What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC WARNINGS. CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, SLOWED TO 5 MPH MAX. PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. RESTARTED CAR, SEEMED FINE. SINCE I HAPPENED TO BE ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. AT STOPLIGHT, CAR DID SAME THING, VIOLENT SHAKING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS. THANKFULLY, I MADE IT INTO DEALER LOT. TURNED CAR OFF. HAD TO RE-START TO PULL TO SERVICE DOOR. AGAIN, DID FINE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. AGREE WITH OTHER COMPLAINANTS...IF THIS HAPPENS MID-INTERSECTION OR ON THE INTERSTATE LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10690064

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,700.

NHTSA ODI 10690099

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP AND THE ESC WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN WEEKS OF THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED. THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,903.

NHTSA ODI 10690115

DRIVING 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ LIGHT CAME ON.GOT MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWERING DOWN.CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR.PULLED INTO CVS PHARMACY LOT.TURNED CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED.DROVE AROUND LOT FOR 1 MINUTE.JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF LOT AND ENTER EXPRESSWAY.CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.UNABLE TO RE-START.WAITED 2 HOUR'S FOR TOW ON STAR ROAD SIDE SERVICE.PLAN TO HAVE CAR TOWED MONDAY MORNING.WILL CHECK FOR ESC RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689871

I HAVE A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND WHEN IT RAIN THE DRIVER SIDE ON THE INSIDE ALWAYS GETS WET. ITS THE LEFT SIDE ONLY THAT HAS WATER ON IT. THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE HAS THIS CAR FOR A YEAR. YES IT DOES HAVE A SUNROOF BUT NO WATER IS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF TIMES IT COULD BE THE DRAIN TUBE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689762

MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, GAS TANK FULL, WIRING IS GOOD, SPARK PLUGS ARE BRAND NEW, JUST WON'T START AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECREASED TO 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10689546

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHOOK AND THE TRACTION, THE ESC AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10689476

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE RAPIDLY AND THE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,533.

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REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND JERKING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, SHOOK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,200.

NHTSA ODI 10683777

DRIVING DURING SNOW AND ICE, ESC INDICATOR CAME ON, PUSHED THE TC AND IT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY, THE CAR GOES ONLY ABOUT 20MPH WITH JERKING MOTION, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, FLUID FROM SOMEWHERE DRAIN ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. CAR SAT STILL FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS AND STILL DID THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683897

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED, LOW TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON, AND COULD GO OVER 40 MPH. WE STOPPED AND LET IT SIT FOR APPX 5 MINUTES, AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY SON HAS AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER WE WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP AND IT READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. WE REMOVED IT AND CLEANED IT WITH MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CLEANER AND REPLACED IT. AS SOON AS WE STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CAR DROVE FINE UNTIL 2-7-2015 WHERE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AT APPX 74,700 MILES. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN CIRCLEVILLE) ON 2-14-15. THEY TESTED IT AND IT SHOWED THE CODE P2135 #PIP2019 THEY CHECKED CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION & DAMAGE , BUT FOUND NOTHING. THEY RAN THE THROTTLE SWEEP TEST. IT TESTED OK. THEY CLEARED THE CODE & DROVE & COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE PARTS BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TO BRING IT IN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR EVERY DAY TO COLUMBUS OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, ON STATE HIGHWAYS. I'M SCARED THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN DURING RUSH HOUR AND SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN LIKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND OR LOSS OF LIFE TO SOMEONE. SO, DOES GM THINK PARTS COST MORE THAN A LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE?????? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683602

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE APPEARED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10683176

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10MPH. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY CRAWL FORWARD. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. AGAIN, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AND THIS TIME THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE AS NORMAL, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND THAT NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I HAVE READ ON CHEVY FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY CAN FIND AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683390

THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT FRAME IS BROKE. UPON INSPECTION BY MYSELF, IT'S A WELD FAILURE (A MANUFACTURING DEFECT). A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT'S BROKE AND THE VERBIAGE THEY USED WAS "SEAT RISER CRACKING FREE". IN USE, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT, AND IF THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKE AND NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME/BODY IN MY MIND THIS IS A FAILED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED GENERAL MOTORS DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY ABOUT REPAIRING THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I'M THINKING THEY ARE LIABLE IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS AS WE JUST NOTICED IT WHILE IN USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683051

TWO ISSUES EXIST: 1. THE THROTTLE BODY PREMATURELY WORE OUT AND CAUSED VARIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, INSTABILITY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR SLOWED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL AND ECS INDICATORS. STEERING ALSO WAS DIFFICULT WHILE THE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. 2. THE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM/ECU) THAT IS THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS NOT COMPLETELY SEALED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INSIDE WHICH STARTED TO CORRODE THE PINS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED INSTABILITY IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681755

SERVICE AIRBAG DISPLAY MESSAGE CAME ON. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SDM. $902 TO FIX. DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 10681100

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. *MW THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL/ THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED, WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF RECALL 14V252000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED, WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10660647

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE ESC ERROR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 10681012

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE AT APPROX 25 MPH, ALL OF THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID "LOSS OF ENGINE POWER" THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME AN THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680456

THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR. I'M DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-50 WHEN MY ENGINE ALMOST CUTS OFF COMPLETELY. A LOUD THUMPING (LIKE A MIS FIRE) AND MY DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND READ SERVICE SVC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS DONE THIS IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP THEY SAID THEY TIGHTENED THE "WIRING HARNESS" WELL HOW CONVENIENT THAT NOW THAT MY BUMPER TO BUMPER IS GONE THEY WANNA REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK AND KILL SOMEONE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLING OUT INTO MAJOR TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT AND KILLED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MAILBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI 10679990

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED VEH THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO NOT WORK. AT FIRST IT RARELY HAPPENED. I WOULD JUST RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN. NOW IT ALMOST NEVER WORKS. MY VEH WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. AND THE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. BY THE TIME THEY REALIZED IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE OTHER VEHICLES MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I AM STILL UNABLE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. SO I AM NOW DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND NO POWER STEERING. IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN REPORT THIS TO IN HOPES OF GETTING MY VEHICLE ADDED TO THE RECALL. *TR

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