2011 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
977 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 731 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 230 of 977 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 234 | 24.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 145 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 101 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 83 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 65 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 23 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 230 |
| Steering | 212 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 174 |
| Engine | 160 |
| Exterior Lighting | 123 |
| Power Train | 110 |
| Air Bags | 93 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 85 |
Electrical System: 230; Steering: 212; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 174; Engine: 160; Exterior Lighting: 123; Power Train: 110; Air Bags: 93; Vehicle Speed Control: 85
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 65 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 101 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 159 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 175 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 176 |
| 150,000 and above | 55 |
Under 25,000: 65; 25,000 to 49,999: 101; 50,000 to 74,999: 159; 75,000 to 99,999: 175; 100,000 to 149,999: 176; 150,000 and above: 55
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (176). 246 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2014 | 130 |
| 2015 | 161 |
| 2016 | 100 |
| 2017 | 72 |
| 2018 | 118 |
| 2019 | 135 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2021 | 36 |
| 2022 | 29 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2010: 1; 2011: 16; 2012: 14; 2013: 24; 2014: 130; 2015: 161; 2016: 100; 2017: 72; 2018: 118; 2019: 135; 2020: 73; 2021: 36; 2022: 29; 2023: 19; 2024: 23; 2025: 15; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 234 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 145 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 101 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10452080 · 2012-03-17 (March 17, 2012)
THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2011. THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WAS NO STEERING, SERVICE ESC,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. TODAY IS THE SECOND TIME THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. CHEVY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER, BUT NOW IT'S BACK. THE MALIBU IS BACK AT CHEVY FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER INCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO BUT AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE AND HAS NOT SURFACED UNTIL NOW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS PROBLEM IS R…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467872 · 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)
VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65 - 75 MPH WILL EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE SEATS AND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. VIBRATION WILL NOT GO AWAY AND WILL WORSEN AFTER A WHEEL BALANCING. MANUFACTURER HAS STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS INHERENT IN THE VEHICLES DESIGN AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATION CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WHERE THAT COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454540 · 2012-04-09 (April 9, 2012)
I BOUGHT MY 2011 MALIBU LTZ IN APRIL 2011. SINCE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE NOTICED, CONSISTENTLY, THE CAR REVS EXTREMELY HIGH WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING. IT OFTEN TIMES STRUGGLES TO SHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. THE CAR IS ALSO RATED TO GET UP TO 33 MPG HIGHWAY, AVERAGE OF 25. I DRIVE ABOUT 90% HIGHWAY AND BACKROADS AND AM ONLY GETTING AN AVERAGE OF 23.3 MPG, WHICH IS THE CITY RATING. THIS CAR HAS A 6 SPEED AUTO AND WAS SUPPOSED TO DO BETTER ON GAS THAN THE LAST FEW MODELS, BUT MY 2009 MALIBU WITH A 4 SPEED AUTO DID…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503271 · 2013-03-16 (March 16, 2013)
DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND SERVICE ESC AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED. I HAD TO MANEUVER 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT IN RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. "FAULTY ALTERNATOR" RULED TO BE AT FAULT. NO WARNING THAT MORNING PRIOR TO EVENT. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON A LITTLE LONGER (5 MINUTES) THAN USUAL AND THEN WENT OFF. IT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN TO WARN OF SOMETHING WRONG. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INDIFFERENT SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE'S BBB AS THIS IS THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378714 · 2011-01-26 (January 26, 2011)
I PURCHASED A 2011 MALIBU FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN AUSTIN, TX IN NOVEMBER 2010. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH A KNOWN DEFECTIVE EBCM (ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE). THEY HAD THE PART ON ORDER AND DIDN'T TELL ME. I FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHEN I HAD A TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE INDICATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO FAIL UNTIL THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND STILL HAD A TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FAILURE. LATER I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONNECTOR ON THE EBCM HAD A PUSHED PIN FROM …
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420913 · 2011-08-22 (August 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GROWLING NOISE WOULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATLEY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. AS A RESULT, THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN ENGI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10382326 · 2011-02-10 (February 10, 2011)
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM THE ENTRY LANE OF A MOSTLY EMPTY (THANKFULLY) RURALHIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION" ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SERVICE ESC APPEARED ON THE DASH MONITOR.. I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT GET ABOVE 45 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO BE LOCKED INTO A GEAR LEVEL. I CONTACTED CHEY AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE. HERE'S THE PROBLEM, IF I HAD BEEN DOING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE POWER LOSS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NOT TO MENTION GETTING ME KILLED. I THINK THE FEATURE IS ENGINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409448 · 2011-06-21 (June 21, 2011)
FROM MY WIFE: AFTER TWO PRIOR TRIPS IN THE SAME DAY (36 MILES AND 16 MILES ROUND TRIP RESPECTIVELY), MY 3RD OCCASION TO START THE CAR WAS MET WITH A GLARING WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". IT WAS FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE ESC/TRACTION CONTROL". I WAS PUZZLED BY THIS WHEN AFTER THAT BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT HAD TO GO TO GET TO A PERFORMANCE. THE ENGINE HAD BARELY ANY POWER AND IT WAS AS…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,898 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511396 · 2013-05-10 (May 10, 2013)
I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS. NOVEMBER 2012, I REPORTED TO MY GM DEALER OF LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING. CAR'S RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS, LOSES POWER AT VARYING SPEEDS FROM 30 MPH AND UP. VEHICLE BROUGHT IN, DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. DECEMBER 2012, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, CAR CAME TO STOP ON ACTIVE TRAIN TRACKS WITH CHILDREN IN CAR, NO POWER STEERING, NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, PARK. ONCE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED VEHICLE IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10511396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568206 · 2014-03-10 (March 10, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 27,510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501025 · 2013-03-02 (March 2, 2013)
THE FUEL PUMP HAS BURNED CONNECTORS THAT ARE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, THE BOARD LIGHTS INTENSITY INCREASES OR DECREASES OR STAYS OFF, ALL FUSES ARE GOOD, THE GM IS AWARE OF THIS AND 72 HOURS AGO I'M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER , I HAVE FEAR THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I'M NOT USING THE CAR, WHERE I CAN SEND PICTURES OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHEN I OPENED THE CASE I ASK THEM GM CAR RENT IT AND REVISE MINE TO SEE IF IT WAS SAFE BUT UNTIL NOW NO RESPONSE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WANT THE CAR TO BURN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,078 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593027 · 2014-05-18 (May 18, 2014)
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON I 84 ON ROUTE TO WORCESTER, MA. HAD TO COAST WITH NO POWER STEERING AND AVOID A TRUCK TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE. ENGINE STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES AND RAN FOR ANOTHER HR. LUCKILY THIS TIME, STOPPED FOR FUEL AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD TO BE TO TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593027 at NHTSA ↗