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.
The violently shakes almost as if it is about to die. It doesn't go over 23-30 mph. The car accelerates while holding the brakes. A message displays saying engine power reducing, service traction, service ESC. The car stalls while driving it on the street and highway. I'm scared of hitting someone while my foot is on the brake! my car is at 103K miles on it. I'm out of a car that I'm paying a note on. Its out of warranty. I haven't even had the car for a while year yet. The check engine light is on as well. The code for the check engine light is C0242. This is a very dangerous electrical problem. This should be a recall! many Chevy Malibu owners are having or have had the same issue!
After reading the many many comments here, I can say I'm lucky. Fortunately, I was not driving my car when things went haywire. I returned home from work today and my vehicle was fine. I had to run a few errands but when returning to my vehicle, I noticed this: Vehicle wouldn't start. Fast clicking sound when attempting to turn over. Doors locked and unlocked by themselves during this time. Service ESC, service traction, and ESC off appeared. Vehicle has yet to start and now have no power whatsoever throughout the vehicle. Very odd that this is not a current recall. Help?'
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at various speeds, the check engine, electronic stability control, traction control, and electric power steering warning lights illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, in rainy weather conditions, water leaked through the hood onto the brake lever and the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle, but the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2011 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer writes in regards to engine failure and requests reimbursement. The consumer's request for reimbursement was denied., because according to the GM, the repair that was performed, was not covered by the recall. The consumer stated he was stranded, due to loosing engine power. The dealer replaced the throttle body.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 60 mph, the ESC warning indicator illuminated and the speed decelerated to approximately 15 mph. The contact had to maneuver to the shoulder to a complete stop. The contact waited approximately ten minutes and the vehicle started normally. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. Updated 03/18/16 the consumer stated the throttle body was replaced at a cost of $500. Updated 03/30/16.
- Ft Wayne, IN, USA
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I was driving down a side residential street, when I went to park noticed that the car was stuck in reverse. I wasn't able to put the car in park. The shifter began shifting into different gears and felt as there was no catch. I turned the car off because I didn't know what had happened. The key was stuck in the ignition, because couldn't put the car in park. I exited the car and the car started to roll backwards and hit the car behind me. I applied the emergency brake and the car still rolled in reverse. So I unhooked the battery cables and applied bricks behind the tires. I had a mechanic come to see what happened and he stated that this had been a recall on prior years of this model, but not the year of my car. I am afraid to drive the car and I went to the Chevy dealership in which they nothing about this part, but state many people have complained and nothing has been done. It is unsafe with this defect. The cable comes off the hook and you will not be able to apply a shift to any gear and the car will accelerate regardless. I don't want to put my infant in this car knowing that is a defective part that Chevy should fix. Not to mention the car seatbelts are a malfunction. Chevy this really needs to be looked at for this year make and model.
Cruise control would not disengage until I hit the brakes hard enough to activate the ESC. Recall #14V252000 covered this problem but GM says my VIN was not included. This is a definite safety issue and needs to be expanded to cover all Malibu manufactured during the recall time frame.
While driving the vehicle I suddenly felt a light jerking sensation. The service ESC and service traction control lights immediately came on. The vehicle jerked to a stop. Once the vehicle was turned off and then restarted the indicator lights are gone. I've had this problem several times in the past two months and have had it in the shop. The certified Chevrolet dealership changed the front wheel bearing. The car did well for a little over a week. Now the problem is reoccurring. The dealership also found codes for a fuel injection failure but were not able to "duplicate" the codes so no repair was performed on that. The service ESC and service traction control problem is dangerous. If I didn't have to go to work I wouldn't drive the car. It's a safety hazard as I am a long distance commuter. I have had all service and recalls completed since purchasing the car a little over a year ago. Dangerous!! I'm hopeful that our government officials will force GM to issue a recall to remedy the issue before people lose their lives.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine stalled as the ESC, service traction and reduce engine control warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure numerous times. The failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was unavailable.
On my way to work, I noticed the engine light on. Car got me to work fine. Checked gas cap just to be sure that wasn't the problem. Off work engine light still on, but car running fine. Did some running for about an hour. Got in the car to go home the light wasn't on, so im thinking maybe a senor bad. Driving home which was about a 30 minute drive. About half mile from my exit on the highway and engine light pops on, ESC light pops on, reduced engine speed follows. Thankfully I mad it home. Pressured on star for an on demand diagnostic check and its my throttle control system. Its an 2011 Malibu, next month makes a year that ive had it. Also the third time its going to the shop. First time was the intermediate shaft, the U joint dislocated lost all power to steer, thank god it happened in my parking lot at home fresh off the highway. Chevy only paid half and after a month battle with them, kicker was it was a recall for that but my VIN number wasn't included. Second time was for leaking transmission. So disappointed with Chevy and past fed up.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 2 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light, tc and asc warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the vehicle lost acceleration and the ESC, traction control, and reduced power speed warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.
Check engine light came on, reduced engine speed, low traction lights came on, and could go over 40 mph. We stopped and let it sit for appx 5 minutes, and were able to drive it home. My son has an automotive computer we were able to hook up and it read the mass air flow sensor. We removed it and cleaned it with mass air flow sensor cleaner and replaced it. As soon as we started the car up, the check engine light went off. The car drove fine until 2-7-2015 where the exact same thing happened at appx 74,700 miles. We took it in to the dealership (coughlin automotive in circleville) on 2-14-15. They tested it and it showed the code P2135 #pip2019 they checked connectors for corrosion & damage, but found nothing. They ran the throttle sweep test. It tested ok. They cleared the code & drove & couldn't get it to do it again. They said they just can't replace parts because they cost too much, not knowing exactly what the issue is. They said if it happens again, to bring it in. My wife drives this car every day to columbus Ohio during rush hour, on state highways. I'm scared this is going to happen again during rush hour and something bad is going to happen like a serious accident and or loss of life to someone. So, does GM think parts cost more than a loss of life because of this issue"????"
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 65 mph, the engine shook violently, the "reduced engine power" message appeared, and the vehicle would not accelerate. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was unavailable.
2011 Chevrolet Malibu experienced problems associated with the electronic stability control and was not drivable. The consumer experienced a problem associated with the electronic stability control/ the check engine and ESC lights illuminated. The vehicle would loose acceleration and the ability to accelerate while in motion. The consumer believed the problem she experienced, was the direct result of recall 14V252000. The consumer was informed, the repair that was performed, was not covered by the recall.
During the deep winter we had in detroit starting last Jan - the car reduces speed and engine power reduced/service ESC/service traction message comes- this happen endless times and stopped in Feb 2014 then began this past week Jan 8th, 2015 and continues to do so. The car will start shaking violently and drops speed and power eng reduced message comes - even traveling at 70 miles with 2 children inn the icy, snowy roads of mi. I have been lucky nothing happened yet but looking at the Chevy forums and others, this is a Chevrolet/GM defect that needs a recall. The dealerships are aware that there is a throttle body issue but we all can do is incur the cost to diagnose how exactly to solve this issue. GM needs to be held accountable before someone dies on the roads.
The engine keeps reducing power the engine light comes on after the car engine power reduces especially when the car sits idle warming up.the throttle body must be a defective component part of the car I took it to my mechanic he did a diagnostic tests and the codes said throttle body.
I was driving home from being out of town on 10/15/13 while driving on the freeway while driving about 80mph when out of no where the car started to shake and vibrate then the "traction light, service ESC, engine power turning off and car went from going 80mph to 10mph on the freeway, while a big diesel truck was behind me in which I was to be able to pull to the side to avoid being rear ended by the diesel, in which I had my (xxx) yr old daughter in the car and other family members. On December 23,2014, the same thing occurred while driving the car at 60mph it reduces speed to almost zero mph, shakes with the "traction sensor light and "service ESC engine power turning off comes on and the car stalls! leaving me stranded and having the vehicle towed again! the first time this occurred the dealership told me since the engine light wasn't on anymore it would be difficult to diagnose!? I continued to drive the car until the second incident! I called 2 Chevrolet dealers in fresno, ca I was told they haven't heard any complaints, which is astounding because after reading the numerous complaints on this website of others having the same issue with the same car is unbelievable until there's a law suit! *trparts 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).
As I was driving my 2011 Chevy Malibu home to tulsa ok from Arkansas my car dropped speed, I lost my power steering, the reduced engine power light came on, service traction ESC light came on too. When this happened I was on the highway driving 65 mph and then the car lost speed down to 15 mph. I was almost hit on the highway. I made it off the highway and stopped at a store but could not figure out what was wrong. I made it home barely and the next morning my car started and I've had no problems until Monday Dec. 22nd when I was leaving work to go home the same thing happened. I stopped and turned my car off for a little while then when I restarted it was fine. Had no more problems until christmas eve when my fiance and I were headed to Texas to be with relatives. We had to pull over about 5 times due to the car having the same issues. My fiance looked under the hood to see if he could figure out what might be wrong and all he found was that our battery cables were loose on one side. We finally decided to stop and buy a new battery cable. We made it to Texas and had no problems until we were headed back home from Texas. We made it about halfway home when we had the same problem. We had to pull off the road about 15 times total. Each time we just turned the car off for a moment. We would get back in the car and make it about 10miles down the road when the same issue started again. My fiance finally thought maybe our battery was going bad. We stopped and bought a new battery for $120 and replaced it. At first we thought this fixed the problem but only made it about a mile when the problem happened again. We would pull off the road and turn the car eoff and it would run good for a mile or two and we would have to pull off the road again. We didn't think we were going to make it home but we finally did.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Monroe, MI, USA