repaired · 2020 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2011 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 978 owner complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-019 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Ryanandlenny, CC BY 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
978 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
235Electrical system17 crash/fire/injury
214Steering11 crash/fire/injury
174Electronic stability control (ESC)5 crash/fire/injury
160Engine6 crash/fire/injury
130Exterior lighting4 crash/fire/injury
112Power train3 crash/fire/injury
93Air bags23 crash/fire/injury
87Vehicle speed control
53Seat belts
21216 other systems23 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 235 | 17 |
| Steering | 214 | 11 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 174 | 5 |
| Engine | 160 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 130 | 4 |
| Power train | 112 | 3 |
| Air bags | 93 | 23 |
| Vehicle speed control | 87 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 53 | 6 |
| 16 other systems | 212 | 23 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Seat belts
Risk. If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 161 electrical system complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.
16under 30k miles105under 100k miles56100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
12 owners mentioned a cost$717median
Middle half: $538 – $1,000
Power train
10 owners mentioned a cost$3,500median
Middle half: $1,500 – $4,177
Steering
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $800 – $1,425
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2011 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Power steering assist motor is out and it was under recall in 2011 but it was out of the recall window but it has less than 150000 miles
There was a fire in the trunk on the way to work. Fire department was called to inspect the car and make sure that the fire was out. Fire melted fuse box located in the trunk along with wiring harness and wires, also causing all electrical items to stop working. Claim was attempted to be made, but…
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ESC and traction control warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, while the cruise control was activated and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact…
Own a 2011 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.