Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2005)

1,301 consumer complaints on file.

#10342905July 13, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX FRONT TURN SIGNALS BURNED OUT, BUT BEFORE THAT, THEY BURNED/MELTED THE PLASTIC GLOBE AROUND THE BULB. HAVE REPLACED BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE, AND REPLACED BULB SOCKET (MELTED AND SHORTED) THIS TIME AROUND TOO. THIS MELTING AND SHORTING IS CERTAINLY A MFR. DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED OR FIXED BY CHEVROLET. CURRENTLY I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO RUN LED BULBS TO AVOID THE HEAT, BUT CAN'T FIND AN ECONOMICAL WAY DUE TO THE NEED FOR RESISTORS (CREATING HEAT) OR NEW FLASHERS IN THE LINE IN ADDITION TO THE NEW BULBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342282July 9, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A ROUND AMBER-COLORED GLOBE BECAME HOT AND MELTED ONTO THE TURN SIGNAL BULB. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,125. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342295July 9, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR-STOPPED WORKING AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH STEERING PROBLEMS ON THIS GM MODEL OF CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341027July 1, 2010
SEATS
A WELD BROKE FOR A CROSS BAR (DRIVER SEAT). I REQUEST GM FIX THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340566June 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE LIGHT BULBS NUMBER 3057 IN 2 OF MY CARS HAVE MELTED THE BASE AND DAMAGED THE LIGHT SOCKETS. AS A RESULT THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. ONE VEHICLE IS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE BULB IS USED IN THE BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN IT FAILS YOU GET THE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NOT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTING. THIS HAS A SERIOUS RISK OF BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE SECOND VEHICLE IS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAX. BULB 3057 IS USED IN THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS WHICH DOUBLE AS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. ON THIS VEHICLE NOT ONLY DOES THE BASE OF THE BULB MELT BREAKING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACT THE PLASTIC LENS OF THE LIGHT IS MELTING. ONCE FAILURE OCCURS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET THE EXTRA FAST TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR. ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE BULB HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. BOTH THE FACTORY BULBS MELTED AND THE SYLVANIA REPLACEMENT LONG LIFE BULBS FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340633June 29, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND BLINKER LIGHTS ARE BLOWING OUT ON THE VEHICLE EVERY15 DAYS. THE CONTACT IS WORRIED ABOUT THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE BECAUSE THE BULBS BLOWING OUT IS STARTING TO BURN THE COVER FOR THE LIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 72500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340454June 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH HER FRONT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT STOP WORKING AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340152June 25, 2010
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
2005 CHEVY MALIBU LS STEERING BEGAN TO LOCK UP ON SLOW TURNS. THERE WAS NO WARNING, JUST A SUDDEN LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN. (IT WOULD NOT TURN. LITERALLY LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL ADDITIONAL SPEED COULD BE MAINTAINED. THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY 2 WEEKS AGO & STEADILY WORSENED. HAPPENING 10-12 TIMES A DAY THIS WEEK. HIT 2 CURBS, NEARLY JUMPED ONE CURB & NEARLY HIT A CAR. WE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TURN. CAR HAS 85000 MILES ON IT. MECHANIC SHOP REPLACED RACK/PINION STEERING & BOTH FRONT END REAR TIE ROD RINGS. THIS DEFECT IS APPARENT ON MALIBU'S ACCORDING TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SEEN ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340156June 25, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU IS HAVING THIS VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS NO WHERE TO PUT OR CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS IS A PIECE OF [XXX] CAR...I AM SCARED THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT IS NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY IF THE STEERING ISSUES IN MALIBUS ARE NOT RESOLVED. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE STEERING IN CHEVY MALIBUS. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON LINE, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO GM TO CALL A RECALL..... THIS IS DANGEROUS AND LIVES CAN BE LOST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339416June 22, 2010
STEERING
MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU TO WORK & THE "POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON & WAS HAVING TROUBLES GETTING THE CAR TO TURN CORNERS. HE CALLED ME; I TOLD HIM TO GET FLUID. UPON GETTING FLUID & READING THE MANUAL, HE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS AN "ELECTRIC" POWER STEERING & GET TO YOUR GM DEALER IMMEDIATELY. WE DID SO & WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS SHORTING OUT & NEEDED REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS FOR THE MALIBU BUT HAD FOR THE PONTIAC G6, COBALT & OTHERS. THE DEALERSHIP WE WENT TO REPLACED & I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET $644.86. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL & THAT THE SAFETY OF MY SON DRIVING AT THE TIME PUT HIS LIFE IN DANGER. I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSED BY GM FOR THIS EXPENSE & A RECALL DONE SO THAT OTHER MALIBU OWNERS DO HAVE INCUR ANY INJURIES AND/OR EXPENSE FOR REPLACEMENT. I AM SENDING A LETTER TO GM AS WELL AS A COPY OF THE LETTER TO NHTSA EVEN THOUGH I AM SUBMITTING AN EMAIL COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336895June 17, 2010
STEERING
3RD POSTING HERE. SAME PROBLEM. NO POWER STEERING. NOW IT IS TO THE POINT WHERE IM LUCKY TO GET POWER STEERING FOR THE LENGTH OF MY DRIVEWAY. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE COBALT RECALL (WHICH IS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE MALIBU POWER STEERING ISSUE) AND THEY TOLD ME AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BY THEM. I TOLD THEM I HAD BEEN IN 2 TIMES TO A DEALERSHIP AND THAT WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THE NEXT THING SAID REALLY SURPRISED ME. APPARENTLY THERE IS A "SUPER SECRET WARRANTY" FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS WARRANTY UNTIL IT HAD EXPIRED ON MY CAR. CHEVROLET HANDLED THIS IN TRUE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT FASHION. IF I WANT TO TAKE IT IN AND PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR THEY WOULD POSSIBLY REFUND ME THE COST OF THE REPAIR ONLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF I HAD THE FUNDS AVAIL TO GET THE WORK DONE I WOULD HAVE EITHER DONE IT ALREADY OR SWITCHED TO A FORD. TO ALL YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS ISSUE GO INTO A DEALERSHIP AND ASK ABOUT THE "SUPER SECRET WARRANTY" THEN AFTER YOU GET IT FIXED, SELL IT!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336158June 14, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335790June 11, 2010
STEERING
LOOSE/CLUNKY STEERING. THE CLUNKY SOUND AND FEEL CAN BE HEARD/FELT WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED. THERE IS ALSO SOME SPACE BETWEEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AND WHEN THE WHEELS ACTUALLY TURN. FEELS UNSAFE TO ME. I'M VERY EASY ON THE TURNS, IT SCARES ME THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK WHEN I TURN. DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS AWFUL. IT STARTED MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CARE. I PURCHASED IT APRIL 2006, BASICALLY A NEW CAR, BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM STARTED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT, BUT IT STARTED UP AGAIN AFTER A FEW MONTHS. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WERE INSTALLING A NEW IMPROVED STEERING GEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT LASTED A LITTLE LONGER THIS TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL REPAIR. THE WARRANTY IS OVER SO I'M NOT TAKING IT IN AGAIN. IT ISN'T WORTH THE EXPENSE - A TEMPORARY FIX IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST CHEVY. IT'S DISAPPOINTING. MY CARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT LEAST 6 YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED. THIS WAS MY NEWEST CAR PURCHASED. IT WAS EXCITING, BUT THEN ENDED UP BEING SO DISAPPOINTING. MY NEXT NEWER CAR PURCHASE WILL BE NISSAN. I MISS MY OLD NISSAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335798June 11, 2010
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT "BUCKLED" AND BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FOUR BRACKETS THAT MOUNTED THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR AND ONE OF THE REAR BRACKETS WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335352June 8, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334708June 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAR BLOWS THROUGH FUSES EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. MECHANIC STATES HE HAD MALIBU THAT DID SAME THING, I HAVE REPLACED FUSES ABOUT 4 TIMES A YEAR, THAT ITS ABNORMAL. RT. SIGNAL THEN LT,SIGNAL, BACK AND FORTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334601June 4, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAULT ON THE CENTER DISPLAY, AND YESTERDAY THE POWER STEERING ACTUALLY SHUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER JUST TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD. PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT WORKED FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEN SHUT DOWN AGAIN, WRESTLED THE CAR HOME, AND TODAY IT WORKS FINE. CHEVY COBALT ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR THIS, WHY NOT THE MALIBU. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVROLET AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO GET THE CAR FIXED AS IT WAS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT MY EXPENSE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO ADMIT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED? I DO SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS WEB SITE, AND EVEN MORE ON OTHER SITES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334379June 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY. MALIBU V6 THAT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT'S POWER STEERING. I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND GET OUT OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. WHEN I GOT IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS AND HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH CHEVY. MALIBU'S. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR! SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE THE NEW COLUMN PUT IN IS STILL BEING MADE WITH THE DEFECT. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND IN MY CASE IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL BUT IT WAS AMAZING THAT I WAS ABLE TO CONSIDERING THAT I WAS CHANGING LANES AT THE TIME! AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS I HAVE LEARNED THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I CERTAINLY HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334227June 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE TIMES AS THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED A BROKEN RIGHT HIP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10334125June 1, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNAL HOUSING MELTED, DRIPPING ON TURN SIGNALS MAKING THEM LESS EFFECTIVE AND EVENTUALLY CAUSED THEM TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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