Car and Truck Fix it Right the First Time Issues
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 52 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
52
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Malibu | 10 |
| 2008 Malibu | 10 |
| 2009 Malibu | 26 |
| 2010 Malibu | 48 |
| 2011 Malibu (this page) | 52 |
| 2012 Malibu | 18 |
| 2013 Malibu | 11 |
| 2014 Malibu | 6 |
| 2015 Malibu | 23 |
3crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 52 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 52 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2011 Malibu cruise control and speed control system suffers from catastrophic failures that put drivers and passengers in danger. The most common complaint is sudden, severe power loss: while driving at highway speeds (40–80 mph), the vehicle drops to 5–30 mph instantly, accompanied by violent shaking and illumination of reduced engine power, service traction, and service ESC warnings. These events happen multiple times per vehicle and sometimes recur within minutes of a restart.
A subset of owners report the opposite problem—unintended acceleration while applying brakes, sometimes with brakes becoming unresponsive or extremely difficult to depress. One owner's vehicle surged forward into a building during a parking maneuver; another couldn't stop a vehicle accelerating to 7.5 RPM. Cruise control also malfunctions, engaging without driver input or failing to disengage despite pressing the off button, requiring hard brake application or ESC activation to stop it.
Electrical system faults compound the danger: dash lights flicker, tail lights fail, hazard lights don't respond, and batteries drain rapidly despite multiple replacements. In at least one case, a loose battery connection was identified.
Dealers have replaced throttle bodies at $500–$1,000+ per repair, sometimes multiple times per vehicle without permanently resolving the problem. GM issued recall 14V252000 to address vehicle speed control and electronic stability control issues, but many owners report their VINs excluded from coverage. Some owners were told to wait indefinitely for recall parts or to continue driving despite known safety risks. One diagnostic test was performed incorrectly, leaving the core problem unresolved.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Reduced engine power / limp mode with sudden deceleration
Vehicle enters limp mode, dropping from cruising speed (40–80 mph) to 5–30 mph instantly. Engine shakes violently. Accompanied by illumination of reduced engine power, service traction, service ESC, and check engine lights. Restarts or cycling key sometimes temporarily clears the condition, but it recurs. Owners report this happens multiple times and creates severe traffic hazards.
When: Occurs at various speeds and conditions; some owners report first occurrence around 18,000–75,000 miles, recurring throughout ownership; others report onset after 99,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power, vehicle drops to 5–30 mph; Violent engine shake; Reduced engine power warning message on dashboard; Service traction light illuminates; Service ESC light illuminates; Check engine light illuminates; Vehicle will not accelerate past 10–40 mph during event; Temporary recovery after restart or key cycling
Codes mentioned: P-2135 (throttle/pedal position sensor/switch A/B voltage correlation), C0242
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced throttle body (at $500–$1,000+ per occurrence); some owners report replacing throttle body two or three times without permanent fix. One owner cited throttle body replacement three times in seven months at cost exceeding $1,000. One owner had accelerator pedal assembly replaced and new pigtail placed on throttle body. Dealer bulletin 15-08-45-001 referenced but coverage varied by VIN.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Recall 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control); however, many owners report their VINs not included. GM referenced Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) regarding throttle body replacement. Some owners told parts not in stock, to wait, or told to drive vehicle until parts available. One owner told to contact NHTSA for resolution.
Unintended acceleration / loss of braking control
Vehicle accelerates on its own—sometimes violently—while owner is applying brakes. In one case, owner depressed brake while parking and vehicle surged forward into building. In another, vehicle accelerated to 7.5 RPM and owner could not stop it; had to shift into park. In a third, cruise control would not disengage and car surged forward. Brakes become ineffective or very hard to operate during these events.
When: Occurred during parking maneuvers and while driving at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, uncontrolled forward acceleration; Brakes ineffective or extremely hard to depress; Vehicle surges despite brake application; Cruise control engages unexpectedly or will not disengage; Engine power warning lights may illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported front-end damage from collision caused by unintended acceleration; no repair confirmed in narratives. Another case resolved after dealership replaced throttle body but owner expressed concern about underlying electrical/wiring issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, GM representative instructed owner to take photos and send to provided email address instead of bringing vehicle in for diagnostic. Recall 14V252000 mentioned as possibly related but VIN not included for some owners.
Cruise control malfunction—failure to disengage
Cruise control engages but will not disengage when driver attempts to turn it off. Driver must hit brakes hard or activate ESC to force disengagement. Some narratives describe cruise control coming on without driver input. Recall 14V252000 addressed this issue, but coverage exclusions reported.
When: Intermittent; occurs during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not disengage with normal button press; Cruise control engages without driver input; Requires hard brake application to deactivate; Requires ESC activation to override
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repairs cited in the cruise control disengagement complaints; owners note repair status unknown or unclear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V252000 issued to address cruise control and vehicle speed control issues; however, owners report VINs not included in recall coverage.
Electrical system instability / widespread electrical faults
Multiple electrical failures occurring simultaneously or in rapid succession: dash lights flickering, tail lights not illuminating, hazard lights not functioning, battery draining rapidly (requiring multiple replacements), all electrical systems acting erratically. One owner reported needing two new batteries and preparing to buy a third. Electrical gremlins span lighting, battery, and engine controls. Root cause not identified in narratives but strongly suggests wiring harness or power distribution fault.
When: Appears concurrent with brake and engine power loss events; battery drain issues ongoing across ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Dash lights flicker on and off; Tail lights fail to illuminate or illumination intermittent; Hazard lights non-functional; Battery drains despite multiple replacements; Electrical system behaves erratically during power loss events; Engine idle unstable, may attempt to shut off; Various warning lights illuminate unexpectedly
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced battery twice with help from dealership; a loose battery connection was identified as source of drain. No comprehensive electrical repair confirmed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13036 issued; owner directed to dealership for wiring harness diagnostic but test performed was incorrect per GM representative. Parts for recall unavailable for extended periods. Owner told vehicle was safe to drive despite safety concerns and incomplete diagnostic.
Engine stalling and difficult starting
Engine stalls while driving at low speed or while parked. Vehicle becomes difficult to start on first attempt; requires multiple restart attempts before engine catches. When it does start, engine shakes and shudders. Coupled with reduced engine power warnings and traction/ESC lights.
When: Occurs at various mileages; one owner's first incident at 39,000 miles, recurring through 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving at low speed; Engine difficult to start; requires multiple ignition cycles; Engine shakes and sputters when finally starting; Reduced engine power message displays; Check engine light illuminates; Traction and ESC lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: P-2135
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body assembly replaced multiple times; one owner replaced throttle body twice, then had accelerator pedal assembly and throttle body pigtail connector replaced. Another owner replaced camshaft solenoid and later had throttle body replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM referenced Technical Service Bulletin 15-08-45-001 regarding this issue. One dealer refused to investigate other possibilities until P-2135 code cleared.
Rolling / loss of braking while at stop or on incline
Vehicle begins rolling backward when at complete stop—either on flat ground or on incline. Brake pedal becomes ineffective or extremely hard to depress, preventing driver from stopping the roll. Emergency brake / parking brake applied but vehicle continues rolling. In one case, vehicle rolled backward on a roundabout; in another, on a parking lot during an exit from highway. Forced owner to shift into park to halt motion.
When: Occurred while exiting highway, while at complete stop during normal driving, on incline
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward despite brakes being applied; Brake pedal is unresponsive or very difficult to depress; Emergency brake does not stop rolling; Brake lights may not function; Service traction and ESC lights illuminate; Multiple warning lights on dash flicker
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; owner stopped vehicle by shifting to park and applying emergency brake.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented for rolling incidents in these narratives; one owner stated recalls may be related but VIN not included.
Synthesized from 52 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet malibu. While driving approximately 20 MPH, a warning indicator illuminated that the acceleration would began to decrease to approximately 5-10 MPH. The vehicle began to shake and the contact depressed the brake pedal. When attempting to apply the brakes, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and place it in park to turn…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 52 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 57,000 and 99,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,000; a quarter make it past 99,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.