NHTSA has 978 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu[1]. The electrical system is the group named most often, with 235 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
These are the groups owners name most often in NHTSA complaints, biggest first.
- Electrical System. 235 complaints[2]. Owners describe dashboards that go dark, cars that will not start, and warning messages that show up before the car loses power. Fires are named in some of these reports[2].
- Steering. 214 complaints[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe losing power steering, a shaking wheel, and odd ticking noises. Some of these reports mention a crash[6].
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc). 174 complaints[7]. Owners describe stability and traction warning lights that come on, followed by reduced power or a car that stops moving. Some say the same warning came back after repair visits[7].
- Engine. 172 complaints[8]. Owners describe sudden power loss with a dash warning, rattles from the back of the car, and rough shifting while speeding up[8].
- Exterior Lighting. 130 complaints[9]. Fires are named in a few of these reports[9].
- Power Train. 112 complaints[10].
- Air Bags. 93 complaints[11]. This group stands out because the reports name crashes and injuries[11].
- Speed Control. 87 complaints[12].
These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components.
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 Malibu is necessarily included.
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V019), January 2019. About 1,145 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Seat Belts (15V269), May 2015. About 437,045 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (14V252), May 2014. About 2,440,524 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Malibu, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 |
| Malibu, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[16] | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 |
| Malibu, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive[17] | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD[5] | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10.9% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
How 2011 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 446 | 4 |
| 1998 | 981 | 3 |
| 1999 | 793 | 1 |
| 2000 | 933 | 3 |
| 2001 | 734 | 2 |
| 2002 | 583 | 2 |
| 2003 | 585 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1,697 | 7 |
| 2005 | 1,393 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1,387 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1,036 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1,017 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1,534 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1,365 | 3 |
| 2011 | 978 | 3 |
| 2012 | 907 | 2 |
| 2013 | 924 | 11 |
| 2014 | 363 | 6 |
| 2015 | 270 | 3 |
| 2016 | 865 | 10 |
| 2017 | 725 | 4 |
| 2018 | 711 | 6 |
| 2019 | 195 | 1 |
| 2020 | 199 | 1 |
| 2021 | 90 | 2 |
| 2022 | 99 | 1 |
| 2023 | 71 | 2 |
| 2024 | 43 | 2 |
| 2025 | 11 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the Malibu show 978 complaints and 3 recalls for 2011[3]. Among the 29 model years listed, 20 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 8 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (11) and the most are for 2004 (1,697)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2011 Malibu?
The 2011 Malibu has a long list of owner complaints on file[1]. The electrical, steering and stability control groups lead the list, and owners often describe them together as warning lights followed by lost power[2][6][7]. Air bag complaints stand out for the crashes and injuries named in them[11]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they say more when you compare years of the same model than when you compare different cars. Check the recalls and by-year sections on this page before you decide[3].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Owners name the electrical system most often, with 235 complaints, then steering with 214 and electronic stability control with 174[2][6][7].
- Does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year data shows recalls for this model year[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
- Is the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
- NHTSA has 978 owner complaints on file for this model year[1]. Read the problem groups above and the by-year comparison to see how it fits your needs.
- Which Malibu year is best?
- See the by-year comparison section on this page. It is built from the same NHTSA data for each year[3].
- What gas mileage does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu get?
- The fuel economy section on this page has the EPA figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all model years of the Chevrolet Malibu
Other Chevrolet models from 2011
- 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
- 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
- 2011 Chevrolet HHR
- 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
Similar cars from 2011: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 978 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu (40 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 41 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 235 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 14 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Malibu model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Malibu, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 214 complaints name the steering component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 174 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 84,250). NHTSA vehicle records
- 172 complaints name the engine component group (4 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 73,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 130 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 103,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 112 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 78,225). NHTSA vehicle records
- 93 complaints name the air bags component group (21 crashes, 0 fires, 28 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,821). NHTSA vehicle records
- 87 complaints name the speed control component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 19V019, filed January 16, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V269, filed May 8, 2015: Seat Belts. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V252, filed May 14, 2014: Electronic Stability Control (Esc). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Malibu, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Malibu, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2011 Chevrolet Malibu with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 170 to 175 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2011 Chevrolet Malibu with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 250 hp. www.epa.gov