10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,049 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #155

Apr 192019

Malibu

  • 142,000 miles
My passenger headlight went out on the highway at night. I replaced the light and it went out the next day. I took the car to get serviced and found out that the headlight pigtail was melted.I believe the problem to be the drl relay switch because there are numerous Chevrolet models having this problem.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #154

Dec 192018

Malibu

  • 125 miles
The fuse for my rear defroster got so hot in the fuse box it melted the panel-the fuse box is in the trunk-I took to dealer and they want over $500 to repair- I feel like this is a safety issue and hazard for drivers as it could have caught fire if it was that hot- I do not feel like this is my fault and more a manufacture issue-if I don't get this fixed I will never buy another Chevy again and I am looking to purchase a car within the end of this year. Why try and make drivers pay for something that is manufacture? shady business! also now my radio display is going in and out-thinking maybe another fuse issue or electrical.

- Melbourne, KY, USA

problem #153

Nov 022017

Malibu

  • 129,000 miles
The wiring on my vehicle has always been messed up causing my check light engine to stay on at all times. I've had multiple machinists look over my vehicle and have spent lots of money trying to get this issue fixed.

- Richmond, IN, USA

problem #152

Aug 152017

Malibu

  • 134,000 miles
Right passenger side headlight wiring has a shortage. It continues to go out even after wire harness changed. I first noticed this when I was travelling to Chicago from Texas and just got it changed prior to the trip. It worked for a day then just had gone out.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #151

May 142019

Malibu

  • 139,700 miles
My 2011 Chevrolet Malibu has had 5 incidences over the last year of low beam headlights going out. Never both at the same time. This is not only annoying and expensive each time I bring it in for repairs. It is also dangerous. Particularly when one of the headlights goes out at night time driving on dark roads. Additionally a headlight out is sufficient reason for law enforcement to issue a summons. I contacted General Motors May 20th 2019 via phone regarding this safety issue. Received a case number. I received a call back 6 days later. Response was that the car is out of warranty. I did inform GM that there are literally over 300 listings on google for persons with the same problem. GM shows no interest in this expensive repair, in a repetitive problem, and an illegal situation that can result in law enforcement issuing a summons. Apparently there are issues with the connectors at the bulbs not making contact. The replaced connectors exhibit overheating which may indicate overload of power, or connectors not making contact. This problem took place with original GM connectors intermittently - never on both headlights at once. Here is a similar complaint to NHTSA id number 11204441 4/12/2017 complainant states 5 repairs and still a problem with headlight intermittently going out on driver side. Additionally there are several hundred similar complaints on the web regarding 2010 & 2011 Malibu's. because the fenders and under the hood plastic panels must be pulled to get at the headlights....this is quite an expensive repair and is repetitive and frequent as well.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #150

Sep 102018

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
Brake lights without applying pressure to brake pedal. Turns off traction control and ESC.worse in colder or damp weather.

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #149

Apr 052019

Malibu

  • 165,000 miles
While driving and stationary the inside lights blinks, the power steering cane on twice and I have my seatbelt on the light indicator comes on while the it's connected

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #148

Apr 042019

Malibu

  • 107,000 miles
My vehicle is at an auto shop been there for a week and a half to repair the clunking noise in the steering column but the motor and module for the electric steering assist is seizing up which would be dangerous to turn in traffic. I already spent enough time and money on parts and labor. This is nothing I have done to the car only had for a year. I need your help! this should be a recall issue! or send me a new motor and module for this car please. You guys can at least do that. I love the car but this is a problem. 2.4L electric assist. The steering column is fine just need the motor and module. Thank you for your help!

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #147

Mar 292019

Malibu

  • miles
3rd time passanger headlight has gone out in the last year. Along with the previous issues I reported

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #146

Mar 252019

Malibu

  • 114,900 miles
Lights on panal come on go off when I stop the car and turn back on. I was driving maybe 30-35 mph on city street going straight. No we rain, pot holes or speed bumps

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #145

Jan 072019

Malibu

  • miles
1) service air bag light comes on periodically when starting vehicle or while in auto is in motion. 2) internal lights on dashboard dims while driving periodically while auto is in motion.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #144

Mar 182019

Malibu

  • 113,500 miles
My girlfriend was driving my car home from the doctors and all of a sudden the power steering went out. It cause her to hit the curb and possibly do more damage. She was only doing 30 mph on a busy street. I have a date with a dealership on the 27th of March 2019 to wait for the verdict of what there going to say. I have read alot of the post on here and have seen that it is a common problem. I also have a problem with my headlights going out I have changed them several times with different brands and they continue to go out. I have to run with my high beams on because the lights keeps burning out. This is cause and safety issue and could involve points on my license if pulled over. This is critical since I'm a cdl driver. The steering could cause death if traveling at a higher speed. GM knows about the problem and if public isn't notified that it's faulty could also involve a lawsuit.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #143

Jun 122018

Malibu

  • miles
Takata recall. Brake apply sensor fluctuates on and off also turning signal is not working on the left or right even though the bugs been changed and inside the vehicle it shows a turning signal, no rear brake lights when driving or at a complete stop. Even though fuses and new bulbs replaced, electrical shortage with radio and cigarette lighter, also replace bulbs and headlights and they continue to shorten out and blow

- Sebring, FL, USA

problem #142

Mar 082019

Malibu

  • 3 miles
Update on complaint #'s 1144041 & 11172602. On 2/8/19, I was 2 blocks from work when messages displayed for (service ecs, reduced engine power, check engine light). I drove right from work to the dealership, which was 9 miles away, with my hazards on and at a max speed of 25 mph. I drove it into the bay and told a service advisor that I was told to bring it back while the problem we keep trying to fix was actually happening. He tried to get someone to come hook up the code reader to it but was unable to so he turned off my car. I received a voicemail mid-day Monday 2/11/19 to say that because my battery had been out of my car too long, they had to relearn the throttle body assembly. I left a message to specifically say that the last time the battery had been out of my car to my knowledge was 3/2018. When they called back, their conclusion was that the battery had not been installed or secured properly which caused them to have to relearn the throttle body assembly. On 2/19/2019, it happened again but they could not read a code when I brought it in, so was again sent to come back when it was occurring so they could hook up the code reader while it was happening. On 3/5 I drove my car to them while it was displaying the messages and running rough. They again tried to put the blame on the battery. Even though the codes where P2176 and P2135, the recommended fix was new battery and battery cables ($733). I still had warranty for that battery as it was installed nearly a year ago after the first incidence, so I went back to that auto shop. He did not find anything associated to battery but did find GM bulletin from 2012 (pip5019). He re-crimped throttle body circuit pins after doing a pen out test at ECU. It is now 3/25 and no other issues! hoping we have found root of the problem. No thanks to dealer or Chevy customer care...

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #141

Mar 052019

Malibu

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 40 mph, the traction control system warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact stated that the failure began approximately a year ago and was worsening. The vehicle was taken to four different independent mechanics, but none of them could resolve the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

- Bennigton, VT, USA

problem #140

Feb 212019

Malibu

  • 145,000 miles
Car continues to go into reduced engine power and will not drive/run longer than five minutes. I have already had all recalls fixed on the vehicle including the one that supposedly fixed this problem.

- Soldier, IA, USA

problem #139

Jan 272019

Malibu

  • 138,000 miles
Ecs light, check engine light came on, reduced engine power, ABS light, code throws map sensor error. Happens after vehicle go through the carwash or get slush and moisture from the road. Map sensor connector seems to be causing the electrical issue. Very dangerous going down the road, happened suddenly while not expecting it.

- Mosinee, WI, USA

problem #138

Jan 302019

Malibu

  • 130,000 miles
I was driving down troy ave in illinios when my car all of a sudden lost power and said engine reduce and and steering wheel got stiff. I went all the way from 60 to 20 mph and almost crash and got hit from behind. I have had this problem non stop after fix after fix. But nobody seems to know the problem. Then my head light go in and out on the right side ever since I had it fixed over and over.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #137

Mar 012018

Malibu

  • 106,000 miles
Well first I seen that my driver side low beam light was out then later it went on then again it went out again so I repaired it then about a month later it went out again then I fix it again and the same thing happen again its a on going thing as I see online a lot of other people are having the same problem as me.I hope they can get to the bottom of this to fix, it not right for me to keep buying headlights, as clearly as we can see everybody has the same thing going on with there headlight. Thank you.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #136

Dec 182018

Malibu

  • 97,700 miles
Upon starting vehicle, "power steering" yellow caution light and the "service ESC" light illuminate. Sometimes on restarting vehicle they do not come back on, whereas at other times they remain on.

- Madera, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »