NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
On busy city 3 lane highway transmission failed to engage. I managed to drift right to immediate side street, emergency blinkers on, horns blowing. Turned corner and stopped. No warnings, lights, sounds. 59,908 mileage! Insurance co towed to transmission shop. Mechanic had to completely rebuild $2,132. Insisted not normal problem for such low mileage. I will be contacting Chevy dealer, ect. This car is available for any inspection. I have 0 confidence in the safety of this car. When I picked up the owner of shop pointed out an identical vehicle in his lot, yes, waiting for another transmission replace/repair.
I’ve had dash warning lights since purchasing my vehicle since 2017. I have taken it to multiple places for diagnostic and repair. (Brake sensors, traction stability, throttle, and P010 and P011) my last repairs were over $2400 and after finally scraping money to complete the repairs was told the traction control warning light that had been coming on but coming on more often now was because I have one tire sensor that isn’t reading and that after fixing the accentuators the computer would stop going so crazy and triggering so many lights. On my recent trip to Michigan, when using my cruise control a car pulled in front of me in heavy traffic. When I braked my cruise didn’t disengage. I remembered this happening before but didn’t realize it was my cruise control and thought don’t tell me I have transmission problems!! Then when I was almost home during this same trip a car started honking at me and rolled his window down. He told me I had no brake lights. I then looked up recalls and found 13036, with all the problems my car has had except was told this was remedied/fixed on my car in 2017. I just now checked my car and I have brake lights. It appears the problem relates in conjunction to when the traction control lights are on and when there aren’t warning lights the brake lights work. My car has 20,000 since the recall repair and has had this problem the majority of this time except I didn’t understand. My car is not safe and I am very disappointed and concerned about GM product safety and remedies!
Driver side seat weld has failed causing seat to lean & become unstable. This failure put my entire family at risk.
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. ($400) My concern is what is cause of the electrical issue in my Malibu and if not corrected by Chevrolet will it occur again?
HAVE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS LEANING TOWARDS THE BACK AND RIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE BROKEN WELDS ON THE FRAME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
This incident occurred in my 2011 Chevy Malibu with less than 44,000 miles on it. The ESC Service Power Steering light comes on, along with the traction light on the dash and the vehicle loses power steering. Initially (the first week or two) the problem corrected itself when the vehicle was shut off and started again. It got increasingly worse over the course of 2 weeks- then the power steering was gone. The car was very difficult to steer and almost couldn't turn. There were times when the steering wheel would suddenly jerk by itself and almost 'lock up.' Very dangerous. I learned this is "very common" in this vehicle. The service person I spoke with on the phone knew exactly what I was talking about. Research I've done shows this has been an ongoing problem with this vehicle since 2004, yet there is only a limited recall. Of course mine is not covered (with only 44K miles on it). Repairs cost me $747.54 (after $100 discount was given to me by the service people.) That is half the amount I make in a month. I found it kind of them to take on a problem that GM should be addressing.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT AND THE SERVICE ESC MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT NORTHCUTT CHEVROLET-BUICK (3201 W. OWEN K GARRIOTT RD, ENID, OK 73703) AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
POWER SEAT WELD AND FRAME BROKE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON NOTHING WRONG MIRROR POWER ADJUSTING DOES NOT WORK
MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 62,000 MILES AND THE CENTER REAR BRAKES LIGHT JUST INSIDE THE REAR WINDOW IS NOT WORKING. IT SEEMS VERY DIM. FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. NOT AN ACCIDENT.
Several Times now my 2011 Malibu goes into limp mode, at the same time the ESC/TSC lights come on. It has left me stranded in the middle of intersections. Sometimes I can turn the car off and start it again and it sees to reset something because it begins to work again. It happens mostly at lower speeds or sitting in idle at light. Sometimes when I feel it stat to happen I put the car in neutral and rev it to 1500-2000 RPM, then I put it in gear and I can get going. Now I can't get the car to stay running. Shuts off as soon as I start it.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the front headlights failed to illuminate without warning at start-up. The contact had taken the vehicle to a relative who was able to replace both headlights. Two months after the repair, the passenger’s side headlight failed to operate and had the headlight was replaced again by her relative. Despite the replacement of the headlight, the new headlight failed to operate as needed. The contact then purchased a third headlight and the headlight also failed to operate. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000
POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND IT TAKES EXTRA PHYSICAL EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE.
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, A CHIME SOUNDED AND POWER STEERING, SERVICE ESC MESSAGE CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALTHOUGH VERY HARD, I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF FOR ABOUT 20 MIN, THE MESSAGE FINALLY WENT AWAY AND THE STEERING WORKED AGAIN. TODAY WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I GET A REDUCED POWER MESSAGE AND MY CAR INSTANTLY GOES FROM 60MPH TO ABOUT 10MPH. LUCKY FOR ME NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR A BIT, STARTED IT BACK UP AND NO ISSUES UNTIL I GOT INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING! SHOWS A P2135 CODE. GM KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS EVEN RELEASED A BULLETIN STATING THAT WHEN YOU GET THIS CODE YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE BODY DUE TO A FAULTY TPS SENSOR. OF COURSE THEY EXPECT THE CUSTOMER TO PAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH VEHICLE OWNERSHIP BUT THIS IS KIND OF RIDICULOUS THAT THEY KNOW THIS CAN CAUSE FATALITIES. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU FOR YEARS NOW AS WELL ON THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER GM'S. WILL THEY EVER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?
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. IT STARTED OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM AND THEN IT WOULDN'T EVER START AFTER THAT SO I WENT TO THE FUEL PUMP WIRING IN THE TRUNK FUSE BOX AND SEPARATED THE WIRING FOXES FROM THE FUSE PANEL AND CAME ACROSS A BURNT FUEL PUMP WIRE IT WAS A TAN WIRE AND IT WAS SCORCHED BLACK FROM THE END OF THE WIRE ABOUT 4 INCHES UP THE WIRE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BROWN WIRE AND IT WAS BLACK I REPLACED IT AND NOW IT'S FINE
FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT, 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAS SHAKING WHEN ACCELERATED ABOVE A CERTAIN SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. TWO DAYS AGO, IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION SYSTEM AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED CAR OFF AND LIGHTS DID NOT COME BACK ON, BUT DROVE HOME A SAFER ROUTE. THE NEXT NIGHT ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 30 MPH! AND THIS WAS ON A DAY OF LARGE SNOWSTORM AND WAS VERY COLD. SO DANGEROUS. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. TOOK CAR TO CLOSEBY FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE. BILL WAS OVER 600 DOLLARS. WANT TO WARN GM AND MALIBU OWNERS OF THIS TERRIBY DANGEROUS ISSUE IN THEIR CAR!!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A RAMP AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO STATE THAT PREVIOUSLY THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROY ROBINSON CHEVROLET (6616 35TH AVENUE NE, MARYSVILLE, WA, 98271, (360) 659-6236) WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,632.
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT JUST CAME ON MY CAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE EVS SERVICE LIGHT, THEN TRACTION LIGHT & BACK TO NO POWER STEERING LIGHT. WAS ABLE TO MAKE HARD TURNS TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT. TURNED THE CAR OFF & ON - ALL LIGHTS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. CALLED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS "MY CALL" IF I WANTED TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE. DANGEROUS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED & SURPRISED THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEBODY ELSE AT THAT SPEED.
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT RANDOMLY. WIRING AND HEADLIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND DOES NOT SEEM TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS APPROX.EVERY 6 MONTHS IF NOT MORE. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT WHICH IS A PAIN IF DONE YOURSELF. VERY EXPENSIVE IF YOU PAY A MECHANIC.
MY CARS STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO MAKE NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THEN IT STARTED TO MOVE SLIGHTLY.VERY SLIGHTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER A LITTLE BIT MORE OF DRIVING THE SAME DAY. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND ONLY LOCKED ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, MY VEHICLE STARTED TO CHIME AND DISPLAY A MESSAGE ABOUT THE POWER STEERING BEING OFF AND ESC SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STATIONARY AT A STOP LIGHT. I STRUGGLED TO MOVE MY CAR OVER AND OFF THE ROAD, STILL WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, MY POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, GENERAL MOTORS HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN JUNE OF 2014 WITH RECALL #14117. I HAVE VERY GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN LATER MODEL YEARS AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS IT. THE LAST RECALL HAD TO DO WITH THE TORQUE SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND/OR THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROLLER UNIT, PER THE RECALL.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY GOING 65 MPH. WHEN I GOT A MESSAGE SAYING TRACTION CONTROL AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THE CAR THEN STOPPED ACCELERATING UNTIL IT CAN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. IT ALMOST GOT ME REAR ENDED SINCE THE CARS ARE GOING FAST AND IT LOST AL SPEED AND POWER.
AIR BAG LIGHT JUST KEEPS POPPING ON AND OFF. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN
PASSENGER SIDE LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT, AND HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY SIX MONTHS OR LESS. VERY COSTLY DUE TO DESIGN. FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO HEADLIGHT. HAVE HAD DIFFERENT MECHANICS CHANGE AND ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME.
THE POWER STEERING WARNING COMES ON ALONG WITH SERVICE MESSAGE. WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. GLAD THIS HAPPENED IN PARK AND NOT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT. I READ ABOUT A RECALL FOR MALIBU FROM 2007 THRU 2012 I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER HAVE RECEIVED ANY INFO FROM GM. THE DEALER SHIP SAID TODAY THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. I CAN'T BELEIVE THAT THE STEERING STAFF SENSOR WAS A DIFFRENT PART FROM ONE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER. THE DISCRIPTION OF THE ISSUES I'M HAVING IS EXACTLY THE SAME THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. I BELEIVE GM IS IN ERROR THAT IF MY VEHICLE HAS A DIFFRENT PART # FOR THE SENSOR THAT PART IS ALSO DEFFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE IN THIS RECALL. HOPE YOU CAN HELP THANKS.
WHILE PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, LEAVING STARBUCKS,, I LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE OCCURRING, ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO THE MEDIAN.
SINCE THE FIRST OF JANUARY I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT 3 TIMES SO FAR , I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE MY BEARINGS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER 2 TIMES ON MY PASSENGER. AND THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE MY DRIVER SIDE NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON IN THE MORNING WHEN I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK. AND THE BEARING JUST STARTED MAKING A SOUND WHEN DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE BAD.
MY TEENAGE SON WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WHEN HIS MALIBU GAVE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ESC OFF WARNINGS. CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND INCREASE THE CHANCES OF A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. CODE READER SHOWED THE P2138 DTC. THE HEADLINER ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ALSO WET. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ISSUES SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE ABOVE MENTIONED WARNINGS AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES. ACCORDING THE THE CHEVY WEBSITE, THERE ARE NO RECALLS APPLICABLE TO THIS CAR BASED ON ITS VIN.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND HAVE HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (USED) BACK IN 2013. BOTH TIMES THIS EXACT ISSUE AT HAND OCCURRED, BOTH HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING IN A SHARP CURVE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS LAST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS HIT IN EITHER CASES, HOWEVER THIS PAST TIME I PULLED MUSCLES IN MY BACK STRAINING SO HARD TO TRY AND STEER THE VEHICLE TO GET AT LEAST VERY MINIMUM OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO A SIDE STREET AND TO SAFETY. AS BOTH TIMES I WERE DRIVING THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON, AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. RESULTING IN ME NOT BEING ABLE TO BRAKE, OR STEER - THE ONLY STEERING I WERE ABLE TO DO WAS VERY STRAINED (AS PREVIOUSLY STATED), I HAD TO PUT FORTH EXTREME EFFORTS TO GET IT TO BARELY TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL ACTED AS IF IT WERE LOCKED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND COVERED UNDER A RECALL AS I'VE READ/HEARD A MULTITUDE OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT ARE ALL COMMON WITH THIS EXACT YEAR, MODEL/CAR. AND FOR THIS BE SUCH A DANGER, IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. I'M TERRIFIED TO THINK WHAT IF EVERYONE AROUND ME WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION WHEN BOTH EVENTS TOOK PLACE, IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN MY LIFE. MY SPOUSE BEING SINGLE RAISING OUR PRECIOUS 4 CHILDREN. HOW CHEVY/GM CAN LIVE KNOWING THESE ISSUES HAPPEN AND NOT ADDRESS IT IS HORRIBLE, KNOWING VERY WELL IT COULD RESULT IN A LIFE I'D NOT MORE BEING LOST. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND ME TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE, I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAIT, AND TURN IT ON IN ORDER TO CONTINUE MY DRIVE TO WORK. I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS DEATH TRAP OF A CAR, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THESE ISSUES COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. OTHERWISE THIS IS A LAWSUIT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ, I EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE WAS ONLY TEMPORARY; WHILE DRIVING APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, I WENT THE APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL HAD ALMOST NO PRESSURE. IT ALMOST WENT THE THE FLOOR BEFORE I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT WORK, WHICH LED TO MY CAR REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, I MADE MY BEST ATTEMPT TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID, AND NOTICED ALMOST NOTHING. THE ONLY THING I HAD NOTICED WAS SLIGHT LOW BRAKE FLUID. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I READ A FEW COMPLAINTS RELATED TO BOTH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK ISSUES, AND BRAKE FAILURE. BOTH OF THESE WHICH I EXPERIENCED. ALL OF WHICH HAPPENED AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET
PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT EVER OTHER MONTH
GOT A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU FROM MY FATHER IN LAW. CAR ONLY HAS 44500 MILES ON IT. SO OF COURSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. NOTICE THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING, SO DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE WITH MELTED FUSES IN FUSE BOX IN TRUCK AND FUSE BOX MELTING ALSO. WHY IS CHEVY NOT TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT OR OFFERING A FIX OR RECALL. IT'S A FIRE HAZARD.
MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ALL SYMPTOMS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 AND THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR MY VIN. THAT PROBLEM HIS CAUSING HIGH VOLTAGE WHICH KEEPS CAUSING ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE BURNING CABLES TO THE HEADLIGHTS AND NOT GETTING POWER TO MULTIPLE INTERIOR EQUIPMENT SUCH AS THE IPC WHICH STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO MY SPEED AND OTHER INFORMATION. I ALSO GET A ENGINE POWER REDUCED ERROR FROM A BAD CONNECTED FROM THE APP TO THE BCM, CODE P1238.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEPS GOING OUT!! HEADLIGHT BRACKET MELTED! CAR FORUMS REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ELECTRICAL ISSUE. WHEN ANYBODY REPLACES HEADLIGHT HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS, THEY END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE A FEW WEEKS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTING! PLEASE RECALL! CAR FORUM CONTAINING MULTIPLE CASES OF SAME ISSUE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed with the StabiliTrak warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact called a dealer and was given an estimate for the repair which he declined. As the failure persisted, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle due to the loss of power steering assist. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not under recall and that the warranty for the power steering assist had expired. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKET MELTED ON BOTH SIDES NOT ALLOWING LOW BEAM LIGHTS TO WORK. HAD TO REWIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ON LINE OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING. UNTIL I DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD TO ONLY DRIVE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. RIDICULOUS!
I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN THE LAST 35 DAYS THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, SHOCKS, FUEL PUMP AND NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON....WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR DON'T WANT TO GO INTO GEAR. AND WHEN IT FINALLY GOES INTO GEAR IT JERKS YOU. ALSO THE ELECTRICAL AND TEMPERATURE GAGE, THE LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD GO IN AND OUT YOU CAN HEAR A FAINT NOISE COMING FROM THE DOME LIGHT. TEMPERATURE GAGE STAYED AT COLD WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND. TOOK CAR FOR A RIDE THE NEXT DAY AND RIGHT AWAY WHEN DRIVING IT WENT ABOUT A QUARTER ABOVE COLD???
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.
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
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.
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.
CAR QUIT SHIFTING INTO 3RD, 4TH OR 5TH GEAR AND REVERSE. EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTED VERY SUDDENLY AND VERY HARD. FROM THERE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. WENT TO TAKE OFF AND IT SLIPPED IN 2ND GEAR. FROM THERE PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. NEXT TIME I TRIED REVERSE IT WOULD NOT GO AT ALL. LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION.
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
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.
MY DIM LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, IT IS NOT THE BULB OR ANYTHING CONNECTED WITH THE LIGHT, IT HAS ALL BEEN CHECKED OUT! BRIGHTS WORK, BUT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR ME TO HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT!
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. MULTIPLE REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. IF HEADLIGHTS FAIL DURING DARK DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL ACCIDENTS.THE INFORMATION ONLINE SUGGESTS WIRING HARNESS ISSUES
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.
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
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