2011 Chevrolet Malibu: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2011 / chevrolet / malibu
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-03)
complaints977 on file (2010-10-15 → 2026-08-28)
recalls4
investigations0
fars241 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Headlight bulb and wiring failureEXTERIOR LIGHTING17 complaints2020-01 → 2024-06malibu-2011-headlight-failure
  • 11593651 Passenger headlight keeps going out. Have had to replace 4 times in 3 years. Difficult taking off entire bumper
  • 11486995 Headlights fail. I have had to replace my headlights several times. I have also had to replace the entire headlight assembly
  • 11384839 THE LOW BEAM PORTION OF HEADLIGHTS STARTED GOING OUT AND BACK ON PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING I'VE REPLACED THE BULBS TWICE WITHIN 6 MONTHS AND IT CONTINUES TO REPEAT ISSUE THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN
Transmission failure and rough or failed shiftingPOWER TRAIN6 complaints2020-08 → 2026-02malibu-2011-transmission-failure
  • 11430543 While driving down a highway at 60mph, the transmission failed, at just over 118,000. It started surging without moving forward any faster, and reverse doesn't work at all anymore
  • 11430310 On busy city 3 lane highway transmission failed to engage. I managed to drift right to immediate side street, emergency blinkers on, horns blowing
  • 11350042 CAR QUIT SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH OR 5TH GEAR AND REVERSE. EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTED VERY SUDDENLY AND VERY HARD
Driver seat frame weld fractureSEATS5 complaints2020-02 → 2026-03malibu-2011-seat-frame-weld
  • 11722790 Weld on the back, right side of the driver's seat broke causing the seat to rock while driving. This is the second time this has happened, as we replaced the original seat when this happened to it
  • 11427823 Driver side seat weld has failed causing seat to lean & become unstable. This failure put my entire family at risk
  • 11309864 I GOT INTO MY CAR AND THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED ON THE BACK-RIGHT SIDE. AFTER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE WELD BROKE, CAUSING MY CAR TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE!
Loss of electric power steering assistSTEERING52 complaints2020-02 → 2026-06malibu-2011-power-steering-loss
  • 11746504 Everytime I turn on my car, I get a warning for ESC power steering and I have no power steering. Usually it will fix itself have shutting it off once and starting it again immediately. There has been a couple times where it has taken multiple starts to fix itself
  • 11727609 The Powersteering is failing in my 2011 Chevrolet Malibu with 93K miles on it. The warning light on the dashboard appears randomly then it becomes difficult to steer
  • 11631492 The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the power steering failure warning light was illuminated
Fuse box and wiring harness failure causing stallingELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 complaints2020-04 → 2024-01malibu-2011-fuse-box-stall
  • 11446668 I have had my Chevy Malibu since 2016. In the almost 7 years I have had this car I has had the same issue with both starting and stalling while driving. There has been many time it has completely shut off while on the expressway
  • 11432433 The rear defrost stopped working. Had my auto mechanic review and Rear Fuse Box had melted fuses which was effecting rear defrost. The rear Fuse Box needs replacing per mechanic
  • 11399502 ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IT WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START AND THEN IT WOULDN'T CRANK AT ALL AND I COULDN'T HEAR MY FUEL PUMP FREAKING AS WELL
Service air bag warning light illuminationAIR BAGS6 complaints2020-01 → 2021-10malibu-2011-airbag-warning-light
  • 11435771 The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the "Service Air Bag" warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall
  • 11390125 AIR BAG LIGHT JUST KEEPS POPPING ON AND OFF. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN
  • 11315913 INTERMITTENTLY THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING COMES UP AND AT OTHER TIMES IT IS NOT ON. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE LINKED TO DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT
Reduced engine power and engine stall or failureENGINE5 complaints2020-02 → 2025-03malibu-2011-reduced-engine-power
  • 11651049 Reduced engine power, appears on the dashboard. The motor begins to shake, slow down excessively if I'm driving on the highway, and needs to be shut off to reset the computer
  • 11637098 My car stopped running at 78,500 miles. I had it diagnosed twice and I was told the engine needs to be replaced
  • 11384848 THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REDUCE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
9772010-10-152026-08-284017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:235; STEERING:213; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):174; ENGINE:160; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:130

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
19V01900016/01/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEGeneral 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.If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.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.
14V25200014/05/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGGeneral 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.Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.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.
14E04400021/07/2014STEERINGDorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
15V26900008/05/2015SEAT BELTSGeneral 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.If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-2024241legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2011/chevrolet/malibu
@misc{wrenchpro_2011_chevrolet_malibu_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2011 Chevrolet Malibu},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2011/chevrolet/malibu}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

hub · known-issues · methodology · license · research (interpretation)