Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2005)

1,301 consumer complaints on file.

#10288819October 18, 2009
STEERING
2005 CHEVY MALIBU, THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURS ALL THE TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND GM WILL NOT RECALL THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288887October 18, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006, THE VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE TIME., ESPECIALLY FOR A CONSERVATIVE DRIVER LIKE MYSELF. IN THREE YEARS, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINTS (THE ARMS ARE OF ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION) HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. IN THE SAME TIME, THE CAR HAS TWICE NEEDED TIE ROD REPLACEMENT MY GARAGE MECHANIC INDICATES THAT OTHER MALIBU MAXX CUSTOMERS, EVEN WITH A NEWER MODEL YEAR, ARE EXPERIENCING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287106October 12, 2009
STEERING
CLICKING/POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. JUST STARTED HAPPENING ONE DAY AND NEVER STOPPED. HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT STEERING YET. WHEN TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS WAS TOLD THAT THE COLUMN NEED LUBRICATION. SPENT $100 TO HAVE IT LUBED ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM START AGAIN APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287125October 12, 2009
STEERING
ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS SENSOR BUT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COLUMN. COST WAS 571.99. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287126October 12, 2009
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES AND 8 MONTHS. THIS TIME MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS THE STEERING BOX NOT THE COLUMN SO IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY (SURPRISE). I WAS ADVISED THE LABOR AND PART WOULD COST NEARLY $598 ($597 AND CHANGE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286676October 7, 2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, HE HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE STEERING SHAFT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED AND THE TECHNICIANS INSTALLED A MODIFIED PART. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286555October 6, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS WORK AS THEY WANT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS MANY TIMES. THE LIGHT COVERS GET REALLY HOT AND I AM ASSUMING THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART. THERE IS NO REASON THAT MY BULBS SHOULD HAVE BURNED OUT 8 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. I HAVE SEEN FOUR MALIBUS JUST LIKE MINE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WITH THE SAME LIGHTING PROBLEM AS I HAVE WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE MALIBUS. I AM GOING TO GET A TICKET SOON IF A RECALL IS NOT PLACED ON THIS PROBLEM. I DO SEE IT'S AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285899October 1, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX (1) FRONT PARK/TURN/DRL LAMP INOPERATIVE AND OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. (2) REAR STOP/TURN/TAIL LAMP INOPERATIVE PROBLEMS. THIS CAR CURRENTLY HAS 41,000 MILES. THE LAMPS FOR THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER SIDE)HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES AND RIGHT FRONT 3 TIMES. THE REAR LAMPS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES EACH SIDE. MY MAJOR CONCERN AND CAUSE FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS THE OVERHEATING OF THE FRONT LAMPS (ITEM #1 ABOVE). THE UPPER SIDE AMBER PLASTIC HOUSING FOR THE LAMPS ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HAS MELTED THROUGH AT THIS TIME. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DETECTED, THE AMBER HOUSING SHOWED SOME DISCOLORATION, BUBBLED PLASTIC. THIS SUGGESTED THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM EITHER HAS INTENSIFIED AND/OR THE PLASTIC HAS DEGRADATED OVER TIME. VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE CHARRED/BURNT THROUGH AREAS ARE ADJACENT TO THE LAMP SOCKET. THIS INDICATES EXTREME SOCKET TEMPERATURE AND ALSO THE RISING HOT AIR AFFECT THE CEILING OF THE AMBER HOUSING. ALL THE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULBS SHOWED VARIOUS DEGREES OF CHARRING/MELTING/DEFORMATION ON THE PLASTIC BASE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURE AND ELECTRICAL ARCING. THE REAR IS NOT AS SEVERE AS THE FRONT BUT NEVERTHELESS, SLIGHT ARCING CAN STILL BE OBSERVED ON THE BASE OF THE BURNT OUT BULBS. THE LEFT FRONT LAMP WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ONCE ON DEC. 16 2009 UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 06-08-42-004. DEALER DEEMED ONLY THE BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT NOT THE SOCKET. PRIOR TO THIS, THE PROBLEM ALREADY EXISTED AND BOTH FRONT AND BACK BULBS REPLACED. THE FREQUENCY OF THE BULB REPLACEMENT AND SIGNS OF ARCING TRIGGERED THIS VISIT TO THE DEALER. THIS REPAIR BY THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AS EVIDENCED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC SHOWED THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. FEARING THE EXTREME HIGH TEMP CAN CAUSE FIRE, I VISITED THE DEALER YESTERDAY FOR REPAIR UNDER GOOD WILL REPAIR WAS DENIED. THEY SIMPLY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS IS NOT A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285129September 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT FRONT SIGNAL LIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT. HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. BULBS LAST ONLY 2 WEEKS AT MOST. HAD SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKET REPLACED AND PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. LIGHT BULBS TURN BLACK. TOOK CAR BACK AGAIN TODAY. STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY THIS TIME. LAST REPAIR 8/28/09 - 92.89 FOR THE LIGHT SOCKET, $1.50 BULB, $70.00 LABOR. NO LONGER HAVE PARTS. AFRAID I WILL GET IN ACCIDENT - SINCE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT AND RUNNING LIGHT DO NOT WORK. KEEP HAVING TO GO BACK FOR NEW BULBS, AND IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN TODAY 9/23/09. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284791September 21, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY AT TIMES CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I ACTUALLY CHANGE THE BULB ABOUT 4 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284095September 16, 2009
STEERING
ON 8/29/09 I ASKED MY MECHANIC TO LISTEN TO THE CLUNKING SOUND MADE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT. HE CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND HAD 2 STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED AND THE STEERING SHAFT. NOW IT'S THE RACK AND PINION. THE ABOVE INCIDENTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT NOW. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BUT THERE ARE NONE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ON CAR STATS. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE BY CHEVY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283734September 12, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY, MAKING A RIGHT TURN,OR WHEN STARTING THE CAR. ON A RIGHT TURN THE CAR WANTS TO KEEP GOING RIGHT INSTEAD OF STRAIGHTENING OUT. SITTING AT A RED LIGHT,THE STEERING WHEEL CHATTERS AND MOVES BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN,THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS.THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. DEALER SAYS THERE IIS NO RECALL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT AND GM SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. CANNOT GIVE AN EXACT DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283425September 9, 2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND A LOUD NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IF THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77000. UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT ABOUT HALF WAY INTO A TURN. THE STEERING WOULD MAKE NOISES AND TURN BACK AND FORTH BY ITSELF. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/23/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283160September 8, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME PULLING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MORE THAN ONCE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GM MECHANICS ( OR REPRESENTATIVES) WHO HAVE TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHO ELSE SHOULD I SPEAK WITH TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM? MY CAR ONLY HAS 46,700 MILES ON IT, WHICH MAKES THIS A LITTLE SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282833September 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS AS 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SWITCH BEGAN BLINKING AT A RAPID PACE. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282859September 4, 2009
STEERING
MY STEERING WENT OUT WHILE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON A BUSY HIGHWAY LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT I DID DO RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON THING FOR NOT JUST 2005 CHEVY MALIBUS AND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS WITH NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT BUT MOST MALIBU I THINK IF SOMETHING NOT DONE IT WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE DAY.. MY CAR ONLY HAS 42852 MILES ON IT I HAVEN'T EVEN OWNED IT 2YRS YET AND BOUGHT IT WITH ABOUT 32000 MILES OR SO ON IT THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE CHEVY MALIBUS NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282265August 29, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
TODAY,WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, FELT A TUG, STEERING LOST. THIS WAS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THIS OCCURRED IN 2008, THE FIRST TIME POWER STEERING WAS PARTIALLY LOST. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE LOSS. LOST THE STEERING AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE. THERE WERE NO PARTS RETURNED TO ME. THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE TOW COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE - NO STEERING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282047August 28, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
BOUGHT THE 2005 MALIBU USED IN AUGUST 2007. I HAVE REPLACED THE BOTH FRONT DIRECTIONAL BULBS AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR. THE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE RIGHT BULB WAS OUT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS THEN THE LEFT BULB WENT OUT. I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULBS AGAIN YESTERDAY. I JIMMIED THE SOCKET THEY GO INTO AND NOW THEY BOTH APPEAR TO BE WORKING. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THE AMBER PLASTIC COVERING ON THE LEFT BULB WAS BURNED, THERE WAS A LARGE BURN HOLE IN IT, AND THE MELTED PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE COVERING. I AM ALSO NOTICING, AND HAVE BEEN NOTICING, A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN I HIT THE GAS AS IF SOMETHING HAS TO ROLL INTO PLACE. LATELY IT ALSO SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY KICK IN WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP. AFTER READING THE OTHER COMMENTS I AM GOING TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE HIM LOOK AT THE ISSUES AS SAFETY IS A LARGE CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281414August 22, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT LENS MELTED AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281246August 20, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT REGARDING REPAIRS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM FREE REMEDY REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,026. UPDATED 09/25/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE HAD TO CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. ONCE THAT WAS DONE THE POWER STEERING RESUMED AS NORMAL. UPDATED 09/29/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu