2011 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu.

20102012
Complaints
1,514
per 10K Sold
73.9
US Sales
204,808
Crashes
71
Fires
23
Injuries
78
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1225 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:81,405 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:10
#2209 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:93,144 mi
Crash-related:8
#3174 complaints

Electronic Stability Control

Avg mileage:84,437 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu.

Electrical Faults
225
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
10
Avg Miles
81,405
Steering Defects
209
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
93,144
Electronic Stability Control
174
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
84,437
Engine Problems
160
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
80,828
Headlight/Taillight Failures
121
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
98,701
Transmission / Drivetrain
110
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
71,416
Airbags
92
complaints
Crashes
21
Fires
Avg Miles
65,950
Unintended Acceleration
84
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
69,863
Seat Belt Issues
51
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,912
Brakes
38
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
76,742
Seat-Related Issues
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,748
Fuel System
32
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,377
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,308
Traction Control System
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,444
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,600
Wheel Issues
11
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
57,688
Engine & Cooling
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,474
Wipers & Visibility
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,179
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
62,933
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,264
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Rear Window Defogger
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Chevrolet Malibu

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,878,714 vehicles.

19V019000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,145 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

15V269000Seat Belts
~437,045 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

14V252000Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights · Electrical System:wiring
~2,440,524 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Years

2011 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,514 NHTSA complaints, 71 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 225 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (225 complaints, avg 81,405 mi); Steering Defects (209 complaints, avg 93,144 mi); Electronic Stability Control (174 complaints, avg 84,437 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 81,216 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu include 71 crash-related reports, 23 fire reports, 78 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,878,714 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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