There are 50 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I have supposedly had the recall fixed. But when using the cruise control my car will not shut down the cruise unless I stomp on the brake or use the off button on my steering wheel. So I am wondering why I should have to pay big dollars for something that was supposedly done???
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?
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!!!!!
THE ABS, ESC, AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE SUDDENLY MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND AS MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND THE BREAKS LOCKED UP SO I COULDNT STOP. IT ONLY STOPPED ROLLING AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, HITTING THE EMERGENCY BREAK, AND QUICKLY GETTING THE KEY OUT BEFORE HITTING THE FAMILY BEHIND ME. I TRIED TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND THEY WOULDNT COME ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND THE WHOLE DASH WAS FLICKERING. AFTER TRYING THIS 3 TIMES IT STARTED, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WENT TO 7/8 RPM AND DID NOTHING. THEN IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AGAIN BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN PARK I WAS THRUSTED FORWARD INTO THE CENTER OF A ROUNDABOUT. AFTER THAT IT BEGAN TO DRIVE. I WAS LESS THAN 5 MINUTES FROM A FAMILY MEMBERS HOME SO I TRIED TO MAKE IT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR GOING 30 MPH FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO ZERO, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AGAIN. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE OF THE JOLT WHICH RESULTED IN FACIAL BRUISES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENED ALL OF THE ELECTRIC IN THE CAR STARTED GOING CRAZY. I WAS ON A BACKROAD, AND LUCKILY A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED TO HELP ME. I CALLED MY UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC WHO TOWED ME BACK TO THE HOUSE. THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME IVE HAD ISSUE WITH THESE WARNINGS COMING UP AND THEN I HAVE TO SUDDENLY START FIGHTING TO SURVIVE BEING TRAPPED IN A CAR TRYING TO KILL ME. SINCE THIS LAST INCIDENT I HAVE NOT TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFTER SEEING MULTIPLE MECHANICS THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING THIS. THIS KIND OF ISSUE COULD KILL SOMEONE. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND GM NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING UNRELIABLE, UNSAFE, DEATH TRAPS TO CONSUMERS.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON LATELY. SO I TOOK IT TO A PLACE SO THEY COULD CHECK IT. THE RESULTS STATES THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY LIGHTS ARE DIMMING, THE BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS SYMBOL COMES ON IF I AM SITTING UNDER A VIADUCT, THE RADIO IS DISAPPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD, AND MY HEATING SYSTEM IS ON WHEN IT'S OFF. THEN THE CAR IS JERKING ERRATICALLY WHEN I PROCEED TO DRIVE AFTER A STOP. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER 50,000 MILES. IT'S AT 48342 NOW. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS BECAUSE 3 YEARS AGO I,WAS UNDER 35000 MILES AND HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS ACT, AND I HAD TO PAY $800 FOR THAT, PLUS GETTING DISRESPECTED BY THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING COMES UP CONCERNING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU
CODE P2135
THIS IS AN UPDATE ON NHTSA COMPLAINT #11144041. I BROUGHT IT TO DEALER EARLY NOVEMBER 2018, BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THERE WERE NO CODES. LAST WEEK TUESDAY(1/22/19), IT HAPPENED AGAIN(REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ESC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT) WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME SLOWING DOWN FROM 45 MPH TO STOP AT LIGHT , I HAD MY HUSBAND BRING IT IN TO CHECK CODES WHEN DEALERSHIP OPENED. THEY REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND PUT A NEW PIGTAIL ON THROTTLE BODY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON SATURDAY (1/26/19)WHEN I WAS 4 MILES FROM HOME ON A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH. I DROVE IT THE LAST TWO MILES TO WORK W/ HAZARD LIGHT ON AND SLOWLY AS I COULD ONLY GET SPEED UP TO 25-30 MPH. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN OFF AND RESTART CAR TO "RESET" TO NORMAL. TODAY THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD ONE IN 7 MONTHS AT A COST OF OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT ANY OTHER OPTIONS UNTIL IT HAS CLEARED THIS CODE. SEEMS TO ME, THERE MUST BE A WIRE, FUSE OR SOMETHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WRONG THAT KEEPS TRIPPING THIS CODE. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF ALL WORK DONE TO DATE.
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND THE DRIVER COULD NOT STOP THE CAR.. BRAKES DIDN'T WORK; STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN DRIVER TRIED TO MAKE A TURN.
FROM 5/2018 UNTIL PRESENT, MULTIPLE OCCASIONS UPON TURNING THE KEY TO START CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED: ENGINE POWER REDUCED ON MESSAGE BOARD ALONG W/ ESC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR SHAKES AND SPUTTERS. USUALLY CAN MAKE ALL SYMPTOMS EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISAPPEAR BY RESTARTING MULTIPLE TIMES. UNTIL LAST WEEK, THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY OCCURRED UPON FIRST STARTING THE CAR REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF TIME IT HAS SET BETWEEN STARTS AND IN ANY WEATHER (IE COLD, WARM, RAINY). LAST FRIDAY, IT CRANKED BUT DID NOT START THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF STARTING AND THEN AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS DID START NORMALLY BUT DURING A TWO MILE DRIVE IT REOCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES AND TOOK MULTIPLE TRIES EACH TIME TO GET IT TO START NORMALLY. EACH TIME I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OFF STREET TO AVOID TRAFFIC AS IT DECREASED IN POWER AND STARTED SHAKING. THE CODE IT SENDS IS P-2135. THE FIRST TIME BACK IN MAY, I DROVE IT THE 6 MILES TO WORK BUT HAD TO TOW IT AS IT RESULTED IN DEAD BATTERY. THE CODE IT SENDS IS P-2135, SO WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY TWICE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT A DEFECTIVE PART. OTHERWISE AFTER MANY HOURS WAITING AT MY MECHANICS, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS THAT WE CAN FIND THAT SEEMS TO TRULY FIX THIS ISSUE. HAVE EMAILED CHEVY AND DO HAVE A SERVICE REQUEST # AND WILL BE CALLING TODAY TO SET UP APPOINTMENT W/ LOCAL DEALER ASAP IN REGARDS TO BULLETIN 15-08-45-001 TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER THIS AND PRAY THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY ONCE AND FOR ALL FIX THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND DECELERATED TO 5 MPH. THE ESP, ABS, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO BALLAS BUICK IN TOLEDO, OHIO (419-386-0187). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPUTER ASSISTED POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FIXED AT DOUG CHEVROLET 1-12-2018. NOW (AFTER THE WARRANTY REPAIR OF A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR) WHEN DRIVING FOUR DAYS LATER HE LOST POWER, VEHICLE FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCED POWER AND SLOWED IMMEDIATELY FROM 45 TO 5 MPH AND HE WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME. THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING WAS IMMEDIATE AND DRASTIC AND CARS BEHIND HIM WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "REDUCE POWER" ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. JACK WINEGARDNER CHEVROLET (11001 INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, FORT WASHINGTON, MD 20744) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE THROTTLE BODY WARRANTY EXTENSION AND SPECIAL COVERAGE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,659. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THAT THE ACCELERATION WOULD BEGAN TO DECREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PLACE IT IN PARK TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, INDICATING THE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE, AND ESC FAILED AND NEEDED SERVICING. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AT HOME AND RECEIVED ERROR CODE P-2135, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR POSITION NEEDED REPAIRING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS SCANNED FOR A CODE BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE CHEVROLET BUICK OWINGS MILLS DEALER LOCATED AT 11234 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESSED WHICH DECREASED SLIGHTLY THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. A CHIME SOUNDED BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HER TO NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT TO TAKE PHOTOS AND SEND THEM TO AN E-MAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CASE NUMBER FOR THE CONVERSATION WITH THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE WAS 8-3068861818. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), 14E44000 (STEERING), AND 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURES EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE CONTACT BEING CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,807. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WHILE BEING OPERATED AT 80 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE SERVICE ESC, AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE THUS FAR. ONCE WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, AS WELL AS THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS FLASHED ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO REV ERRATICALLY AND ACTUALLY CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. SOME MESSAGES BEGAN TO COME UP ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AND THE MESSAGE THAT REMAINED WAS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM THE LIGHT TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER THE CAR WAS JERKING AND I COULD BARELY ACCELERATE. WHILE DRIVING THIS SLOWDOWN AND JERKING HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS FOR WHILE BEFORE HAPPENING AGAIN. ONCE PARKED, OPENING THE HOOD SHOWED A VIOLENTLY SHAKING ENGINE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH MALIBU AROUND THAT TIME AND THE MILEAGE I HAVE ON THE CAR (66500). THE CULPRIT APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY, FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER DRIVERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON REMEDIED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
THE CAR HESITATES ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD GOING 55 MILES PER HOUR, BUT ALSO ON WET ROADS GOING 30 TOO. THE CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY DOES NOT DISENGAGE. MOST CONCERNING FOR ME IS WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND PRESS ON THE GAS TO MOVE FORWARD THE CAR RANDOMLY SLOWS AND SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026