10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 68,576 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the reduce engine power and the ESC lights remained illuminated. The vehicle could not exceed 20 mph. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 123,000.
- Desoto, TX, USA
Bought the car in February 2013. In June 2014 while driving on the highway it started saying service traction control. Car stalled and stopped. It did this 3 times on the highway. Changed tires. In July 2015 on the highway it did the same thing. Got the full body throttle changed. In November 2015 had taken to another shop. Langs tire and automotive. They changed the full body throttle again. Now January 4, 2016. The car is stalling try push gas when this happens and doesn't accelerate. The service ESC light is on now.. I also have 3 kids and a grandbaby that rides in this car. I'm just so irritated. Then to see how many other people are having same exact problems. They should refund everyone their money back on these cars. Evidently they were not made right in the first place.
- Amarillo, TX, USA
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.
- Dayton, OH, USA
2011 Chevrolet Malibu has experienced numerous occasions with "hiccups" (temporary loss of power) while driving followed by flashing warning light of traction control then followed with "service ESC... service ECM... ESC off". service engine light also came on and stayed on. By the time we took the vehicle to GM service the engine service light was off and they could not duplicate the problem or get a code but recommended a new ECM. Problem occurred again and returned back to GM service with same result and recommendation. My wife commutes 1.5 hours per day and also drives our 3 children to school each day. After having the vehicle continue with these issues, the vehicle finally stalled completely, on 2 separate occasions, in heavy traffic but would eventually start and run again. She did not feel safe and would no longer drive the car so I drove the vehicle one week each day to work to witness the problems myself. Every single day while driving the vehicle would flash the same error codes on each trip to and from work finally, on the way to the GM service department, the vehicle died in the middle of busy traffic and I had to have it towed. A new ECM was installed (with a cost of $650+) and within two days of driving, the exact same problem has occurred. GM service sent a tow truck and I await their next attempt at fixing this vehicle.
- Brainerd, MN, USA
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
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 60 mph, the ESC warning indicator illuminated and the speed decelerated to approximately 15 mph. The contact had to maneuver to the shoulder to a complete stop. The contact waited approximately ten minutes and the vehicle started normally. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. Updated 03/18/16 the consumer stated the throttle body was replaced at a cost of $500. Updated 03/30/16.
- Ft Wayne, IN, USA
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.
- Fort Valley, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at 55 mph, the ESC warning light illuminated. Suddenly, the diminishing engine power and traction control warning lights illuminated and the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was shut off and restarted; however, the service engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000. Updated 1/15/16 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted.
- Berlin, NH, USA
While driving on I 94 westbound, a message appeared service ESC. Next message was ESC off. Without indicator warning, car was off. I exited based on the jerking motion the car was making. I thought it sounded like the engine was not running. I made it to 8 mile/vernier exit. When I came to a stop for the red light, I realized the engine had quit and the car was not running. I was terrified as I blocked the right lane. Cars traveling behind me had to break suddenly or swerve to go around me. It was a dangerous and frightening situation. I had to pay to have the vehicle towed home. It's sitting in the driveway and will not start. I was coming from therapy due to surgery recovery. I intended to make an appointment with the dealer. I'm afraid to drive it again.
- Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA
ESC message starts and turns off intermittently. Very dangerous driving under reduced power on highway trying to exit. Seems to be in the electronics.
- Canton, GA, USA
Cruise control would not disengage until I hit the brakes hard enough to activate the ESC. Recall #14V252000 covered this problem but GM says my VIN was not included. This is a definite safety issue and needs to be expanded to cover all Malibu manufactured during the recall time frame.
- Kinsley, KS, USA
Driving car about 30mph. Noticed decrease speed, check gear shift to make sure in D. looked at dashboard, all lights were on. Scrolling, power steering, service engine, then the power steering went out. Made two turns without power steering. Event three-four minutes. Parked and turned car off. Drove car to dealership for service, problem did not occur.
- Burton, MI, USA
Took my car in to dealer because it started shaking violently going 20 mph, needed a new transmission is what I was told, had the transmission put in and now the ESC, and other lights are on!
- Toledo , OH, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle shook violently and the service electronic stability control, service traction, and engine power reduced warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
- Grand Rapids , MI, USA
6/6/2015 car was sitting in parking lot. Upon trying to start the car errors for electronic stability control and reduced engine power showed up. Car was sputtering and running rough. Turned car off. Waited a little while and started car again and no error messages. But the check engine light came on. The error code that came up was P2101. 6/10/2015 same thing happened. Let the car sit for about an hour and tried to start again. Smelled heavily of gas when it started. Check engine light is on.
- Moore, OK, USA
While driving the vehicle I suddenly felt a light jerking sensation. The service ESC and service traction control lights immediately came on. The vehicle jerked to a stop. Once the vehicle was turned off and then restarted the indicator lights are gone. I've had this problem several times in the past two months and have had it in the shop. The certified Chevrolet dealership changed the front wheel bearing. The car did well for a little over a week. Now the problem is reoccurring. The dealership also found codes for a fuel injection failure but were not able to "duplicate" the codes so no repair was performed on that. The service ESC and service traction control problem is dangerous. If I didn't have to go to work I wouldn't drive the car. It's a safety hazard as I am a long distance commuter. I have had all service and recalls completed since purchasing the car a little over a year ago. Dangerous!! I'm hopeful that our government officials will force GM to issue a recall to remedy the issue before people lose their lives.
- Postville, IA, USA
I was slowing down to make a right-hand turn and the power steering suddenly ceased, forcing me to steer manually. I was not able to complete the turn, I had to stop quickly and resume my direction of travel prior to turning. If there was another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction of where I intended to turn, most likely I would have collided with that vehicle. I had to use a significant amount of force to manually steer the vehicle after losing the power steering. Also, as a result of the power steering failure, the vehicle ESC became inoperable. I was able to carefully drive the car to a Chevrolet dealer and was advised I need a new electric power steering motor and other parts totaling approximately $1200. I advised Chevrolet of this situation and currently awaiting to hear from them. I regard this product failure as a very serious safety issue with potential risk of personal injury. The vehicle has 39,085 miles and has been dealer serviced since purchase.
- West Wyoming, PA, USA
Several warning lights came on (ecs and traction control) and the display read, "loss of power". I was at highway speed and the car slowed to about 15mph. I was unable to increase my speed. After turning off the ignition switch in a parking lot, and waiting for about 15 minutes, I started the car and it ran fine. However, on the following Monday the same thing happened 6 times while trying to get it to bergstrom Chevrolet dealership. The first attempt to repair the problem only made it worse, and the second time a new throttle body assembly was installed. This repaired the problem. On my son's Chevy truck the same problem was covered under a recall, but on my Malibu I was told it was not. On the internet I was able to find six pages of similar problems that other Malibu owners had. They too were told that it was not covered under a recall. This type of problem could have, and maybe has, caused numerous accidents and I assume injuries. There should be a recall and I should be completely reimbursed for my repair expense.
- Verona, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle decelerated to approximately 10 mph and the ESC and traction control sensor lights illuminated. After stopping the vehicle and restarting the engine, the failure continued to occur. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Haslett, TX, USA
- Nevada, TX, USA