What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

2011 MALIBU HAS BEEN LOSING ENGINE POWER SHOWING "SERVICE ESC" ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SOMETHING ABOUT TRACTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 8 TIMES TWICE THIS WEEK ON JAN. 5TH 2016. THE SECOND TIME I CAME SO CLOSE TO A CRASH TO START TO WHAT NOT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IN ALL SITUATIONS I WAS ON A HIGHWAY DOING OVER 60 MPH AND IN MOST CASES LETTING OFF THE GAS. I HAD A WIRE CONNECTOR TO THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED THIS SPRING FOR $200 AT A DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK THIS FALL. I HAVE HAD CODES ABOUT THE CAM SENSOR (REPLACED) THEN THE CAM ACTUATORS (BOTH REPLACED). NOW I AM TOLD IT COULD BE THE TIMING CHAIN ADJUSTABLE SPROCKETS STICKING FROM JUNK FROM THE CHAIN GUIDES. THERE WAS SOME METAL BITS ON THE CAM ACTUATORATOR WHEN I REPLACED IT. AT $1400 (CHAINS, GUIDES, SPROCKETS) I WILL DO IT TOMORROW MYSELF FOR $400 IN PARTS JUST TO SEE WHAT IS UP MYSELF. I SELL AUTO SHOP SUPPLIES AND WAS A TECH. YEARS AGO SO I CAN DO IT MYSELF WITH A HAYNES MANUAL. THIS IS A COMMON VARY DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM JUST AS BAD AS THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH RECALL. FIX IT NOW GM. CAN ANYONE SAY LAWSUIT, SOMEBODY HELP.

NHTSA ODI 10818658

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR STEERING RACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818700

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN COLD WEATHER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818370

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE ESC LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818458

BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2013. IN JUNE 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED SAYING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL . CAR STALLED AND STOPPED. IT DID THIS 3 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. CHANGED TIRES . IN JULY 2015 ON THE HIGHWAY IT DID THE SAME THING. GOT THE FULL BODY THROTTLE CHANGED. IN NOVEMBER 2015 HAD TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP. LANGS TIRE AND AUTOMOTIVE. THEY CHANGED THE FULL BODY THROTTLE AGAIN. NOW JANUARY 4, 2016. THE CAR IS STALLING TRY PUSH GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT IS ON NOW.. I ALSO HAVE 3 KIDS AND A GRANDBABY THAT RIDES IN THIS CAR. I'M JUST SO IRRITATED. THEN TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. THEY SHOULD REFUND EVERYONE THEIR MONEY BACK ON THESE CARS. EVIDENTLY THEY WERE NOT MADE RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 10817719

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE HOOD ONTO THE BRAKE LEVER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10816730

ON 12/23/15 APPROX 8:40 AM, I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON KELLY DRIVE APPROX 40 MPH. I WAS HEADING INTO A SOFT CURVE, WHEN THE ESC CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, JERKING AND SWERVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, GOING INTO THE LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND THEN JERKING BACK INTO THE LANE I WAS ORIGINALLY IN. THE CAR JERKED AND SWERVED BACK AND FORTH, APPROX 4 TIME. THIS LASTED ROUGHLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THE ESC LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD DECREASED ENGINE POWER AFTER THAT. I CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SHOOK, SHUDDERED AND THEN SETTLED DOWN. I CONTINUED ON FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES TO WORK AND PARKED THE CAR. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I COULD'VE HIT ANOTHER CAR, CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE WALL, OR ANOTHER CAR COULD'VE CRASHED INTO ME

NHTSA ODI 10811870

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH "HICCUPS" (TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER) WHILE DRIVING FOLLOWED BY FLASHING WARNING LIGHT OF TRACTION CONTROL THEN FOLLOWED WITH "SERVICE ESC... SERVICE ECM... ESC OFF". SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. BY THE TIME WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GM SERVICE THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GET A CODE BUT RECOMMENDED A NEW ECM. PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND RETURNED BACK TO GM SERVICE WITH SAME RESULT AND RECOMMENDATION. MY WIFE COMMUTES 1.5 HOURS PER DAY AND ALSO DRIVES OUR 3 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL EACH DAY. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE CONTINUE WITH THESE ISSUES, THE VEHICLE FINALLY STALLED COMPLETELY, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY START AND RUN AGAIN. SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE AND WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR SO I DROVE THE VEHICLE ONE WEEK EACH DAY TO WORK TO WITNESS THE PROBLEMS MYSELF. EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD FLASH THE SAME ERROR CODES ON EACH TRIP TO AND FROM WORK FINALLY, ON THE WAY TO THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. A NEW ECM WAS INSTALLED (WITH A COST OF $650+) AND WITHIN TWO DAYS OF DRIVING, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. GM SERVICE SENT A TOW TRUCK AND I AWAIT THEIR NEXT ATTEMPT AT FIXING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10811913

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED., BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE GM, THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED, WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS STRANDED, DUE TO LOOSING ENGINE POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10693508

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10811415

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON 2011 MALIBU WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN SHUT. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BUT WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN I PARKED.I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE AND IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS STUCK IN THE VEHICLE AND I BEGAN PRESSING LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THE KEY FOB SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE DOOR WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE OPENED. ALL OTHER DOORS WERE LOCKING/UNLOCKING AND WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY EVERYDAY. I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AM AWAITING FURTHER INFORMATION. THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING AN ACCIDENT/VEHICLE FIRE AS YOU WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10810835

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEED DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03/18/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $500. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10810926

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT'S SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,600.

NHTSA ODI 10810712

REAR DEFROST STOPPED WORKING - CABLES AND FUSE MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 10810211

I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY REAR BRAKE LIGHT IN THE BACK WINDOW WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THEN MY REAR DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE FUSES IN THE REAR FUSE BOX. I THEN REALIZED THE FUSE FOR THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND OTHER FUSES WERE ALSO BURNT. UPON CALLING GM, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE FUSE PANEL IS BURNT OUT, AND THAT I NEED A NEW FUSE PANEL, RELAY,CONNECTER(FIVE LEADS),CONNECTER(TWO LEADS), 10 AMP FUSE, AND A 30 AMP FUSE. A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME HAPPENS A LOT. UPON CALLING GM BACK WITH THE NEWS. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10809151

SINCE PURCHASE BRAND NEW, MY CARS RPM'S HAVE FLUTTERED BETWEEN 2000 AND 2500, BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL RECENTLY. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY CAR STARTED SHUDDERED WHEN IT WAS IDLING IN DRIVE POSITION AND FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT SCARED ME, SO I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE. THEN I HAD TO TAKE IN IT FOR SOME BODY WORK, WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE ESTIMATE I STOPPED TO GET THE MAIL. CAR WAS IN PARK IDLING, I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PUSHED ON THE GAS AND IT DID NOT MOVE! THE RPM'S STAY STUCK AT 2500 WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I PUT IN BACK IN PARK THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED IT, AND GOT IT JUST FAR ENOUGH TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT DOES NOT MOVE BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER IT BROKE DOWN!

NHTSA ODI 10809271

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. I HAD IT ALIGNED AND TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL DAYS LATER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL PULLING LEFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN SPEC AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. THEY TRIED ROTATING THE TIRES AGAIN AS WELL AND THAT DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 10809005

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10808221

WHEN DRIVING, GENERALLY ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CARS RPMS WILL FLUTTER BETWEEN 2200-2500. I HAVE TO CHANGE GEAR (SPEED UP QUICKLY OR SLOW DOWN) TO GET IT OUT OF THAT FLUTTER. CAR HAS A PICK UP AND SLOW DOWN REELING WHEN DOING SO. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT IT A YEAR AGO AT 17,000 AND STILL DOING IT. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SO I DON'T WANT TO GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10807922

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT SAT BEHIND THE WHEEL, HE PULLED THE SEAT BELT TO RESTRAIN HIMSELF AND THE TENSIONER CABLE FRACTURED AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10807694

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ESC, CHECK ENGINE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10806301

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT92000MILES HARD SHIFTING REVERSE IS BAD DRIVE HOME FROM ON THE CITY STREETWORK TRANSMISSION STATED TO SHIFT HARD AND SLIP.UN SAFE TO DR

NHTSA ODI 10790678

I WAS DRIVING AN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN A LARGE CURVE. 8 HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT LUCKILY WAS NOT INJURED. GM RECENTLY SENT OUT AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON TH POWER STEERING MODULE ONLY. THIS WAS REPLACED. IN MAY OF 2014 GM SENT OUT RECALL 13036 THAT INCLUDED MY CAR. THIS RECALL IS NOT PULLING UP ON MY VIN. THE LETTER STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR A FIX. I HAVE LIGHTS AND BELLS THAT MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. THEY FOUND AT YHE DEALER THAT AT LEAST ONCE I HAVE HAD A BRAKE ERROR. IN THE RECALL LETTER IT STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY FUNCTION WHEN I AM NOT BRAKING OR THEY MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN I AM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR! PLEASE PUSH FOR A RESOLUTION TO THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10790368

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

CARS ANTI THEFT IS NOT READING THE KEY SO CAR WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ODI 10788521