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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,045 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

May 072017

Malibu

  • 134,000 miles

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

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.

- Harpers Ferry, WV, USA

problem #14

Jun 082015

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
Took my car in to dealer because it started shaking violently going 20 mph, needed a new transmission is what I was told, had the transmission put in and now the ESC, and other lights are on!

- Toledo , OH, USA

problem #13

Jan 292015

Malibu

  • 64,903 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the stability traction control warning lamp and the ESC warning lamps illuminated each time the brake pedal was applied. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that within weeks of the recall repair, the failure recurred. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle needed to be further diagnosed. The recall remedy did not repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,903.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #12

Jan 122015

Malibu

  • 82,305 miles

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

Was idling at a drive thru window and the car dash lights started coming on. Ecs off notification, transaction system off warning light. Car engine was stuttering, than revving up to faster speed. Had car brake on, tried putting it into neutral and it still did the slow down/speed up engine speed. Very dangerous, turned car off and turned it back on. Ecs off light is now dark but engine light is still lit up.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #11

Sep 262013

Malibu

  • miles
My service ESC light kept coming on and I took the car to the dealer and they didn't know why it was on other than some kind of glitch and they made it turn off. In July of 2014 I got the safety recall letter and have yet to hear anything. The light us on again and steering is funny and other lights are coming on for no reason. Tells me my tires need air and they do not! my children ride in this car!

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #10

Jul 312014

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that it had been two months and the part for the recall repair was not available. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

- West Seneca, NY, USA

problem #9

Aug 272014

Malibu

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The contact stated that the dealer was contacted twice and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

- Statesboro, GA, USA

problem #8

Aug 062014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 70,450 miles
On August 6, , 2014 I had taken my 3 kids to the lake @ dreher island state park. Upon getting ready to leave I put on brakes to see what my son asked me.for no reason the car started moving forward & I couldn't get it to stop get the wheels to turn as it was very hard & pushed the emergency brakes & it kept going till it went in the ditch on a concrete terracotta causing it to bend a piece of what was told to me the a frame & under the front end! I called the dealership & told it wasn't possible. Before this happened I could park my car & the engine would act is if it was trying to go w/O me mashing the gas or anything then idled down repeatedly acted as if it was going to shut off! I've even had 2 buy 2 new batteries, fixing to buy another! they said a connection was causing the battery to be drained & cells killed. On the interstate 2 days ago I had the cruise control on, for no reason it started losing speed then would start catching back up on it's own & I turned it off! the motor made a screeching noise! I have no idea what's going on! even my tail lights wouldn't come on last night until I mashed the breaks a few times, cut off the lights, & restarted the car! my major issue is now I'm going to have to file a claim for the incident & I had no part of being @ fault & can't explain what happened! it still idles wrong & the cruise control light comes on @ times w/O me touching it! I'm beginning to worry about the safety of my children as well as myself, but especially my kids! what can I do? please help me as this can't be normal! so far the engine light has came on, power steering light, air pressure light, & @ one point a red light came on & went off before I could see what it was! if you could do anything@ all to help & assist me I would be truly grateful! all I'm told is parts aren't in to fix some kind of recall, but what I don't know! thanks & god bless!

- Newberry, SC, USA

problem #7

Jul 162014

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
Currently there is a safety recall number 13036 on my vehicle. I was directed by GM to take my vehicle to the nearest dealership and have a diagnostic test ran on the vehicle for potential problems with the wiring harness. When the vehicle diagnostic test was done there were no issues found in regards to codes being displayed. This test was not the test that was supposed to be done according to a GM representative since they have no information on the recall itself, other then what was listed in the recall letter. When I expressed my concern for the safety issues since I have been experiencing them all along I was told I would have to drive the vehicle until parts were available. I was also told that the vehicle was safe to drive, regardless of the potential for an increased risk of a crash due to the circumstances of the recall. I also did not receive any information in regards to the test that was performed on my vehicle by the dealership, which I was told by the GM representative was also incorrect. II was originally told by a GM representative that the parts were also available regardless of what the letter stated and that I should disregard that portion of the letter. This was also determined to be false as the parts are not available until mid August according to a GM rep at a later date. As of yet there has been no resolution to the issues I have experienced while driving and parked. These issues include the increased travel needed to stop the vehicle as well as the ecs being displayed as not functioning while parked and driving. Although my wife and I both have expressed our concerns with the vehicles safety and its current issues GM has failed to provide any resolution to the problems or the issue with the recall, when they could simply authorize a rental or service loaner rom the dealership.

- Girard, PA, USA

problem #6

Nov 052013

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
I had my 2011 Malibu serviced at marty feldman Chevrolet for rotors, brake pads and all fluids changed because of mileage in July 2013.in November 2013, I began hearing the same noises that lead me to have my rotors replaced on the driver's front side. I went to serra Chevrolet who stated I need rotors and brake pads. I explained I had just had that work done. After proving with my paperwork that I had the work done, serra Chevrolet stated they could replace the rotors and brake pads because the parts were still under warranty. Marty feldman Chevrolet sales manager stated I could bring it back there; however, due to convenience I allowed serra Chevrolet complete the repair work. A week later my engine light came on. I took the car back seven times before they were able to correct the problem. In the meantime; in February the noise from the rotors returned. Because I had to drive over 40+ miles back and forth (seven times) to have the engine light repaired; I was told my rotors were not under warranty. After contacting GM consumer complaint and not settling for a no answer; serra Chevrolet stated they gave me new rotors and brake pads. However, in April, the noise returned and no-one is willing to address my problem or concern. I had my attorney prepare an official letter to send to serra and marty feldman Chevrolet. No comments as of yet. I am pursuing other means to get the problem before the public and to GM headquarters. I pay my car note each month and I have had car problems since July 2013.

- Clinton Twp, MI, USA

problem #5

Feb 092014

Malibu

  • 29,000 miles

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

Car slid on slush and brakes failed to work though pressed all the way down; crashed into a snowbank damaging the front end of my car. The dealership said they could not recreate the problem and they already had done the recall on the part in October 2013 but was the part they replaced it with faulty as the original?

- Depew, NY, USA

problem #4

Jul 292011

Malibu

  • 2,300 miles
Brakes fail emergency stop with about 150 feet from accident and airbag was delayed in deployment.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #3

Apr 262014

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 44,700 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the brakes failed to engage causing the contact to crash into the rear end of another vehicle. No injuries were reported. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer previously where the technician replaced the front brake pads due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,700 and the current mileage was 44,850..... updated 08/05/14 updated 08/18/2014

- Aston, PA, USA

problem #2

Oct 012013

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
Brake lights don't work unless I use excessive force.

- Ovid, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 092011

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
System warning lights constantly say "service ESC" and "service traction". problem began within 4 months of taking delivery of the vehicle and is now scheduled for at least the fifth time in the shop for the exact same thing. By the way this vehicle has less than 5,500 miles on it since taking delivery of it March 2011. I have been told that when these warning lights are on, the systems (traction control and anti-lock brake system) are disabled. I was also told that the mechanical systems will continue to work fine. My issue is that the traction control and anti-lock brake system are an enhanced safety component of the vehicle (and all vehicles which has been scientifically proven) that are no longer available to me because the manufacture can not fix the problem.

- New Castle, PA, USA

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