2011 Chevrolet Malibu Body & structure Problems

I was under this car inspecting the exhaust system when I noticed the steel rear impact beam was rusty. Upon further inspection, I found that it was completely rusted and rotted out and was being held up by the wire for the license plate light. The car has quite a few miles on in but no other parts of the car are rusted like this. An automotive Engineer inspected it and advised us to replace it. There is no way for customers to know of this issue or easily watch out for it and I am concerned that this may be an issue in other Malibus. This is a huge safety issue as there was no rear protection during a crash due to the severity of the rust on this rear impact beam.

NHTSA ID

11615209

Incident

Aug 13, 2024

I have bought multiple Chevy Malibu manufactured in the 2008-2012 year range and I have experienced the same problems on all of them. The first one is almost everytime I remotely start the car and begin to drive the electric power steering feature goes out until I park the car and restart it. Another problem I’ve been experiencing is the the passenger door malfunctions and does not open from The inside or outside even though the locking system is working properly. Upon looking online I have also seen there’s been a good amount of people reporting the same problem

NHTSA ID

11506750

Incident

Feb 10, 2023

MY TEENAGE SON WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WHEN HIS MALIBU GAVE ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ESC OFF WARNINGS. CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND INCREASE THE CHANCES OF A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. CODE READER SHOWED THE P2138 DTC. THE HEADLINER ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ALSO WET. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEAKAGE IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ISSUES SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THE ABOVE MENTIONED WARNINGS AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES. ACCORDING THE THE CHEVY WEBSITE, THERE ARE NO RECALLS APPLICABLE TO THIS CAR BASED ON ITS VIN.

NHTSA ID

11365506

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

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 AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME IN THE PAST 5 WEEKS. I'VE HAD A TUNE UP AND A NUMBER OF THINGS REPLACED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND ONE OF THE SAME SENSORS ON THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11244869

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

5 mi

I TRIED TO OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN RANDOMLY LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND APPARENTLY ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH NO WAY TO FIX BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR STUCK SHUT, WITH NO SOLUTION SHOULD BE COVERED BY CHEVROLET IN A RECALL

NHTSA ID

11210522

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

178,000 mi

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, (870) 741-8211) 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, AND VALVES WITHIN THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE PISTONS HAD NOT BEEN FIRING AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THERE WAS AN INTERNAL MELTDOWN OF THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11155911

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. HAD TO CLIMB OVER SEAT TO GET OUT OF THE BACK DOOR. CAR WAS IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11046057

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE BODY SEAM OF MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. THIS ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO MY ELECTRICAL PANEL CAUSE CORROSION TO ALL OF MY WIRING. I DETERMINED THIS AFTER DRIVING DOWN A HIGH WAY AT 60 MPH AND HAVING MY CAR DROP DOWN TO 10 MPH WITH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS, ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNINGS ALL LIGHTING UP MY PANEL. IT HAD BEEN RAINING THAT DAY. I AM LUCKY THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FOLLOWING AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944360

Incident

Feb 2, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AREA WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS WELDED HAD FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STEERED TO THE LEFT IN EXCESS AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10864441

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE EXTERIOR BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10823469

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON 2011 MALIBU WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN SHUT. THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BUT WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN I PARKED.I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE AND IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS STUCK IN THE VEHICLE AND I BEGAN PRESSING LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THE KEY FOB SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE DOOR WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE OPENED. ALL OTHER DOORS WERE LOCKING/UNLOCKING AND WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY EVERYDAY. I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AM AWAITING FURTHER INFORMATION. THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING AN ACCIDENT/VEHICLE FIRE AS YOU WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10810835

Incident

Dec 9, 2015

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10724608

Incident

Mar 4, 2015

DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY OR UNLOCK/UNLATCH TO OPEN. THIS HAS STARTED OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING DOOR LATCH MECHANISM FAILURES THAT DEALERS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO FIX FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, IT IS A GAMBLE, AS TO WHETHER THE DOOR WILL LATCH, OR UNLATCH, PROPERLY, AS NEEDED. IF THIS VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE DOOR WILL OPEN, EVEN IF IT IS AN UNDAMAGED ONE, DUE TO THE FAILING LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM. I AM REPLACING THIS AT MY COST BUT FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS/DESIGN. THANKFULLY, NO ONE IN MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INJURED, YET. I FEAR THAT THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE DURING TIMES OF GREAT STRESS THAT CAN AND WILL LEAD TO FATALITIES, IF LEFT UNADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10724216

Incident

May 25, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PIECE OF PLASTIC DETACHED FROM THE MIDDLE CONSOLE AND COVERED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10701327

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND WHEN IT RAIN THE DRIVER SIDE ON THE INSIDE ALWAYS GETS WET. ITS THE LEFT SIDE ONLY THAT HAS WATER ON IT. THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE HAS THIS CAR FOR A YEAR. YES IT DOES HAVE A SUNROOF BUT NO WATER IS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OF TIMES IT COULD BE THE DRAIN TUBE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689762

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

I WAS GOING ONTO A EXIT AN HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE CAR SPUN AND I ENDED UP SIDEWAYS. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. I SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A FACIAL HEMATOMA AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554926

Incident

Nov 23, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE MANUFACTURER FORGOT TO INSTALL A CLAMP ON THE MOON ROOF DRAIN. THE TUBE FELL OFF AND FLOODED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WITH 3 INCHES OF STANDING WATER ON JULY 12, 2013. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE INCLUDING CEILING, DASH (IN FRONT AND BEHIND), SEATS, FLOORING, AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE WATER DAMAGE. IT THEN HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 14, 2013. CONTACT WAS MADE TO THE DEALER ON JULY 16, 2013. AFTER NUMEROUS, MEANINGLESS PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHEVROLET, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE SOME COSMETIC PARTS. ONLY THE FLOORING WAS REPLACED AT FIRST. AFTER MORE COMPLAINTS, THE SEAT COVERS AND HEAD LINER WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE FACTORY CARPETED FLOOR MATS. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE OR INSPECT ANYTHING ELSE THAT WATER CAME IN CONTACT WITH INCLUDING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, SEAT CUSHIONS, SAFETY RESTRAINTS, WIRING HARNESSES, OR AIRBAG SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASH. OUR 10 YEAR OLD SON HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS A SUPPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEM. DUE TO THIS, HE CANNOT BE AROUND MOLD WHICH CHEVROLET IS REFUSING TO TEST FOR. BEING THAT ONLY 50% OR LESS OF THE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, WE ARE CONCERNED OF THE PRESENCE OF MOLD. OUR PHYSICIAN HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE TESTED AND SIGNED OFF THAT NO MOLD IS PRESENT BEFORE OUR SON CAN RIDE IN THE CAR AGAIN. OUR SON'S HEALTH DEPENDS ON HAVING A SAFE, CLEAN CAR TO BE TRANSPORTED IN. CHEVROLET HAS NO CONCERNS FOR HIS SAFETY OR LIFE THREATENING ISSUES. UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMPONENTS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED WITH THIS MUCH WATER OR MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE. THESE PARTS WERE NOT CHECKED, TESTED OR REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533737

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

26,800 mi

ON 6/22/13 AT APPROX 1:40PM I WAS HEADING BACK TO WORK FROM MY LUNCH BREAK AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON MY GREEN LIGHT AT APPROX 30MPH WHEN A BIG CHEVY TRUCK BLEW THROUGH THE RED LIGHT GOING APPROX 40 MPH. I ENDED UP T BONING THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK. CAUSING ME TO DO A 360. TORE OFF THE BUMPER COMPLETELY. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND ONSTAR DID NOT CALL ME. TWO IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES OF MY CAR FAILED ME! I THANK GOD I AM ALIVE WITH NO SERIOUS INJURIES! EVERYONE WHO SAW MY CAR INCLUDING THE BODY SHOP ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK OF MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING! I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE CAUSE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10522768

Incident

Jun 22, 2013

Mileage

21,000 mi

DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND SERVICE ESC AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE DIED. I HAD TO MANEUVER 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT IN RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. "FAULTY ALTERNATOR" RULED TO BE AT FAULT. NO WARNING THAT MORNING PRIOR TO EVENT. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON A LITTLE LONGER (5 MINUTES) THAN USUAL AND THEN WENT OFF. IT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN TO WARN OF SOMETHING WRONG. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INDIFFERENT SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MY STATE'S BBB AS THIS IS THE THIRD, AND MOST SEVERE ISSUE, I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT TWO YEARS QUITE YET. I DID RECEIVE A CALL BACK FROM GM. THEY ARE WORKING ON THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS LIFE THREATENING EVENT AS WELL AS THE OTHER PROBLEMS, WHICH WERE THE EXHAUST SOLENOID DIED ( SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE COVERING CAME OFF EXPOSING THE SHARP METAL IT IS MADE OF). *TR

NHTSA ID

10503271

Incident

Mar 13, 2013

Mileage

42,568 mi