Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2011)
978 consumer complaints on file.
- #11349897August 17, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MULTIPLE FRONT HEAD LIGHT REPLACEMENT IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITHIN 3 TO 4 MONTHS REPLACED 3 TIMES. NOTICED WARPING OF FACEPLATE BY AUDIO EQUIPMENT SO HAD TO REPLACE THAT. THEN CAME BACK FROM VACATION AND DROVE MY CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, PARKED I WENT INSIDE STORE AND MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WHEN SHE SAID IT JUMPED AND THEN TURNED OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" "SERVICE TRACTION" "SERVICE ESC" I DROVE IT TO GET HOME. NEXT MORNING IT WAS FINE TO GET TO WORK SHORT DISTANCE, ON WAY HOME IN HOTTER TIME OF DAY (LIVE IN ARIZONA) IT DID IT AGAIN. ONLY 20 MILES AN HOUR MAXIUM AND GULPING GASOLINE. I WAS IN MY CAR WITH MY 13 YEAR OLD AND IT WAS DANGEROUS AS WE WERE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WERE REDUCED TO 20 MPH OR LESS AND WERE ALMOST REAR-ENDED VARIOUS TIMES, CAUGHT MID TRANSITION FROM YELLOW TO RED LIGHT WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. VERY SCARY. MECHANIC DROVE IT AND SAID AFTER ONLY 10 TO 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT DID THE SAME THING. MECHANIC HE RAN TESTS AND FOUND RELAY FUSE BOX ISSUE. TRIED TO ORDER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ON "NATIONAL BACK-ORDER" BECAUSE THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM MANY OF MY VEHICLE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL WERE EXPERIENCING. I HAD TO GET RENTAL FOR 20 DAYS WHICH COST IN EXCESS OF $500 AND WAIT FOR PART. PAY FOR PARTS $223 AND LABOR. THESE EXPENSES CAUSE INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND STRESS. RECEPTS DID NOT GO THROUGH AND SCREEN SHOTS OF PANEL BECAUSE OF SIZE, PLEASE REACH OUT SO I CAN PROVIDE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11348589August 11, 2020EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:BULBS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LOW BEAM BULBS OVER 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER MCCARTHY CHEVROLET LEE'S SUMMIT (945 SE OLDHAM PKWY, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64081, (816) 356-6610) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11343542August 5, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES, WHEN I PARK MY CAR SHUT OFF ENGINE PULL KEYS OUT OPEN DOOR THE IGNITION KEY KEEPS RINGING LIKE I LEFT MY KEYS IN THE IGNITION BUT I DIDN'T. I GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT WILL STOP AFTER A WHILE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11342941August 3, 2020STEERING
I GOT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST (EPS) LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. AS A RESULT, I WAN'T ABLE TO STEER THE WHEELS. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL. BUT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENS WITHIN 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES ON THE CAR. BUT SINCE THAT 10 YEARS JUST PASSED IN JUNE 2020 FOR MY CAR, I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET, THEY SAID. THEN I ASKED WHY I DIDN'T GET A NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES COVERAGE. THEY SAID IT'S BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. UNLIKE RECALLS, THEY SAID ONLY ORIGINAL OWNERS GOT THE NOTIFICATION (I BOUGHT THIS CAR SECOND HAND). I THINK THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER WHEELS DUE TO THE MECHANICAL DEFECT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. BUT IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO OPEN RECALLS YET. AND GM SETS AN ARTITRARY QUALIFICATIONS FOR FREE SERVICE AND DECLINES WARRANTY FOR CARS BEYOND THEM. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD ORDER OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM SO THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE SERVICED REGARDLESS OF YEAR AND MILEAGE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11342520July 31, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
THE METAL ON SIDE OF SEAT BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT NOT TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST. ALSO, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LIGHTER HAD SHORTAGE AND SPEAKER SOUNDS INCREASE AND DECREASE WITH BEING ADJUSTED, AND THE LIGHT FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN THE TIRES HAS SUFFICIENT AIR. I DIDN'T NOTICE AN EXACT TIME THE DEFECT HAPPEN. I JUST NOTICE THE AFFECTS WHILE DRIVING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11341950July 28, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ISSUE IS CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS ON THE CHEVY MALIBU. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THEM BURN OUT WITHIN DAYS/WEEKS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE FAULT LIES WITH THE DESIGN. THE LIGHT GETS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN OUT THE HARNESS. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE EXCEPT TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE BULB/HARNESS WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE END FRONT BUMPER WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE EXPENSE. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT WHICH HAS CAUSED US TO BE PULLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN WARNINGS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11338972July 13, 2020POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS
WHILE MY SEATBELT IS FASTENED THE SEATBELT NOTIFICATION GOES OFF AS IF ITS NOT FASTENED. ALSO AS I'M ACCELERATING IT'S LIKE MY CAR STRUGGLES TO GET TO 40 MPH. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS FOR IT TO GO OVER 40
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11339030July 13, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF. I USE TO HIT THE FRONT AND IT TURNS ON BUT NOT ANYMORE. HAD IT FIXED 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. NO AC DOESN'T TURN ON WHEN I START THE CAR AS WELL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11337787July 6, 2020EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE BURN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS (3-4 TIMES PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE). THIS IS NOT ONLY AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR (BECAUSE MY MECHANIC NEEDS TO REMOVE THE BUMPER IN ORDER TO COMPLETE IT), BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MULTIPLE TIMES MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES PULLING OVER AND HITTING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL CAUSE IT TO HAVE A BETTER CONNECTION AGAIN, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO WORK, BUT THIS FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY. THE CONNECTORS KEEP MELTING, MY MECHANIC AND I NOW BELIEVE, DUE TO THE HIGH AMPERAGE CAUSED BY THE 70% REDUCTION IN POWER DURING THE VEHICLE'S DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODE. MY COMPLAINTS TO THE MANUFACTURER HAVE GONE UNHEARD. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PROVIDE FOR A HEAVIER CONNECTOR THAN THE OEM PART, AND PERHAPS DIFFERENT BULBS, TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IN THE YEAR 2020 IT SHOULD NOT BE SO DIFFICULT TO KEEP BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS RUNNING! I CAN GET AROUND THE ISSUE BY USING MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, BUT THIS IS HAZARDOUS TO OTHER MOTORISTS. IT IS A POOR DESIGN, AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A SATISFACTORY FIX FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE UNTIL NHTSA COMPELS GM TO ISSUE A RECALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11337353July 3, 2020ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION. REVIEWED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME THING. THE 2.4 ECOTECH ENGINE WAS IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR EQUINOXS BUT NOT MALIBUS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11329683June 19, 2020SUSPENSION
I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH BAD STRUTS ALL AROUND VEHICLE AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR UNDER 40 DAYS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11327797June 8, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ESC, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM, AND REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT SENSORS. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11326018May 26, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BACK IN 2015 (USED) I HAVE HAD ONGOING STEERING ISSUES. THE STEERING FEELS MUCH LOOSER THAN MOST VEHICLES. IT HAS ALMOST TAKEN ME OFF OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY HAVE ALL SUGGEST I TAKE IT INTO CHEVY FOR DIAGNOSTICS SINCE IT IS ELECTRICAL STEERING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING ON THIS EXACT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, THOUGH IT SAYS MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. IT IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR MYSELF TO HAVE THIS STEERING CORRECTED AS I HAVE A TODDLER IN MY BACK SEAT. WHEN ROADS ARE WET, UNEVEN PAVEMENT, OR THE WEATHER WINDY.. MY CAR PULLS OFF THE ROAD DRASTICALLY I HAVE TO GRIP MY STEERING WHEEL SO HARD TO THE POINT MY HANDS TURN RED FROM GRABBING SO TIGHTLY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SOMEWHAT CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE.. WITH THIS YEAR. MAKE AND MODEL HAVING STEERING RECALLS, I REQUEST CHEVY HONORS MY REQUEST TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A LICENSED CHEVY DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND I FIND IT UNLIKELY THAT I HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUES AS THE RECALL THOUGH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND WRECK. HIGHER SPEEDS (FOR EXAMPLE ON THE FREEWAY) MAKE THE STEERING ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I HAVE SPOKE TO NUMEROUS CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH THEIR RECALLS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CHEVROLET DIRECTLY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND IT WAS DISREGARDED, THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT EFFECTED SO IT COULDN'T BE THE ISSUE.*DT CONSUMER HAD THE PARTS REPLACED ON 6/19 AGAIN ON 6/29 BUT VEHICLE IS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND PROBLEM IS RECURRING.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11325751May 24, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 91,500 MILES. UPON STARTING THE CAR RECENTLY, AN ERROR APPEARED SAYING "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "ENGINE POWER REDUCED." THE VEHICLE COULD NOT GO ABOVE 35 MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES HAD SHRUNK AND WATER HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE FLOORBOARD, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO CORROSION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS REPORTING ISSUES WITH THE DRAIN TUBES BECOMING DISCONNECTED AND CAUSING LEAKS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE DRIVERS LOST ENGINE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11324593May 14, 2020EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HEADLAMPS BURNING OUT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED EVERY 3 MO.OR SO THE LAST BURN OUT HAPPENED ON 5/12/2020. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11324055May 10, 2020STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLING. ONLINE RESEARCH MENTIONS A TSB 15356.61722 AND RECALLS FOR EARLIER MODEL YEARS. WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS BACK IN 2015? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11322768April 29, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NEITHER FRONT DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKS WILL UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS STOPPED. OPERATOR AND PASSENGER MUST PHYSICALLY TURN AROUND AND UNLOCK THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF CAR. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR (SWITCHES, RADIO, GAUGES, LOCKS, WINDOWS) HAS MALFUNCTIONED AT ONE POINT IN TIME, EVEN WHEN THE CAR HAD AS LOW AS 40,000 MILES ON IT, BUT CHEVROLET HAS NEVER TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320878April 11, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU IN MARCH OF 2017. ONLY PUT 30K MILES AND IT'S APRIL OF 2020. MY CAR WON'T CRANK UP SOMETIMES OR WHEN I'M IDLE, IT'LL START TO SHAKE AND I HAVEN'T DROVE MY CAR IN A WEEK BUT WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN AND TRY TO TURN IT, NOTHING COMES ON. NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11319942April 1, 2020AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ESC LIGHTS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY AND THEY 'FIXED' IT BY REPLACING THE HUB ASSEMBLY. WORKED OK FOR A MONTH. LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AS WELL AS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, AND RPM'S WILL DROP TO 0 THEN BACK TO NORMAL AND THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE A WHOLE TRIP. THEN THE NEXT DAY OR FEW DAYS IT WILL BE FINE THEN DO IT AGAIN. ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOUSLY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11318080March 15, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON DASH AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS UP RED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT THE BRAKE APPLIED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0