Print this page

8.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,180
Average Mileage:
77,900 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace crankshaft position sensor (1 reports)
  3. replace crankshaft, timing chain (1 reports)
2011 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 202018

Malibu LS 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Camshaft or crankshaft position sensor failed and caused a check engine light and a reduction in fuel economy, but at least it was cheap to fix. I can't remember exactly, but somewhere between $50-100 I think.

- Korey M., Fort Payne, AL, US

problem #6

Jul 152016

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

Car started first with the check engine light coming on. Then the light stayed on all the time, and while driving, the car will sputter and spit, and eventually stall out. Does this continually all the while when driving. My husband drives the car, but me, his wife refuses to drive this car now with this problem. It's a good way to get killed. The last time we even had a new car was back in the 1980's when we bought a Chevy Beretta. Loved that car. Never had any problems with it. Hardly ever needed maintenance. Had over 500,000 miles on that car. Also had an old Chevy Malibu that we drove and drove and drove without any problems, and we drove that car for years. Then in November of 2015 we buy a 2011 Chevy Malibu, and really liked the car, but by July of 2016 the car started with the check engine light problem. My husband is an ASE certified mechanic and worked for a Chevrolet dealership for years. He kept trying to figure out the problem and then finally called the Chevy dealership where we bought the car. We were told it was a fuel pump problem, and the part would cost $683.00, and it would cost $1000.00 for them to put it in. We were also told that it is a pretty common problem with that make of car, and they were waiting for a recall for that specific problem. We live on a very limited budget, and there is no way in the world we could afford this costly repair, especially since we are making payments on the car, and we have only had it now for about 8 months. As we had no vehicle at all at the time we bought this car, it is very distressing, because now every place I need to go I have to have my husband drive me there because I refuse to drive the car. A lot of the things I need to do I can't do now because I can't always get him to take me there. I realize that a check engine light could encompass a whole lot of different problems and it is hard to narrow it down to one specific problem. If he hadn't talked to the dealership he wouldn't have known exactly what the problem was.

- marklucas, Russell, PA, US

problem #5

Dec 242015

Malibu LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,780 miles

2011 Chevrolet Malibu mileage 67780 check engine soon light came on Christmas Eve car sputtered when I started it. took it to the dealership then because I needed to drive to Cincinnati, to visit family Christmas Day. I was informed by dealership service tech that I was getting codes P0016 and code P0017. Crankshaft and timing chain need replaced but not to worry I had extended warranty and they would cover it. But when they called it in they were informed my extended warranty expired on 10-16-15, the same day my powertrain warranty from Chevrolet expired. The warranty company basically got 895.00 for nothing from me. Even though my paperwork says I was getting 36 mths or 100,000 miles from purchase date of vehicle which was 09/13. Estimate of repairs 4000.00 to fix. I changed my oil on schedule and did my oil changes at the dealership. Last oil change was at the end of sept. 2015. And I only drive 14 miles round trip a day to work and one trip to Cincinnati since then 150 miles. I got no warning lights saying low oil pressure, nothing until the check engine light came on. I'm having a hard time believing that the crankshaft and timing chains both bellied up at the same time. Or that a 2011 needs a new engine.

Solution: I have bought Chevrolet's or GM cars all my life 6 new and 4 used. My mother retired from GM and I have always been loyal for that reason. Tomorrow I go pick up my NEW 2016 Honda Accord I'm trading in my Malibu, went the Honda dealership straight from the service department. I called the Chevrolet contact number and was basically advised I was on my own. The dealership even refused to refund the 895.00 they ripped me out of. I will never purchase another Chevrolet again, and I guarantee you neither will none of my family.

- tammyoh, Dublin, OH, US

problem #4

Nov 302015

Malibu LT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When leaving to go to lunch the engine was running rough and saw a list of errors: Service ESC, Service Traction, Engine Power Reduction and then the service engine light was on and blinking. I had to have the car towed 45+ miles. Then they tell me they can't get the problem to show. The car is running fine and the engine light is now off. If I were driving down the highway at 70 miles an hour this would have been a HUGE issue.

- Caroline W., Ada, OH, US

problem #3

Jun 272015

Malibu LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,339 miles

I really never had a problem with my car. Two weeks ago I was driving my car and it just stopped, wouldn't go anywhere. So I put in park, cut the engine off for awhile, then I restarted it, put it in drive and it wouldn't move. So I put it back in park and tried it again. It started, jerked and then it started moving. After that I tried to back it up but it wouldn't go...I really need help because I don't know what the problem is!!

- Sharon C., Natchitoches, LA, US

problem #2

Apr 132015

Malibu LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Was driving on the Interstate and It started vibrating and running rough. Messages - Service Traction (Triangle with car and squiggly lines lit up). Also says Service ESC and the engine light starts blinking. Dealership says it was a broken wire and they found and replaced it. Five days later it does it again and they don't have any idea what is wrong.

HELP

- Kathy F., West Des Moines, IA, US

problem #1

Feb 072015

Malibu LT W/2LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

check engine light comes on, engine loses power

2011 Chevy Malibu with 75000 miles. The 1st time it happened Christmas Eve 2014. Check engine light, low traction, engine power reduced. This all happened at 70 mph. Could have been really bad in traffic. Stopped car for about 5 minutes & started car and still had engine light on, but had all power. Christmas day my son had a computer and it showed The Mass Air Flow Sensor on the code. We removed it & cleaned it with the correct cleaner. It worked fine till 2-7-15 the same issue happened. I took it to a dealer on 2-14-15 (Coughlin Automotive in Circleville Ohio) The Check engine light had gone out, but the code stored was P2135 #PIP2019 They checked the connectors for corrosion and damage, and found nothing. They Ran the throttle sweep test, & Tested ok. They cleared the codes Retest & drove. They could not get it to duplicate the problem. They told me if it happens again, bring it in. They said they just can't replace parts because its too expensive, not knowing for sure what is the issue. So, if it happens again and a Life is lost, do they think that will be too expensive????????????? This really scares me with my wife driving on the highway in Columbus Ohio during rush hour everyday, with the possibility of this happening again. I love the car, but GM Definitely has an issue. Really thinking about trading this car immediately. I cannot take the risk, being GM really doesn't care about all of these problems. I have read a lot of Forums about these exact problems.

- Randall J., Stoutsville, OH, US

Not what you are looking for?