2011 Buick Lacrosse vs 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2011 Buick Lacrosse | 2011 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 169 | 976 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,641 | 1,304 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 40 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 17 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,900 mi | 80,578 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Lacrosse | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 32 | 234 |
| Steering | 12 | 212 |
| Engine | 30 | 160 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 174 |
| Power Train | 19 | 112 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 130 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 93 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 87 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 15 | 64 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 70 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 70 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 61 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 38 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 33 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 24 |
2011 Buick Lacrosse
2011 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Buick Lacrosse vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.