YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 37 fuel system complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, 4% of its 978 total complaints that year, with median failure mileage of 82,288. No fuel system recall is listed for this model year.

Fuel System complaints
37
4% of 978
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
82,288 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Fuel pump connectors inside the tank burn, and one owner reported a fire along with flickering dashboard lighting.
  • Engine sputters and loses power at low speed, in one case traced to a failed throttle body.
  • Vehicle stalls repeatedly, with dealers finding carbon buildup on intake valves and dirty fuel lines that needed cleaning and a reprogram.
  • Vehicle cranks but will not start even with a full tank, charged battery, and new spark plugs.

When 2011 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 9, 2012, latest May 1, 2025.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2012Dec 2014Jun 2015Mar 2017Jul 2018Jul 2019Feb 2022
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to May 2025; peak May 2014 (2).

Fuel System recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Malibu model year

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

  1. 200570 (7%)
  2. 200696 (9%)
  3. 200787 (9%)
  4. 200853 (5%)
  5. 200934 (2%)
  6. 201039 (3%)
  7. 201137 (4%)
  8. 201256 (6%)
  9. 201334 (4%)
  10. 201426 (7%)
  11. 201519 (7%)
  12. 201653 (6%)
  13. 201760 (9%)
  14. 2018101 (14%)
  15. 201918 (9%)
  16. 202018 (9%)
  17. 202110 (11%)
  18. 20229 (9%)
  19. 20238 (12%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are fuel system complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA lists 37 fuel system complaints for the 2011 Malibu, making up 4% of the 978 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2011 Malibu.
At what mileage do fuel system problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 82,288 at the time of failure for fuel system complaints on the 2011 Malibu.
What kinds of fuel system failures do owners report?
Owners report burned fuel pump connectors, engine sputtering tied to throttle body issues, stalling linked to carbon buildup and dirty fuel lines, and cars that crank but fail to start.
Did any 2011 Malibu fuel system complaints involve fires or crashes?
NHTSA data for this problem area lists 1 fire and 1 crash among the 37 fuel system complaints, with 2 injuries reported.

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.