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7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
44,050 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. rebuild transmission (1 reports)
2011 Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems

transmission problem

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2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #9

May 062016

Malibu LTS 1lt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I started having problems with my 2011 Chevy Malibu in June 2015. The car kept hesitating and skipping. I took into the dealer and they said there was a problem with the transmission. Supposedly they fixed the problem. However, when I got the car back it was still doing the same thing. I called them back a week later to let them know that the car was still doing the same thing and that they said they fixed it.

I brought it back I believe a week or 2 weeks later. After being in the shop for a few days the guy in the service department told me they have to give me a new transmission because that one can't be fixed. They have to contact GM for approval. I was told someone from GM has to come out to approve it. The person from GM came out and approved the new transmission (supposedly).

After being in the shop a little over a week I went and got the car and was told by Chris in the service dept that I received a new transmission which cost about $7,000. He said you're lucky it was still under warranty.

Fast forward to May 2016 and while I'm driving the car completely stops. I wouldn't let me go forward at all but it did let me reverse. I had to have the car towed to my mechanic. My mechanic said it's definitely the transmission and I'm going to have to get it replaced. I told my mechanic that the car was just in the shop in June/July of 2015 and supposedly the dealership replaced the transmission. He told me to go back to the dealership because if they did replace it and give me a new one like they said it should still be under warranty.

I called the dealership and asked to speak to Chris in the service department who was the one who helped me with the car. The receptionist had no idea who I was talking about and said they don't have a Chris in the service department. Then she later said oh yeah, he doesn't work here any more!! Seriously???

I then drove straight to the service department in my rental. When I got to the service department I had the guy there pull up my records. NOW THIS IS WHAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!!! THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ME BRINGING THE CAR BACK THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THEM REPLACING OR GIVING ME A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ME HAVING A LONER CAR FOR OVER A WEEK, OR THE GM REPRESENTATIVE COMING DOWN TO APPROVE THE WORK!!

HOW IS THAT NONE OF THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE COMPUTER???? ON TOP OF THAT THEY NOW TELL ME MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED NOW AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION.

ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS THEY ONLY REPLACED A SPROCKET DRIVE, INSTALLED A SL-N-RING, SL-N-HUB!!! REALLY...

THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE!! THEY CLEARLY LIED ABOUT GIVING ME A NEW TRANSMISSION AND DID A TEMPORARY FIX JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE TO WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRED.

OH AND ANOTHER THING THE WAY THE GUY ENTERED THE COMPLAINT IN THE SYSTEM WAS VERY SLICK AS WELL. WHERE IT SAYS CUSTOMER REPORTS: HE PUT "CUSTOMER REPORTS VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED, CUSTOMER STATES THEY HAVE A PAUSE IN ACCELERATION!

I NEVER TOLD ANY OF THEM I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THAT IS SUCH A LIE!! YET THAT'S HOW THEY ENTERED IT IN THE COMPUTER.

I'M SO PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW! BECAUSE IT'S MY WORD AGAINST THEIRS!! THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING I CAN DO. THIS ALL HAPPENED AT THE RICHARD LUCAS CHEVROLET DEALER IN AVENEL NJ.

THEN THE OTHER GUY HAD THE NERVE TO ASK IF I WANTED TO BE INTRODUCED TO SOMEONE IN THE SALES DEPARTMENT! I TOLD HIM ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR FROM CHEVROLET!!

- Denise G., Rahway, NJ, US

problem #8

Mar 282015

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

On 3/28/15 I purchased a 2011 Chevy Malibu from Rainbow Chevrolet in Laplace Louisiana. When test driving the vehicle, I noticed a very small and hardly noticeable jerk when the car changed into 2nd gear. I was told by the salesman that it was normal and I took his word for it.

Almost 7 months later, the issue has gotten 1000 x’s worse and the engine light is now on. I know for a fact that this is not normal now. The jerk is violent and it now jerks when putting the car in Park, Drive and Reverse. Pulling off slowly, makes the car jerk very hard. If you apply more gas when taking off, the jerk is not as bad but it's still bad.

The car did not come with a warranty but I was OK with that because I was told that car had been inspected thoroughly, that an elderly couple previously owned the car, that there was nothing wrong with the car and I had also just gotten rid of a 2005 Malibu that I bought brand new in which I had no serious problems with. I purchased this car for my daughter in college.

This car is not safe. I have read hundreds of complaints online and on the Chevrolet Malibu Forum in regards to the same problem as well as other problems. The car currently has 53,803 miles which is not very much in car years and I do not feel that I should have to pay for this problem since there are so many issues documented that I am having. Last but not least, I am unable to fill up the car with gas. It stops at about ¼ tank and starts to spill out. This was noticed shortly after I bought the car also. I bought this car for my daughter who is in college and it is definitely not safe to drive.

I have not taken the car to be repaired as of yet because I simply do not have the resources to repair it. I don’t think that I should be responsible for repairs on a vehicle with issues that should be part of a recall or class action list.

- Tiffany C., New Orleans, LA, US

problem #7

Feb 012015

Malibu LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles

I previously owned and actually still own my 1999 Chevy Malibu, I have about 165,000 miles on that car an if I'm being honest that car runs better then my 2011 Chevy Malibu. I bought my 2011 Chevy Malibu used with 36,000 miles, not a scratch or even ding anywhere on the body, interior close to perfect. I also thought it was a great running car after test driving it.

Problem was after getting it home and really feeling how it drives, I noticed it would shift hard, and jerk while driving. The symptoms or problems I get well driving this car is jerking an hard shifting when driving, starting and stopping is actually the most annoying part, the darn RPM needle jumps an drops as if I'm driving a stick shift, and the whole car jerk as well like I'm shifting gears.

I took it in to my nearest Chevy dealer explained the problem and hoped they would find something wrong, so I could have it fixed and problem solves. When I headed back to the Chevy dealer they let me know they didn't find anything wrong with the car, also they explained the jerking of the transmission is the way Chevy designed the car to run.

I then went home and wrote my concerns to Chevrolet themselves via their website, a couple emails later I get a call an the friendly Chevy rep on the phones again explains that it is normal for the car to jerk an shift hard, he explains to me all this hard shifting is actually saving me gas. I couldn't believe what he was telling me, I think he thought when he told me it would save me gas I would be happy an say oh ok well, then I'll live with the jerking an hard shifting.

Anyway long story short, I wish I would have been aware of this insane new transmission, I would have never bought this Malibu. I guess my days of owning a Malibu are over, I always said after my first Malibu I would own one for life, this changes that theory real quick. At this point I think I might give the car to my mom, maybe trade it in I'm really not sure, all I know is do your homework an really test drive this car before you make that final decision, actually if you reading this its probably to late.

- Daniel C., Bloomington, US

problem #6

Mar 042013

Malibu LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

THIS PROBLEM IS VERY BAD I HAVE CHILDREN AND THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A CAR THAT WAS A GREAT CAR BUT I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL. TO SUM IT UP I'M VERY UPSET THAT MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT IT AT ALL..

- campj, Eden, NC, US

problem #5

Jun 012014

Malibu LT 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles

2011 Malibu having issues with the transmission shifting correctly, when putting into D, seem to have to wait 3 secs to feel it kick in, also seems to shift hard when accelerating, when slowing down or coasting downshifting seems to be hard or a kick, can also hear it at times going into gear.

I have an appointment in a week at a GM dealership to have it looked at.

- P K., Bridgeville, PA, US

problem #4

Aug 012013

Malibu LT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

Had the same problem with my previous Chevrolet Impala. I think Chevy needs to look into this as I know numerous people who own chevy's and are having the same issues!

- Caroline W., Ada, OH, US

problem #3

Jun 012013

Malibu LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,204 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission does shift well when accelerating moderately. The problem is when I coast at speeds between 40 and 60 kilometers (where it is most noticeable) then re-accelerate. The transmission acts like there is a significant amount of play in the gears and I hear and feel a noticeable thump or bang before it starts driving again. This seems to have gotten progressively worst over the past few months. I have not talked to the dealer about this concern but will before the new car warranty is over.

Update from Nov 16, 2013: I took the car to the selling dealer. They reprogrammed the transmission software and it seems to be better. I'm not sure if it really addressed the problem, time will tell.

- rsnudden959, KINGSTON, Ontario, canada

problem #2

Sep 052011

Malibu LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

Currently I had purchased my 2011 Chevy Malibu in April of 2011 with only about 14,000 miles on it. About a few month into I noticed sometimes it would kinda jerk like it needed something to push it forward. At first I thought it was maybe bad gas that was put in the car but I only use BP and never had any problems. Then it stopped b/c it would do it intermintelly maybe no more than three times out of a 2-3 month period. I told my husband about it and he said maybe its because my car has no take off(he currently has his own car so rarely drives mine so he never experienced what I was talking about) then one day about 3 more months down the line he was driving it and did experince what I was talki g about while on the expressway. So he told me to take it in to the dealer where I bought it b/c it's still under warranty. Took it in, told them what was happening they asked questions, such as did I notice a time when it would do it, I told them no its very sparatic. They asked could I leave it so I did, went the next day to pick it and they said found no problems and the mechanic took it out for a drive for about 20 minutes and they didn't foresee any problems and if it did it again for me to look for when it was happening, what time of day, the speed I was doing etc... And bring it back. We went on a road trip in April of these year and I took it to the dealership for a full work up to make sure we were good to be on the road and we had no problems up until 2 weeks ago now I am noticing the same thing and it seems to happen more frequently especially on the expressway driving. It as if the engine is about to stall or stop, it even got to the point where my girlfriend in the car with me could feel the jerking. I notce the rpm needle will flicker very vastly between 2-4. I google the other day and see this is a problem people were experiencing and something about a misfiring with the coll packs or cylinders or something like that.( I'm not very mechanically inclined) I haven't found anything about recalls on my model but like others had mentioned in there post I don't want my car to just stop while driving or it won't take off while trying to merge onto an expressway as this could become fatal. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I will be taking my car back to the dealership sometime this week to have them look at it again.

- ladeeal, Dolton, IL, US

problem #1

Oct 302010

Malibu 1LT 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3 miles

MY 2011 MALIBU REALLY A GOOD CAR EXECPT FOR THE MOST ANNOYING TRANSMISSION IN HISTORY IT DOES HARD UPSHIFTS AND IS EXTREMELY INDECISIVE AS TO WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WHEN CLIMBING HILLS AND IN QUICK MANUVERS SUCH AS RAPID ACCLERATION FROM CRAWLING SPEED EG QUICK LANE CHANGE FROM SLOW TRAFFIC TO RAPIDLY MOVING TRAFFIC THIS IS NOT ONLY ANNOYING BUT VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE ADRESSED THIS CONCERN TO MY SELLING DEALER AND TO GM.AND WAS VERY HARSHLY TOL;D BY GM THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND WOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY MORE INQUIRIES ON THIS MATTER PLEASE POST THIS IN IT'S ENTIRETY SO WITH OTHERS NMAYBE WE CAN GET GM OFF IT'S DEAD ASS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS

- rsands, Rochelle Park, NJ, US

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