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)

212 of 976 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 7 of 9

Dec 17, 2016Steering

AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I LOST MY ABILITY TO STEER. THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ESC" FLASHED ON MY DASH. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I MADE IT TO WORK. WHEN I LEFT WORK, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING JUST FINE.

NHTSA ODI 10936010

Sep 26, 2016Steering

EPS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. IT MAKES THE STEERING REVERT TO MANUAL STEERING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR IS BAD. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I CAN RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THE EPS STARTS WORKING, BUT FAILS LATER.

NHTSA ODI 10909695

Aug 26, 2016Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10898886

Aug 15, 2016SteeringAirbagsWheelsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURED BONES ON HER FACE AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING AXLE AND TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 10895902

Jul 5, 2016Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 10882506

May 25, 2016SteeringElectrical system

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED IN A CURVED PART OF THE HIGHWAY AT ~45 MPH. WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE DRIVE HOME WHICH WAS ~2 MILES. RESTARTED THE CAR AT HOME AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE UNTIL 5 DAYS LATER - SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING ILLUMINATED ON DASH.

NHTSA ODI 10870719

May 11, 2016SteeringBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AREA WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS WELDED HAD FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STEERED TO THE LEFT IN EXCESS AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864441

Apr 12, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngine

CAR WHEN STARTED STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ALL THE LIGHTS START FLASHING, LOCKS START TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THEMSELVES. ENGINE LINES COMES ON HARD TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS.

NHTSA ODI 10855006

Apr 5, 2016SteeringSuspension

NTSB: 2011 CHEVY MALIBU: CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SERVICE. DURING SERVICE, THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THE PARTS IN QUESTION WERE DETERIORATING SEVERELY. *SS THE DEALER FOUND THE REAR TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10853692

Mar 20, 2016SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU IN 2012. SINCE THE PURCHASE I'VE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE RESOLVED WITH THE RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELT LAP ANCHOR TENSIONER CABLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR STALLING / LOSING POWER AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND BEGIN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE ALSO LOST TOTAL CONTROL DUE TO THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE CAR STALLING, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I LEFT WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE BEING DON;. I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I ALSO HAVE A 2011 CHEVY CRUZE THAT I'VE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH, NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE RECALLS ON IT. ALL OF THE ABOVE ISSUES HAVE BEEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, WHILE TURNING, AND ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY BACK SEAT IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE MOLDING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $200 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AFTER I CLEARLY TOLD THEM THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT COMING FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THEY TOOK DOWN THE HEADLINER ANYWAY AND SAID THAT THEY DID A TEST AND WATER COULD BE SEEN GUSHING FROM THIS AREA, BUT YET MY SEAT WAS NOT WET AS I HAD TOLD THEM WHERE THE SEAT GETS WET AT. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE MALIBU'S I JUST WANT GM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE A DIFFERENT BRAND OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10850595

Mar 16, 2016SteeringWheels

I WAS GOING ON A 3HR TRIP ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, 40MIN INTO MY RIDE MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SHAKING TERRIBLY. 40MIN FROM MY FINAL DESTINATION MY CAR WAS SHAKING HORRIBLY AND IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD NO CONTROL OF THE TIRES. WHEN THE ROAD REARED TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT I HELD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL VERY TIGHT AND IT FELT LIKE THE WHEELS WERE NOT TURNING IN THE DIRECTION THAT I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD DROP MY SPEED FROM 60MPH TO 40MPH, WHICH DID NOT RESULT IN A CHANGE. I AGREE THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL, MYSELF ALONG WITH OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 10849896

Mar 8, 2016SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

RECEIVED MESSAGES OF: SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE POWER STEERING, ENG PWR REDUCED, ENGINE DISABLED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, WENT INTO LIMP MODE, HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO TRY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON TO TRY TO RESET. NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT FROM ONCOMING AND TRAILING VEHICLES. THIS MAKE AND MODEL NEEDS TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10840432

Mar 4, 2016Steering

WHILE I WAS DRIVING I LOST THE POWER STEERING ON THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED TWICE . THANK GOD THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC OTHER WISE I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10839945

Feb 23, 2016Steering

HIGHWAY DRIVEING SPEEDS OVER 50MPH STEERING IS EXTREAMLY LOOSE ON A TWO LANE ROAD WHEN BIGGER VEHICLES PASS THE AIR PUSHES MY CAR SO BAD I GET TERRIFIED IT WILL MAKE ME HIT A DITCH MY CAR IS LESS THEN A WEEK OLD TO ME. UNDER 70K MILES. EVEN REGULAR DRIVEING ON HIGHWAYS THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI 10837885

Jan 20, 2016SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 10821197

Jan 19, 2016Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 10820915

Jan 19, 2016Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10820925

Jan 7, 2016Steering

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

Dec 29, 2015SteeringSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

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

Dec 23, 2015SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

Dec 8, 2015SteeringSuspension

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

Nov 14, 2015SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

Nov 5, 2015Steering

REPLACED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON FEB 12, 2015. WAS TOLD NOT INCLUDED UNDER CERTIFIED WARRANTY. ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLL. WOULD LIKE CONSIDERATION OF REFUND OF REPAIR. THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE ON LEFT SIDE. FOUND TO BE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND PAID FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10788739

Nov 2, 2015Electrical systemSteering

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR FUSE BLOCK AND CIRCUIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10806900

Aug 29, 2015Steering

BEING A SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT AT TIMES THE POWER STEERING WOULD BECOME INEFFECTIVE AND STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE, ALONG WITH A LOT OF CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN...ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. AFTER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS, I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY AS THE POWER ASSIST WAS NOT WORKING AND THE ENTIRE STEERING POPPED AND I HAD NO MORE STEERING CONTROL ( THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FREE WHEELING). LUCKILY, THIS SITUATION DID NOT HAPPEN ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH! AS IT HAPPENS THE FREE WHEELING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS DAMAGED THE CLOCK-SPRING INSIDE THE STEERING HUB THAT PROVIDES POWER TO THE AIRBAG AND CRUISE AND RADIO CONTROLS, MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL.I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OF THIS CAR, BUT AM TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC HAS ESTIMATED A REPAIR BILL CLOSE TO $1000 AND THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM, IN MY OPINION...AS IT IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE (NO STEERING CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS)!

NHTSA ODI 10760143

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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 →