2005 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

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 DRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. 37 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095645 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102815 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103240 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106533 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107681 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 21,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119286 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126292 at NHTSA ↗

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 GE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,757 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126944 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

Reported: 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Consequence: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Reported: 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.