2011 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train Problems
- 89
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 89 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 17 records
- check engine · 11 records
- engine light · 11 records
- needed replaced · 10 records
- notified failure · 10 records
- failure failure · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 37 |
| 30–60k mi | 20 |
| 1–30k mi | 15 |
| 100–150k mi | 12 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle started to decelerated and shake continuously without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000. The vin was not available.
ODI 10677101
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated and would not exceed 5 mph. The vehicle also began to jerk. In addition, the contact stated that the lost power indicator, the abs, and traction warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of…
ODI 10677099
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the vehicle lost acceleration and the esc, traction control, and reduced power speed warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified…
ODI 10689922
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
I was driving my vehicle on at 50 mph and vehicle reduced to a unsafe speed with the error messages "service traction" "esc off" and "eng pwr reduced". The unsafe drop in speed almost caused a car to hit me in the back. This is a very scary problem and if i was on the expressway and this occurred something very bad could have happen. A recall on the vehicle or the throttle body need to be made public before someone…
ODI 10661266
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. When attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact had to restart the vehicle in order for it to resume normal operation. However, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 8,700.
ODI 10655087
Power Train
I am reporting this incident although it is a little over 3 years old, i was not aware of this website when this happened, because i feel it is related to the complaint i recently submitted, complaint number: 11045010, plus chevrolet needs to be held accountable. On october 6th, 2014 at about 2pm i am getting on the expressway as i am about to merge with traffic and start to acceleration i feel a surge and than the…
ODI 11046494
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
I went to get air in tire. Got back in my car and started it up. It started shaking real bad and engine light came on , check engine light came on, and a thing about loss of power. I was only 5 minutes from home so i went back home. It wouldn't get over 25 miles an hour. I called edward chevrolet in birmingham,al. They told me to get car to them but not drive it. They called me back and said it wasn't under…
ODI 10643072
Power Train
While driving the vehicle did not shift in the 45-55mph range, ( i'm guessing 5th gear as i do not know how many gears it has ) then again the same issue at 25 mph. Repeated multiple times through the drive home. *tr
ODI 10616382
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the vehicle reduced speed and an unknown warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
ODI 10618589
Power Train
Bought used in november 2013 with 23,000 miles. Car's resistant to acceleration attempts, loses power at varying speeds from 30 mph and up. Vehicle brought in, dealer stated there were no problems. The problem is very intermittent, that is to say it doesn't do it all the time but this has left me in a dangerous spot while changing lanes or pulling out onto a street from a stopped position; i can floor the gas pedal…
ODI 10604814
Power Train
While driving the vehicle on interstate 270 at around 50 to 60 mph, the vehicle transmission down shifted upon breaking with a loud clunking noise. When i went to reaccelerate, the vehicle was unresponsive as though it was stuck in a higher gear and would not down shift to accelerate. This problem has recurred frequently so now when i drive on the highway, i set the cruise control to make sudden acceleration and…
ODI 10577600
Power Train
I'm driving along the highway and all of a sudden my power steering and esc are lost! The car's monitors alert me but i have trouble controlling the vehicle! I finally get the vehicle to the dealer, they inform me i have to pay $1400 to fix the problem! It's not a wear and tear issue to me. My car isn't 3 years old yet! I later learned many owners have this same issue. *tr
ODI 10566737
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
Car suddenly decelerated and started sputtering. Engine acted like it was going to quit and did not have any power. Would not get over 15mph. Put me in a very dangerous situation in rush hour traffic. I am very lucky no one was killed. Decelerated at a very fast rate. Dealership diagnosed the problem as the throttle body. The throttle body had to be replaced for $675. Was not covered under the 100k powertrain…
ODI 10564890
Engine · Power Train
Sitting at intersection, foot on brake, waiting for light to turn green, felt sudden power surge, thought someone hit me from behind, lights on dashboard read: reduced engine power, service esc, service engine icom appeared. Light turned green, had to cross 5 lanes of state highway. Car would barely move, light turned red, pulled to side of road as best i could account 5 ft snow piles alongside road. Minus 6 degrees…
ODI 10564177
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the check engine and engine power reduced warning lights illuminated as the vehicle began shaking and decelerating independently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis or repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 93,541.
ODI 10563005
Engine · Power Train
My wife was driving our 2011 chevy malibu with 42,000 miles on snow-covered roads. All of a sudden, warning lights lit up, including "service esc", "engine power reduce" and the car began in jolt. This caused her to swerve into the other lane and just missed getting broadsided by a semi truck. We let the car sit for a couple of hours in a parking lot. We then took the vehicle to the dealership, who indicated it was…
ODI 10561617
Air Bags · Power Train
I was at a stop trying to make a left turn across traffic at 7pm. When i had a chance to go my car would not go forward. It would only rev. I threw it in park then to drive...nothing. Tried manual. Nothing. Reverse was all that worked. Thankfully i was able to reverse out of intersection. Had wrecker take to the dealership. Friday night they tell me car is ready that the chip in transmission went out. Go saturday to…
ODI 10560634
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the electronic stability control warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 80,000.
ODI 10638889
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
During the deep winter we had in detroit starting last jan - the car reduces speed and engine power reduced/service esc/service traction message comes- this happen endless times and stopped in feb 2014 then began this past week jan 8th, 2015 and continues to do so. The car will start shaking violently and drops speed and power eng reduced message comes - even traveling at 70 miles with 2 children inn the icy, snowy…
ODI 10672255
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the reduce power mode warning message illuminated as the acceleration decreased to 20 mph independently. This failure recurred every 22 miles traveled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The vin was not available. The approximate…
ODI 10583347
Electrical System · Power Train
I was driving on the highway and out of no where the check engine light came on. My car than started to jerk like it was running out of oxygen, the car felt like it didn't want to shift in gear.. Took to have check and come to find out its the (tcm) transmission control module which isn't covered under warranty for and extra two thousand dollars from santander consumer and bronx suzuki/victory in bronx, ny. I have…
ODI 10551376
Power Train
I purchased this malibu in march 2011, new. I currently have less than 26k miles on the car. The car has been at the dealer multiple times for the same issue. While accelerating (usually) between 25 and 35 mph the car seems to lose its ability to shift gears and the tachometer will go to 4000 plus with no acceleration. Its as if the transmission was shifted to neutral and pressing on the gas pedal. This first…
ODI 10538419
Power Train
Car slips 1st to 2nd (rpm buzzes up) this occurs when car has been driven for 30 miles or more and when it is above 85 degrees. It also hesitates 2nd to 3rd when cold. I was almost hit in the rear twice when the car slipped between 1st to 2nd. Took car to the dealership and they said nothing they could do as it did not show anything on the computer. Note that since they looked at the car on 7/26/13 the transmission…
ODI 10532550
Power Train · Suspension
I started to experience a vibration in the front end. I took it to the dealer and was told they could find nothing wrong. The problem persisted and then a noise started as well. I took it back to the dealer and the determined that it was a broken axle shaft that they ordered and then replaced. The noise went away but the vibration has persisted. I have taken it to the dealer 5+ times to be looked at and they tell me…
ODI 10567141
Power Train
Purchased my 2011 chevy malibu in april of 2012 with 56k miles, in april of 2013 with 70k+ miles, my transmission failed and i was informed by the nearby chevy dealership that it required a total rebuild and all parts needed to be replaced. My car was still under the warranty and therefore, i did not pay for the services. Around may 5 2014, i received a recall notice for issues with the electrical system/ abs…
ODI 10733014