2011 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems
- 138
- 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 138 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 34 records
- engine power · 33 records
- failure mileage · 26 records
- check engine · 25 records
- throttle body · 23 records
- service traction · 22 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 57 |
| 30–60k mi | 33 |
| 100–150k mi | 23 |
| 1–30k mi | 8 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Unknown Or Other
When we are driving the car it will start shaking, the esc light comes on and the car completely dies. This has happened while driving 15 mph and 70 mph on city streets and highways. We have had it in multiple shops and been told this is a common issue nobody has found a resolution for. Very dangerous and afraid to put our kids in the car as we don't know when it will do it, there hasn't been a common variable.
ODI 11289657
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving 65 mph, the timing chain failed and caused the vehicle to lose all power. The driver was able to coast over to the side of the road. The driver attempted to restart the engine, but it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to ozark chevrolet (1020 n 18th st, ozark, mo 65721, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the timing chain system failed and the…
ODI 11265935
Body · Engine
Takata recall... The undercarriage fell down unexpectedly while driving. The most important thing is that i have been continually getting an error that my engine reduced/engine disabled and it shuts off while i'm driving on the street. I may get a few seconds of motion to get to the side of the road before it stops completely. It's happened with my child in the car and that scares me more to think it may happen…
ODI 11244869
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 11221609
Air Bags · Engine · Seat Belts
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to dick genthe chevrolet [redacted], located at [redacted], southgate, mi 48195) and the contact was asked if she wanted the vehicle repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 15v269000 (seat belts). The contact approved the recall repairs. Six days later, the contact was…
ODI 11219813
Engine
Every time this has happened the car has been in motion. 3 times within a year this car has just died on me. Have all power to dashboard lights and radio but the engine shuts off and wont restart. First time i was told it was low on oil. Second time it sat for 2 days and cranked right up. 3rd time the plenum on the egr valve was cleaned. It seems odd to me that these 3 things would all cause the same exact issue.…
ODI 11204345
Engine
My 2011 chevy malibu with 2.4 ecotec just broke a timing chain guide. 67,000 miles. Was getting the p0016 and p0017 crank / cam correlation codes. Man am i ticked!! I bought this car with 18,000 miles always changed oil. Gm will do nothing!! I have owned a 2001 saturn l200 that broke a timing chain with 106,000 miles and crashed the head. Gm would do nothing!! I had a cutlass supreme and cutlass sierra in the 90's.…
ODI 11190432
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Car continues to go into reduced engine power and will not drive/run longer than five minutes. I have already had all recalls fixed on the vehicle including the one that supposedly fixed this problem.
ODI 11182421
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Ecs light, check engine light came on, reduced engine power, abs light, code throws map sensor error. Happens after vehicle go through the carwash or get slush and moisture from the road. Map sensor connector seems to be causing the electrical issue. Very dangerous going down the road, happened suddenly while not expecting it.
ODI 11173606
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving, the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was pulled over and shut off. The vehicle sputtered and the check engine indicator illuminated, but the vehicle was able to restart. The failure occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the throttle body was defective and located diagnostic code number: p2135. The…
ODI 11169916
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Steering
Car shut off after driving to the store, it wouldn't start and said service esc
ODI 11166417
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
While normal driving. Car will give the following error codes: "service esc" "service traction" "esc off" and "engine pwr reduced" back to back. The car will power itself down until ~10 mph while making a rattling noise. The car will start and act as if everything is fine once i pull over and fully shut the vehicle off. This happens at any point, driving highway or neighborhood speeds, while turning and even when…
ODI 11160871
Engine · Unknown Or Other
I brought this vehicle three years ago from the original owner with 60,000 miles kept up with all the maintenance etc. And today the vehicle left me stranded a few blocks from my house . I currently have a no start no cranking issue all the diagnostic from fuses, relays , fuel pressure, ignition switch, battery, etc where done leading us too believe its a bcm issues as too seeing that many other chevy malibu and…
ODI 11149794
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving 20 mph, the engine seized. The vehicle was taken to shepherds chevrolet buick (1520 e 9th st, rochester, in 46975, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the timing chain was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to call nhtsa. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
ODI 11149934
Engine
It is noted that the exhaust manifold on the 3.3 l four-cylinder engines for years have a cracked exhaust manifold there by leaching carbon monoxide into the cab interior of said automobiles. Parts of carbon monoxide have been noted to be 20 to 30 ppm when readings have been done
ODI 11180096
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While accelerating from a stop, the vehicle made a popping sound and stopped. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Also, while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated to approximately 20 mph and the steering lost power. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact noticed smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was towed to…
Fire reported
ODI 11122734
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Unknown Or Other
When i start the car the traction control light comes on esc comes up and says it turned off . When stationary it will just die, when driving it will just die doesn't matter if i'm going 75mph on the highway or in the middle of an intersection of city streets!!!!! Took it to the dealership they have no clue what's wrong with it i've add mechanics tell me it's my computer but they don't work on my make of a car. The…
ODI 11119561
Engine
Sometimes at stops (stationary) , car stalls, could cause an accident..it will start again when ignition is turned on again as if nothing was wrong.
ODI 11110127
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 11090951
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
While driving, a notice of reduced power, service traction and the check engine light came on. Pulled the car off the side of the road and shut it off, upon restart the whole car started shaking. I then shut it off for a few minutes, this time when i restarted only the check engine light was one. There are several reports of this issue and no fix from gm. This is a major risk when a car stalls out on the highway…
ODI 11084308
Engine
The exhaust manifold cracked allowing exhaust gases into the passenger compartment.
ODI 11104993
Engine
At approximately 85000 miles the timing chain went out of the engine, this is a none issue with these engines and an expensive repair at that. This effects several gm vehicles at 85000 miles the timing chain should not of been bad something needs to be done about this this happened as we were driving the vehicle and can cause the engine to stall
ODI 11078959
Electrical System · Engine
Randomly starting about 3 weeks ago my 2011 chevrolet malibu started going into reduced power mode and showing service traction, service esc and eng pwr reduced. The vehicle would shake and suddenly slow down. It showed a p2135 code. The vehicle restarts after a period of time sitting, but the events happen again when it is driven again. It takes approx. 20 miles from when it was started. Researching this p2135 code…
ODI 11074962
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 11063784
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 11057478