2011 Chevrolet Malibu Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 209 brake complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, 21% of all complaints filed for that year. These complaints are tied to 12 crashes and 11 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 80,131. A related recall (14V252000) covers brake wiring harness issues on 2004-2012 Malibu models.
- Brakes complaints
- 209
- 21% of 978
- Crashes reported
- 12
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 11
- Median mileage
- 80,132 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal goes soft or nearly to the floor with reduced stopping power, sometimes requiring pumping to slow the vehicle.
- Complete brake failure while approaching a stop, leading to rear-end collisions with other vehicles.
- Traction control and service ESC warning lights activate along with a loss of brake response, sometimes causing the vehicle to stall or stop moving.
- Growling or grinding noise from the brakes at low speed that returns after pad and rotor replacement.
- Some owners report an electronic brake control module (EBCM) that was known to be defective at time of delivery.
- Brake failure occurring on slippery or slushy roads even after a related recall repair had been performed.
When 2011 Chevrolet Malibu brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 26, 2011, latest Mar 11, 2025.
Brakes recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 14V252000May 14, 2014Brakes2,440,524 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc)
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. 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.
Remedy: 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.
Brakes complaints by Malibu model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 209 brake-related complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, which is 21% of the 978 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Yes. Recall 14V252000, reported in 2014, covers Chevrolet Malibu models including the 2011, addressing a brake wiring harness issue. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
- At what mileage do 2011 Malibu brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu is 80,131 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.
- Have brake problems led to crashes or injuries in the 2011 Malibu?
- NHTSA data links the brake complaints for this model year to 12 crashes and 11 injuries, with no fires reported.
- Is the 2011 Malibu worse for brake issues than other model years?
- The 2011 Malibu's brake complaint share is 21%, similar to 2012's 21% but lower than 2010's 27%, based on NHTSA complaint data across Malibu model years.