2011 Chevrolet Malibu Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, MY CAR, OUT OF NOWHERE, BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THE "ESC IS OFF" INDICATOR WAS ON. I PULLED OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND BEGIN PRESSING THE GAS TO KEEP IT FROM CUTTING OFF FOR FEAR IT MAY NOT START UP AGAIN. I DID THAT FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND BEGAN MOVING AGAIN. I HAD TO DO THIS 3 TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. I WAS ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE AT THE TIME.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH,VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER BUT WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER IN TIME. NO BRAKES,STEERING, POWER AT ALL. GM DEALER DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAINS NEED REPLACEMENT. NO RECALL ON THIS KNOWN ISSUE? ENDANGERING LIVES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE RATTLED AND VIBRATED CONSISTENTLY WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,237.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CAM SOLENOIDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 5 MPH. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
JUST GOT MY CAR BACK MID FEBRUARY AFTER THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE SIGNS AT THAT TIME WERE CK ENGINE LIGHT SERVICE TRACTION AND SERVICE ESC. GM DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. ITS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. FORWARD 1 MONTH. NOW ALL LIGHTS COME ON...ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC AND ENGINE POWER LOW. CAR SHAKES AND WONT EXCEED 10 MPH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT REDUCED ENGINE POWER WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC WARNINGS. CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, SLOWED TO 5 MPH MAX. PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. RESTARTED CAR, SEEMED FINE. SINCE I HAPPENED TO BE ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. AT STOPLIGHT, CAR DID SAME THING, VIOLENT SHAKING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS. THANKFULLY, I MADE IT INTO DEALER LOT. TURNED CAR OFF. HAD TO RE-START TO PULL TO SERVICE DOOR. AGAIN, DID FINE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. AGREE WITH OTHER COMPLAINANTS...IF THIS HAPPENS MID-INTERSECTION OR ON THE INTERSTATE LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE RAPIDLY AND THE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,533.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, SHOOK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,200.
I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10MPH. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY CRAWL FORWARD. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. AGAIN, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AND THIS TIME THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE AS NORMAL, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND THAT NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I HAVE READ ON CHEVY FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY CAN FIND AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MAILBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT LAOS STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MALIBU LT. IT WILL RANDOMLY READ "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND COME TO A STOP. IT IS UNPREDICTABLE AND VERY VERY DANGEROUS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING IT TO CHEVROLET. THEY HAVE THE CODES BUT SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLICATE IT. IF YOU GOOGLE MALIBU LOSES POWER, SERVICE TRACTION. YOU WILL SEE MANY COMING UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN FIX IT. VERY DANGEROUS!!! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT AND WISH I NEVER BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE APRIL OR MAY. TRUE LEMON!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER ENGINE REDUCED SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN COLDER WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
2011 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 30,000 MILES. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, I WAS AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THE CAR JUST QUIT! THIS IS A SAFETY DANGER. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET BADLY HURT OR KILLED. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE, ESC, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED THE OIL SENSOR SCREEN, AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE CODE INDICATED A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR BLINKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 35N ON MY WAY TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. OUT OF NOWHERE, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT PART OF 35 IS 70 MPH. IT WAS DARK AND I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH ME. WITH CARS SPEEDING PAST ME I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY DAUGHTER WAS VERY SHAKEN AS WAS I. CALLED MY BROTHER IN LAW TO COME PICK US UP. HE BASICALLY COASTED IT BACK TO HIS HOUSE ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY QUICK THINKING AND DRIVING ABILITY, I MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. VERY BAD FEELING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DISPLAY SHOWED LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY A TRUCK. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE THE ENGINE BEGAN SHAKING AT WHICH POINT I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE SEVERELY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER GRAVEL OR AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FAULTY AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE ESP AND LOW ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS THEN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE ENGINE RESET AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 48,500. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05/20/2013 *JS
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Quick Summary
The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu has 52 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.