Two problems related to battery cable have been reported for the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2011 Malibu.
Update on complaint #'s 1144041 & 11172602. On 2/8/19, I was 2 blocks from work when messages displayed for (service ecs, reduced engine power, check engine light). I drove right from work to the dealership, which was 9 miles away, with my hazards on and at a max speed of 25 mph. I drove it into the bay and told a service advisor that I was told to bring it back while the problem we keep trying to fix was actually happening. He tried to get someone to come hook up the code reader to it but was unable to so he turned off my car. I received a voicemail mid-day Monday 2/11/19 to say that because my battery had been out of my car too long, they had to relearn the throttle body assembly. I left a message to specifically say that the last time the battery had been out of my car to my knowledge was 3/2018. When they called back, their conclusion was that the battery had not been installed or secured properly which caused them to have to relearn the throttle body assembly. On 2/19/2019, it happened again but they could not read a code when I brought it in, so was again sent to come back when it was occurring so they could hook up the code reader while it was happening. On 3/5 I drove my car to them while it was displaying the messages and running rough. They again tried to put the blame on the battery. Even though the codes where p2176 and p2135, the recommended fix was new battery and battery cables ($733). I still had warranty for that battery as it was installed nearly a year ago after the first incidence, so I went back to that auto shop. He did not find anything associated to battery but did find gm bulletin from 2012 (pip5019). He re-crimped throttle body circuit pins after doing a pen out test at ecu. It is now 3/25 and no other issues! hoping we have found root of the problem. No thanks to dealer or chevy customer care. . .
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, burning fumes were present inside the vehicle and smoke appeared out of the front bumper. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the battery cable caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.