Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2009)

1,536 consumer complaints on file.

#10290424October 30, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT A NEW 2009 MALIBU WITH A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN SEPT. '09. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF OR DRIVING THE CAR. I FEEL A HESITATION, THEN JERK WHEN RESUMING ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING 5-35 MPH AFTER HAVING DECELERATED TO THE LOWER SPEED FROM A GREATER SPEED. IT HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, BUT DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATION BEGINS FROM A STOP OR AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 35 MPH. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED AND UPDATED TWICE. BECAUSE THE COMPUTER IS READING EVERYTHING AS NORMAL, GM WILL APPROVE NO WORK ON VEHICLE. SO FAR GM HAS SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290320October 29, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I NOTICED LATELY ON GM VEHICLES, THAT THE BACK UP LAMPS ARE COMING ON ALTHOUGH NOBODY IS IN THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. IT WAS DARK AND COULD NOT SEE, THAT NOBODY WAS IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES I REALIZED, THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS JUST WALKING UP TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE WHOLE TIME I COULD HAVE BACKED OUT SAFELY. I WAS VERY IRRITATED ABOUT THIS AND THINK THIS WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO START IGNORING THE BACK UP LIGHTS ON VEHICLES. DOWN THE ROAD THIS WILL LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IN PARKING LOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289238October 21, 2009
WHEELS:RIM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE , AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIMS ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS WERE BENT. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT HE STRUCK A POTHOLE. HOWEVER HE NEVER STRUCK A POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,975.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284938September 22, 2009
STEERING
AN ONGOING POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE ON MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU (4 CYLINDER MODEL ONLY) IS DESCRIBED BELOW. THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING AND THE COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND WANT TO MAKE VERY SMALL STEERING INPUTS TO GO STRAIGHT, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST MAKES YOU OVER CORRECT. IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT, IT FEELS STIFF AT FIRST, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN BURST OF ASSIST, WHICH CAUSES YOU TO CONTINUALLY FIGHT THE CAR TO GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW. THE V6 MALIBU THAT I DROVE WITH HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING IS NOT A PROBLEM, ONLY THE 4 CYLINDER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I ONLY RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR ON JULY 24, 2009. THEY CONTACTED TECHNICAL SUPPORT AT CHEVROLET. THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS, BUT THERE IS NO FIX YET. THEY SAY IN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, A TORQUE SENSOR IS ACTIVATED WHEN YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, SO IT MUST BE MOVED WITHOUT ASSIST FOR A SPLIT SECOND UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES THAT YOU WANT TO TURN AND APPLIES POWER ASSIST. IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS OVER CORRECTION ISSUE. HOW CAN THIS BE SAFE? THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT CHEVROLET SAYS IS "NORMAL OPERATION" AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283408September 9, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY NEW 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR DISABLING THE AUTO DOOR LOCKING FEATURE. HAVING WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS, I KNOW THAT RESCUERS HAVE A MORE DIFFICULT TIME OF REMOVING SOMEONE FROM A VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED ESPECIALLY IF THAT PERSON IS A GOOD SAMITITAN WITH NO HEAVY TOOLS. BOTH THE DEALER AND GM HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM OR DO ANYTHING TO REMEDIATE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CHANGED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WHERE THE OCCUPANTS CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280559August 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED NEW 2009 CHEVY MALIBU 6/16/09 AT JOHN THORNTON CHEVROLET. TOOK CAR BACK ON 6/20/09 DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKES; ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND HAD TO BE SKIMMED. ON 7/27/09, ON WAY TO WORK, CAR KEPT STALLING IN TRAFFIC; PUT FOOT ON GAS, WOULD HESITATE; HEARD WHIZZING NOISES. BECAUSE MOVING THE CAR WAS GETTING WORSE, I DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO PROCEED, IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 20 MPH AND I KNEW IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO KEEP GOING. I PULLED OFF FREEWAY AND FOUND A LOT TO PULL OVER. CALLED ONSTAR WHO TAPPED INTO MY DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED ME THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS INDICATED IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THEN JOHN THORNTON GAVE ME A RENTAL. SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE A PART AND LAST WEEK ADVISED ME THEY HAVE TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION; IT WILL BE COMING FROM THE FACTORY AND OFFERED TO REIMBURSE ME THE AMOUNT OF MY FIRST CAR NOTE. AS OF 8/17/09 THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR 3 WKS. AS OF 8/26/09 IT WILL BE THE 30TH DAY AND I WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO EITHER GET A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280354August 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY MALIBU 2009 HAS LOCKS OPENING AND CLOSING OFTEN WHEN DRIVING. REMAINING OPEN IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. MY DEALER AND GM PRETEND NOT TO HELP UNLESS THEY ARE IN CAR WHEN THEY SEE AND HEAR IT HAPPENING. MY SON ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS NEW MALIBU 2009. DESPERATE FOR HELP. WE HAVE LITTLE CHILDREN OFTEN IN CAR AND THE LOCKS ARE OPEN., WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275203June 29, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO A VERY STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, KEEP THE VEHICLE OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, AND ALLOW IT TO AIR OUT. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF AIRING OUT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE STRONG SCENT IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED HIM TO BECOME DISORIENTED WHILE DRIVING. HE BELIEVED THAT THE SCENT WAS SO STRONG THAT IT CAUSED HIM TO DRIVE POORLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ODOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 800. UPDATED 07/14/09 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED AFTER CRASHING INTO SEVERAL CARS, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REASON HE CRASHED WAS DUE TO THE CHEMICAL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BECOME DISORIENTED. UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273556June 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK GEAR DOES NOT REMAIN ENGAGED. IF PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL DOWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT LOCK CABLE FOR FREE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE OF WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THERE ARE MORE 2009 MALIBUS WITH THIS ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,543 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269620May 21, 2009
AIR BAGS
I WAS SB ON SHIRLEY AVENUE IN SIOUX FALLS, SD. I WAS MAKING A LEFT ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A LADY TRAVELING EB RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT ME ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I WAS INJURED. MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268594May 13, 2009
STEERING
MY 2009 CHEVY MALIBU HAS AS SEVERE STEERING BIAS TO THE LEFT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267834May 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HESITATES, BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A STANDARD FEATURE ON THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS TESTED BY GM. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER TO INSTALL A FOUR CYLINDER TRANSMISSION FROM THE CHEVROLET IMPALA, BUT GM REFUSED WITHOUT PROVIDING AN EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267582May 3, 2009
STEERING
2009 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. HAS A SEVERE AND SIGNIFICANT TORQUE STEER ON ACCELERATION (MOST NOTICEABLE FROM A STOP) CAUSING CAR TO DRAMATICALLY AND DANGEROUSLY PULL TO LEFT. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MORE THAN ONCE. . IN ADDITION IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PUT THE EMERGENCY (PARKING) BRAKE DOWN TO WHERE IT WILL HOLD THE CAR ON A HILL. HAVE HAD THIS CHECKED OUT BY 3 SEPARATE CHEVROLET DEALERS AND ALL TELL ME THEY ARE DESIGN ISSUES, NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266047April 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. ONE MONTH LATER, WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO PARK, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A SPOT WHERE IT WOULD NOT ROLL AWAY AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. SHE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CONTACT IS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248548November 12, 2008
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE GLARE FROM THE DASH DISPLAYED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 250. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246058October 19, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALTHOUGH THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CARS HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS, (AND THE REMOVAL OF THE SIDE REPEATER LAMP FOR TURN SIGNAL INDICATION ON THE 2009 MODEL YEAR MALIBU), THERE IS NO VISIBLE TURN INDICATOR FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE INDICATION OF A SIGNAL FROM THE CAR UNLESS OTHER DRIVERS ARE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF, OR BEHIND THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A DRIVER IS SITTING AT A 4 WAY STOP, OR LIKEWISE, BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WRAP AROUND THE FRONT OR BACK OF THE CAR, DRIVERS TO THE LEFT, AND RIGHT OF THE CAR, CANNOT SEE THE TURN SIGNAL, WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. ON THE 2008 MALIBU, THERE WAS A SIDE MARKER REPEATER LAMP ON THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL, AND IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE 2009 MY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY CONCERN, AND THEY SHOULD BE PUT BACK ONTO THE CARS, OR A REDESIGN OF THE HEADLAMP ASSY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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