What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO VIEW THE ROADWAY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,715.

NHTSA ODI 11079853

THE CAR HESITATES ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR, BUT ALSO ON WET ROADS GOING 30 TOO. THE CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY DOES NOT DISENGAGE. MOST CONCERNING FOR ME IS WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PRESS ON THE GAS TO MOVE FORWARD THE CAR RANDOMLY SLOWS AND SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11078847

AT APPROXIMATELY 85000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT OF THE ENGINE, THIS IS A NONE ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES AND AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AT THAT. THIS EFFECTS SEVERAL GM VEHICLES AT 85000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT OF BEEN BAD SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THIS HAPPENED AS WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL

NHTSA ODI 11078959

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING AND ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INVOLVED IN SPECIAL COVERAGE NUMBER: 15356; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE NO LONGER MET THE STIPULATIONS FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.

NHTSA ODI 11078723

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM BULB KEEPS GOING OUT. I'VE HAD THIS BULB REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BECAUSE THE BULB KEPT GOING OUT. AFTER HAVING THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED THE BULB WENT OUT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11076931

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CASPER TOYOTA (904 STRUB RD, SANDUSKY, OH 44870, (888) 864-2057) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A WAVE PLATE WAS DETACHED AND A THREE FIVE PISTON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-3962773200 AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11076545

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR IN MY VEHICLE THAT CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM STARTS AS SOON AS I TURN ON THE VEHICLE.I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR IN MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WELL BEFORE I REACHED THE 150,000 MILEAGE LIMIT AND I STARTED TAKING MY VEHICLES TO SHOPS FOR PRICING OF THE ISSUE. I WAS NOTIFIED BY ONE OF THE SHOPS I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THAT THERE WAS THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER. I DID THIS BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE SPECIAL COVERAGE DUE TO MY VEHICLE BEING 700 MILES OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. I ALSO CONTACTED MY MANUFACTURER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THIS NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO DENY HONORING THE COVERAGE DUE TO MY VEHICLE BEING 700 MILES OVER. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAD PROOF THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET THE ISSUE RECTIFIED AT OTHER BODY SHOPS BEFORE I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT, HOWEVER, THERE WAS STILL NO ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11075337

RANDOMLY STARTING ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU STARTED GOING INTO REDUCED POWER MODE AND SHOWING SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC AND ENG PWR REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN. IT SHOWED A P2135 CODE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME SITTING, BUT THE EVENTS HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN IT IS DRIVEN AGAIN. IT TAKES APPROX. 20 MILES FROM WHEN IT WAS STARTED. RESEARCHING THIS P2135 CODE I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND THEY ALL INVOLVED THE THROTTLE BODY OR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE A SPECIAL COVERAGE 14582A WHICH IS CURRENTLY OPEN. BUT THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THAT PROGRAM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT NOT ALL 2011 MALIBU VEHICLES WOULDN'T BE COVERED.

NHTSA ODI 11074962

ON 02/19/2018 WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT MY 2011 MALIBU'S STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE RIGHT AND LEFT (OSCILLATING) BY ITSELF. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL STORE AND NOTICED I NO LONGER HAD ANY POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING AND MY INFORMATION CONSOLE SCREEN LIGHT UP WITH A POWER STEERING FAILURE. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED 10 MINUTES, RESTARTED AND THE POWER ASSIST RETURNED, THE CONSOLE LIGHT WENT OUT. HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL STILL PULSES BACK AND FORTH BY ITSELF, SO THE PROBLEM, I FEEL, COULD RETURN AT ANY TIME. I HAD A HEART ATTACK RECENTLY AND PHYSICALLY CANNOT STEER THE CAR WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, THIS WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR ME, I AM AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE THIS THING IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION. I RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY MALIBUS, I FEEL THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN A NEEDLESS DEATH, I HOPE GENERAL MOTORS FIXES THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE ADD OUR VIN TO THE CURRENT RECALL CAMPAIGN #14V153000. THANK YOU SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11073618

RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP WENT OUT NEEDING IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IN ORDER TO REPAIR, THE FRONT BUMPER HAD TO BE REMOVED ONLY AT A DEALER COSTING 1.5 HOURS AND $145.00 OF COST TO REPLACE A SIMPLE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. MANY PEOPLE CANNOT WAIT THE 2 DAYS WAIT AND THE EXORBITANT COST FOR THIS OBVIOUSLY SIMPLE PROCEDURE THAT THREATENS DRIVING SAFETY WITH ONLY ONE WORKING HEADLIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11073467

IN LAST 12 TO 14 MONTHS TO INCLUDE TODAY, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS GONE OUT. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND NOW LOOKING AT A THIRD TIME. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS THE LAST TIME IT WENT OUT, SOMETIMES IT WOULD COME BACK ON IF I HIT A BUMP. I WILL BE GETTING IT SERVICED AGAIN AS NOT HAVING A HEADLIGHT WORKING IS A DANGER. THE REASON I AM CONTACTING NHTSA IS I HAVE TALK TO AND READ OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11073049

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT DOESNT HAVE A RECALL. THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TORQE SENSOR IS OUT AND NEEDS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11072785

VEHICLE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR

NHTSA ODI 11072220

I WAS DRIVING ON THE THE AND THE POWER STEERING, LOCKED UP. I REACHED OUT TO NA DEALER SHIP AND THEY CORRECTED THAT PROBLEM AND MY SEAT BELT. THE NEXT DAY 2/10/2018. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO MAYBE 8MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND ENOUGH POWER TO THE ENGINE. VERY DANGER, VERY DANGER. THANK GOD THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS PAYING ATTENTION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS. I MYSELF CAME OUT OF POCKET FOR WIRING PROBLEMS. CAR JUST STOPPING ON THE HYW, NO POWER AT ALL. I REPLACED THAT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR TO BE ON THE ROAD. I KNOW CARS HAVE ISSUES. BUT ALL THIS 3 YEARS AND JUST STOPPING AND SLOWING DOWN IS AND WILL BE THE DEATH OF OTHERS. CHEVY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST CAR MAKING, BUT THIS IS HORRIBLE. AND A LOT PEOPLE FROM WHAT I READ ARE HAVING ISSUES. THIS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11072139

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AND HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN WITH NO BREAKS IN BETWEEN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. TRIED TURNING CAR ON AND OFF. CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS. TRIED DRIVING IN MANUAL MODE, NO CHANGE. AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES, CONDITIONS WORSENED. WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO CAR REDUCING POWER WHILE STUCK IN "NEUTRAL" MODE AS WELL AS JERKING FORWARD OUT OF NO WHERE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS NOT EVEN BEING PUSHED.

NHTSA ODI 11071985

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PADDOCK CHEVROLET (3232 DELAWARE AVE, KENMORE, NY); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING), SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11071707

ON MY WIPER SYSTEM I WAS TRAVELING IN A RAINSTORM AND THE WIPER TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY AT THE PIECE ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR HALTING THE WIPER ASSEMBLY FROM CLEARING THE WINDOW THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH DO TO LACK OF VISIBILITY .THIS OCCURRED ON 2/7/2017 . VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PART MALFUNCTION, IT SHOULD NEVER SEPARATE

NHTSA ODI 11071745

"LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" I HAVE RECENTLY LOST MY ELECTRIC POWERING STEERING AND THE ESC WARNING AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING KEEP DISPLAYING, WHEN THIS STARTED I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A POWER GLITCH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG AND OTHER WARNING INDICATORS WOULD ALSO GO OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IT FIRST HAPPENED WHICH SCARED ME AND I SLOWED MY VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD FINALLY PULL IN SOMEWHERE SAFELY (MY REAR TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS ARE CONSTANTLY NOT READING AT ALL WHICH STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON IT BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY NOTIFICATION I WAS GETTING UP UNTIL NOW). I THOUGHT MOST OF IT WAS DUE TO THE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER AND RESTARTING MY CAR TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HOWEVER THIS WEEK RESTARTING MY CAR HASN'T HELPED AND NOW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING MY VEHICLE AND GIVEN THAT THERE IS STILL LESS THAN 85K TOTAL MILES ON IT THEN I AM SURPRISED THAT I AM EVEN HAVING THIS ISSUE AT ALL, BUT I DID READ THAT SOME OF THE 2011 MALIBU'S HAVE A RECALL ON THE U-JOINTS, I BELIEVE THAT I READ. I JUST FOUND WERE THERE IS CURRENTLY 2 RECALLS ON MY CAR NOW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO A RECALL THEREFORE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND WHAT I WOULD NEED TO DO FOR THAT, AS WELL AS REPORT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ISSUE TOO. ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED SINCE I DID NOT SEE MY CAR LISTED FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL THEN I'M NOT SURE IF I HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT FIRST AND/OR IF THEY WILL CONTACT ME WHEN/IF IT IS INCLUDED WITH THOSE RECALLS? THANK YOU AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI 11066649

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN STOPPED AT IDLE AND SHAKES SLIGHTLY WHEN DRIVING, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE THE POWER STEERING SOME TIMES DOES NOT WORK AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE APPEARS. I CAN TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND EVERYTHING WORKS BUT WHEEL STILL SHAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11065800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLE CHEVROLET (1200 LOUCKS RD, YORK, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE LIGHT WIRING WAS FAULTY AND CORROSION WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN OCTOBER 2014 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11065712

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S STEPDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROSSROADS CHEVROLET CADILLAC OF JOPLIN (4630 E 32ND ST, JOPLIN, MO 64804, (417) 626-6620) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11065026

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN, CAUSING A SHARP LEAN TO THE RIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE RE-WELDED. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH FOUND A GOOD NUMBER OF THE SAME ISSUE. THE PICTURES ONLINE LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MY PROBLEM. (THE ATTACHED PIC IS ONE I FOUND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT MY ACTUAL SEAT)

NHTSA ODI 11064556

AT RANDOM TIMES MY CHEVY MALIBU 2011 W/ FLEX FUEL STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL. THE SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS BEGIN TO FLASH. WHEN I PULL OVER (BECOMES THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY A LOT) I TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY GO AWAY. MY CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY AT 107,500. I'VE READ ABOUT RECALLS AND TESTED MY VIN FOR IT. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT SEE THAT MY CAR WAS ONE THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE 2008-2013 CAR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE EXTRA FUNDS TO BUY A NEW CAR OR GET THIS ONE FIXED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT I HOPE THEY CAN FIND A SOLUTION FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11064322

VERY DANGEROUS REDUCED ENGINE POWER WILL OCCUR AT ANY TIME. I COULD BE DRIVING 70 MPH AND IT WILL DROP TO 5MPH. SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED!! I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR REPLACED BEC THAT'S THE CODE THAT WAS BEING TRANSMITTED AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 3 DAYS. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AS I'M DRIVING MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN HOME ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WILL DROP SPEED AND VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND NOT GO OVER 10MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11064070

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPUTER ASSISTED POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FIXED AT DOUG CHEVROLET 1-12-2018. NOW (AFTER THE WARRANTY REPAIR OF A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR) WHEN DRIVING FOUR DAYS LATER HE LOST POWER, VEHICLE FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCED POWER AND SLOWED IMMEDIATELY FROM 45 TO 5 MPH AND HE WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME. THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING WAS IMMEDIATE AND DRASTIC AND CARS BEHIND HIM WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11063866