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.
Air Bags · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
Takata recall: my vehicle sensor are reading incorrectly. My check engine light won't go off, random light come on and off, my sensors is not reading my engine and engine location or tires. System is also reading there are no air bags or says passenger seatbelt is not in place when it is. Frequently my wiring glitches and i can not control the mirrors or windows, ect. My coolant and oil constantly drains out but no…
ODI 11089246
Electrical System · Engine · Seats
The wiring on my vehicle has always been messed up causing my check light engine to stay on at all times. I've had multiple machinists look over my vehicle and have spent lots of money trying to get this issue fixed.
ODI 11210886
Engine
TIMING CHAIN, ENGINE NOISE
ODI 11044375
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While stationary, the vehicle would not start when prompted. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 154,000.
ODI 11022127
Electrical System · Engine
Engine power reduced and the vehicle sounds like it is going to explode. It reduces the speed to 5 mph. You can turn the car off sit for a few minutes and turn the car back on and it runs fine. It does this daily. I have replaced several sensors and it has not fixed the problem. I have also replaced the throttle body twice and that did not fix it either.
ODI 10995785
Engine
Engine light came on while driving on the highway the engine started to lose power going up a hill and then lost all power as we were able to make it off to an exit ramp. Had to have it towed to an auto repair shop since we were in the middle of nowhere driving home. Auto mechanic said the timing chain broke and the entire engine needs to be replaced. Luckily there wasn't much traffic otherwise it could have been…
ODI 10992278
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to go into drive position. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the master overhaul kit, pistons, control solenoid, and the torque converter needed to be placed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.
ODI 10986005
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
My engine light has been on since i purchased the car back in 2014 the dealership said it was no big deal that the light would evenually go out. Upon purchase it had 51,000 miles on it, because they had it for a few weeks due to it having hail damage the finance company wouldn't approve the loan because of problems. The car was riding ok up until a few montha ago i noticed i was loosing power it was driving slower,…
ODI 10983676
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Speed slow down on a 55 mph highway to 10 mph and wouldnt get no speed and it throttle and shake until i came to a stop the most scary thing to ever happen to me i went from a ford to chevy the most stupid idea i could've ever done and ever light on dash board is on and blinking to brake light,traction light,etc light, radio and clock lights the speed door and window lights its to much to deal with im afraid that…
ODI 10970615
Body · Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start upon attempting to turn the key in the ignition. Wood motor company (600 us-62, harrison, ar 72601, [redacted]) indicated that there was an internal electrical and engine failure that required diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that the repair may be extensive. The dealer indicated that the timing chain, gear, belt,…
Fire reported
ODI 11155911
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
The incident happened twice thus far. Once while waiting at a light and another time while driving. The car began to shake and the engine light, as well as the stability control lights flashed on. The car began to rev erratically and actually caused the car to move forward. Some messages began to come up on the dashboard display and the message that remained was engine power reduced. Trying to take off from the…
ODI 10969585
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
About a year ago i was driving car going around 40 miles an hr and it would just die on me, no lights came up no warning. It happened at least 6 times and every time it happened it had it towed to dealership to get checked out. I've had fuel pump, fuel relay, cam shaft sensor 2 times and other things replaced. Still same thing would happen. Died again on me had it towed to a garage and my timing chain was broken,…
ODI 11089289
Engine
Vehicle without any warning reduced power to just idle while at a traffic light. Vehicle check engine light illuminated and several error messages were displayed including "reduced power." i drove through the intersection at only 2 mph and then pulled over on the side of the road. I shut the car off four (4) times and then the engine ran normally. I drove vehicle to the dealership. Dealership diagnosed problem to an…
ODI 10955549
Engine
Timing chain failure in the 4 cyl. Echo tech engine. Took it to the dealer and they told us they have many vehicles with this same engine come in but the malibu has not been recalled even though it's the same engine as the traverse recalls. Not replacing the timing chain and pulleys will result in engine failure.
ODI 10955645
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing chain failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. The vin was not available.
ODI 10954531
Electronic Stability Control · Engine
Engine reduced power message is displayed and the engine loses power while driving. Service traction control light comes on. Car may stall in the middle of a busy highway. Check engine light comes on. Engine code is p2135. It happens between 4-10 minutes after startup. When it happens we have to shut the ignition off wait a couple minutes and restart the vehicle which the vehicle runs normal at that point. This is a…
ODI 10948634
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Power Train
I was driving and the car began to shake and jerk, and then the alerts across the dash came up as "service esc", "service traction", and "engine power reduced". I took it to a chevy dealership and was told the throttle body needed to be replaced. After paying $550.00 for the repair the car seemed to work fine until recently, only two months after the initial repair the same exact thing has happened, and now the…
ODI 10944519
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving 70 mph, the reduced power warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle slowed down independently. The contact stated that cycling the engine off and on remedied the failure; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of…
ODI 10939849
Engine · Unknown Or Other
1. My car is 5 year old and 73,000 miles. We use it for commuting to work and grocery. And we do all the maintenance at dublin chevrolet dealership. On nov 11th, my car broke down on the highway and blocked the traffic. The front trunk was smoking. The car was towed to dealership. They said possible engine problem. Although the car is just out of warranty, it is hard to believe that this car has no quality problem…
ODI 10929554
Engine
The engine overheated while driving on the highway, it lost power and started smoking. The temperature gauge dropped to zero and was forced to pull off onto the shoulder and be towed to a service station because the vehicle was no longer operable. The mechanic stated that the engine was damaged due to a coolant leak from the water pump. The vehicle had 98,616 miles at the time of this incident. The engine had to be…
ODI 10925496
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
I have been experiencing issues with my 2011 chevy malibu. I was driving down the road when suddenly the motor started violently shaking and the dashboard information display would flash, "engine power reduced, service esc, service traction control, air bag lights and check engine light came on". This was an intermittent issue, it can sometimes go weeks/months without issues, but then out of nowhere it will start…
ODI 10864361
Engine
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
ODI 10862791
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet malibu. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle decelerated to 10 mph and the engine power reduced warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
ODI 10862545
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Car when started steering wheel locks up all the lights start flashing, locks start to unlock and lock themselves. Engine lines comes on hard to move forward or backwards.
ODI 10855006
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
1/26/2016 i got my camshaft solenoid fixed due to my check engine light coming on. When it started to shake real bad with the dash lights stating that my engine power was reduced, loss of traction (something to that effect) i instantly put it in the shop. Then last week 3/4/2016 i was driving up to erie, pa from ohio, which is about 4.5 hours away. I say a good 40 minutes from my destination it happens again right…
ODI 10849853