Home · 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (976)Crash / fire / injury (62)Electrical system (234)Steering (212)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (174)Engine (160)Lights (130)Transmission & drivetrain (112)Airbags (93)Speed control (87)Seat belts (53)Brakes (44)

3 of 976 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Nov 24, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash1 injury

My timing belt snapped which broke my gaskets and messed messed up my engine.

NHTSA ODI 11494810

Nov 3, 2016Transmission & drivetrainCrash1 injury

LATE LAST WEEK, AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, ONTO THE CITY STREET, MY FRONT WHEELS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AT 50 MPH (AS IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE). THIS ENDED UP IN SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME, CAUSING INJURIES AND SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CARS.

NHTSA ODI 10924022

Sep 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET, WHEN I WENT TO PARK NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. I WASN'T ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE SHIFTER BEGAN SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AND FELT AS THERE WAS NO CATCH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, BECAUSE COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I EXITED THE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL ROLLED IN REVERSE. SO I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLES AND APPLIED BRICKS BEHIND THE TIRES. I HAD A MECHANIC COME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND HE STATED THAT THIS HAD BEEN A RECALL ON PRIOR YEARS OF THIS MODEL, BUT NOT THE YEAR OF MY CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND I WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY NOTHING ABOUT THIS PART, BUT STATE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS UNSAFE WITH THIS DEFECT. THE CABLE COMES OFF THE HOOK AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY A SHIFT TO ANY GEAR AND THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE REGARDLESS. I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY INFANT IN THIS CAR KNOWING THAT IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CHEVY SHOULD FIX. NOT TO MENTION THE CAR SEATBELTS ARE A MALFUNCTION. CHEVY THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 10760840

Working with the data? Download all 976 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →