2011 Chevrolet Malibu Electronic Stability Control (esc) Problems
Owners have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA about electronic stability control (esc) problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, 18% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 84,250 miles. The words owners use most often: “service esc” (29% of reports).
- 174electronic stability control (esc) complaints
- 84,250median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Service ESC: mentioned in 51 of 174 complaints (29%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 40 of 174 complaints (23%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 34 of 174 complaints (20%)
- Throttle body: mentioned in 15 of 174 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do electronic stability control (esc) problems happen?
Based on 142 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 174 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc) complaints by model year
| Model year | Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2020 Malibu | 2 | 1% | 13,650 |
| 2019 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 52,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 21 | 3% | 50,000 |
| 2017 Malibu | 53 | 8% | 55,000 |
| 2016 Malibu | 76 | 9% | 55,000 |
| 2015 Malibu | 16 | 6% | 59,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 31 | 9% | 68,500 |
| 2013 Malibu | 72 | 9% | 79,000 |
| 2012 Malibu | 129 | 14% | 93,438 |
| 2011 Malibu | 174 | 18% | 84,250 |
| 2010 Malibu | 227 | 17% | 85,125 |
| 2009 Malibu | 255 | 17% | 120,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 68 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 22 | 2% | 167,000 |
| 2006 Malibu | 29 | 3% | 107,100 |
| 2005 Malibu | 30 | 3% | 162,000 |
| 2004 Malibu | 21 | 2% | 129,662 |
| 2003 Malibu | 3 | 1% | 6,750 |
| 2002 Malibu | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2001 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 120,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 1 | 0% | 170,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 1 | 0% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electronic stability control (esc); vehicle speed control:cruise control; exterior lighting:brake lights:switch; electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failed to function as intended. The Electronic Stability Control warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel…
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel became significantly difficult to steer. The power steering warning light and the ESC warning light were illuminated. The contact…
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at various speeds, the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Chevrolet Malibus have electronic stability control (esc) problems?
No. NHTSA has 174 owner complaints about electronic stability control (esc) for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu (18% of the 978 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc)?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electronic stability control (esc). Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electronic stability control (esc) problems start?
The median reported mileage is 84,250 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electronic stability control (esc) problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “service esc”, in 51 of 174 complaints, followed by “traction control” (40).
Other 2011 Chevrolet Malibu problems
- Electrical System problems (235)
- Steering problems (214)
- Engine problems (160)
- Exterior Lighting problems (130)
- Power Train problems (112)
- Air Bags problems (93)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (87)
- Seat Belts problems (53)
See all 2011 Chevrolet Malibu problems or electronic stability control (esc) problems across all Malibu years.