2011 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ IS A METALLIC RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROADS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON AUGUST 24, 2010. THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE METALLIC RATTLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON AUGUST 30, AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 17, SEPTEMBER 30 (2 DAYS) AND OCTOBER 7, 2010 BUT, TO DATE, THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD …

Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360725 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

BOTH FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS ON RENTAL CAR ARE INSTALLED ON VEHICLE BACKWARDS. BELT NEEDS TO BE TWISTED TO GET IT TO WORK. TWISTING IT DECREASES SURFACE AREA WHERE IT CONTACTS THE PERSON'S BODY (FROM THE FULL 2" WIDTH OF THE STRAP TO NOW A REDUCED WIDTH). THIS CAUSES IT TO "DIG IN" TO PERSON WHERE AS IF WERE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THE FULL 2 INCH WIDTH OF THE SEAT BELT WOULD CONTACT THE PERSON'S BODY AND NOT "DIG IN" TO THE BODY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384202 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES DID NOT FULLY CLEAR THE WINDOW IN COLD WEATHER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS. THE FIRST DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPERS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED WHILE THE SECOND DEALER STATED THAT THE RUBBER USED FOR THE WIPERS SEEMED TO CONTRACT AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386739 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A BLIND SPOT WHEN LOOKING OUT THE PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE ABNORMAL BLIND SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS BLOCKED BY 26 INCHES BY THE POST MIRROR. UPDATED 09/16/11

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390153 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT: MODERN VEHICLES ALL SEEM TO HAVE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE HEADRESTS. I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE IN MOST NEW CARS! THE HEADRESTS PUSH TOO FAR FORWARD. I AM 6'1" AND PREFER AN UPRIGHT SEATING POSITION. I AM BEGINNING TO DESPAIR ABOUT FINDING A COMFORTABLE CAR FOR LONG DRIVES AND IT IS VERY DISCOURAGING. YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TELL ME ITS ALL IN THE NAME OF SAFETY (WHIPLASH) BUT WHAT'S THE POINT IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEING IN THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES? HEADRESTS NEED TO BE ADJUSTABLE ANGLE LIKE MY 07 VW GTI (WHICH HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407198 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Reported: 2015-05-08 (May 8, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

Reported: 2019-01-16 (January 16, 2019)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.