NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 978 owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalled components: air bags, seat belts, and electrical system. Most-described problem: loss of power or limp mode (132 complaints, 13%). Most-reported area: electrical system (235 complaints, 24%; median mileage when it happened: 80,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Malibu year
The 2011 drew 55 owner complaints in its first three years, against 65 for a typical Malibu year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2013 and 2016 to 2018; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.
Risk: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N182206630.
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
Risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012.
In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Steering (Dorman Products, Inc., 14E-044).
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu.
What owners report
Owners have filed 978 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Malibu. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Loss of power or limp mode132 · 13%
Median 78,000 miles at failure, from 119 reports with mileage
Power steering problems or locked steering126 · 13%
Median 91,000 miles at failure, from 85 reports with mileage
Headlight or exterior light problems105 · 11%
Median 100,000 miles at failure, from 67 reports with mileage
Shaking, shuddering or vibration97 · 10%
Median 76,700 miles at failure, from 80 reports with mileage
Check engine light86 · 9%
Median 73,000 miles at failure, from 75 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off66 · 7%
Median 80,700 miles at failure, from 57 reports with mileage
Airbag warning light or airbag fault49 · 5%
Median 68,000 miles at failure, from 31 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration31 · 3%
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 161 reports with mileage
Steering214 · 22%
Median 89,500 miles at failure, from 142 reports with mileage
Stability control174 · 18%
Median 84,200 miles at failure, from 142 reports with mileage
Engine160 · 16%
Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 139 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting130 · 13%
Most named: headlights (4) · Median 103,000 miles at failure, from 78 reports with mileage
Powertrain112 · 11%
Median 78,200 miles at failure, from 98 reports with mileage
Air bags93 · 10%
Median 60,800 miles at failure, from 66 reports with mileage
Unknown or other60 · 6%
Median 86,800 miles at failure, from 44 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Malibu recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2011 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Malibu drew the most (220) and the 2011 drew 55.
Owner complaints
2011: 978 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Complaints
2010
1,363
2011
978
2012
907
2013
922
2014
363
2015
270
2016
861
2017
724
2018
709
2019
193
2020
198
2021
89
2022
98
2023
70
2024
42
2025
11
Safety recalls
2011: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
11
2014
6
2015
3
2016
10
2017
4
2018
6
2019
1
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 978 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (132), power steering problems or locked steering (126), and headlight or exterior light problems (105). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu.
How do I check if my Malibu has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MALIBU.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.