This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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, replaced that and cam shaft sensor again. Drove away and it died on me again. The only way my car stays running is when cam shaft sensor is unplugged but engine light stays on. When car dies I have no lights that come on to tell me I have a issue, it just shuts off. I've been dealing with the car just shutting down on me for a year. I'm afraid to have other people in my car cause I don't know if or when it would happen again. When this happened I had around 92000 mile on car.
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 hole is noticeable. My car exhausts and won't move like it is supposed to as well.
While driving, a notice of reduced power, service traction and the check engine light came on. Pulled the car off the side of the road and shut it off, upon restart the whole car started shaking. I then shut it off for a few minutes, this time when I restarted only the check engine light was one. There are several reports of this issue and no fix from GM. This is a major risk when a car stalls out on the highway with a small child on board.
At approximately 85000 miles the timing chain went out of the engine, this is a none issue with these engines and an expensive repair at that. This effects several GM vehicles at 85000 miles the timing chain should not of been bad something needs to be done about this this happened as we were driving the vehicle and can cause the engine to stall
Randomly starting about 3 weeks ago my 2011 Chevrolet Malibu started going into reduced power mode and showing service traction, service ESC and eng pwr reduced. The vehicle would shake and suddenly slow down. It showed a P2135 code. The vehicle restarts after a period of time sitting, but the events happen again when it is driven again. It takes approx. 20 miles from when it was started. Researching this P2135 code I found many complaints and they all involved the throttle body or throttle position sensor. I contacted Chevrolet and they told me it wasn't covered under a recall although they do have a special coverage 14582A which is currently open. But they said my VIN was not covered by that program. This is a very dangerous situation and I can't imagine that not all 2011 Malibu vehicles wouldn't be covered.
- Mount Sterling, IL, USA
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The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the "reduce power" electronic stability control warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle began to shake. Jack winegardner Chevrolet (11001 indian head highway, fort Washington, md 20744) was made aware of the failure and stated that the throttle body needed to be replaced. In addition, the dealer stated that the VIN was not included in the throttle body warranty extension and special coverage number: [xxx]. the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,659. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 20 mph, a warning indicator illuminated that the acceleration would began to decrease to approximately 5-10 mph. The vehicle began to shake and the contact depressed the brake pedal. When attempting to apply the brakes, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and place it in park to turn off the vehicle. The contact noticed the warning indicator illuminated again, indicating the traction control, engine, and ESC failed and needed servicing. The contact diagnosed the vehicle at home and received error code P-2135, which indicated that the throttle sensor position needed repairing. The vehicle had not been to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
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.
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.
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 worse. No other problems with the car in 6 years and only 66,000 miles. Have heard of this happening on other Malibu. Absolutely ridiculous for this to happen on a new car.
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.
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, I started feeling it tugging when I wanted to pick up speed. Then 3 days ago it just wouldn't go in reverse, when I tried to switch back to driving it wouldn't go into drive ultimately I had to have the car towed because the tranmission went out on it. The car only has 71,000 miles on it. I barely drive it anywhere. The engine to look at it is very clean. I looked up all the recalls on my car and none of them I was notified for and there are many. So why am I not getting a letter about this transmission that has obviously gone out. Up until now I was in love with this Chevrolet Malibu and was a devoted customer advising people this was a good car, now I'm not so sure. Looking at all these recalls are alarming.
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 this car is gonna take my life from me but noone can find no problem with this car I've got an oil change to spark plugs and so much more done on this car and nothing has changed this the fourth time this car has put me down in the six mths of me having this car somebody please help I love the car but its not a safe car to have and I can even exchange it out for another one at least thats what the people at the car lot says.
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 light to find a place to pull over the car was jerking and I could barely accelerate. While driving this slowdown and jerking happened suddenly and almost caused a collision with another car. After pulling over and shutting off the car the problem disappears for while before happening again. Once parked, opening the hood showed a violently shaking engine. A simple google search revealed that this is a frequent occurrence with Malibu around that time and the mileage I have on the car (66500). The culprit appears to be a faulty throttle body, from the experiences of other drivers.
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.
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 intermittent electrical connection at the tps connector for the ECM. Tsb # pip5019 (doc id#2834731) identifies repair procedure to replace pins/contacts for the tps connector. Evidence identifies a latent manufacturing defect that can cause the car to suddenly and unexpectedly reduce engine power placing the driver and passengers at great risk.
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.
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 repeated daily process and still is not resolved. We removed this vehicle from highway use do to the unsafe condition. It is winter here in Michigan and may contribute to the issue.. car has 130,000 miles.
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 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 dealership is telling me that they do not know what is wrong with the car, there is no recall and I'll either have to trade the car in (which I can't afford to do) or just drive it and hope the problem will correct itself. I am beyond scared to drive it as my daughter is in the car with me, and I do not want to be driving a death trap down the highway. Please help.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Baltimore, MD, USA