What version of ESX are you running? If you are running 3.0.1, please refer to this KB article before you try the commands below, which may help resolve your issue
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=7557441
From the console type the following on the ESX HOST within VC that the VM is showing as shutdown.
service vmware-vpxa restart
service mgmt-vmware restart
Also, you can try to disconnect the host from the cluster, remove it from VC and add it back in. Please refer to the KB above as well for disconnects.