FOR THE THIRD TIME WE ARE WORKING ON SAME ISSUE.. DASH LIGHTING UP AIR BAG STAYING ON. WIRING REPLACE ON SECOND TIME TO DEALERSHIP.. GOING BACK FOR THIS TIME...
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT IN TO GET CHECKED. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED TO THE DEALERSHIP, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. A WEEK LATER MY WIFE WAS IN THE OUTSIDE WALGREENS LINE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR RADIO SCREEN TURNED OF AND THE CAR STARTED TO JUMP A LITTLE. THE CAR RADIO SCREEN TURNED BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER SHE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BREAK AND WAS NOT GOING ANY RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE READ ALMOST ABOUT 100 COMPLAINTS NOW OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS IT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING AT A CONSIDERABLE SPEED WHERE THE RADIO DASH TURNED OF AND THEY LOSE POWER TO THE CAR FOR A SECOND OR SO. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE THERE ARE ANY DEATHS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LITE UP AND RADIO STARTED PLAYING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN CLEARED AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG CAME ON.... HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
BURNING SMELL,SMOKE, BATTERY/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, RUNS ROUGH
MY CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT STARTED AFTER MY CAR DIED AT THE END OF AN HOUR'S DRIVE. I THOUGHT I WAS EXPERIENCING BATTERY ISSUES BUT PERSISTED MONTHS WITH NO OTHER ISSUES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MONTHS LATER (DECEMBER 3RD), AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON ME WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING A SNOW STORM. MY POWER STEERING WAS BARELY OPERABLE, WHILE MY LIGHTS HEAT AND RADIO COMPLETELY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BE CLULESS ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE ONE I VISITED SEEMED ADAMANT THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE STEMMING FROM MY KEY! CHEVY HAS BEEN HELPFUL ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT THEY GAVE ME A $100 CREDIT TO GET THE CAR DIAGNOSED (WHICH HASN'T GIVEN ANY RESULTS). I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE HORROR STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE AND AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL SOMETHING IS FIXED.
BOUGHT USED IN 2014 WITH 22K MILES FROM CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER. IN JULY, 2016 (NOW 45K MILES), THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LOW SPEEDS OR STOPS (HIGHWAY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND AT STOP LIGHTS, ALSO WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WHEN SOMEONE PULLED IN FRONT OF US). BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A SENSOR, SECOND TIME THEY COULD ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIRD TIME BROUGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED IT WAS RELATED TO THE ECO AND WE SHOULD BRING TO A DEALER. EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND FREQUENTLY DRIVE THROUGH MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AREAS WHERE THERE IS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TUBING AROUND THE SUN ROOF WAS RETAINING WATER. AS A RESULT, MOLD DEVELOPED AND CAUSED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE DEALER DRAINED THE WATER OUT OF THE TUBING, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
THE CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT! THE CODES ON MY CAR IS P00014 AND P00010. THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS. PLEASE NOTIFY THE DRIVES OF THIS RECALL I HAVE WENT TO THE SAFERCAR LINK AND CHECKED ME CAR VIN AND THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN SENT OUT FOR THIS CAR BUT IT WILL CAUSE INJURIES IF NOT DEATH. MY CAR STOPPED ON THE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC..
RIGHT REAR HUB SENSOR BROKEN. TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED ON 4/15/16. TOOK TO DEALER ON 4/19/16. $390 TO REPAIR. MILEAGE IS 49,500.
VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR: 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO VEHICLE VIN NO.: [XXX] INCIDENT DATE: 06/21/2015 INCIDENT TIME: 10:40:00 AM INCIDENT LOCATION: [XXX] APPROXIMATE MONETARY VALUE: 100000 ARE YOU WILLING TO TESTIFY IN COURT REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT? (X)YES( )NO DID YOU COMPLAIN DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESS? (X)YES( )NO IF SO, WHO? CHEVY CUSTOMER ACCURANCE WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE BUSINESS? CASE #[XXX] NOTHING ON 9/7/2015 I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW CHEVY MALIBU ECO WITH A STICKER PRICE OF OVER $28.000 DOLLARS THERE WHERE MANY ISSUES AND RECALLS BACK IN NOV 2014 I GOT A LETTER FROM CHEVY REGARDING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING IN THIS CAR GM DID NOT DO A RECALL AS YOU KNOW IT WOULD HAVE COST THEM MILLONS OF DOLLARS TO DO A RECALL INSTEAD THEY SENT THIS LETTER OUT I TOOK THE LETTER TO THE CHEVY DEALER 2 TIMES THEY DID NOTHING ON 6/21/15 I WAS COMING FROM SEEING MY DYING MOTHER WHO WAS IN A LONG TERM CARE FOR 14 MONTHS SHE DID DIE LAST WEEK BUT ON THIS DATE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THIS ROAD I DROVE 2 TIMES A DAY FOR 14 MONTHS THE GM CHEVY DEFECT CAUSED ME TO HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT WITH INJURY'S ME BEING INJURED THE STEERING WHEELS STAYED STRAIGHT AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT I DID GET BLAMED FOR THE ACCIDENT LOST MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU ECO WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH TRAMA FOR 6 TO 8 WEEKS PAID A FINE OF $439.00 THEN ON JULY 11 2015 I BOUGHT ANOTHER NEW CHEVY THE DEALER ACTION CHEVY SCAMMED ME I WAS TO PAY $21.200 FOR THE CAR MINUS THE $1500 REBATE THE CAR DEALER CHANGED IT TO I PAY $21
NOV 2014 I GOT A SAFETY STEERING ISSUE WITH IS CALL TOOK IT TO THE DEAL ACTION CHEVY 2 TIMES THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT LETTER # 14232 ON 6/21/2015 I HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING SAFET ISSUE THAT GM/CHEVY DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEY DID NOT DO A RECALL BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MILLONS OF DOLLARS I GOT BLAMED FOR THE ACCIDENT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF GM/CHEVY ALL GM/CHEVY DID WAS OPEN A CASE # 8-1613872160 ON 10/9/15 AND GM/CHEVY DID NOTHING
WHILE DRIVING INTO CHICAGO ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HWY A WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH "SERVICE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE," BEFORE I COULD REACH A SERVICE CENTER THE VOLTAGE BEGAN TO DROP AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED (LIGHTS, STEERING & BRAKE ASSIST, ETC. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WORKED, E.G. EMERGENCY FLASHERS, COULDN'T REMOVE IGNITION KEY. AFTER WAITING 4 HOURS FOR TOW TRUCK, TOWED TO ROGERS CHEVROLET IN CHICAGO. VEHICLE SAT ON THE LOT TWO DAYS, THEN SERVICE TECH SAID VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WITH NO FAULT INDICATIONS. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OPERATE NORMALLY. DEALER ADVISES TO BRING VEHICLE BACK WHEN IT FAILS. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS PERHAPS THE COMPUTER INITIATED A FALSE ERROR REPORT AND THEN SHUTS DOWN THE GCM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP AND THAT'S WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE GCM PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, BUT MY DOG LEAPED FROM THE STRANDED VEHICLE INTO TRAFFIC RESULTING ON OVER $6,600 IN MEDICAL EXPENSE SO FAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEATH/INJURY THRESHOLD IS UNTIL GM WILL REPAIR THEIR OWN FAULTY VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ON STAR SYSTEM INTERFERED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
WHILE DRIVING AND SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE RADIO TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER SPEAKING WITH CHEVY. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATED THE ISSUE. IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES THEN AUG 8, 2015 I WAS ABLE TO RECORD A 2 MINUTE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE. IT IS UPLOADED ON YOU TUBE, HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=T44SLFCG434 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER 8/11/2015. ON 8/13/2015 NICHOLAS FROM GLOBAL AUTO (908) 757-4000 CALLED SAYING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. I FIND THIS HIGHLY SUSPECT BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE VIDEO, THE RADIO CUTS OUT, THE STEERING CUTS OUT BUT THE AIR CONDITIONER STAYS ON. IF THE ALTERNATOR IS GOING BAD YOU WOULD SEE AN ACROSS THE BOARD LOSS OF POWER NOT JUST CERTAIN SYSTEMS. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR TO AUTOZONE THIS WEEKEND TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR INSTALLED. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING LOSS OF STEERING ON CHEVY MALIBU'S I HAVE ZERO FAITH IN THIS RESOLVING THE ISSUE. FURTHERMORE IF IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR IT WOULD NOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN TO QUIT AND IT WOULD NOT ONLY QUIT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAD TURN.
FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS, THE BRAKES ON THE CAR DO NOT RELEASE. THIS ISSUE STARTED DURING A SNOW STORM IN THE WINTER BUT HAS CONTINUED. IT IS NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT SEEMINGLY EVERY EVENING AFTER WORK THAT THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP. MORNINGS ARE USUALLY FINE. THE PEDAL STAYS DEPRESSED, WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE FOR A FEW WEEKS, LEADING TO CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, SLUGGISH MPG RATES, EXTRA WEAR ON THE BRAKE PADS, ENGINE STRAIN, LOWER SPEEDS THAN EXPECTED, NO COASTING, DIFFICULT ACCELERATIONS, AND TAIL LIGHTS STAYING ON AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE PEDAL CAN BE RELEASED MANUALLY BY KICKING IT UP WITH YOUR FOOT, BUT THIS IS REALLY TIRESOME IN TRAFFIC AND LONG COMMUTES. *TR
GOT IN CAR & PUSHED THE PASSENGER WINDOW BUTTON DRIVER SIDE, WINDOW DID NOT GO DOWN, REACHED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE & DID NOT GO DOWN. WENT TO DEALER & TRIED TO GET A REP TO COME TO THE CAR BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF BUT COULDN'T SO I TURNED OFF CAR & GOT A REP, WHEN WE GOT TO THE CAR AND TURNED IT ON THE WINDOW WORKED. THEY SAID BRING IT BACK WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING. I LEFT, GOT TO WHERE I WAS GOING, IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. IT HAPPENED PERIODICALLY OVER TIME. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO SERVICE & A REP WITNESSED THE WINDOW NOT WORKING. THEY FOUND A SHORT IN THE WINDOW SWITCH & REPLACED THE SWITCH W/2025110 .2 DIAG. WHATEVER THAT IS. IT IS STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT, TO THIS DAY. ON 2/14/15 I CALLED WALDORF SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW, VOLTAGE FLUCTUATING FROM 11.43 TO 14.45, THE BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR IS LOW MOST OF THE TIME & MY CAR WAS MAKING SICK AIRPLANE NOISES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE BUSY & THAT I WOULD GET A CALL BACK. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVY ON 2/23/15 AND REPEATED THE ABOVE ISSUES AND HAD AN ADDED ISSUE CAR RADIO STAYED ON WHILE THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION, BOTH CAR DOORS WERE OPEN. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT. THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE CAR SO I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FLUCTUATING WAS NORMAL & THAT HYBRID/ECO VEHICLES MAKE THAT NOISE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK ON 3/20/15, THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I SAID I WILL WAIT. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND TURNED IT ON, NOT 3 MINS LATER A REP CA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR TRUNK AREA NEAR THE ECO BATTERY. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CLEARED THE CODE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ODOR COULD STILL BE DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST 2013 (NEW), FACTORY INSTALLED STEREO WORKED FINE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. IN SEPTEMBER 2014 STEREO WOULD NOT READ MUSIC OFF PHONE WHEN PLUGGING IN THROUGH USB PORT IN VEHICLE, WHICH IS A FEATURE OF THE STEREO THAT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. IT WORKED UP UNTIL THAT POINT, BUT THEN STOPPED AND STARTED GIVING MESSAGES INDICATING "FILES UNFOUNDED". I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE FIXED WITH NO SUCCESS. THE DEALERSHIP IS AT A LOSS AS TO A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. THE STEREO SYSTEM WHICH IS CALLED "MYLINK" WILL NOT READ MUSIC FROM THE PHONE AS IT SHOULD. THE PHONE BEING USED IS AN APPLE PRODUCT. UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH APPLE PRODUCTS AND GM'S "MYLINK" STEREO SYSTEM. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIPS AND GM DIRECTLY WITH NO SUCCESS IN GETTING THE PROBLEM SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED. HERE IS A LINK HTTP://GMAUTHORITY.COM/BLOG/TOPIC/MYLINK-STOPPED-RECOGNIZING-IPOD-CLASSIC/ TO AN ONLINE FORUM WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING AND WHO HAVE ALL CONTACTED GM WITH NO SUCCESS IN GETTING THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I AM AT A LOSS AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET MY STEREO FIXED THAT IS A GM FACTORY INSTALLED STEREO. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR ANOTHER 6K MILES AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED, HOWEVER GM SEEMS TO NOT BE OFFERING ANY RESOLUTIONS. *TR
DRIVING UP HILL HAVING TO DECELERATE, THERE IS A HARD JERK AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED-THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO HUMAN REACTION TO ALSO QUICKLY TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD STRUCK SOMETHING OR HAD A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. IT ONLY LAST FOR A SECOND OF TIME. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS JUST CHARACTERISTICS OF A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MY THIRD GM WITH A 6 SPEED AND THE OTHERS DID NOT DO THIS. *TR
THE FUEL MILEAGE IS VERY INCONSISTENT. IT CAN RANGE FROM AN AVERAGE OF 20 TO 28 AND HAS BEEN AS LOW AS 18 AND AS HIGH AS 29. BEFORE YOU DISMISS THIS COMPLAINT AS DRIVING CONDITIONS OR ROUT-THIS CAR TRAVELS THE SAME 8 MILE ROUT 4 DAYS A WEEK TO WORK AND NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT IN AN AVERAGE MONTH. IT HAS BEEN ON HIGHWAY TRIPS AND NOT GOTTEN OVER 29 MPG. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUEL TO THE FUEL MIXTURE THAT I WAS PURCHASING. I HAVE TRIED EVERY BRAND OF GAS IN THE TOWN I LIVE IN AND IT DOES NOT HAVE A NOTICEABLE EFFECT ON THIS PROBLEM. DOES NOT ACHIEVE THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE. *TR
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR VENTS IN THE DASH DO NOT STAY OPEN WHEN THE BLOWER IS RUNNING ON HIGH WITH THE SYSTEM SET TO RECIRCULATE. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE THE CENTER VENTS TO CLOSE FROM ROAD VIBRATION, IN TURN CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT AND THE AIR PRESSURE COMING OUT CAUSES THE OTHER VENTS TO CLOSE ONE BY ONE. THE LEFT TO RIGHT ADJUSTMENT ON THE VENTS IS WORN OUT BEFORE 10K MILES ON MY VEHICLE. CHEAP... *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2013 MALIBU ECO IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 1, 2014 WE WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WERE CUT OFF BY A TRUCK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITH SOME FORCE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND UPON DOING SO THE MOTOR LOST ALL POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH MY SPEED GOING FROM 70 DOWN TO 20 MPH. I COULD NOT REGAIN THE SPEED LIMIT AND HAD TO PULL OVER THINKING IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING USING THE MANUAL OPTION. I WAS IN 6TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AFTER A 90 MILE DRIVE AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER AS THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEMED FINE. A MONTH LATER WE TOOK THE SAME TRIP AND THIS TIME THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT PRECIPITATED BY A NEAR COLLISION. THE CAR SIMPLY LOST ALL POWER IN WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS. THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE GRINDING AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO GAIN ENGINE POWER. AGAIN I FOOLISHLY DID NOT REPORT TO THE DEALER AS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK TO SPEED AFTER ABOUT A HOUR OF DRIVING. IN JUNE THE SAME ISSUE APPEARED AND I FINALLY DID TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR SHORTED CAUSING TRANSMISSION NOT TO DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. IN LATE JULY THE SAME ISSUE REOCCURED AND THIS TIME THE DEALER PERFORMED A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE. THEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE ISSUE REOCCURED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LOCALLY. THE CARS BRAKES WER
AROUND THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR, ON 11/30/12 AT 5812 MILES, UNKNOWN TO ME THE CAR HAD A CONCERN OF LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE WHICH CALLED FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE. SO A GEN CONTROL MODULE PERFORMANCE TEST PER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. IN MAY OF 2013, I STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING, WHEN I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE BY PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME. THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF THAT CONSERVES ENERGY. ON 6/24/13 AT 14006 MILES, I TRIED TO GET THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS AND I DON'T THINK THEY DID A DIAGNOSTICS EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THEY SUGGESTED A TEST DRIVE WITH A MECHANIC FOREMAN TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WOULD PRESENT ITSELF AGAIN. THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. IN JULY OF 2013, I THEN COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR HAD POOR ENGINE ACCELERATION ENTERING ONTO A HIGHWAY AND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT 14810 MILES. THEY DID A R&R ECM RECALIBRATE CONTROLLER PROGRAM. ON JULY 26, 2014, I DROVE EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR QUITE A FEW HOURS THROUGH THE CITY AND A LITTLE ON THE HIGHWAY. I ACCELERATED ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT WHICH THE ISSUE OF ACCELERATION PRESENTED ITSELF AGAIN. AT 38,548 MILES, THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES WAS SHOWN ON MY DASHBOARD: 1. BATTERY SERVICE NEEDED 2. POWER STEERING SERVICE NEEDED I THEN CALLED ONSTAR AND I ASKED THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: 3. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JANUARY 2014 AT 5,000 MILES. I BEGAN TO NOTICE TROUBLE WITH BRAKES AND ACCELERATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER. BRAKING WAS NOT SMOOTH OR CONSISTENT AT TIMES. AT TIMES I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. LATER I NOTICED THAT I COULD CONTROL THIS BY LIFTING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T RELEASING ON ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (SAME DEALER THAT FIXED ANOTHER RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING RECALL) TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND KEPT THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS. SINCE THE PART HADN'T BEEN DELIVERED AND I NEEDED A VEHICLE ASAP, I PICKED UP MY CAR TO USE UNTIL THE PARTS CAME IN TO THE DEALER. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE SERVICE CENTER, I WASN'T ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE. I MADE SURE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T ON AND EVEN TRIED TO TURN IT ON AND OFF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DEFINITELY OFF. THE TIRES WERE ALIGNED STRAIGHT AND TRY AS I MAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I WENT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE WITH THE TECHNICIAN WHO CAME OUT AND TRIED REVERSING THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS AT FIRST. HE EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO GO IN REVERSE AND DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED OR THOUGHT THIS TO BE SIGNIFICANT. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE SPEEDWAY AND SUDDENLY I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN AND I WAS TERRIFIED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WOULD HIT
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 7, 2013. BEFORE DRIVING OFF OF THE DEALER LOT, WE ASKED WHY AN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED US IT WAS FINE AND DID NOT LOOK INTO IT. THEY LET US DRIVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF THE LIGHT CONTINUING TO FLASH AND THE CAR NOT RECOGNIZING THAT MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND TURNING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON, WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. UPON TAKING IT THERE, WE LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY CAR WITH THE AIRBAG POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO DEPLOY IF THE CAR BRAKED TOO HARD. SO WE FOUND OUT WE WERE SOLD THE CAR WITH AN ACTIVE RECALL AND IT WAS NOT FIXED BEFORE PURCHASE. AFTER THIS FIRST INCIDENT ON THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE GCM RECALLED, THE WIRING HARNESS RECALLED, BOTH WHICH COULD START A FIRE, I HAVE STEADILY LOST GAS MILEAGE AND NOW AVERAGE ONLY 26 MPG, IF I'M LUCKY, NOT THE 37-40 ADVERSTISED, THERE IS A BUZZING NOISE WHEN TRYING TO GO IN AND OUT OF ECO MODE, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED US WAS "PROBABLY NORMAL", AND NOW THERE IS SOME KIND OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND MOISTURE ALL OVER THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT. WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR. IN SPITE OF THIS, CHEVY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT OFFER TO HELP US TRADE IT IN, AND EVEN THEN THEY WOULD NOT GIVE US WHAT THE CAR IS "WORTH". IN MY OPINION, IF CHEVY KNOWS THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG, T
WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED WITH ONLY 5600 MILES AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EXCEPT FOR SLIGHT SMELL IN REAR AREA. WE DROVE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND IT WAS OK, BUT THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS ABSOLUTELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS, HORN, WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, GOT THE VEHICLE PUSHED OUT OF THE GARAGE BUT NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING AND TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED-UP. CALLED GM FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE AND CAR WAS JUMP STARTED. I LOOKED TO SEE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ALSO GOING DEAD WHILE DRIVING. BLOGS SAID THEY BROUGHT VEHICLES INTO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING, WHICH IS THE SAME ANSWER I WAS GIVEN OTHER THEN MY WIFE MUST OF LEFT THE DOOR OPEN. I REFUSED TO PICKED THE CAR UP TO THIS DATE AS WILL NOT HAVE MY WIFE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT IT WILL GO DEAD WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START AND BE STRANDED AT NIGHT. BLOGS STATED THAT THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CAUSE AND SEVERAL HAD TO HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED AGAIN. MY VEHICLE WAS ON A RECALL LIST AND THE DEALER STATED THE MODULE WAS REPLACED ONCE A YEAR AGO ( BEFORE 5600 MILES). THE DEALER STATED THE GM EXPERT SPECIALIST CHECKED AND FOUND NO CODES AND WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A REPLACEMENT MODULE. I BET IF IT WERE ANY SENIOR EXECUTIVE AT GM OR THEIR SPOUSE DRIVING THIS CAR THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED! I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A HISTORY HERE AND GM DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE UP TO ANOTHER ENGINEERING ERROR. *TR
ON MAY 9, 2014, MY CAR FAILED TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED GM EMERGENCY VEHICLE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP START MY CAR AND DROVE TO THE DON MEALEY CHEVROLET IN CLERMONT FLORIDA, WHERE MY CAR HAS BEEN FOR 22 DAYS. DURING THIS TIME I HAVE QUESTIONED WHY A PART FOR RELATIVELY NEW CAR IS NOT AVAILABLE. I WAS NOT GIVEN A VALID REASON BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WENT ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR MY CAR LAST YEAR. I WAS NEVER ADVISED ABOUT THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE BAD PART (GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE) CAN CAUSE A FIRE IN THE TRUNK OR ENGINE STALLING. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND MORE IMPORTANT HAVE NO FAITH IN MY 2013 MALIBU ECO OR IN GENERAL MOTOR OR MY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE ADVISE MY RIGHTS.
GM REPLACED MY GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE ON JUNE 13 BECAUSE OF A RECALL. THE PROPER TESTS WERE NOT PERFORMED DUE TO THEM HAVING IT IN SHOP FOR 45 MINUTES (SEE RECALL DOCUMENTS). GCM WAS REPLACED AND I WAS SENT HOME WITH IT ON JUNE 13. ON JUNE 14, I STARTED THE CAR AND AN ERROR CODE APPEARED ON DIC FOR BATTERY. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP (OVER 1 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE). EVERY SO OFTEN MY DIC WOULD SHOW A NEW ERROR CODE, I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP EACH TIME, I WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL. I MADE IT 40 MINUTES INTO MY TRAVEL AND I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. A FEW SECONDS LATER ALL THE ERROR CODES STARTED APPEARING ON DIC. THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF ALL WHILE I WAS GOING 75 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR STARTED GOING CRAZY (WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED WORKING, AND RADIO SHUT ON AND OFF) ALL ON ITS OWN. MY ENTIRE CABIN FILLED UP WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE CAR DIED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF GETTING THE CAR TO SHOULDER. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY STATED THEY WERE CALLING A TOW TRUNK AND HUNG UP ON ME. TOW TRUCK COMPANY CONTACTED ME TO INQUIRE LOCATION THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. MY CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE AND HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE STRONG ODOR/SMOKE. HE LITERALLY HAD TO DRAG MY CAR ONTO THE TRUCK. I WAS TAKEN TO THE
I HIT A DEER GOING 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I GOT A STATEMENT ON THE SCREEN RIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED SAYING AIRBAG SERVICE. I WOULD THINK HITTING SOMETHING GOING THAT FIRST WOULD DEPLOY AN AIRBAG. *TR
PURCHASED 2013 CHEVY MALIBU ECO IN AUGUST 2013, AND RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING THAT STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY STIFF AND FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH AND IN A 12 O'CLOCK STEERING POSITION. I HAVE TO JERK IT WHEN MAKING SLIGHT TURNS OR CHANGING LANES, AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO FREEWAY CHEVROLET IN CHANDLER, AZ. THE CAR WAS LEFT THERE FOR FOUR DAYS, AND DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING POWER IS ELECTRICAL AND THEIR COMPUTER READS THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH IT. WELL, I AM STILL ENCOUNTERING SAME ISSUE AND FEAR I MAY HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT. NOW THAT I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, THERE MAY BE A LAWSUIT COMING AGAINST CHEVY. *TR
WHEN DRIVING THE MALIBU AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING STICKS, ALMOST LIKE A DEAD SPOT AT THE CENTER POSITION. MINOR CORRECTIVE INPUTS ARE DIFFICULT, TAKE MORE FORCE THAN NEEDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DETECT A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,600. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CRACKLING NOISE FROM TH TRUNK AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,578.
NEW CHEVY MALIBU 2013, CONTINUALLY FAILS TO RUN NORMAL. ELECTRIC SYSTEM AS WELL, AS ANY ELECTRONIC POWERED SYSTEMS TURN OFF WHILE "MID-DRIVING" RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE WITHOUT ANY GAUGE READOUTS AND OR LIGHTS AS WELL AS EXTERIOR LIGHTING. POTENTIALLY RENDERING DRIVERS( MY FAMILY) UNSAFE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SHIP 4 TIMES TO HAVE "PART IN BATTERY" FIXED, AFTER EACH TIME VEHICLE RUNS FOR 1 WEEK AND FAILS AGAIN AS IT DID ON THE LATEST DATE 8 AUGUST 2013. *TR
AUTO STOP WILL NOT ENGAGE UNLESS RPM'S ARE UNDER 500..SELDOM WILL "AUTO STOP" ENGAGE !!!! VEHICLE MOTOR WILL NOT GO SLOW ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THIS FEATURE..I HAVE TALKED TO SERVICE AT CHEVROLET DEALER, & THEY SAID THE PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME & THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT????? I DO, KEEP COMPLAINING!!!! *TR
THE VEHICLE RPM'S DON'T GO LOW ENOUGH, TO INITIATE THE AUTO STOP.. IT ONLY GOES DOWN TO ABOUT 500 RPM'S, WHEN BRAKE, & NOT LOW ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AUTO- STOP!! EVIDENTLY, THE MOTOR HAS TO GO TO ALMOST ZERO, TO KICK -IN... DEALER SERVICE DEPT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, OR TELL ME ??? WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT ??? *TR
WHILE DRIVING STEERING SEEMS TO FEEL AS IF IT IS LOCKING UP. I HAVE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE TUG TO FREE IT AND THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO SWERVE A LITTLE. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS HOLDING THE STEERING IN THAT POSITION, WHILE DRIVING THERE IS MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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