2011 Chevrolet Malibu Seats Problems

The weld on the back right side of your driver's seat has broken, causing the seat to rock back and forth while you're driving. This has happened twice — you already replaced the original seat when this problem occurred before. The seat repair will likely involve either re-welding the broken connection or replacing the seat entirely.

Driver side seat weld has failed causing seat to lean & become unstable. This failure put my entire family at risk.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the weld to the driver’s seat fractured. The contact had pulled over to inspect the damage and was where the seat had started to lean. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the entire seat needed to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

HAVE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS LEANING TOWARDS THE BACK AND RIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE BROKEN WELDS ON THE FRAME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

I GOT INTO MY CAR AND THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED ON THE BACK-RIGHT SIDE. AFTER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE WELD BROKE, CAUSING MY CAR TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE! I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA FOR THIS ISSUE. WHY ISN'T AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED REGARDING THIS DEFECT? I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL AND GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS!

WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ WHEN I NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT STARTED LEANING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. I INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE TO SEE THE CROSS BAR BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. NOW THE SEAT ROCKS AND IS VERY UNSTABLE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REPORTS CLAIM THAT MY THE SAME DESIGN FLAW. WHY IS GM NOT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?

DRIVERS SEAT STARTED LEANING TO THE RIGHT OVER TIME. THEN ONE DAY WHEN WE GOT IN THE CAR, THE SEAT WAS WOBBLY. THOUGHT MAYBE A LOOSE BOLT, BUT FOUND SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MALIBU, BUT NO RECALLS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY CHEVY.

"TAKATA RECALL".... WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, POSITION GOT UNCOMFORTABLE HAVE TO SIT VERY VERY LOW WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES SEAT KIND OF LIFT UP WHEN MOVING. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND TELLS ME MY SEAT IS BROKE AND IT REQUIRES A NEW ASSEMBLY. HOW DOES A SEAT JUST BREAK? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX SO DRIVING UNSAFE IS NOT GOOD AT ALL.

DRIVER FRONT SEAT TRACK CRACKED AT WELD SPOT, SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT. ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS AND APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD MANUFACTURE DEFECT. COST TO REPAIR IS $1200 THROUGH A DEALERSHIP FOR A WHOLE NEW SEAT FRAME. UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED.

ON 10/17/18 I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PULL ONTO THE SUBURBAN SIDE STREET THAT I LIVE ON, GOING APPROXIMATELY 10 MP, WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A VERY LOUD "CLUNK" OR "SNAP" AND IMMEDIATELY FELT MY DRIVER'S SEAT SHIFT DOWNWARD AND TO THE RIGHT. AFTER COMPLETING MY TURN, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS "LOOSE." I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS TILTED TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE, ON A DOWNWARD ANGLE, THE SEAT WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH/UP & DOWN WHEN I GENTLY TOUCHED IT. WHAT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN A SUBURBAN SIDE STREET AT A LOW SPEED, THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT? ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT SHORTLY PRIOR TO MY SEAT BREAKING, I HAD USED MY AUTOMATIC CONTROLS ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT TO ADJUST MY SEAT SLIGHTLY. I ADJUSTED THE HEIGHT AND TILT OF THE FRAME (NOT THE ANGLE OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT). IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, THAT IS SCARY! I AM WAITING TO GET AN ESTIMATE FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP I GO TO, AND I AM HOPING IT IS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2011 MALIBU AND IS JUST UNDER 50,000 MILES. IT IS SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT, THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED!!!!!!! VERY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH A SEAT THAT IS NO LONGER SECURED PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THIS IS BEING ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET, EITHER AS A RECALL, SAFETY INVESTIGATION, OR ETC. IF THIS HAPPENS TO 1 OR 2 PEOPLE, MAYBE COINCIDENCE, BUT GOOGLE IS FULL OF REVIEWS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. IN FACT, WHEN SEARCHING ON GOOGLE FOR "DRIVER SEAT BROKEN" THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP IS THIS EXACT ISSUE IN A MALIBU!!! THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER SEARCH RESULTS ON THE FIRST PAGE THAT ARE THIS EXACT ISSUE IN A MALIBU AS WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS NOT COMPLETELY ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE SEAT MOVED WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,112.

I WENT TO ADJUST MY SEAT FORWARD USING THE AUTOMATED ADJUSTER AND HEARD A SNAP. THE SEAT WILL ADJUST FORWARD BUT NOT AS MUCH AS USUAL AND LEANS TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE. I CAN FEEL THE BACK, LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE SEAT LIFT FROM THE ACTUAL FRAME WHEN TURNING. I IMAGINE THIS MAKES FOR AN AWFUL SAFETY HAZARD IF I WERE IN A CRASH. I'M GLAD THE SEAT DIDN'T BREAK WHILE I WAS MOVING THE CAR. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND MOST CERTAINLY WOULD'VE CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF SOMEONE HAPPENS TO COLLIDE WITH ME. WILL THE THE REST OF THE WELDS ONTHE SEAT FRAME HOLD? I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE ALREADY. IF I'M IN A FENDER BENDER OR (GOD FORBID) WORSE, WILL THE SEAT STAY IN THE CAR? THE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT AND I'M WORRIED. WHAT'S TO KEEP ME FROM GOING THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD?! THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN, CAUSING A SHARP LEAN TO THE RIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE RE-WELDED. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH FOUND A GOOD NUMBER OF THE SAME ISSUE. THE PICTURES ONLINE LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MY PROBLEM. (THE ATTACHED PIC IS ONE I FOUND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT MY ACTUAL SEAT)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE CONTACT'S COAT. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BURNED ON THE BACK UNDER THE RIGHT SHOULDER BLADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (LITHIA CHEVROLET OF REDDING, 200 E. CYPRESS AVENUE, REDDING, CA, 96002) ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,621. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAT MODULE, SEAT COVER, AND PAD WAS REPLACED ON 02/13/17. *TR

THE FRAME ATTACHED TO THE BASE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COLLAPSED WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO SWERVE BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANYTHING AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE SEAT IS LEANING TO THE RIGHT . I GOT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED THEM TO REPAIR IT AND FILED A REPORT CASE# 8-3168765111. FILE NOTICE WITH GM AND I AM AWAITING A DETERMINATION ON MY CLAIM, I AM HOPEFUL THAT GM WILL HONOR MY CLAIM AND INVESTIGATE PRODUCTION ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE LEAD TO THIS ISSUE. I REVIEWED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS .HOPEFULLY NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM,

DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKING - NO NOTICE THE DRIVER SEAT RIGHT SIDE SAGS AND IS LOOSE MOVES AROUND. NORMAL GETTING IN AND OUT OF CAR. HAD DEALER LOOK AT IT AND SAID FRAME BROKEN. SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED 1100.00 VERIFIED SEAT FRAME BROKEN WITH CHEVROLET DEALER IN GA HAZARD DRIVING WHEN DRIVER SEAT FRAME BREAKS WITHOUT NOTICE.

FOR SOMETIME NOW IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN I GET INTO THE DRIVER SEAT IT FEELS LIKE THE SEAT IS SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE ISSUE WAS FELT BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AS I AFTER 1-2 YEARS WENT TO THE BACK SEAT TO THE REAR OF THE SEAT AND PUT MY HANDS UNDER THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SEAT AND LIFTED. THE SEAT MOVED! I THEN CALLED CHEVROLET TO SEE IF THEY HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT OR THE FRAME AND I WAS TOLD NO. I THEN TALKED WITH MCDERMOTT AND I WAS TOLD THE SEAT WOULD COST ME CLOSE TO $1,000 DOLLARS. I THEN CONTACTED CNA NATIONAL WARRANTY CORPORATION AND I HAVE BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE THROUGH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. CNA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE SEAT FRAME BUT WOULD COVER THE SEAT TRACK. I CALLED CHEVROLET AGAIN ON 03/27/2017 AND THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE SEAT? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I HAVE DEALT WITH A DRIVER SEAT BREAKING ON A CHEVROLET PRODUCT. I WEIGH 200LBS AND THE SEAT FRAME SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THIS SEAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND MOVEMENT FROM A HUMAN BODY WITH A SEAT BELT? I HAVE A CASE NUMBER FROM CHEVROLET: 2844719955. I'M WORKING ON GETTING A CASE NUMBER FROM CNA TODAY. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THE 2006, 2010, 2011 AND 2012 MALIBU ISSUES WITH CAR SEATS. I NEED THE SEAT REPLACED AND IT HAS DONE SOME DAMAGE TO THE CENTER CONSOLE FROM THE MOVEMENT FROM THE SEAT. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHEVROLET AND CNA IS REFUSING TO FIX.

I DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE FRONT SEAT BELTS, NOT SURE IF THE SEATS WERE REMOVED. SINCE THEN THE DRIVERS SEAT FELT AS IF IT WAS CLOSER TO THE CENTER CONSOLE AND LEANING MORE TO THE RIGHT NOT TO MENTION A TOOL (BATTERY POWERED ANGLE DRIVER) WAS FOUND IN THE BACK LEFT SEAT LATER AND RETURNED TO MCDERMOTT. MY SEAT IS LEANING MORE AND MORE AS TIME PASSES AND I WENT TO THE REAR SEAT TO LOOK AT THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE RIGHT SIDE MOUNTED TO THE FLOOR RAIL IS LIFTING UP? I THE SPOKE WITH CHEVROLET DIRECT ONLINE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND ME THE SEAT WITH MY SEAT BELT ON WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND MY SEAT IS ALSO DAMAGED FROM THE MOVEMENT, LEATHER SEAT. THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN AND LEANING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. SEEMS LIKE A BRACKET PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, I FELT THAT THE SEAT WAS LOOSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WAS MOVING. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND EXITED, I FELT THE SEAT MOVE AWAY FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT'S SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT ANCHOR MOUNTING BRACKET WAS DETACHED, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING SAFELY AND LEGALLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000(SEAT BELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE CONTACT ON A LATER DATE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

I WAS ADJUSTING THE SEAT AND THE METAL BROKE. IT RIPPED MY PANTS AND CAUSED ME TO SWIRVE.

THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT FRAME IS BROKE. UPON INSPECTION BY MYSELF, IT'S A WELD FAILURE (A MANUFACTURING DEFECT). A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT'S BROKE AND THE VERBIAGE THEY USED WAS "SEAT RISER CRACKING FREE". IN USE, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT, AND IF THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKE AND NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME/BODY IN MY MIND THIS IS A FAILED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED GENERAL MOTORS DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY ABOUT REPAIRING THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I'M THINKING THEY ARE LIABLE IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS AS WE JUST NOTICED IT WHILE IN USE. *TR

THE WELD ON MY SEAT TRACK BROKE. I WORK AT A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BREAK. MY SEAT IS COMPLETELY OFF THE SEAT TRACK ON MY DRIVER'S RIGHT PART OF THE SEAT. *TR

AFTER HAVING REPAIRS MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DRIVERS SEAT HEATER NOT WORKING. THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ELEMENT WAS REPLACED, I HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WHEN THE SEAT STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. WITH THE HELP OF ANOTHER MOTORIST I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I RECEIVED SEVERE BURNS TO MY RIGHT LEG AND HANDS. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT ON JUST ABOUT ALL NEW CARS INCLUDING MINE. NAMELY THE HEAD REST IN THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS BLOCK THE REAR VIEW BY AT LEAST 50% AND CONTRIBUTE TO ACCIDENTS ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP. THE HEAD RESTS ARE TOO HIGH AND WIDE. AT A RECENT DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE I ATTENDED, THE POLICE OFFICER GIVING THE COURSE SAID 30% OF ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVE PEOPLE BACKING UP. I CAN APPRECIATE THAT AS THE REAR VIEW IS BLOCKED AS IN SOME OF THE SIDE VIEW. I THINK THE HEAD RESTS SHOULD BE SMALLER AND THAT IS MY COMPLAINT. *BF

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT: MODERN VEHICLES ALL SEEM TO HAVE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE HEADRESTS. I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE IN MOST NEW CARS! THE HEADRESTS PUSH TOO FAR FORWARD. I AM 6'1" AND PREFER AN UPRIGHT SEATING POSITION. I AM BEGINNING TO DESPAIR ABOUT FINDING A COMFORTABLE CAR FOR LONG DRIVES AND IT IS VERY DISCOURAGING. YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TELL ME ITS ALL IN THE NAME OF SAFETY (WHIPLASH) BUT WHAT'S THE POINT IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEING IN THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES? HEADRESTS NEED TO BE ADJUSTABLE ANGLE LIKE MY 07 VW GTI (WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT SEATING). IF ALL I CAN BUY NOW IS THESE STUPID FORWARD TILTING HEADRESTS I AM GOING TO PUT THE DARN THING IN A VISE AND BEND IT BACKWARDS! THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP SAFETY, BUT AT LEAST I'LL BE ABLE TO WALK UPRIGHT WHEN I GET OUT FROM A 5 HOUR DRIVE. MY LATEST ENCOUNTER WITH THESE STUPID HEADRESTS WAS IN A RENTED CHEVY MALIBU. BUT I'VE ALSO FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM IN RECENT FORDS (MUSTANG ABSOLUTELY AWFUL), AND FOR THAT MATTER IN PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING MANUFACTURED SINCE 2008. PLEASE HELP RESTORE SOME COMMON SENSE TO THE INDUSTRY OR ELSE I'LL BE WALKING TO WORK OR I'LL JUST RIP THE STUPID THINGS OUT OF THE SEAT. *TR