2001 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU BOTH REGISTER FUEL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS EMPTY CAUSING BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THE GAUGES SHOULD WARN DRIVER WHEN TANK IS LOW ON GAS. THIS WAS AND IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND OUT IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG OWNERS. CHEVROLET TSB 01-06-045-008C TS

I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN APRIL 2001 VIN [XXX] AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING WORK/PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRED AT CAPITAL CHEVROLET WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. DATEPROBLEM/REPAIRSMILEAGE NOV 2001ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS 7,754 JAN 2002FRONT SUSPENSION9,080 MAR 2002FRONT SUSPENSION12,000 MAY 2002BRAKE PADS & ROTORS14,555 JULY 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON17,170 OCT 2002BRAKE PADS & HUB21,055 NOV 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, ROTOR, HUB KIT22,005 OCT 2002ROTORS21,310 DEC 2002CALIPER & BRAKE PADS24,066 FROM THE INFORMATION ABOVE, I CAN GENERALLY GET ABOUT 7,000 MILES ON THE BRAKE PADS. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT (REQUEST # [XXX]) AND WAS ABLE TO GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2002 AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, HOWEVER THE BRAKES HAVE NEEDED REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MY ORIGINAL CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE? MY RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN LESS THAN CORDIAL. I HAVE CONSIDERED TRADING IN THE MALIBU AND PURCHASING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE TRADE IN VALUE OFFERED FOR THE MALIBU IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. MY QUESTION IS: WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE DOES YOUR OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OFFER? I FIRMLY BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE AND GENERAL MOTORS BEARS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING THE DEFECT OR REPLACING THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VECHILE AND WITHIN A MONTH OF THE DATE OF PURCHASE THE TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CONTINUE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES SUDDENLY BEGIN WORKING ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED ON AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDING A WARNING NOISE WHICH DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL YOU TURN THE SIGNAL OFF. I WOULD SAY THAT MY TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORK 25% OF THE TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO GET A RESOLUTION/RECALL AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THEIR COST.*AK

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT.*MR *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT HUB CAP DETACHED FROM THE RIM. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SIX LUGS: NUTS WERE HOT. A TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE HEAT FROM THE FRONT BRAKES MELTED THE PLASTIC HUB CAP WHICH CAUSED THEM TO LOOSEN AND FALL OFF. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ALSO OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HUB CAP TO FALL OFF. *PH *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO TEST DROVE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE OPERATING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE FLASHING SWITCH IN 2002 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V327000, (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS: SWITCH) AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FURTHER ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS, COOLING SYSTEM AND THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: A CONTINUOUS BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS, THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH. THE RIGHT SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL, THEREFORE THE INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. *SC *JB

ELBOW RIGHT ARM/ELBOW BECAME SORE AFTER DRIVING A CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR A WEEK. THE STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. HAVE A BAD CASE OF ELBOW NOW. INFO SUPLLIED BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311. DT

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING WATER TO LEAK IN TO OIL.*JB..*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IF VEHICLE RIDES OVER A BUMP, ENGINE STALLS. DLR CAN NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL ON VEHICLE. YOU WILL GO TO CHANGE LANES , THEY WILL BE WORKING THEN THEY STOP WORKING. I CONTACTED MILLER CHEVROLET WHO SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. I THEN CONTACTED PHALEN CHEVROLET WHO STATED THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE HAZARD SWITCH FAILURES CAUSING THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE KNEW WHY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR A LOT OF CARS ON THE STREET TO HAVE , AND MAY BE A ITEM THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE SOME DEATHS. MR

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD BELT BLOWN OUT, WHILE REMAINING THREE TIRES WERE ON THE VERGE OF HAVING BELTS BLOW OUT AS WELL. BOTH INFLATION AND TREAD WEAR WERE INDICATIVE OF THOSE FACTS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. MR

THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FOR A SECOND AND MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE SAME TYPE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE IN MY FLEET. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DEALER DIDN'T INDICATE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THIS NEEDS FURTHER ATTENTION BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND THAT IS HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO TO AID IN THIS BUT MY OBLIGATION IS TO MY DRIVERS AND MY COMPANY TO PROVIDE SAFE TRANSPORTATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU MAY GIVE ME IN MEETING THIS OBLIGATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 18000 MILES. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS SOMETHING CAUSING BRAKE AND ROTORS TO WEAR SO EARLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAME FLAT AT 75 MPH ON I-15 IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND EXAMINED THE TIRE, I FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE METAL RIM. THE ONLY TIRE RESIDUE WERE THE TIRE BEADS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL-WELL HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ALL THE MUD SHIELDS, INDICATIVE OF THE TIRE THREAD SEPERATING FROM THE TIRE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 81 DEGREES. DROVE 30 MILES INTO THE NEXT TOWN ON THE "DOUGHNUT" TIRE, AND FOUND A TIRE DEALER. BOUGHT 4 NEW NON-FIRESTONE TIRES. WHILE THE CAR WAS UP ON THE RACK, I EXAMINED THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THEY ALL SHOWED THE THREAD WEAR INDICATORS. MILEAGE ON THE TIRES AT THIS TIME WAS 14,750 MILES. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FIRESTONE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMPENSE ME BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE. I TOLD THEM IT WAS IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES ON THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE ME SATISFACTION. NOR WOULD GENERAL MOTORS GIVE ME SATISFACTION FOR THE SAME REASON. DT

PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WITH NO WARNING GEARS JUMP INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, AND IT MADE A NOISE.*JB

TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE.*AK

THE TRUCKS BED CRACKED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REFUND AND A GUARANTEE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED. (MODEL/FLEETSIDE) *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE FRONT END WILL MAKE LOUD NOISES, AND VEHICLE WILL HEAVILY VIBRATE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR WHEN IT WORKS OR DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN WNATING TO MAKE A TURN AND NOT KNOWING IF THE TURN SIGNALS ARE FUNCTIONING.*AK

2001 CHEVY MALIBU. FLASHERS DO NOT WORK, TURN SIGNAL FAILS, ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENT, MOST ALL THE TIME DOES NOT WORK. I TRIED TO GET THE RECALL AND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS ALREADY REPAIRED FROM PREVIOUS OWNER. TURN SIGNALS NEVER WORKED ONLY INTERMITTENTLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ON SIDES OF CAR HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL TO KNOWLEDGE. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT. IF IT WAS REPAIRED PROPERLY, THEN I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.CONTINUES TO BE A CRASH/ SAFETY RISK! THANK YOU. *TR

ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH BRAKE FAILURE.@-DAY REST AND BRAKES APPEARED TO BE OKAY. AM AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS ON HIGHWAY WHEN I SENSED FAULTY BRAKING POWER. OFF HIGHWAY ON HILLY ROAD BRAKES WENT AOUT COMPLETELY AND THERE WAS AN ODOR LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I HAD CAR TOWED TO BROOME CHEVROLET-OLDSMOBILE ON SATURDAY. IT STAYED THERE UNTIL MONDAY WHEN SERVICE SHOP OPENED. IT WAS THERE FOR TWO DAYS. THE ONLY THING I CAN GET FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER IS THAT THEY ROAD TESTED IT 3 TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TRIED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO DETERMINE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE. HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HIS MECHANICS DID EXCEPT ROD TESTED IT AND LOOKED THROUGH THE WHEEL. HE COULD NOT DEFINE WHAT LOOKING THROUGH THE WHEEL MEANT. I ASKED IF THEY TOOK A LOGICAL APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM. HE COULD NOT ANSWER THIS. I GAVE SOME EXAMPLES, SUCH AS, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED FOR SOME REASON. THEY GOT HOT AND CHEMICALS IN THE MATERIALS VAPORIZED AND THIUS THE ODOR. NOW WHAT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK. THEN HE SAID THAT HE KNEW THAT THE BRAKE PEDDLE WOULD FLOORBOARD IF THE BRAKES GOT HOT. HE ALSO SAID THAT HARD BRAKING WOULD CAUSE THAT AND SLOW DRIVING AND BRAKING WOULD DO THAT INFERRING THAT I DID THT. I TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT HARD BRAKE AND I DID NOT RIDE THE BRAKES. I ALSO SAID THAT IF SLOW DRIVING AND BRAKING WOULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM I HAD THEN MOST EVERYBODY DRIVING IN THE CITU WOULD EXPERIENCE WHAT I DID. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE OFFICE AND GOT NO HELP. I ASKE FOR SOURCES (TELEPHONE NUMBERS) WHERE I COULD FIND OUT ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WHERE I COULD TALK WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE ON THE SUBJECT. ALL I GOT WAS THAT THEYB COULD NOT REPLACE EVERY PART; SHE HAD NOT NUMBERS; THAT THE CA WASS ROAD TESTED BY THREER PEOPLE AT BROOME (SHE HAD CALLED AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. I HAD GIVEN HER THE NUMBER.). MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES BRKAES DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT BRAKING POWER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON HILLS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, THERE IS AN ODOR AS IF PLASTIC WAS BURNING. CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT WAS BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND BELIEVED THE CRASH WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TURN SIGNAL WORKS SPARRATICLY, SOMETIMES WORKING AFTER PRESSING HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH. THE FLOOR MAT BLOCKS BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM PERSISTS UNLESS MATS ARE REPOSITIONED WITH EACH ENTRY AND DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED TO BUY NEW MATS AT THE TUNE OF $48.00 TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AS THROTTLE LOST PRESSURE AND ENGINE WAS HESITATING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ALREADY BEEN IN TO DEALER 6 TIMES. FUEL PUMP/ GROUND WIRES, AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT WAS STILL PROGRESSING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE CONSUMER TWO FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARTION FROM THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NAME OF TIRE,THE SIZE AND SERIAL NUMBER. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

WHILE APPLYING HER BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THERE WERE VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

AT 40MPH AND WITH NO WARNING LOST STEERING CONTROL, RESULTING IN CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ALSO A GRINDING NOISE. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BRAKE SHOES AND PADS 6 TIMES. BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10000 MILES. *JB

WHITE SULFIDES (FUMES) ARE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND OTHER OPENINGS IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTUERER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TT UPDATED *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, ALL OF ELECTRICAL OUTLETS WENT OUT, RESULTING IN WINDOWS/RADIO, AND AIR CONDITIONING BECOMING INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE OCCURRING PROBLEM ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION; HOWEVER, HAD NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. *AK THE SPEEDOMETER IS THE ONLY THING OPERABLE ON THE DASH. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ONLY THING OPERABLE WAS THE RADIO. CONSUMER DIDN'T REPORT THE DEFECT BECAUSE ALL SYSTEMS STARTED WORKING ON THEIR OWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURING. THERE HAS BEEN TWO ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED CAUSING THE POWER ACCESSORIES CIRCUIT CONNECTOR TO MELT. *JG

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WHEN ROAD CONDITION VARIES (SUCH AS A BUMP IN THE ROAD), VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AS IF DEACTIVATING THE CAR, E.G. CAR DOORS UNLOCK, NO RPM, GAS NEEDLE IMMEDIATELY DESCENDS TO E, IMMEDIATE DECELERATION. *JB

DRIVERS SHOULDER BELT TIGHTENS WITH ANY MOVEMENT AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO RELEASE THE BELT FROM THE BUCKLE TO GET ANY RELIEF. 3 WEEKS AGO SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT THIS HAS NOT COMPLETELY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HORN UNEXPECTEDLY SOUNDED OFF WITHOUT APPLYING MECHANISM THAT CONTROLLED HORN LOCATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS WEATHER CAUSING PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN TO ALTERNATE BODY SHOPS, BECAUSE ENGINE FAILED TO START. MECHANICS FLUSHED OUT THE CAR AND HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER TO DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. NO FOUND PROBLEMS AND CAR CRANKED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. CAR LAST FAILED ON MAY 3, 2002 AND IS STILL NOT WORKING AS OF TODAY. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762043

FLASHER TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING. *AK *TT

FRONT BRAKES PULSATE WHEN VEHICLE STOPS. BRAKES HAD FAILED AND DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM COULD REOCCUR. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE IS HEARING A CLUNK NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA AND BRAKE NOISE IN FRONT WHEN BRAKING, VIBRATION IS WORSE AFTER 30 MILES OF STOPPING, DEALER REPLACED PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS; ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY HUMMING TYPE NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. *YD

BOUGHT 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW ON MARCH 14,2001 ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AROUND 35,000 MILES. HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE. SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. IT IS EITHER PISTON SLAP OR BAD LIFTERS. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX ISSUE AT THE TIME. CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. ALSO THIS VEHICLE HAS POOR BRAKES. REPLACE ROTORS AND SHOES AT 12,000 MILES AT DEALER. REPLACED ROTORS AGAIN AT DEALER AT 30,000 MILES. CURRENTLY HAS 111,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX ENGINE ISSUE AT LITTLE OR NO COST. BRAKE ISSUE IS BETTER WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. *TR

ENGINE MISS-FIRES AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER SERVICE. *AK

HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. BAD SWITCH CAUSES HAZARD LIGHTS AND BLINKERS TO QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. I PURCHASED ANOTHER PART AND INSTALLED MYSELF. I HAVE THE OLD PART. *NM

IN 2001 WE PURCHASED A NEW CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER JUST 17,000 MILES WE WERE INFORMED IT WOULD NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAD WORN OUT. GM REPLACED THE BRAKES FOR US. 13,000 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING AND LETTER WRITING, GM REPLACED THE BRAKES AGAIN. I INSPECTED THE BRAKES IN BOTH INSTANCES AND NOTICED THAT ONLY THE INNER BRAKE PAD WAS WORN, THE OUTER PAD LOOKED BRAND NEW. THE CALIPER IS CAST ALUMINUM AND IT BENDS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MUCH LIKE A CHEAP "C" CLAMP THAT YOU MIGHT FIND IN A DOLLAR STORE. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THIS CONDITION. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE SAFETY OF THIS SYSTEM. WITH THE CONSTANT FLEXING I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CALIPER MAY FRACTURE AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION TO THE FLEXING, I BELIEVE THE INNER PAD IS OVERHEATING, SINCE IT IS DOING ALL OF THE WORK, AND THIS COULD CAUSE BRAKE FADE. THE CALIPER ALSO APPEARS TO BIND ON THE GUIDE PINS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN THE CASTING BENDS, IT CAUSES A MISALIGNMENT OF THE GUIDE PINS AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CALIPER THEN BINDS. THE SECOND ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH THE LIFE OF THE BRAKES. GM SAYS THE BRAKES SHOULD ONLY LAST BETWEEN 8,000 AND 12,000 MILES. IF THE CALIPER DIDN'T FLEX AS MUCH AND THE PADS WERE WEARING EVENLY THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE BRAKES WOULD GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY. IN EITHER CASE GM BLEW IT WITH THEIR CHOICE OF THESE CALIPERS ON THIS VEHICLE. AT THE VERY WORST, THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE BRAKES, AND ARE PEOPLE EVEN LOOKING AT THE BRAKES AS A CAUSE? AT BEST, GM IS SHAFTING THEIR CUSTOMERS. PEOPLE ARE PAYING NEEDLESSLY FOR SERVICE WORK THEY DON'T NEED. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY RESULTING FROM THIS. IT ALSO SPEAKS TO GM'S INTEGRITY AND ETHICS, ALLOWING AN INFERIOR BRAKE SYSTEM TO BE USED ON ITS VEHICLES. *NLM

THE CAR TURND OFF AND DOORS LOCKED. KNOCKING NOISES AT ENGINE AND EGR SCENSOR CAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON/ VERY POOR QUALITY. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITH ENGINE STALLING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. MOST RECENTLY, THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,117.

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS TIRES. CONSUMER WENT TO FIRESTONE, AND HAD TIRES REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER WONT LOOK AT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK