADJUST SEAT.

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IN DEC 2014 MY AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, DEALERSHIP STATES THE SCAN FOR FAILURE CODE WAS B0014. DIAGNOSIS WAS BROKEN WIRE UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. PART USED TO REPAIR WAS 12355010, TUBE 8.965 ALONG WITH MISC SHOP SUPPLIES. OCTOBER 25TH 2015 "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT COMES ON UPON TURNING ON THE IGNITION. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED TODAY AS A BAD SENSOR, SO BOTH AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. DEALERSHIP SAYS WARRANTY THAT S LEFT ON THE CAR DOES NOT COVER SAFETY ISSUES. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST ME LESS THAN $500.00 LABOR AND ALL THE REST OF THE SENSOR AND PARTS, SUPPLIES IS OVER $1,000.00, THE TOTAL REPAIR IS OVER $1,500.00! THIS IS A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND IS TOTALLY OUT OF LINE. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ON LINE AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR FOR AIR BAG PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? IT IS TRULY A HARDSHIP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE NOTIFICATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,735. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND ENTERING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE SUSTAINED A BURN TO HIS ARM AND STOMACH INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

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MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND A LADY REAR ENDED US AND HER SEATBELT NEVER CAUGHT AND SHE HIT THE DASHBOARD HEAD ON AND Y SEATBELT CAUGHT AND RELEASED AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HEAD ON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2017*CN

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I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES & SAYS TO SERVICE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A GM REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL MONTH AGO & THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. IT WENT OFF FOR A WHILE & NOW IT'S BACK ON. IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.

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I BOUGHT IN JUNE OF 2014. IN OCTOBER OF 2014 WENT TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED GM WHO THEN CONTACTED MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY TOWED THE CAR IN. THEY STATED THE FUEL PUMPED HAD SHORTED. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY REPLACED IT. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS JAN 13, 2015 WHERE MY CAR HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT WOULD COME ON ALONG WITH SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT. I CALLED GM AND GOT A CASE NUMBER. TOOK IT TO SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER THEY INFORMED M THE THROTTLE BODY HAD SHORTED THIS TIME. AT A MILEAGE OF 44836 THIS ISSUE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO I PAID 464 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS MARCH 5, 2015 WHERE THE CAR ONCE AGAIN HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT ON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, AND SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT. I CALLED GM AND THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY INSTALLED A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO. 5/22/15, I CALLED TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND I ALSO INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS COMING ON ONCE AGAIN BUT I AM NOT GETTING ANY OF THE OTHER ALERTS THAT HAD GONE ALONG WITH IT BEFORE. I CALLED GM AND SET A CASE AND TOLD THEM THAT I NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WITH THE SERVICE AIR BAG BEING ALERTED THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP PUT ME IN A RENTAL FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE THEY TRIED SEVERAL WAYS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. JUNE 2ND I WAS CALLED TO COME AND PICK UP MY CAR. THE GM REP STATED THAT ENGINEERING TECH DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED TO CHANGE THE SENSORS IN THE SEATS OF THE CAR. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE IF THERE IS IN-FACT AND UNDERLYING ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLES AIRBAGS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON/OFF INDICATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 6/18/15*CN THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/25/15*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND HAS REMAINED ON WHEN CAR WAS STARTED ONE DAY. IT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS, COLLISIONS, ETC. COINCIDENTALLY, THE LIGHT APPEARED AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THE COMPUTER RESET FOR OIL CHANGE. *TR

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

NHTSA ODI 10668662

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS LITE AND THE WORDS STAY ON THE DISPLAY WINDOW. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE ON THE CAR ON 11/29/2014 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IN A ACCIDENT THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY. COULD THIS ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY? IF THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE, SHOULDN'T IT BE COVERED NO MATTER IF THE WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED? *JS

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONSTAR WAS CALLED AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING AN MALFUNCTION IN THE AIR BAG, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW COMPANY TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER 2 HOURS TO WHICH ALL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. NOTE, CAR WAS JUST IN THE SHOP 2 DAYS PRIOR FOR OIL CHANGE AND RECALL ON BCM. DEALERSHIP CAME BACK WITH A $1200.00 ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF AN AIRBAG. $858.00 FOR THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT AND $241.00 FOR A NEW BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY STATING SOMETIMES ELECTRONICS HAVE ISSUES. *JS

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SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR ITS BEEN TWO DAYS NOW AND IT HASNT GONE AWAY IVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING NOR HAVE I BEEN HIT BY ANYONE... *TR

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE WARNING "SERVICE AIR BAG" POPPED UP ON MY DASHBOARD MESSAGE SCREEN. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING. WITH THE RECENT RECALLS, I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY AUTO ACCIDENT FOR THIS TO EVEN HAPPEN. THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG> PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

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