Home · 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev · Complaints

What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

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)

Newest first · 976 complaints · page 37 of 40

Mar 10, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,510 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,913. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN *TR *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568206

Mar 5, 2014SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THEN A NOISE STARTED AS WELL. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A BROKEN AXLE SHAFT THAT THEY ORDERED AND THEN REPLACED. THE NOISE WENT AWAY BUT THE VIBRATION HAS PERSISTED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 5+ TIMES TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME. I NEED TIRES ROTATED (DID THAT), NEED NEW TIRES (BOUGHT THEM), NEED TIRES BALANCED (DID THAT), NEED TIRES BALANCED ON THE RIMS (DID THAT), AND NOW THAT THE TIRES MUST BE COLD. I EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER BEING DRIVEN OVER 30 MINUTES AND THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE WARMED UP BY THEN. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET IN REGARDS TO THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS TO HAVE ME RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. EACH TIME I DO THIS, I AM LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE AND FENDING FOR RIDES. I AM CURRENTLY COMMUTING NEARLY 100 MILES PER DAY FOR WORK UNTIL I AM ABLE TO RELOCATE AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE. CHEVY REFUSES TO PAY FOR A RENTAL FOR AN ERROR THAT IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THEIR PRODUCT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO AT THIS POINT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND ANYONE ELSE OF SIGNIFICANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10567141

Mar 4, 2014Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DISPLAY SHOWED LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY A TRUCK. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE BEGAN SHAKING AT WHICH POINT I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566999

Mar 3, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I'M DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING AND ESC ARE LOST! THE CAR'S MONITORS ALERT ME BUT I HAVE TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE! I FINALLY GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORM ME I HAVE TO PAY $1400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM! IT'S NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE TO ME. MY CAR ISN'T 3 YEARS OLD YET! I LATER LEARNED MANY OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566737

Mar 3, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY HUSBAND OWNS THIS VEHICLE AND FOR MONTHS HE WOULD BE DRIVING AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN ALL THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 10MPH. HE COULD HAVE CRASHED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY CHANGED A SENSOR AND SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE COLD. THEN WHEN IT KEPT HAPPENING WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND IT HAPPENS ON THESE CARS ALL THE TIME. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS CAR HAS A HISTORY OF THIS SAME PART GOING AT LOW MILEAGE WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PART. WE NOW JUST HAD TO SPEND $600 SO MY HUSBAND COULD DRIVE SAFELY TO WORK AND SUCH AND WITH OUR CHILDREN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU PAY FOR A VEHICLE IT SHOULD WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566796

Feb 26, 2014Speed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DISPLAYED SHOWED LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, REDUCED POWER ENGINE. AFTER QUICKLY PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE THE CAR BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL RESULTED IN NO ENGINE POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565903

Feb 26, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVEN IN HIGHWAY 40 MPH SUDDENLY I LOST CONTROL OF THE CARS' SPEED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED RESPONDING TO ITS NORMAL FUNCTIONS. THIS ULTIMATELY LOWERED MY SPEED DOWN TO 11 MPH. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME GETTING INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566184

Feb 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND STARTED SPUTTERING. ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO QUIT AND DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER. WOULD NOT GET OVER 15MPH. PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I AM VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED. DECELERATED AT A VERY FAST RATE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $675. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. CHEVROLET CONVENIENTLY STOPPED COVERING THE THROTTLE BODY STARTING IN 2011. FROM LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE OR POORLY DESIGNED PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10564890

Feb 13, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SITTING AT INTERSECTION, FOOT ON BRAKE, WAITING FOR LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, FELT SUDDEN POWER SURGE, THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND, LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD READ: REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ESC, SERVICE ENGINE ICOM APPEARED. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HAD TO CROSS 5 LANES OF STATE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE, LIGHT TURNED RED, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AS BEST I COULD ACCOUNT 5 FT SNOW PILES ALONGSIDE ROAD. MINUS 6 DEGREES OUT. SHUT CAR OFF FOR APPROX. 5 MIN. STARTED CAR AND COULD DRIVE IT TO FIRST PARKING LOT ABOUT 3/4 MILE. HAD CAR TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME HE'S HAD ALOT OF THESE FAILURES AND IT'S DUE TO EXTENSIVE COLD WEATHER. I FEEL CHEVROLET SHOULD ORDER A RECALL AND TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. CAR JUST ENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THIS WEEK, OTHER OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR COST IF THEIR CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10564177

Feb 13, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, NEARLY CAUSING A SECOND VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEFECT WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AS THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10564276

Feb 6, 2014Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I CALLED AND MADE A COMPLAINT YESTERDAY REGARDING MY VEHICLE DROPPING FROM 60 MPH TO 30 MPH IN THE MIDST OF MORNING TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO LET THE CAR SIT IDLE WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN IT SHOULD RESET AND BE FINE. WELL, THIS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES THIS MORNING, 3 OF THOSE TIMES MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE ROADS WERE SLICK THIS MORNING WITH RAIN/SNOW AND MY CAR FIRST DID THIS AT INTERSTATE 35 AND ILLINOIS, I PULLED OVER FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. IT DID IT AGAIN AT INTERSTATE 35 AND REGAL ROW AND HAD TO AGAIN SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 MINUTES. I REACHED CARROLLTON AND IT DID IT AGAIN ON BELTLLINE ROAD AND THEN ON 161 AND TRINITY. MIND YOU, THE FIRST TWO INCIDENCES HAPPENED BEFORE DAYLIGHT. THE SECOND INCIDENT ALSO PUT US IN DANGER OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS AN 18 WHEELER WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AS THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND DECREASING SPEED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MOVE TO THE MEDIAN BEFORE I WAS SIDESWIPED. THE FIRST THREE INCIDENCES THE CAR DECREASED TO 30 MPH AND WOULD NOT INCREASE. ON THE FOURTH INCIDENT MY CAR WOULD NOT INCREASE PAST 25 MPH. THIS VEHICLE PUT ME IN MUCH DANGER THIS MORNING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEATHER (SNOW) CONDITIONS IN OUR AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563241

Feb 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND DECELERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,541.

NHTSA ODI 10563005

Jan 31, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING AT A RATE OF 65MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGINS SHAKING TERRIBLY, MY SPEED DROPS BACK TO 20 MPH AND LIGHTS LIGHT UP INDICATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER", "ESC OFF", AND SOMETHING REGARDING STABILITY CONTROL SERVICE. CAN I SAY SCARED OUT OF MY MIND AND TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT THE THE SAME TIME AS THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO PRETTY MUCH SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. I HAD ONSTAR TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO BE INFORMED THAT IT IS MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. I CALLED THE OURISMAN SERVICE DEPT IN BOWIE, MD AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, WHICH I FIND TO BE TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!! I WILL BE CALLING GM TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK THAT THIS REPAIR BE COVERED OR I WILL HAVE TO TAKE OTHER STEPS TO SEEK SOME SATISFACTORY ASSISTANCE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT, AS IT IS NOT A FAULT OF THE CONSUMER BUT EVIDENTIALLY DEFECTED PARTS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED BY GM COMPANY...WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR BEFORE THEY TAKE ACTION...I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE!! SIGNED: NOT A HAPPY CHEVY OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10562323

Jan 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 42,000 MILES ON SNOW-COVERED ROADS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP, INCLUDING "SERVICE ESC", "ENGINE POWER REDUCE" AND THE CAR BEGAN IN JOLT. THIS CAUSED HER TO SWERVE INTO THE OTHER LANE AND JUST MISSED GETTING BROADSIDED BY A SEMI TRUCK. WE LET THE CAR SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS IN A PARKING LOT. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT IT WASN'T A COVERED PART UNDER GM'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WE PROCEEDED TO TALK TO GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. BOTH INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SPOKE WITH US TOLD US THAT IT IS A COVERED PART. THE ISSUE WAS ESCALATED TO A TIER 2 REP WHO SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT IN THEIR COMMUNICATION WITH GM, THAT IT IS NOT COVERED. WE ARE SO FRUSTRATED. WE ARE 2 MONTHS FROM TURNING OUR VEHICLE IN AND WERE CONSIDERING ANOTHER GM LEASE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE WILL BE GOING WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER, SINCE GM HAS OPTED TO TAKE THIS POSITION. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH US, BUT TO ME, THIS ISSUE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE DRIVER. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. IT SHOULD EITHER BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF RESOLVE. THIS CAR NOW SITS IN OUR GARAGE AND ACTS THIS WAY WHEN WE START IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10561617

Jan 20, 2014Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

I WAS AT A STOP TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC AT 7PM. WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO GO MY CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. IT WOULD ONLY REV. I THREW IT IN PARK THEN TO DRIVE...NOTHING. TRIED MANUAL. NOTHING. REVERSE WAS ALL THAT WORKED. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO REVERSE OUT OF INTERSECTION. HAD WRECKER TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. FRIDAY NIGHT THEY TELL ME CAR IS READY THAT THE CHIP IN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. GO SATURDAY TO GET IT AND WHEN I TURNED CAR ON IT READ "SERVICE AIR BAG". THEY TRIED TO CLEAR CODE BUT FAILED. SAID THAT THERE WAS A TRUE PROBLEM AND WOULD LOOK AT IT MONDAY THE 20TH. JUST GOT A CALL SAYING THE AIR BAG CHIP SHORTED OUT AND GENERALLY ALL IN ALL IS A 700.00 FIX. THEY ALLEGEDLY SPOKE TO GM WHO SAID JUST CHARGE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. DUE TO SOME ISSUES I HAD WITH DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME 50.00 AND THEY WOULD COVER THE REST. I DO NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK YET AS THEY ARE WORKING ON IT STILL. GLAD I STILL HAD POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO RIGHT NOW THE ONLY OUT OF POCKET COST WITH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL WILL BE THE 50.00. HOWEVER I FEEL I NOR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY SINCE I WAS TOLD THIS IS A "KNOWN &COMMON" ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10560634

Jan 11, 2014Airbags

HELLO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ( CHEVY MALIBU 2011) DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE AIRBAG CAME ON. I WAS NOT SPEEDING I WAS GOING 30 MPH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS AN ERROR CODE B0014. I NOTICED IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM MOTORS IN GENERAL. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC ALONG WITH REPAIRS. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE A CRASH NOR AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559442

Jan 9, 2014Airbags

RECENTLY MY 2011 MALIBU WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT HAS STARTED TO SHOW THE SERVICE AIR BAG ON THE DISPLAY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICER AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WITH ME RECENTLY LOOSING MY JOB OUT OF POCKET IS NOT AN OPTION. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG ISSUE IS VERY COMMON AMONG THE 2010-2011 MODELS. I LOCATED THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY WITH THE VIN FOR THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I DID INFORM THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I CONTACTED A CHEVY DEALER A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING TO MAKE SURE THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE AN AIR BAG RANDOMLY BLOWING UP IN FACE WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURS RANDOMLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 0-70 MPH. THE TECH ADVISED ME THAT WOULD NOT OCCUR AS WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. ADVISED GM THIS DURING OUR PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THIS WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THERE VEHICLES AS THEY HAVE CORRECTED ON VIN SPECIFIC 2010-2011 IN THERE WORDS THAT I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM ISN'T BIGGER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559157

Jan 8, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LUCKILY I WAS STUCK IN WALL TO WALL TRAFFIC DUE TO BAD WEATHER ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE GAS TO INCH FORWARD AND MY CAR STARTING SHAKING AND SEEMED TO BE IDLED UP. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY DASH READ ENGINE POWERING DOWN,SERVICE TRACKING SYSTEM AND MY CAR WOULD GO NO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. THE PART ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON A 3YR CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY $388.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559125

Jan 7, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAY TOO WORK , RUSH HOUR AND UNPLEASANT WEATHER. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SLOWED ITSELF DOWN, STARTED TO TREMBLE AND THE ;ENGINE POWER REDUCE / SERVICE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED SINCE CAR JUST DECIDED TO REDUCE ITS ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. CAR STARTED TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CALLED INTO WORK AND CAUTIOUSLY DROVE CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD CAR WILL NOT BE LOOKED AT TIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT CALLS ME THE FOLLOWING MORNING , TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND NEEDS THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, DUE TO IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL DEFECT POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE COLD WEATHER. I ASKED WHY WOULD THE THROTTLE BODY DEFECT , BE THE CONSUMERS FAULT; I DIDN'T KNOW CARS CANT BE OUT IN THE COLD WEATHER. SO, I DECIDED TO LOOK UP THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU RECALLS/DEFECTS AND FOUND 22 OF 57 COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME CAR ISSUE/PROBLEM/DEFECT. SO, I ASK; WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN PUT UP FOR A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL, AND HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF??? THIS CAN CAUSE ALOT OF ACCIDENTS! AS IM SURE THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ENGINE POWER REDUCTION HAVE FELT AT THAT MOMENT AND TIME. SO NOW IM TOO PAY $546.00 (ESTIMATED) TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED TO USE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES. I THOUGHT CHEVROLET WAS A DEPENDABLE MAKER. ALL MY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND MY PARENTS HAVE PURCHASED CHEVYS- FROM TRAVERSE- MALIBU'S AND THEY ARE ALL SURPRISED THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558780

Jan 4, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON ONE OF THE MAIN HIGHWAYS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL LIGHTS APPEARED FIRST IT WAS THE SERVICE ESC, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT, ALONG WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHT, THE CAR THEN DROPPED FROM A SPEED OF 65 TO A SPEED OF 20 AND WOULD NOT GO ON THE HIGHWAY THIS ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, I WOULD RATHER MY LIFE BE SAVED THAN DRIVING IN A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558491

Jan 3, 2014Speed controlEngine

VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, LOW TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, ESC MESSAGE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 15 MPH, WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH THIS ISSUE. WAS LUCKY TO BE ON AN OUTER ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC THEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD CAR DIAGNOSED, FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED -- KNOW OF TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SAME ISSUE IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS, ONE ON A MALIBU, AND ONE ON ANOTHER CHEVY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558333

Dec 5, 2013AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash1 injury

I WAS GOING ONTO A EXIT AN HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE CAR SPUN AND I ENDED UP SIDEWAYS. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. I SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A FACIAL HEMATOMA AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10554926

Nov 7, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR THAN STARTED TO JERK LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF OXYGEN, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT IN GEAR.. TOOK TO HAVE CHECK AND COME TO FIND OUT ITS THE (TCM) TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHICH ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR AND EXTRA TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM SANTANDER CONSUMER AND BRONX SUZUKI/VICTORY IN BRONX, NY. I HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF IN A CAR PAYMENT THAT'S MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551376

Oct 14, 2013Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK UNLESS I USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547855

Sep 2, 2013Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED THIS MALIBU IN MARCH 2011, NEW. I CURRENTLY HAVE LESS THAN 26K MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE ACCELERATING (USUALLY) BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE ITS ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE TACHOMETER WILL GO TO 4000 PLUS WITH NO ACCELERATION. ITS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP (EXACT MILEAGE NOTED ABOVE MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE) AND THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO KEYES CHEVROLET, WHERE PURCHASED. THEY SAID THEY NOTICED THE DEFECT AND APPARENTLY DID AN OVERHAUL (?) ON THE TRANSMISSION AND KEPT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. MY GUESS IS THEY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH DOING AN INITIAL REPAIR AS THEY WOULD BE REIMBURSED BY GM ($1500?). NEW OR SIMILAR REPAIRS OR ISSUES MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR REIMBURSEMENT, AS GM WILL SAY THEY FIXED IT ALREADY AND PAID ONCE!!!!! I TRY AND MAINTAIN A LOG IN THE CAR OF THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST 25 TIMES NOTED AND LOGGED IN 2013. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY NUMEROUS TIMES THAT WERE NOT LOGGED BECAUSE OF TIMING OR LOCATION OR JUST TIRED OF LOGGING ISSUES ON A NEW CAR. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR MAKING ENGINE NOISES WHEN STARTING UP, AT LEAST TWICE. ONE TIME I DID NOT DO A REPAIR ORDER AS THEY DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND LOOKED / LISTENED TO THE CAR. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND THE SHIFTING ISSUE HAPPENS MORE REGULARLY. I TRY TO MAINTAIN A RECORD OF THE DATE, TIME AND MILEAGE. WILL SEE IF THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE NOISES AND SHIFTING ISSUES, WHEN I BRING IT IN SOON, AGAIN. THE CAR HAS RECENTLY STARTED CHUGGING ALONG WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE, A NEW ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10538419

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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 Hev verdict →