2011 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

160Engine complaints

16.4%Of all 976 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM229 · 23.5%

STEERING211 · 21.6%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)174 · 17.8%

ENGINE160 · 16.4%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING123 · 12.6%

Share of the 976 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP MODE" WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT, LOW TRACTION WARNING AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT…”NHTSA complaint 10574535 — filed 03/25/2014

“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DISPLAY SHOWED LOW TRACTION, SERVICE ESC, AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND I WAS ALMOST…”NHTSA complaint 10566999 — filed 03/04/2014

“I WAS DRIVEN IN HIGHWAY 40 MPH SUDDENLY I LOST CONTROL OF THE CARS' SPEED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED RESPONDING TO ITS NORMAL FUNCTIONS. THIS…”NHTSA complaint 10566184 — filed 02/26/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu: 160 of 976 complaints on file (16.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

976 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 40 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 41 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.