Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2005)

1,301 consumer complaints on file.

#10280609August 17, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT THE VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION AND CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR 2 YEARS; HOWEVER, IT RECURRED. THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AND FAILED AFTER 8 MONTHS. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,927. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/15/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280648August 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 MALIBU MAXX, STARTER ASSEMBLY: SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO START, ESPECIALLY AFTER RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER.PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, OCCURRED SINCE THEN ABOUT 40 TO 50 TIMES. I RETIRED 18 MONTHS AGO AND DO NOT DRIVE AS MUCH NOW THAN I DI WHILE WORKING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DESPITE NEW BATTERY AND NOT RUNNING CONCURRENTLY THE FOLLOWING:AIR CONDITIONER DISK PLAYER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS,LIGHTS. ALL THE SYSTEMS ALWAYS CHECKED OUT OK, NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280494August 15, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280200August 12, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB ALSO FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY TO MELT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $1,000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279200August 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 MALIBU PURCHASED NEW. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT/PARK/TURN SIGNAL MELTING THE AMBER BULB SURROUND AND DISCOLORING AND CRACKING THE OUTER HEADLIGHT LENSES. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT TO DATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB TWICE OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. ALL FRONT LIGHTS ARE ORIGINAL AS PURCHASED. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE LIGHTS WILL CATCH FIRE AND SO NOW I TRY TO REMEMBER TO DISENGAGE THE DRL FEATURE WHILE DRIVING. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I STARTED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS ON MY OWN WITH "EAGLE EYES" REPLACEMENTS UNITS BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ARE SUBJECT TO A NHTSA RECALL AS WELL. I WILL HOLD OUT TO SE IF A RECALL IS ISSUED BY NHTSA FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278536July 28, 2009
STEERING
I NEED YOUR HELP. I BOUGHT A 2005 MALIBU FROM A LOCAL CAR DEALER. THE CAR HAD LOW MILES AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR. SO SAFE, THAT I ALLOWED MY TEENAGE SON TO DRIVE MY CAR. WHILE HE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A 4-WAY STOP, HE HEARD A POP AND THEN HAD NO STEERING WITHOUT ANY WAY TO CONTROL THE CAR HE ENDED UP IN A FIELD. I THANK GOD HE WAS NOT GOING FAST, THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND HE WAS NOT HURT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO IS A CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN, WHO WORKED FOR GM AS A LINE TECH FOR 25 YRS. HE INFORMS ME THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD, AND FELT IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HE SAID THE FAILURE OCCURRED INSIDE THE STEERING RACK CAUSING THE PINION TO DISENGAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GM DEALER WHO?S MECHANIC SAID THE SAME THING BUT BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM, THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME?.MY NEXT STEP WAS TO CONTACT GM?.THEY TOOK A WEEK TO INVESTIGATE?AND DECIDED THAT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE CAR DEALER, IT HAD 86K MILES ON IT AND IT WAS PAST THE FACTORY WARRANTY THEY FELT NO NEED TO DO ANY THING ABOUT THIS. NOT ONLY WAS THE STEERING RACK AND PINION DAMAGED, THE POWER STEERING UNIT UNDER THE DASH AND THE AIR BAG COILS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $2000.00. IT?S NOT JUST THE COST TO REPAIR THE CAR THAT UPSETS ME; IT?S THE FACT THAT GM HAS NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY. I HAVE FOUND LONG LIST FOR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT GM?S STEERING FAILURES. ?UNBELIEVABLE? AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY SITE THAT HAS COMPLAINTS. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE STEERING DEFECT IN THE MALIBU. BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DECIDED IT WAS OF NO BIG CONCERN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278568July 28, 2009
STEERING
DRIVER OF A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT AND IS SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME BUT WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277520July 20, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LOCKS WHENEVER HE STARTS HIS VEHICLE AND BEGINS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276812July 14, 2009
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED FROM THE BASE AND CAME OFF TRACK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE SAT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276185July 9, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,000. THREE YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAILING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WAS FILED AND THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A FOLLOW UP CALL ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,748 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276053July 8, 2009
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT SAT DOWN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND SHIFTED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE PEELED OFF A PIECE OF THE METAL FROM THE METAL BAR, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO DETACH FROM THE METAL TRACK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND THAT THE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. NO ESTIMATE WAS PROVIDED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275879July 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STOPPED TO AIR UP A TIRE AND WASH MY CAR. I NOTICED SMOKE IN THE BACK PORTION OF MY CAR. I LOOKED IN THE TRUNK BUT COULDN'T TELL THE ORIGIN OF THE SMOKE. SMOKE CONTINUED TO FILL MY CAR FROM THE BACK AND I OPENED THE TRUNK AGAIN. I PLACED MY HAND ON THE LEFT FENDER AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED HOW HOT IT WAS. ANOTHER COSTUMER CAME OVER AND JERKED THE TRUNK LINER BACK TO REVEAL THAT THE FUSE PANEL WAS ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274387June 20, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE GETTING HOT MELTING THEM. THIS IS CAUSING TURN SIGNALS TO BURN OUT AND NOT WORK PROPERLY. GOT PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272979June 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PARKING LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT. SHE ALSO FOUND THAT THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS WERE MELTED DUE TO THE LIGHT BULBS. THE BULB WAS REPLACED WITH A SYLVANIA BULB. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT HAD A LARGE HOLE IN THE ORANGE AREA OF THE FIXTURE. THE ENTIRE FRONT LIGHTING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $100. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 60,000. THE ORIGINAL BULB MELTED THE ORANGE COVER INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS. HOT PLASTIC DRIPPED ON THE BULB AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE BULB. UPDATED 06/22/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272766June 3, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP NOISE. STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT. VEHICLE IS NOW AT 70,000 MILES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. THEY ADVISED ME A CHEVY DEALER DIAGNOSTIC WAS REQUIRED. CHEVY DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED STEERING SHAFT AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER HEAD OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST. A STEERING SHAFT ALMOST NEVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN A VEHICLE, SINCE THE TIME OF MY REPLACEMENT AT 35,000 MILES ALTERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THEIR REPLACEMENTS. THIS WOULD INDICATE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272450May 31, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HAVE A 05 MALIBU MAXX MY TURN SIGNAL HAVE MELTED I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS IS THIS A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269457May 19, 2009
STEERING
2005 CHEVY MALIBU, 95000 MILES. FOR 60000 MILES HAVE HAD LIMITED IF ANY POWER STEERING. IT GENERALLY GOES OUT RIGHT AWAY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES. OTHERWISE WITHIN 20 MILES OF DRIVING IT GOES OUT. WHEN IT GOES OUT I AM USUALLY GOING AROUND A CORNER OR CLOVERLEAF. WHEN POWER STEERING GOES OUT STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND USUALLY TRIES TO GO BACK TO A FORWARD DIRECTION. NOT CONVENIENT WHEN TRYING TO TURN. MY WIFE IT TOTALLY UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR IT WOULD LEAD TO A CRASH. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE, AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, THAT CHEVY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE COUPLE OF TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO A CHEVY DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THERE WAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY CHEVY HAS LOST A CUSTOMER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT STARTED AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269060May 18, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, IT SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY SMOOTHING THE BRAKE PADS. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAS GRADUALLY BECOME WORSE AND THE CAR NOW SHAKES EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS AT OR ABOVE 55 MPH, MAKING DRIVING IN ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE IMPOSSIBLE. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. I NO LONGER CONSIDER THE CAR SAFE FOR USE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269126May 18, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE PREVIOUS DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269145May 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS MELTING. IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IT SEEMS THAT THE AMBER LIGHTS HAVE MELTED THE CASING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE DEALERS SHOULD REPLACE THE HOUSING FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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