2013 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

OUR MALIBU WAS JUST PURCHASED WITH 9 MILES NEW ON JANUARY 31ST AND HAS THE EASIEST ECO FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AT STOPS. OUR VEHICLE IS NOT SHUTTING DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE, BULLETIN, OR RECALL FOR THIS. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

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, THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THE WORTHLESS CARS TO BEGIN WITH. I AM A COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER, YET THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE, SO THEY HAVE NOW LOST NOT JUST ME AND MY HUSBAND AS CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE HEARD OF OUR TERRIBLE AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE. *JS

2013 CHEVY MALIBU 1LS MANUFACTURED 11/20/12, CURRENTLY LESS THAN 7,000 MI. 1) CHROME & RADIO GLASS - WHEN SUN SHINES ON CONSOLE IT BLINDS DRIVER & DRIVER MUST COVER AREA WITH A SCARF OR JACKET; CONSOLE IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT PRACTICAL FROM A SAFETY VIEWPOINT SINCE THE DRIVER IS BLINDED & CANNOT SEE UNTIL THE AREA IS COVERED FROM THE SUN. 2) WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON, A BLAST OF VERY HOT AIR CAME OUT; IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TIMES OF TURNING THE SETTINGS OFF & ON (AT LEAST 60 SECONDS OR LONGER) BEFORE THE HOT AIR STOPPED & THE AIR CONDITIONING CAME ON. THE HOT AIR COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. 3) PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER/BUMPER LOOSE - MAKES NOISE, CAN POP IT BACK IN, BUT ON HOT DAYS, IT POPS OUT, VIBRATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISE UNTIL POPPED BACK IN. 4) REAR WINDOWS - WHEN DOWN 1/2, 3/4 OR FULLY, VIBRATES, MAKES VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE TIRES ARE COMING APART, CAUSING DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO CHECK TIRES, THE DISTRACTION & BEING ON SIDE OF ROAD COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. 5) NO SPARE TIRE - UNABLE TO LOCATE A TIRE & RIM (OR DONUT TIRE) FOR PURCHASE TO INSERT IN TRUNK TIRE AREA. NO CAN OF GOOP, ALSO GOOP ONLY LASTS FOR 6 MONTHS & MUST BE DISCARDED & NEW CAN PURCHASED. NOT GOOD WHEN STRANDED IN INCLEMENT SNOWY WEATHER OR OUT IN THE HOT DESERT & MUST WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK. I LIKE MY CHEVY MALIBU VERY MUCH, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE ROUGH GRAVEL/DIRT ROADS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SNOW, & HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SHORTLY FOR AN OIL CHANGE & TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE DRIVER AIRBAG OFF (I SIT LESS THAN 12 INCHES FROM THE WHEEL & AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY I WOULD BE KILLED) & THAT THE VEHICLE IS FAIRLY LOW TO THE GROUND, MAKING SPEED BUMPS & GETTING OUT OF BUSINESSES WHERE THERE IS A DIP ONTO STREETS DIFFICULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE APPROACHED A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE WHERE THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 9/23/13 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE RODE VERY ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO LEARN HIS WAY OF DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, THE SHIFTING BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TWO REAR ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY TIGHTENING OF THE BOLTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,600. UPDATED 4/1/13 *CN UPDATED 04/23/2013 *JS

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

TRUNK OPENS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN KEY FOB IS CARRIED IN PANTS POCKETS..I'VE TRIED SHIELDING THE FOB, BUT IT IS JUST TO SENSITIVE FOR NORMAL USE!!! I GOT DIFFERENT FOB, BUT IT STILL OPENING MY TRUNK, & I DON'T REALIZE IT, TILL I RETURN TO CAR... MY CAR IS NOT IN A GARAGE, & IN MORNINGS, THE TRUNK IS WET FROM SNOW OR RAIN.. PLUS:ANYONE COULD STEAL FROM MYTRUNK ALL NITE LONG !!!! *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THERE WAS SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE IT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,460 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,041.

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

PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN APRIL 2012 AND NOTICED AFTER A WEEK THAT MY AC HAD A BAD SMELL EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. ALSO NOTICED AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS OF PURCHASING MY VEHICLE THAT THE CARPET WAS COMING UP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE FRONT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME COVER PLATE AROUND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS BLOCKING HIS VISIBILITY WHENEVER THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE NO CENTER. SOMETIMES IT PULLS LEFT AND SOMETIMES IT PULLS RIGHT. WHEN I GO TO CORRECT THE ISSUE THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND RIGHT AWAY, THEN IT OVER CORRECTS. THE CAR NEVER RIDES IN THE CENTER ANYMORE. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE IS GOING TO REPORT ME FOR DRUNK DRIVING OR THAT I AM GOING TO GET PULLED OVER FOR IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR IT AND THEY "CANNOT DUPLICATE" AND TELL ME THAT IT'S NORMAL FOR THE CAR TO DRIVE THAT WAY BECAUSE ITS ALL ELECTRIC NOW. THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE LIKE THIS WHEN I BOUGHT IT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. IF IT DID, I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON LONG STRAIGHT STRETCHES OF SMOOTH ROAD (I.E. INTERSTATE) THE STEERING SYSTEM APPEARS TO TAKE A "SET" WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. THIS MANIFESTS AS A SLIGHT BUMP OR RESISTANCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND NEVER APPEARS DURING PERIODS OF MUCH STEERING ACTIVITY (I.E. LOTS OF TURNS, TOWN DRIVING, ETC.) IN MY CASE IT USUALLY APPEARS ON LONG TRIPS, AND AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, ON ROADS WHERE VERY LITTLE STEERING INPUT IS NEEDED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MALIBUS AS ATTESTED TO BY THE CHEVROLET OWNERS FORUM. EXTREMELY HARD FOR DEALERS SERVICE TO DUPLICATE DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

THIS VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STICKY/STUCK AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM CREATES OVERSTEER AND OVERCORRECTION CREATING A SWERVING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT CORRECTED. I'M SET TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2LT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMPS. *VA THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COSTS. *JS