Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2009)

1,536 consumer complaints on file.

#10341958July 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SAFETY INCIDENT:TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SETTING: PARKED IN TOM THUMB GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. NOSE TO NOSE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (WITH NO PARKING CURB BETWEEN). INCIDENT: I STARTED THE CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO CREEP FORWARD, WHILE STILL IN PARK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I RESTARTED CAR. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I STARTED CAR A THIRD TIME, THIS TIME WITH LEFT FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE, AND MY RIGHT FOOT READY TO USE GAS PEDAL. I PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR STILL INCHED FORWARD. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKE. BY NOW, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ROOM LEFT BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE ONE PARKED ACROSS FROM IT. SO I GAVE UP AND CALLED FOR A RIDE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, A FRIEND DROVE MY HUSBAND TO THE CAR. THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY CAR PARKED ACROSS FROM OURS, SO HE FELT IT WAS SAFE TO TRY STARTING IT AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE CAR STARTED UP NORMALLY. THIS INCIDENT IS INTERMITTENT. WE DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. SINCE RECALL #09077A: F/CMVSS WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THEY WOULD NOT REDO THE RECALL AGAIN. GM WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY RECREATE THE INCIDENT AGAIN. THEY SAID GM HAS TIED THEIR HANDS AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF LIABILITY ISSUES AND FEARS. WE CONTACTED GM AND THEY CREATED A CASE STATING THAT WE HAD A VERY GOOD CASE AND THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER A FEW DAYS WE WERE CONTACTED BY GM AND THAT, SINCE IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED, THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I EXPRESSED OUR SAFETY CONCERNS. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAID, 'IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN, BUT GM WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN.' WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND SOMEONE GETS HURT, EITHER THE DRIVER OR A PEDESTRIAN? WHAT IF THE CAR GETS DAMAGED OR ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN IT OCCURS AGAIN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341345July 3, 2010
SEATS
2009 CHEVY MALIBU AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHEVY MALIBUS 2009 THE DRIVER SEAT IS CAUSING SEVERE BACK PAIN BEING 6 '3 CAUSING SHARP PAIN IN UPPER BACK AND LOWER BACK I DRIVE THE CAR 12 HOURS A DAY 48 HOURS TO 60 HOURS A DAY AS TAXI DRIVER IN LAS VEGAS VERY VERY BAD SITUATION ITS CAUSING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341247July 2, 2010
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BOLSTER CONTAINED POLYETHYLENE AND SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE EVENT A FIRE OCCURRED, THE POLYETHYLENE COULD BURN HER SKIN. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BOLSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, SINCE THE BOLSTER WAS CUT. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340216June 26, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1. BRAKES SQUEAK AND ARE NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE A. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM 2. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 50-75 M.P.H, THE CAR HAS NOT ACCELERATED PROPERLY AND HAS MADE STRANGE GRINDING NOISE A. DEALER INDICATED THAT ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE EXPRESSED THE SAME COMPLAINT B. DEALER SAID COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING WRONG ON MY VEHICLE, OR THE OTHER VEHICLE OWNER'S VEHICLE 3. ON 4-6 OCCASIONS, THE CAR HAS SURGED... SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS @ SLOW SPEEDS AND OTHER TIMES WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED.... I AM AFRAID TO USE CRUISE CONTROL ANYMORE A. DEALER SAYS COMPUTER SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336702June 16, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
2009 MALIBU,I HAVE REPLACED 1 TIRE WHEN SIDE WALL BROKE AFTER HITTING A BUMP ALSO HAVE A BENT RIM ON A DIFFERENT WHEEL,TIRES ARE WEAK DON'T RIDE WELL, COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND GM WAS NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON COST OF NEW RIM AND DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES. WAS TOLD THAT GM DOES NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES. I HAVE OWNED CHEVY'S FOR 40 YEARS,I PRESENTLY OWN 3 THAT ARE ALL ON THE ROAD NO MORE GM'S FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336703June 16, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
2009 MALIBU,I HAVE REPLACED 1 TIRE WHEN SIDE WALL BROKE AFTER HITTING A BUMP ALSO HAVE A BENT RIM ON A DIFFERENT WHEEL,TIRES ARE WEAK DON'T RIDE WELL, COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND GM WAS NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON COST OF NEW RIM AND DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES. WAS TOLD THAT GM DOES NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES. I HAVE OWNED CHEVY'S FOR 40 YEARS,I PRESENTLY OWN 3 THAT ARE ALL ON THE ROAD NO MORE GM'S FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334405June 3, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION BUT DID NOT SUFFER FROM ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOWING COMPANY LOT AND HAD NOT BEEN FURTHER EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 9,000. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/10*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330273May 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SLIDES AND CALIPERS WERE RUSTED AND BENDING. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,972.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328935May 5, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT, EQUIPMENT, STEERING
STEERING SUSPENSION, 29NOV09 REPLACED RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK. 25JAN20 REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AT THE FRAME. 10MAR10 REPLACED SWAY BAR INSULATORS AT THE FRAME. 04MAY10 REPLACED SWAY BAR LINKS AGAIN ONLY AFTER 6 MONTHS FROM LAST REPLACEMENT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A QUALITY ISSUE HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316291March 3, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED LOOSENESS; FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THERE WAS DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AS A RESULT OF THE DRIVER SUSTAINING PAIN TO THE ARM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312978February 23, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR
04FEB09 VEHICLE IN FOR REAR WHEEL BEARING AND NHUB REPLACEMENT 14MAY 09 IN FOR REPLACE TRANS SHIFT CABLE, THEN IN 09SEP09 RECALL 23NOV09 IN FOR STEERING SHAFT KIT REPLACEMENT & REPLACE RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK 21JAN10 BACK IN FOR CLUNKING NOISE, 25JAN10 ORDERED BUSHING REPLACEMENT PART CALLED CHEVY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND TIFFANY FROM GM CALLED ME BACK AND STATED THAT GM IS UNABLE TO GET PART DUE TO SUPPLIER, AFTER WAITING ONE (1) MONTH STILL NO PART. TIFFANY STATED THAT GM WILL NOT BUY BACK THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WILL NOT EXTEND MY WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN A LIFE TIME GM CUSTOMER AND I WILL NO LONGER BUY A GM VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310098February 12, 2010
WHEELS
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET MAILBU. I AM EXPERIENCING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH BENT WHEEL RIMS. THESE ARE THE STANDARD STEEL RIMS WITH THE PLASTIC COVERS. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR 17 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN 10 DIFFERENT AUTOMOBILES IN THAT TIME, NEVER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BENT RIMS. BOTH THE DEALER AND GM HAVE BEEN TOLD OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY BOTH DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGED RIMS. THEY SAY THAT THIS A DRIVER PROBLEM AND BAD ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE. I HAVE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM FROM BOTH A NATIONAL TIRE CHAIN AND RECENT POSTINGS ON THIS WEB SITE. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE SATURN AURA, WHICH IS THE SAME BASIC CAR AS THE MALIBU. THESE BENT RIMS CAUSE A SEVERE OUT OF BALANCE CONDITION AND CAN AFFECT THE LOW TIRE SENSORS, CAUSING A FALSE READING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302283January 26, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH HE TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE ABS BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND PROCEEDED THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR THAT FAILURE. HE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS OFFERED TWO YEARS OF MAINTENANCE SERVICE WHICH THE CONTACT DECLINED. HE ASKED THE DEALER FOR A RELATED SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WAS DENIED THE BULLETIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,829. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,481.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302231January 25, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO CODES FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GM MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300162January 18, 2010
STEERING
FROM THE VERY FIRST I HAVE NOTICED IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP MY 4 CYLINDER CHEVY MALIBU GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THERE HAS TO BE CONSTANT CORRECTION AND IT MAKES IT VERY TIRING TO DRIVE. IF I JUST GLANCE AWAY FROM THE ROAD I FIND THAT WHEN I GLANCE BACK I AM GOING OUT OF MY LANE. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296426December 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TUESDAY DECEMBER 15TH 2009 I TOOK MY NEW 2009 CHEVY MALIBU TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. SERVICE DONE WAS STATE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, TIRE REPAIR AND FOR A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LEVER. THE RECALL SERVICE WORK COMPLETED WAS THE INSTALLATION OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE KIT. I PICKED MY VEHICLE UP AT 2PM THAT AFTERNOON AFTER ALL SERVICE WORK WAS COMPLETE. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE POLICE AND FIRE CREW WERE ON THE SCENE TO CONTROL TRAFFIC AND THE FIRE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION WITH MY INSURANCE CO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296217December 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD USE THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL THAT AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN THE SIGNAL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. IT WOULD MAKE THE "CLICK" SOUND BUT THE LIGHT WOULD STILL FLASH. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TODAY AND IT SEEMS TO BE OK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296213December 17, 2009
VISIBILITY
I WAS WARMING THE CAR UP IN THE MORNING, 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND A LAYER OF ICE ON EVERYTHING. THE DEFROST WAS JUST STARTING TO MELT THE WINDOW SO I TURNED ON THE WIPERS. THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT MOVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CROSSED OVER IT GETTING STUCK THERE. I WENT OUT AND PHYSICALLY UNTANGLED THE WIPERS AND THEY SEEMED TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE BUT ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE COULD NOT KEEP UP AND BECAME STUCK UNDER THE PASSENGER WIPER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT AT THE END OF THE WIPER CONTROL ARM, TOOK TWO SECONDS, AND IT HAS SEEMED TO BE OK SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294524December 4, 2009
VISIBILITY
I BOUGHT A 2009 MALIBU FROM CHEVY THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE REAR WINDOWS DOWN YOU GET THIS TERRIBLE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER IN YOUR CAR. IF YOU DRIVE LONG ENOUGH IT GIVES YOU HEADACHES, NOISE GETS SO BAD IT VIBRATES THE DOOR PANELS AND SUNROOF. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE WITH THIS PROBLEM WHAT EFFECT WILL IT HAVE ON CHILDREN RIDING IN THE CAR. I TALKED TO GM THEY TELL ME ALL CARS MAKE THAT NOISE JUST DEAL WITH IT . SPEND 28,000. DOLLARS TO GET YOUR HEAD POUNDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290587November 2, 2009
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
AUTOMATIC TIRE-PRESSURE MONITOR DISPLAYING INCORRECTLY. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MORE AIR IN ALL THE TIRES BEGINNING WITH THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BUT THE ON BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE PRESSURE WAS NOT INCREASING. I THEN HAD MY SON CHANGE THE DISPLAY TO SHOW THE REAR TIRE PRESSURES AND THE LEFT-REAR WAS INCREASING IN PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH I WAS FILLING THE LEFT-FRONT (DRIVERS SIDE). I COULD HAVE OVER-INFLATED THE TIRE AND POSSIBLY EXPLODED THE TIRE HAD WE NOT CHECKED. I LATER TRIED FILLING THE RIGHT-FRONT AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Malibu