YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 223 engine complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, 23% of the 978 total complaints filed for that year. The typical failure occurred at 73,000 miles median, and the data links 8 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries to this area. No engine-related recall is on file.

Engine complaints
223
23% of 978
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
73,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Sudden loss of engine power accompanied by "Service Traction," "Service ESC," or "Engine Power Reduced" warning messages, with speed sometimes limited to near 45 mph.
  • Vehicle stalls or shuts off unexpectedly while accelerating from a stop, sometimes preceded by a popping sound.
  • Complete loss of power while driving, with the car coasting to a stop and smoke reported coming from the exhaust.
  • Engine fails to start, later diagnosed by a dealer as an internal electrical and engine failure needing extensive repair.
  • Engine stopping combined with loss of steering assist and illuminated warning lights while underway.

When 2011 Chevrolet Malibu engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 15, 2010, latest Jun 15, 2026.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter332010 Q42013 Q22015 Q12016 Q42018 Q32020 Q22022 Q3
223 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2015 Q1 (33).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Malibu model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010222 (16%)
  2. 2011223 (23%)
  3. 2012144 (16%)
  4. 2013229 (27%)
  5. 2014137 (39%)
  6. 201581 (30%)
  7. 2016373 (45%)
  8. 2017314 (45%)
  9. 2018339 (49%)
  10. 201970 (37%)
  11. 202070 (35%)
  12. 202114 (16%)
  13. 202236 (37%)
  14. 202318 (26%)
  15. 20244 (10%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have?
NHTSA lists 223 engine complaints for the 2011 Malibu, which is 23% of the 978 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu engine?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for the engine area on the 2011 Malibu.
At what mileage do 2011 Malibu engine problems typically show up?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 73,000 miles at the time of engine failure.
Have engine problems on the 2011 Malibu caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data ties 8 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries to the engine complaints filed for the 2011 Malibu.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.