2005 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A PULLING SENSATION AND NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURES WERE NOT RESOLVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,330.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY, THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING SOUND, THE STEERING WHEEL IS SLIPPING OR LOOSE, AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DASHBOARD . VIBRATES. THE CONTACT HEARS A NOISE IN THE RADIO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED, THE REMOTE START WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE SHAKES ROUGHLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,030 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION. THE SHOCKS AND BEARINGS MADE A NOISY. THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. UPDATED 09/30/08.*JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS NO PROTECTION BETWEEN FOOT AND A CABLE. HE IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CONTACT'S FOOT IS ON THE PEDAL OR ON THE CABLE. THIS COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HE FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A SHIELD TO KEEP FOOT FROM HANGING. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT ALL OF THE MALIBUS WERE LIKE THIS, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER A REMEDY. *AK

DT : THE AIR BAGS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES DEPLOYED DURING A REAR END COLLISION UNDER 10 MPH. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 24, 2005. THE CASE # WAS 055947.*AK

OUR 2005 CHEVY MALIBU HAS HAD STEERING ISSUES SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE DEALER AND GM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT AS OF YET. THE CAR HAS A CONSTANT PULL TO THE LEFT AND ON OCCASION (4 TIMES) THE CAR WILL VEER TO THE LEFT CROSSING LANES BEFORE YOU CAN GET CONTROL AND BRING IT BACK IT TO THE CORRECT DRIVING LANE. THE REPAIR SO FAR HAS BEEN TO REPROGRAM THE STEERING MODULE OR REPLACE IT. THIS HAS NOT WORKED AND IS WHAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO AGAIN. *JB

CONSUMER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SPEED OF 5 MPH SEAT BELTS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. *TS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE POLICE OFFICER NOTICED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN PULLED QUICKLY. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED HE COULD SEE NO REASON WHY THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO THE DAMAGE BEING MINOR. *JB

MY 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILS TO START UNTIL ATTEMPTING 2 TO 3 TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTS, THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. TURN SIGNAL TODAY DID NOT WORK, UNTIL AFTER I HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT BEFORE TURN SIGNALS WOULD WORK. VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE LEFT. STARTER DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. *NM

MY SON USED MY NEW CHEV 2005 MALIBU LS AND WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE GROUND SMASHING THE WHOLE FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THANK GOD HE AND HIS COUSIN WERE NOT KILLED. I THOUGHT THE AIR BAGS WERE TO WORK WHEN YOU HIT THE FRONT END OF YOUR CAR?*JB

ON 8/25/2008 MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON MY 2005 MALIBU CLASSIC. O LOST CONTROL IF MY CAR AND CRASHED INTO 2 TELEPHONE BOXES. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS INCIDENT ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER PANEL OF MY CHEVROLET 2005 MALIBU IS NOT READABLE WHENEVER SUNLIGHT IS PRESENT. THE PANEL IS TOO DIMLY LIT TO BE READ BY THE DRIVER UNTIL YOU SHADE THE PANEL WITH YOUR HAND OR A MAP AND PLACE YOUR FACE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. THIS CANNOT BE DONE WHILE DRIVING. THE SEVENTEEN WARNING MESSAGES THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THE VEHICLE COMPUTER CAN ONLY BE PROVIDED TO THE DRIVER BY THE DIC PANEL DISPLAY. FIVE OF THESE WARNINGS ARE CRITICAL TO SAFETY. AFTER SUNDOWN, THE VEHICLE SENSOR ACTIVATES THE HEADLIGHTS AND ACTIVATES A RHEOSTAT ON THE DASH WHICH ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO SET DIC PANEL LIGHT INTENSITY ANYWHERE HE OR SHE WISHES SO READABILITY IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM. *JB

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. DOOR STOP MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. DOORS SWING CLOSED WITH LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE CAUSING LEG INJURIES AND FALL RISK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NO SOLUTIONS. PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. *JB

HAVE HAD NUMEROUS WARRANTY WORK DONE. PURCHASED CAR 4 MONTHS AGO WITH 24,000 MILES NOW HAS 28,000. 6 WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS. AROUND 25,000 STARTED CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING VIOLENTLY. SHUT CAR OFF AND IT WAS FINE. LATER NOTICED STEERING WAS LOOSER AND THUMPING NOISE. CHEVY REPLACED STEERING GEAR. NOW AT CURRENT MILEAGE DID THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AND REPLACING ANOTHER COMPONENT IN STEERING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING AROUND TURNS IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER CAR. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS OUT MY WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO D HALF THE TIME IT WILL JUMP INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK OR WANTS TO STOP AT R. A CAR WITH 28,000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WANTS TO STEER ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME WHEN IT OCCURS. PRIMARILY IT WANTS TO GO LEFT. ONCE I TRIED TO GO INTO THE LEFT LANE OF A FREEWAY QUITE GRADUALLY...IT WANTED TO GO LEFT ALRIGHT...ALTHOUGH IT WANTED TO GO QUICKLY INTO THE LANE! CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS THIS PAST FRIDAY (7/30/05). HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THEN (TUESDAY, 8/2/05)...BUT...AGAIN THIS IS A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MY MILEAGE HAS DROPPED FROM 33 MILES PER GALLON TO 29 MILES PER GALLON. DEALER SAYS THAT NOTHING THEY HAVE DONE SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THE 29 MILES PER GALLON IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS...THIS DROP IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. HAVE REQUESTED A BUY BACK DIRECT FROM CHEVROLET. THE VEHICLE WELL EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BUY BACK ACCORDING THE OHIO LEMON LAW. CHEVROLET SAYS THAT THEY WILL NOT BUY BACK THE CAR...EVEN THOUGH IT EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OHIO LEMON LAW! MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THE STEERING WILL GO TOTALLY OUT AND THE CAR WILL GO WHEREVER IT DECIDES TO...I DON'T WANT TO BE INJURED AND DON'T WANT TO INJUR ANY ONE ELSE. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER RENTED A VEHICLE FROM ALAMO RENTAL IN ORLANDO, FL AT THE AIRPORT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING HE WAS JUST DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT. HE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNED AND HE LOST CONTROL AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER IN THE MEDIAN WHERE IT ALSO DISMOUNTED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FROM THE RIM. THE CONSUMER SAID THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS INSERTED ABOUT 6 INCHES LIKE IT WAS TURNED IN TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. ALAMO WAS CALLED AND THEY OFFERED TO FIX A FLAT BUT THE CONSUMER WANTED A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER FEEL THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2005. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BINDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SEVEN TIMES THIS WEEKEND FOR THE POPPING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

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

HAVE HAD THE SAME POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX. I FEEL THAT IT IS APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND I AM NOT PAYING TO FIX IT. CAR NOW HAS 99.000 MILES ON IT. GETTING RID OF IT IN DECEMBER OF 06, CAN'T KEEP A TURN SIGNAL BULB IN THE CAR EITHER. LAST CHEVY I WILL BUY. *JB

IGNITION PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK OVER ON THE FIRST TRY TO START CAR. HAVE TO WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND TRY AGAIN. THEN IT WILL START.

(1) NONE (2) LOSS OF STEERING AT 65 MPH: CAR CATAPULTED RIGHTWARDS INTO 2 VEHICLES, VAN AND SEMI, AND ULTIMATELY OFF FREEWAY PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED. (3) RECOVERED FRACTURED PART OF VEHICLE AT SITE OF COLLISION 2 DAYS LATER.PART IDENTIFIED BY CHEVROLET DEALER AS ENGINE MOUNTING BRACKET BELONGING TO MY MAKE AND YEAR OF CAR.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH 2005 CHEVY MALIBU. 1.) KEY STICKING IN IGNITION. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER 3 TIMES. TWO OF THESE TIMES THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND PARK CABLE ADJUSTED TWICE. 2.) TRACTION CONTROL (T/C), ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT ENGINE START UP. A SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB AND BEARING. IN ADDITION, THE EBCM COMPUTER TO THE BREAK SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NOW IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE 6TH TIME. ALL 3 LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS ON 6/13/05 WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW UP ON MY FILE #1-34200114 BUT HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE OTHER THAN THEY ARE RESEARCHING MY CONCERNS.

I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE HAD A "CLUNKING" OF THE "I" SHAFT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD "NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT". "WON'T HURT ANYTHING." "YOU CAN HAVE IT REPLACED IF IT BECOMES ANNOYING." "IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY." I HAVE MY CAR AT A DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW TO GET THE "I" SHAFT REPLACED. THE SHOP FOREMAN JUST CAME IN AND TOLD ME HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THIS ON "SEVERAL" MALIBUS AND GM HAS INCREASED THE COST OF THE "I" SHAFT BECAUSE OF SO MANY REPAIRS. IT USE TO COST $90-$125. NOW HE TELLS ME IT WILL COST $150 JUST FOR THE "I" SHAFT. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED I FILE THE COMPLAINT AND SEE IF GM WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COSTS. IF A DEALER REPAIR SHOP IS SAYING THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEN GM SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER 5 YEARS AGO. PLEASE HELP! I AM A RETIRED WORKER AND THIS IS KILLING MY MEAGER BUDGET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WITHIN A SERIES OF MONTHS, BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL BULBS HAVE ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FOUND THE VEHICLE TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WHICH MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED. *AK THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

ON OUR 2005 CHEVY MALIBU WE HAVE CHANGED THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMP NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2005, THE FIRST TIME BEING ONLY A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IN NOV. 2006 AT OUR EXPENSE WE HAD TO CHANGE THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP SOCKETS BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THE REASON FOR THE LAMPS BURNING OUT WAS DUE TO THE SOCKETS BEING CORRODED. AFTER THAT WE HAVE STILL HAD TO CHANGE THE LAMPS AS FREQUENT. I WOULD SAY IN ALL WE HAVE REPLACED EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT LAMP ABOUT 12 TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF MARCH 2005. RECENTLY WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LAMP HOUSING HAS ACTUALLY MELTED ABOVE WHERE THE LAMPS ARE LOCATED. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LOCAL DEALER LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM AGAIN. EVERY TIME I SEE A CHEVY MALIBU FROM THE YEAR MODEL OF 2005 TO 2007, MOST OFTEN ONE OF THE FRONT PARK/SIGNAL LAMPS IS BURNED OUT. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO NOT HAVING A PROPERLY WORKING TURN SIGNAL COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO IF THE HOUSING IS MELTING, THEN IT COULD RESULT IN THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE I BELIEVE. *TR

INSTALL JUMPER HARNESS PER PIP3098A NECK, FUEL TANK FILLER REPLACE TIE ROD END AND/OR ADJUSTER SLEEVE RIGHT REPLACE PANEL, SEAT BACK OF BACK PASSENGER R&R OR REPLACE RECEIVER, RADIO REMOVE, REPAIR AND REPLACE RADIO. *NM

I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH 2005. AFTER A MONTH I STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH STARTING IT. I WOULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN THERE WOULD BE NO POWER, I WOULD TURN THE KEY AGAIN AND THERE WOULD BE POWER BUT THE INFO STATION WOULD RESET. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO DROVE IT SOMETIMES AND THE SAME THING WOULD OCCUR FOR HIM. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, THEY COULDN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD RESET THE COMPUTERS TO FACTORY, ONE TIME THEY INSTALLED AN UPDATE. IT WOULD STOP FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN START BACK UP. A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE I FOUND A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP(2006), THEY SAID IT WAS THE HEADLIGHT AND REPLACED IT, THEY ALSO UPDATED AND RESET THE COMPUTER. IT STOPPED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN RESTARTED. THEN ONE DAY THE CD PLAYER WOULDN'T QUIT WORKING, IT SHOWED I NEEDED TO EJECT CD BUT THERE WAS NO CD TO EJECT, IT WOULD WHIR CONSTANTLY. THEN ONE MORNING LAST FALL(2007) THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, WE GOT IT JUMP STARTED AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DISCOVERED SOMETHING WITH AN IGNITION CONNECTION BEING PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY. NOW MY VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING, YOU TURN THE KEY AND THERE IS NO POWER, THE SECOND TIME THERE IS POWER, BUT THE INFO STATION IS RESET. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE ARE OVER THE 12000 WARRANTY MILES ON THE NEW PART, SO THERE IS NO GOODWILL WARRANTY ON THIS ONE AND IT WILL COST AROUND $600 AND THAT IT PROBABLY ISN'T THE SAME PART ANYWAY. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE HAD FROM DAY ONE OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIPS WHO COULDN'T TRULY DISCOVER THE PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FIXED FROM DAY ONE. I WOULD THINK THAT IF IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THERE WOULD BE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAN ALWAYS LOSING POWER. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW IN 2005. SINCE THEN, WE REPEATEDLY LOST STEERING WITH THE CAR. I WAS ONLY RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ON THESE VEHICLES. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. GM KNEW. I VISITED MY LOCAL JUNKYARD THE OTHER DAY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE CARS WITH FRONT END DAMAGE. I CAN ONLY SURMISE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS/INJURIES/FATALITIES WERE THE RESULT OF THIS STEERING FLAW. GM NEVER INFORMED ME OF THE POTENTIAL RISKS. (I DID NOT MOVE OR CHANGE ADDRESS.) I FOUND OUT VIA THE INTERNET. I NOW SEE WHERE GM IS INVOLVED IN YET ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IGNITION SWITCHES. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING ON THESE STEERING ISSUES? SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL OF MY CAR EVEN IF TURNING ONLY SLIGHTLY. MY GIRLFRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS HAD TO BRING HER VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURE THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 5 MONTHS TO BE FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS WEARING DOWN THE BRAKES. MY CAR IS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD AND THE BRAKES ARE ALREADY SQUEEKING. ALSO THE REAR DOOR LATCH GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO CLOSE UNTIL A SCREWDRIVER IS TAKEN TO IT. THIS IS FOR A 2005 CHEVY MALIBU. *NM

THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILIURES. I HAVE THE PAPER WORK OF THE TWO TIMES I 'VE TAKEN MY CARE TO BE REPAIRED. THE DATE I INIDATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE HOWEVER, JUST AN ESTIMATED DATE.*AK THE FAILURE WAS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEARING HAS GONE OUT NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE HAD IT IN TEH SHOP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN, THE SECOND TIME, THEY CLAIMED ITS NOT THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT THAT IT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN'T FIX BUT CAN CLEAR OUT THE "CODES" AND IT WILL BE "TEMPORARLY" FIXED. ACCORDING TO GM " THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN THIS TYPE OF CAR BUT ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT" THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE THAT THE STEERING IS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC CLAIMED IT BE TORQUE STEERING AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THAT AS ITS "NORMAL" I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE PULL TO THE LEFT SO MUCH AS THIS CAR DOES. THEY ROTATED MY TIRES TO SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK BUT IT DIDN'T.

AT APPROX 5 MPH, AND OUR BACK SEAT PASSENGER RESTED HIS ARM AGAINST THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN (LATCH FAILURE). THE DOOR WOULD NOT RE-LATCH DESPITE APPROXIMATELY 50 ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THE DOOR. WE ROTATED THE LATCH ASSEMBLY TRYING TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND IT WOULD STILL NOT LATCH. IF THIS WAS A CHILD OR IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH. FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR TO STICK CLOSED HALFWAY, THE WHOLE DRIVE HOME IT RATTLED AND DOOR AJAR WAS LISTED. IT WAS 9 DEGREES F ACCORDING TO THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AT THE TIME. THE NEXT MORNING, AT 22 DEGREES,WE OPENED IT AND IT LATCHED PROPERLY ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON JAN 21, ALSO AT 9 DEGREES, I OPENED THE REAR DOOR AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT. THIS WOULD NOT LATCH AT ALL, AND AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING, I DROVE 5 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY HAND EXTENDED TO THE BACK SEAT, HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED MANUALLY SO THAT IT WOULD NOT SWING OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THIS, AND DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROX 5 MINUTES, AT WHICH TIME THE CAR WAS WARMED UP SLIGHTLY DUE TO IT BEING INDOORS, AND IT CLOSED PROPERLY. THE DEALER ASKED IF I HAD ANY CHILDREN AND WHEN I SAID NO, THEY RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO ME AND SAID THEY'D BE IN CONTACT WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND MY SUSPENSION ISSUE AND CALL ME MONDAY. *NM

DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY WHEN CLOSED. NO DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS INDICATED AND DOOR SWUNG OPEN UPON TURNING A CORNER EVEN WITH DOORS LOCKED. WE WERE EXPERIENCING A COLD SNAP AT THE TIME BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME WHEN THERE WAS COLD WEATHER. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT AN UNBUCKLED CHILD OR PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE LATCH MECHANISM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A FROZEN LOCK. THEY TREATED IT WITH SILICON SPRAY AND LUBE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT I AM NOW WORRIED THE DOOR WILL OPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A 2005 CAR WITH ONLY 700 MILES. *NM

CAR IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OLD AND UNDER 400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. CONSTANT STALLING AND EVENTUALLY DIFFICULT TO START. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER SERVICE DEPT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AWAITING DELIVERY OF REPLACEMENT PART. *NM

FAILURE WAS A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. CAUSE WAS A SLIGHT CURB STRIKE. THIS 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS 1200 MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE, THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED AT 850 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH AND HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO CONTROL; VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER INTO A DITCH. *AK RENTAL VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE CONTRACT #113732

PICKED UP NEW FLEET VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP 10 11 04 AND DROVE HOME APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES. BEGAN APPRAISAL ROUTE 10 12 04. IT BECAME IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE ON THE STEERING SHAFT AND WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LOOSE WITH EACH MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IN LESS THAN 40 MILES OF TOTAL DRIVING SINCE PICKING UP THE NEW CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SO MUCH PLAY (ROCKED 3/4 OF AN INCH FRONT TO BACK AT EITHER SIDE AND COULD BE PUSHED IN AND GENTLY PULLED BACK AT LEAST 1/2" ON SPLINED SHAFT) THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE NEARBY ACCESS TO DEALER, I HAD A BODY SHOP OWNER AT MY FIRST STOP LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. TO GET RIGHT TO THE POINT, AFTER REMOVING THE PLASTIC STEERING COLUMN COVERS AND ADJACENT COVER ON COLUMN SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL, THE RETAINING NUT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE TURNED WITH A FINGER AND WAS NEARLY OFF THE END OF THE STEERING SHAFT. THE SHOP OWNER WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE NUT WITH AN OPEN END WRENCH AND MADE AT LEAST 4 FULL TURNS ON THE NUT BEFORE IT BEGAN TO OFFER RESISTANCE. THE NUT WAS TIGHTENED 1/8 TURN AT A TIME DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS, BUT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THE SPEED AT WHICH THE NUT BACKED OFF INITIALLY WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED NO SUCH FREE PLAY ON MY TRIP HOME FROM THE DEALER ON 10 11 04. MOST OF THE LOOSENING OF THE NUT SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE NEXT 5 MILES OF DRIVING, WHICH WAS MOSTLY STOP AND GO RESIDENTIAL WITH LOTS OF TURNS. CLEARLY,IF THE AVERAGE CONSUMER WERE PRESENTED WITH THIS SITUATION, HE/SHE MAY HAVE ELECTED TO TRY TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE CAR, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I MEAN, THE WHEEL BECAME SO LOOSE THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE IN LESS THAN 40 MILES FROM NEW. *NM

THE SMELL OF FUEL PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND THE DEALER SINCE THERE WAS A FUEL TANK RECALL. THE CONSUMER LOCATED A CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK. *AK

AS OF THIS DATE, FEB. 17, 2009, THE PART IN QUESTION HAS NOT FAILED, CAUSING ANY CRASHES OR INJURIES. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A THUMPING WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT. WHILE UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT LEAST 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSURED ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART, THE BOOT OF JOINT SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE STEERING. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD MY PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND HE HAS DILIGENTLY CHECKED FOR A RECALL OR A CORRECTIVE MEASURE FROM CHEVROLET, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NONE. THE MECHANIC HAS GREASED THIS JOINT SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT HELPS THE THUMPING, BUT EVENTUALLY IT RETURNS OVER TIME. I HAVE READ WHERE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR STEERING TOTALLY GOING OUT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THAT CHEVROLET HAS CONSTANTLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS. COMPONENT #2: I WAS CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPLACE THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS AS THE BULBS WERE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. COMPONENT #3 THE FAN WHICH CONTROLS THE INSIDE AIR FLOW HAS CONSTANTLY RATTLED UNLESS THE FAN IS TURNED ON THE HIGHEST SETTING. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN REPLACED THAT FAN, TELLING ME A BROKEN PART HAD FALLEN DOWN INTO IT. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES, BUT THEY FINALLY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ELSE. IT STILL RATTLES HORRIBLY. *TR

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT

INTERMEDIATE STREERING SHAFT

2005 MALIBU WITHOUT SIDE AIRBAGS CUSTOMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND BELIEVES THAT HER INJURIES WERE DUE TO THE HEAD REST**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED LOWER TO PROTECT THE CONSUMERS NECK. WHEN THE CONSUMERS HEAD IS ON THE HEAD REST, IT PUSHES HER HEAD FORWARD. *JB

2003 CHEVY MALIBU PASS LOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. CUSTOMER STATES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO RESTART IT. **NAR**KB

2005 CHEVY MALIBU WITH ODOMETER PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES SHE TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID THE ODOMETER WAS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ODOMETER IS READING 3.4% HIGH, GIVING THE VEHICLE MORE MILEAGE. *KB

2005 CHEVY MALIBU ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM STATED NOT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN UNLESS YOUR VEHICLE HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. *KB THE LETTER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, A CHIME WILL BE HEARD AND THE DIC WILL DISPLAY A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE. *JB