Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2005)

1,301 consumer complaints on file.

#10306405February 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE HAD A "CLUNKING" OF THE "I" SHAFT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD "NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT". "WON'T HURT ANYTHING." "YOU CAN HAVE IT REPLACED IF IT BECOMES ANNOYING." "IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY." I HAVE MY CAR AT A DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW TO GET THE "I" SHAFT REPLACED. THE SHOP FOREMAN JUST CAME IN AND TOLD ME HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THIS ON "SEVERAL" MALIBUS AND GM HAS INCREASED THE COST OF THE "I" SHAFT BECAUSE OF SO MANY REPAIRS. IT USE TO COST $90-$125. NOW HE TELLS ME IT WILL COST $150 JUST FOR THE "I" SHAFT. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED I FILE THE COMPLAINT AND SEE IF GM WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COSTS. IF A DEALER REPAIR SHOP IS SAYING THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEN GM SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER 5 YEARS AGO. PLEASE HELP! I AM A RETIRED WORKER AND THIS IS KILLING MY MEAGER BUDGET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305508February 4, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN THE CHIMES SOUNDED, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. I HAD TO STOP, TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT BEFORE I COULD STEER AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY MODEL CAR (2005 CHEVY MALIBU) AND THAT CHEVROLET HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (#07126) ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MY CAR IS OUTSIDE THE MAXIMUM MILEAGE TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS TSB. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE SOME NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS ISSUE (PRIMARILY THE 2004 MODEL), BUT THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FAILURES WAS WITHIN AN "ACCEPTABLE RANGE". I GUESS MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS, HOW MANY ACCIDENTS DO THERE HAVE TO BE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY? WHILE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WAS NOT LIFE-THREATENING, IF THIS HAD OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I SAW TODAY THAT FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO COMPLAINTS THAT POWER STEERING SYSTEMS IN THE CHEVROLET COBALT CAN FAIL, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I'M SURE THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT IS STILL OCCURRING ON THE MALIBU. I IMPLORE YOU TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION ON THE MALIBU (A SIMPLE GOOGLE OF "MALIBU POWER STEERING PROBLEMS" WILL SHOW THAT IT IS STILL A MAJOR ISSUE) AND DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305529February 4, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE SHOWING FOGGING AND DISCOLORATION DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL COVERS MELTING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304198February 3, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE IS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS TO STEER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, TURN IT ON AND OFF AND IT WILL RESET ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT REPAIRS CAN BE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTACT MAY BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,504.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304224February 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, USUALLY WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. I FIRST NOTICED THIS AROUND TWO YEARS AGO AND COMPLAINED TO GM, IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT OTHER CARS LIKE MINES HAD, THE SAME ISSUES, BUT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A FIX SINCE I HAD ALREADY HAD TOO MANY MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300119January 18, 2010
STEERING
AFTER LEAVING THE POST OFFICE, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AS MY POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS BEFORE I PULLED OVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT, AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND MY POWER STEERING RETURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299966January 16, 2010
STEERING
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU STEERING ISSUE. THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING. OUR DAUGHTER'S 2006 MALIBU WAS DOING THE SAME THING WHICH SHE TOOK IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THEY SAID THE COLUMN JUST NEEDED TO BE LUBED WHICH THEY COVERED FOR HER. OURS WAS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WAS GETTING READY TO EXPIRE WITH A $200 DEDUCTIBLE. THE AMOUNT THEY WOULD CHARGE FOR LUBING THE COLUMN WAS $90. WE HAVE NOT HAD IT DONE YET, BUT AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I AM NOT SURE THE LUBE WILL ULTIMATELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, EVEN ON OUR DAUGHTER'S 2006. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299858January 15, 2010
SEATS
CORROSION ON BOTTOM OF DRIVER SEAT, HAS ALLOWED A CROSSMEMBER TO BREAK, COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT. MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A CRASH. VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECTED TO ADVERSE/FLOOD CONDITIONS AND DRIVER IS OF AVERAGE WEIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299934January 15, 2010
STEERING
CARS POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH FAILED POWER STEERING. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO WHILE MAKING A TURN. HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND WHEN I WENT TO MOVE CAR FURTHER INTO MY DRIVEWAY PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTED. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 1 OTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, BUT AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF ENGINE THEN RESTARTING POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299936January 15, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
HEAT? AIR CONDITION FANS DO NOT BLOW ON #1-3. ONLY OPERATES ON LEVEL #4. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299630January 13, 2010
STEERING
12/2006 I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON THREE OCCASIONS IN 2007 I EXPERIENCED A "LOUD KNOCKING NOISE" IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE AND THE FIRST TWO TIMES, IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY FIXED AND FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD TIME THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. UNTIL 12/11/2009 WHEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY "POWER STEERING" WARNING FLASHED ACROSS MY CLOCK SCREEN AND MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE. THEN ON 12/21/2009, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN AN HOUR. I FOUND OUT FROM AAA THAT CHEVROLET(GM) HAD PRINTED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBUS AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO STEVE MOORE CHEVROLET AT 9325 SOUTH BOULEVARD, CHARLOTTE, NC -- AT WHICH TIME THEY INFORMED ME AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THAT MY WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAD GONE BAD. ON 1/13/2010, I HAD TO PAY $792.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT GM WAS AWARE OF, I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSE THAT I'VE INCURRED AS WELL AS THE INCONVENIENCE I WAS CAUSED DUE TO GM NOT BEING WILLING TO EXTEND COVERAGE FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298978January 11, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298902January 10, 2010
STEERING
ON A PERIODIC BASIS, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING TO A STOP. THEREAFTER, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. POWER STEERING CAN BE RESTORED BY TURNING OFF POWER TO THE CAR AND THEN RESTARTING. THERE IS NO IDENTIFIABLE CONSISTENCY TO WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298798January 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING, AND WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NEITHER ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WITH NO KNOWN RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. EVERY INCIDENT WHERE I SEE IT REPORTED, THE INDIVIDUAL HAS NOT HAD A FIX. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS 3 WEEKS AGO, THEN LAST NIGHT, AND AGAIN THIS MORNING. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION PEOPLE WOULD GET HURT. PERSONALLY I PLAN TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL THAT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WILL PROVIDE A FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298515January 6, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 CHEVY MALIBU. HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES ABOUT THE "BUMPING/THUMBING" WHILE THE CAR IS TURNING. AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR POWERING STEERING FLUID...THANK GOD FOR PURCHASING EXTENDED WARRANTIES!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297318December 29, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 5-30 MPH THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE RADIO AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COLUMN . THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY REGARDING THE POWER STEERING , BUT EXCLUDED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297101December 28, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HAD TO REPLACE TAIL LAMPS AFTER CAR WAS 1 YEAR OLD AND 10,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296705December 22, 2009
STEERING
STEERING COLUMN SHAKES AND MOVES ON ITS OWN THEN POWER STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT ALMOST CRASHING INTO HIGHWAY BARRIER. IF IT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER AND WOULD HAVE HIT THE BARRIER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PROBABLY KILLING HER AND THE KIDS. POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES AT ANY TIME I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL GO OUT. DEALERSHIP WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT $2,000. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEAR OF MALIBU AND THERE HAS BEEN 2 TSBS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT EXTEND THE MILEAGE MORE THAN 70K. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT AND WHAT THE STEERING COLUMN IS GOING TO DO. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND THE PROBABILITY IF HAVING AN ACCIDENT IS GREAT SINCE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STEERING AND STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296756December 22, 2009
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL POPS AND JERKS IN AN ERRATIC MOTION TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. OVER THE PAST WEEK IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO TURN AND STEER WITH THE WHEEL. AND WITHOUT NO PARTICULAR REASON THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT AND STOP WORKING. WHILE I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT INTO A MECHANIC I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN A WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296613December 21, 2009
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN 2005 CHEVY MALIBU AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN #07126 CAUSED A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT ON OR ABOUT12/10/2009. WITH THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF THE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SYSTEM VEHICLE BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS VEHICLES TO 70,000 MILES OF WHICH THIS VEHICLE IS AT 79986 OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN COVERAGE. STEERING LOSS IS NOW AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, OF WHICH WE WILL SCHEDULE TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED AS PER BULLETIN AT OUR COST. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH GM ON COVERAGE DUE TO THE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD THIS ISSUE CAUSES AND THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE THAT GM HAS CONCEDED BY THE ISSUANCE OF SAID BULLETIN. FACTS OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH GM HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED IN CASE FILE #71-783921469. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS STEERING FAILURE CONDITION SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR FULL RECALL DUE TO THE EXTREME HAZARD THIS CAUSES NO MATTER THE MILEAGE OR AGE OF VEHICLES COVERED IN THE ORIGINAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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