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P2135 on CHEVROLET MALIBU

Severity
Medium
NHTSA Reports
18
Most Affected
2011, 2010, 2008

What P2135 Means on Your CHEVROLET MALIBU

Real CHEVROLET MALIBU Owner Reports (Source: NHTSA Complaints Database)

"Check engine light comes on.engine power reduced 99 %.sometimes engine dies while driving 40-55 mph.engine code p2135 is displayed on my code reader. the problem goes away after cycling the ignition switch several times.car is un-reliable.this problem can cause you to crash the car."

— 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE • Filed 12/31/2015

"My 2008 chevy malibu 2lt is experiencing issues where it basically loses power to the engine. the code that came up is p2135 and the messages were service traction/service esc/engine power reduced. once the engine is shut down, it won't start until the codes are cleared."

— 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM,ENGINE • Filed 04/26/2014

"While driving at various speeds, the service esc, traction control, and reduced engine power warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. car also misfired. taken to independent auto repair shop, throttle body replaced. codes found at garage po300, p2135."

— 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM • Filed 02/12/2016

"While driving my service engine light came on, then "service esc", "reduced engine power", "esc off". the car then had reduced power and had to have a code reset. the code was p2135. one day it happened 4 times during my 45 minute drive home."

— 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) • Filed 09/17/2014

"Driving the vehicle at 70 mph on the highway when i received the following messages in the dic: "service esc" "service traction control" and "eng reduced pwr." vehicle would not accelerate past 60 mph, and that was with pedal all the way to the floor. when i had to stop, the engine shook."

— 2010 CHEVROLET MALIBU owner • ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE • Filed 12/08/2014

Data from NHTSA Vehicle Complaints Database. All reports are filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Causes of P2135 on CHEVROLET MALIBU

16.7%
11.1%
11.1%
11.1%
5.6%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2008
2
2010
6
2011
8
2012
1
2017
1

What To Do Next

  1. 1
    Check for recalls on YOUR VIN

    Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Free repairs if your vehicle is covered.

  2. 2
    Get a proper diagnosis

    A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50-$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.

  3. 3
    Compare repair quotes

    Get 2-3 quotes. Dealer vs independent shop prices often differ 30-50% for the same repair.

P2135 on Other Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) and the SAE J2012 OBD-II standard. Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 standard. Owner reports are filed directly with NHTSA by vehicle owners. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace professional automotive diagnosis. Always consult a qualified mechanic for vehicle repair decisions.

Last updated: March 2026