2011 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,520
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 227 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 71 reported crashes · 78 injuries · 23 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#164
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+1,212
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2009-2013
+1,247
median 274 complaints in 614 records
Top component share
15%
Electrical System: 227 complaints
What owners report fails — 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 227
- STEERING 210
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 174
- ENGINE 160
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 121
3 recalls on record for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 19V019000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or
- NHTSA 15V269000 · 2015 · SEAT BELTS If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of
- NHTSA 14V252000 · 2014 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2011 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 1,520 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (227 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (227), steering (210), electronic stability control (esc) (174), engine (160). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.