What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

There was a fire in the trunk on the way to work. Fire department was called to inspect the car and make sure that the fire was out. Fire melted fuse box located in the trunk along with wiring harness and wires, also causing all electrical items to stop working. Claim was attempted to be made, but insurance did not cover this particular issue. After hours of reading as well as watching videos, this seems to be an on problem for Malibu's from 2011-2016. I bought this car one year ago and had a mechanic inspect the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11745051

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked under a carport in her driveway, she had been warned by neighbors that the rear end of the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that she saw that flames were issuing from both rear light housings. The contact stated that by the time her husband and a neighbor attempted to extinguish the flames with garden hoses, the light housings and the rear bumper were on fire and melting. The fire department and the police were called. The contact stated that by the time emergency services arrived, the flames had been extinguished. The contact stated that the fire department opened the trunk, and the interior of the trunk and the matting were not damaged. The only damage was to the rear light housings and the rear bumper. The fire department had not issued a report, however the police had. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11708409

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the contact avoided hitting a dog that was on the road, but the brakes failed and the vehicle crashed into a porch. None of the air bags deploy upon impact. The contact received medical attention after his head hit the steering wheel upon impact. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact replaced the CAM sensor, intake, radiator, and front end body, and on three separate occasions, the brakes were replaced. However, the failure recurred. Additionally, the accelerator pedal would go to the floorboard and the vehicle would stall. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light and a "Reduced Power" warning message were displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ODI 11442926

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN USUAL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE BLINKING ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND EMITTED A BURNING ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11156527

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UPON ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WOOD MOTOR COMPANY (600 US-62, HARRISON, AR 72601, (870) 741-8211) INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE FAILURE THAT REQUIRED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR MAY BE EXTENSIVE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN, GEAR, BELT, AND VALVES WITHIN THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE PISTONS HAD NOT BEEN FIRING AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THERE WAS AN INTERNAL MELTDOWN OF THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11155911

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

CAR SEAT (HEAT WARMER) CAUGHT ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI 10985665

I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND MY MALIBU STOPPED AND APPEARED THE IMAGE OF TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND THE MOTOR WAS SHAKING AND MY LIGHT OF CHECK ENGINE WAS ON AND MY CAR DID NOT ADVANCE MORE THEN 10 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10944030

FIRE IN TRUNK STARTED AT REAR FUSE PANEL. DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN DRIZZLE, TRUNK AJAR MESSAGE LIT, STOPPED TO CHECK IT & ENGINE STALLED AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, FOUND THE TRUNK SECURELY LATCHED, AND COULDN'T OPEN IT WITH KEY FOB OR BUTTON IN CABIN. THEN SAW PAINT TURNING BROWN (SCORCHING) AT REAR CORNER PANEL AT LOCATION OF REAR FUSE PANEL. BY THE TIME FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED THE CABIN AND TRUNK FULLY ENGULFED - TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10924366

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT SMOKE AND UNKNOWN FLUID WERE BUBBLING OUT OF THE BATTERY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 10819991

THE HVAC RESISTOR IS MALFUNCTIONG, ONGOING ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS PRODUCTS, THE RESISTOR MALFUNCTIONS AND CREATES A SMALL FIRE A SHORTS OUT THE RESISTOR MELTS THE HARNESS THAT ATTACHES TO THE RESISTOR. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND AFTER REFUELING HVAC BLOWER NO LONGER WORKED.

NHTSA ODI 10789581

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED ON THE TRUNK NEAR THE FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 10783497

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WIRES WERE BURNED AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AS A PRECAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10648721

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, BURNING FUMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE APPEARED OUT OF THE FRONT BUMPER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10641615

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V438000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,356. UPDATED 10/31/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE EFFECTED THE RADIO AND THE DOOR LOCKS. THE LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE RADIO WOULD POWER OFF OR SWITCH CD'S TO AUXILIARY THEN TO THE RADIO. UPDATED 4/28/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10638529

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 10/17/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/1/15 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10631979

THE FUEL PUMP HAS BURNED CONNECTORS THAT ARE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, THE BOARD LIGHTS INTENSITY INCREASES OR DECREASES OR STAYS OFF, ALL FUSES ARE GOOD, THE GM IS AWARE OF THIS AND 72 HOURS AGO I'M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER , I HAVE FEAR THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I'M NOT USING THE CAR, WHERE I CAN SEND PICTURES OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHEN I OPENED THE CASE I ASK THEM GM CAR RENT IT AND REVISE MINE TO SEE IF IT WAS SAFE BUT UNTIL NOW NO RESPONSE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WANT THE CAR TO BURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10501025