What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

2011 CHEVY MALIBU LT2 WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, 28000 MILES, 3-1/2 YEARS OLD, IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OUT OF THE BLUE SHOWS THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10616125

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER RUMBLE STRIPS AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BLADE AND RIGHT KNEE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A WRIST INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

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BRAKES FAIL EMERGENCY STOP WITH ABOUT 150 FEET FROM ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG WAS DELAYED IN DEPLOYMENT. *TR

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MY LIGHT KEEP COMING ON SAYING SERVICE AIRBAG. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

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LIGHT ON DASH CONSOLE RANDOMLY COMES ON ALERTING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND ALSO REMINDING ME THAT I NEED TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT WHEN MY SEAT BELT IS ALREADY FASTENED PROPERLY. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE CAUGHT HELL FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THEM CORRECTED AND AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY PRODUCT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

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I HAD JUST GOT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CARS AIR BAG SENSORS. I HAD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS AFTER ONLY HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS SO THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM THE 1ST TIME THEY HAD TO ME THAT THIS WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 10000 MILES LATER THE LIGHT WAS ON AND OFF AGAIN AND DID NOT WANT TO FIX THIS AGAIN.

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SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE NEXT MORNING IT DID NOT COME ON. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, SAME ISSUE, SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED. IT CONTINUED TO COME ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 400 FOR THE NEW PART AND ANOTHER 200 TO "FLASH" THE COMPUTER. THEY ALSO SAID OUR AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK AS LONG AS THIS LIGHT WAS ON. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND STAYED OFF. THEN ON 3/26/14, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND CONTINUES TO COME ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND SINCE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK, IT JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIX. *TR

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THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE, AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO OUR DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH THE MALIBUS. THEY ADVISED US THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROL SYSTEM" HAD DIED AND THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK. THE SERVICE TO REPLACE THE "BRAIN" WOULD COST $1000 PARTS AND LABOR. AFTER THROWING A SMALL FIT THEY "GOT WITH THE CHEVY CUSTOMER TEAM" AND WERE ABLE TO DO IT FOR JUST COST OF PARTS ($400 +/-). WE PAID FOR THE SERVICE, AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE THE PARTS CARRIED A 1 YEAR WARRANTY, YIPPEE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER A HARD BRAKING EVENT, THAT THE CONTROL BOX SHORTS OUT. I THINK THAT IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF IT WAS SOMETHING INCONSEQUENTIAL, BUT THIS IS A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT. WE HAD TO GET IT FIXED, I'M NOT LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE HER CAR WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *TR

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I WAS AT A STOP TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC AT 7PM. WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO GO MY CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. IT WOULD ONLY REV. I THREW IT IN PARK THEN TO DRIVE...NOTHING. TRIED MANUAL. NOTHING. REVERSE WAS ALL THAT WORKED. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO REVERSE OUT OF INTERSECTION. HAD WRECKER TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. FRIDAY NIGHT THEY TELL ME CAR IS READY THAT THE CHIP IN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. GO SATURDAY TO GET IT AND WHEN I TURNED CAR ON IT READ "SERVICE AIR BAG". THEY TRIED TO CLEAR CODE BUT FAILED. SAID THAT THERE WAS A TRUE PROBLEM AND WOULD LOOK AT IT MONDAY THE 20TH. JUST GOT A CALL SAYING THE AIR BAG CHIP SHORTED OUT AND GENERALLY ALL IN ALL IS A 700.00 FIX. THEY ALLEGEDLY SPOKE TO GM WHO SAID JUST CHARGE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. DUE TO SOME ISSUES I HAD WITH DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME 50.00 AND THEY WOULD COVER THE REST. I DO NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK YET AS THEY ARE WORKING ON IT STILL. GLAD I STILL HAD POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO RIGHT NOW THE ONLY OUT OF POCKET COST WITH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL WILL BE THE 50.00. HOWEVER I FEEL I NOR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY SINCE I WAS TOLD THIS IS A "KNOWN &COMMON" ISSUE. *TR

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HELLO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ( CHEVY MALIBU 2011) DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE AIRBAG CAME ON. I WAS NOT SPEEDING I WAS GOING 30 MPH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS AN ERROR CODE B0014. I NOTICED IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM MOTORS IN GENERAL. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC ALONG WITH REPAIRS. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE A CRASH NOR AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

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RECENTLY MY 2011 MALIBU WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT HAS STARTED TO SHOW THE SERVICE AIR BAG ON THE DISPLAY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICER AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WITH ME RECENTLY LOOSING MY JOB OUT OF POCKET IS NOT AN OPTION. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG ISSUE IS VERY COMMON AMONG THE 2010-2011 MODELS. I LOCATED THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY WITH THE VIN FOR THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I DID INFORM THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I CONTACTED A CHEVY DEALER A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING TO MAKE SURE THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE AN AIR BAG RANDOMLY BLOWING UP IN FACE WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURS RANDOMLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 0-70 MPH. THE TECH ADVISED ME THAT WOULD NOT OCCUR AS WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. ADVISED GM THIS DURING OUR PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THIS WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THERE VEHICLES AS THEY HAVE CORRECTED ON VIN SPECIFIC 2010-2011 IN THERE WORDS THAT I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM ISN'T BIGGER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A RESOLUTION. *TR

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I WAS GOING ONTO A EXIT AN HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE CAR SPUN AND I ENDED UP SIDEWAYS. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. I SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A FACIAL HEMATOMA AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

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ON 6/22/13 AT APPROX 1:40PM I WAS HEADING BACK TO WORK FROM MY LUNCH BREAK AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON MY GREEN LIGHT AT APPROX 30MPH WHEN A BIG CHEVY TRUCK BLEW THROUGH THE RED LIGHT GOING APPROX 40 MPH. I ENDED UP T BONING THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK. CAUSING ME TO DO A 360. TORE OFF THE BUMPER COMPLETELY. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND ONSTAR DID NOT CALL ME. TWO IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES OF MY CAR FAILED ME! I THANK GOD I AM ALIVE WITH NO SERIOUS INJURIES! EVERYONE WHO SAW MY CAR INCLUDING THE BODY SHOP ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK OF MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING! I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE CAUSE! *TR

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CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN RESET ITSELF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT MODE SHUT OFF AND ON AGAIN. REPORTED TO CHEVY DEALER, SAID IF LIGHT WASN'T ON THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT, IF THE WIPERS ARE WORKING PROPERLY THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT. DID THIS ON MY LAST OIL CHANGE. *TR

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I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON JANUARY 11, 2013 AND THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INFORMATION CENTER IN MY DASH. I TOOK THE CAR TO HORNE AUTO IN SHOW LOW, AZ, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, ON JANUARY 18, 2013 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $730 TO FIX. I WENT HOME AND GOT THE INFORMATION FROM MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO CONTACT GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN SENT OUT THAT I HAD UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2012, TO GET SAID PROBLEM FIXED. IN RESEARCHING THIS BULLETIN ON SAFERCAR.GOV, THIS BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT NOVEMBER 1, 2012. SINCE I NEVER RECEIVED THE BULLETIN AND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL JANUARY 11, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FIX OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I PUT IN A COMPLAINT TO GM AND WAS THEN TOLD I COULD GET IT FIXED FOR HALF THE COST SINCE GM WAS GOING TO COVER THE OTHER HALF. I PUT IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO GM TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM, SEEING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY KIDS THAT I DRIVE AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE, I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT. I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE EITHER. I AM STILL WAITING FOR GM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND NECK, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN AND A SPECIAL ENGINEER SENT ON BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

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AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A VEHICLE CRASH AT 55 MPH WHEN HIT BY LARGE PICKUP TRUCK HAULING EMPTY HORSE TRAILER WHEN DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL. IMPACT CAUSED 2011 MALIBU TO SPIN AT HIGH VELOCITY AND ROLL OVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. INJURY OF FRONT PASSENGER OCCURRED. THE SDM MODULE READING SHOWED "NO EVENT" OCCURRING AND THAT IS JUST PLAIN UNBELIEVABLE. A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED WITH GM AND DENIED. *KB

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