2011 Chevrolet Malibu Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 93about this part
- Share
- 10%of 978 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,822miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 93 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, 10% of the 978 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,822 miles. 21 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Service ESC message - ESC off message - and power steering messages come on and I cannot turn my car. Happens multiple times while driving on daily commute and causes me to be put in dangerous situations especially on the expressways. There is not always a place to pull over. These indicators happens whether driving or sitting still. Service air bag message stays on.”
NHTSA complaint #11180952, filed 2019-02, 126,000 miles“I have had 2 front end collision with wild hogs the second was real bad. The entire front end on the passenger side including the door had to be replaced. The airbag never exploded neither time. When I purchase the vehicle in 2012 or 13 the air bag light would come on but go of for awhile. I complained about it to the dealer but they would always say nothing is wrong with it.”
NHTSA complaint #11257643, filed 2019-09, 130,000 miles“Tires go flat really fast. The electrical system is not ready my tires no more and don't show if there's an issue including airbags. The light was on for a month and wen tawau I got his in the front of my car and my airbags didn't not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #11277748, filed 2019-11, 140,899 miles“I had just got the vehicle 2 years ago and I have had a continuous problem with the cars air bag sensors. I had take the vehicle to the dealers after only having the vehicle for 3 weeks so they can fix the problem the 1st time they had to me that this was a regular problem with this make and year. After about another 10000 miles later the light was on and off again and did not want to fix this again.”
NHTSA complaint #10583234, filed 2014-04, 3,200 miles“My wife was in an accident where the other vehical ran a red light and colided with her in the driver front and head on type. The vehicals side air bags and the driver or passanger air bags never deployed.this is in a police report and I have pictures of the car.the two cars colided at a intersection in the middle of lacrosse wis and the other vehical went over my cars hood and over turned. The other driver was extracted from his vehical with the jaws of life.”
NHTSA complaint #10986383, filed 2017-05, 180,000 milesRelated recalls
- 19V019000Jan 16, 2019General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu 2010–2011
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 6 | 7% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% |
| 2015 | 49 | 18% |
| 2014 | 16 | 5% |
| 2013 | 59 | 7% |
| 2012 | 101 | 11% |
| 2011 | 93 | 10% |
| 2010 | 144 | 11% |
| 2009 | 63 | 4% |
| 2008 | 64 | 6% |
| 2007 | 75 | 8% |
| 2006 | 34 | 3% |
| 2005 | 25 | 3% |
| 2004 | 26 | 2% |
| 2003 | 27 | 5% |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% |
| 2001 | 21 | 3% |
| 2000 | 31 | 3% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% |
| 1997 | 25 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
235 complaintsSteering
214 complaintsElectronic stability control
174 complaintsEngine
160 complaintsExterior lighting
130 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
112 complaintsVehicle speed control
87 complaintsOther or unknown
75 complaintsSeat belts
53 complaintsBrakes
44 complaintsSeats
38 complaintsFuel system
37 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology