I have a 2017 Malibu Premier with 1200 miles on it. About the 2nd day driving it, I noticed a clicking sound coming from the front passenger dashboard area. It is now squealing as well. I can tolerate the clicking but the squealing is driving me crazy. I've had the dealership look at it twice. First time, they heard nothing. Second time, with me in the car, they heard the clicking. But did not offer to do anything about it.
You only hear the noise when the car goes above 35mph. It was very loud when I drove on the interstate a few weekends ago. Almost unbearable.
The noise goes away temporarily when it rains.
I plan to get the service manager and owner involved. I've rented a 2016 malibu and driven it 600 miles. No sound at all. Was very quite.
The premier wheels are loud in the back as well.
Please help!
I deleted the thread in the New Member Introduction that was identical to this. Over there, just introduce yourself. Also, please don't start duplicate threads or posts. It makes it easier for you as well as anyone else if all of the comments on your single issue are in one single location instead of scattered about.
So, the '16 was quiet and the '17 has an irritating noise? Maybe fastening a camera or phone to the passenger's seat and recording it will help convince them that there is an issue that needs immediate attention.
You can also record that sound and post it here for our speculation. Clicking in that area makes me wonder about blower motor, actuator, or belt passing the alternator area. Does fan speed or recirculation have anything to do with the noise or is it just speed of the car? Do you hear this noise with the car on and hood open listening from the outside around the belt and alternator?
As DD said, other than posting the noise for us to speculate about you will just have to find a dealer that cares.
As for the rear end noise, I could say a lot about that. At one point I was a strong believer of the cause being exclusively the tires on a certain trim. I no longer believe that at all. Every Gen9 Malibu I have been in, multiple samples of every trim, is some degree of louder than other comparable cars in the rear. Tires probably effect that noise as different tires/patterns are louder than others. At this point, I think the quest for a lighter car resulted in use of some materials that do no muffle the normal road noise as well as other cars. Some people are sensitive to this and some aren't.
I do not hear the front end noise while parked or with the hood open. Ive spent some time listening with the hood open. Only time I hear the noise is when I am going above 30-35 mph. The noise stops the instant I go below that speed. I will get a recording and post it on here. I appreciate all of the insight so far. Thank you
It is tough to hear over the road noise. I hear two different noises and can't tell which is from the car and which might be ambient. Is the noise a rhythmic ticking (I hear that from :31 on) or the sporadic fast multi grindish tick (happens right at :23 and again :32-:33ish)?
The noise is the rhythmic ticking you are hearing from :31 on. It is hard to hear the whining that goes along with it because of the road noise.
Any ideas of what it may be?
The road noise in the back of the car is really bad as well. Hopefully this is something the dealership can address.
The pattern is pretty consistent which makes me think it is rotational in cause. Since it only occurs over 35 and you haven't mentioned correlation with climate controls it probably isn't the blower motor or recirc actuator. If it were just the tick I would think it is something under the car flapping as wind causes it to flutter. Since it occurs only over 35 and is a tick and squeal, which is affected by rain, my best guess is the serp belt. Heat and humidity can affect noises and it might just need tension adjustment. The only problem with that is it sounds more in the cabin than muffled by the firewall. It does continue if you release the pedal and just cruise 45ish?
As for the back end, good luck. If they ever determine something is abnormal - and fix it - let us know. IMO it is a consequence of weight reductions as previously stated but who knows. My money is on the wheelhouse liners. The liners on mine are closer to cardboard then hard, thick, plastic. The noise is not bothersome on mine but I have been in others that it is louder. Tires probably have an impact.
I will check to see if the sound continues at 45 mph when releasing the pedal and let you know. I believe it does, but I want to make sure.
My wheelhouse liners are very thin. Almost like a felt type material. First time I've ever seen it. It isn't too bothersome. Just irritating because the 2016 malibu I rented a few months ago was so quiet.
I could barely hear the noise when listening to it on my phone but I could hear it fine on my desktop thanks to real speakers. I think that noise would be obvious for a service adviser/service manager/tech in the car. Just visit back, ask them to ride along with you if necessary. These Malibus do have little plastic rattles here and there as do most cars so some you just have to accept. That particular noise does not fit into that category IMO and should be corrected.
I spoke with someone at the dealership and there is a bulletin on the serpentine belt! They are going to work on it next week. So glad that belt was mentioned on here so I could mention it to the dealership. Appreciate all of the help!!!!
Just got my car back from the dealership. After a few test drives, no one was able to hear the noise I am hearing. The noise was very obvious on my way into work today, so I am disappointed they could not hear it.
The bulletin did not have anything to do with the noise I am hearing. Was related to a different issue I guess.
They hear it - they don't just admit they hear it. Did you ride along with a tech/adviser/manager to point it out? It is not right nor fair but you will likely need to try different dealers. Dealers are run by people and some people care and some don't. Going by the book, they aren't required to care. The GM warranty doesn't care about "slight noises" (which GM gets to define). "The warranty covers repairs to correct any vehicle defect, not slight noise, vibrations, or other normal characteristics of the vehicle, due to materials or workmanship occurring during the warranty period (page 4)."
Some noises you have to just deal with. I have plastic rattles in the driver door (window area), the back left interior quarter panel, back right floor, hood release cable, overhead console thingy, and sometimes under the steering wheel. I only tried to have them correct the hood cable and under the steering area and they said both were normal. Mine don't sound mechanical, just the unpleasant plastic nature of the car combined with the roads (generous) here in Michigan. For your issue I do recommend a second visit or another dealer as it sounds more mechanical.
Good to know! Ya, they rode with me and still couldn't hear what I was hearing. I will definitely try a different dealership soon. I am at the point where I would literally pay someone to just fix it.
I also have a few driver door noise. Window area when it is cold. Down by the speaker when the radio is turned up. Very annoying.
So aggravating, I drove a traverse for the past few years and never had a single noise or problem.
We are sorry for this noise concern you are experiencing while driving. We understand how frustrating multiple trips to the dealership can be and would like to look further into your situation with the dealership.
Please send us a private message with your VIN, mileage, full contact information, and preferred dealership name so we can help in the best way possible. We hope to hear from you soon!
In my case, I found that pressing firmly on the dome lamp disable button stopped an intermittent, high frequency buzzing sound for a period of several days.
Our car does this exact same thing. We were planning on taking it to the dealer to get it corrected. I have noticed that pressing in the center of the overhead console solves the issue.
Did you get a permanent solution at the dealership?. My Malibu does the same noise and it temporarily stops when I firmly press on the overhead console. THANKS!
Here in Michigan the roads dont help much for noises but I had the map lamp noise--I shifted the position that stopped, I had the hood latch cable noise-- adjusted how the cable sits on the latch that stopped, now have the rattle from left rear wheel area when pulling off slightly didnt fix this yet. I am a tech by trade so usually good with this stuff and dealers dont care to fix "noises" if they are not major I see and hear it all the time adivisors blow customers off or even techs say "didnt hear anything" dont wanna spend more than 20 mins looking for a sound only to get paid pennies to replace it under warranty--its not honest but it is reality of what happens at dealerships.
i have a similar noise and it only happens when i'm at higher speed and there is some wind it feels and sounds like metal on metal tapping like maybe a piece of the shield in the engine compartment. Did you ever get the noise figured out?
Check under the front end. There are three splash guards, one in the front middle running side to side and two on the sides that run front to back (next to each tire). The side splash guards bolt on in 7 or 8 places. There are 3 bolts in the front of those guards - the bolt closest to the outside of the car bolts two pieces together with a metal fastener between each and between the chassis/cradle. Do you hear the metallic ticking if you tap on that guard? If so... that's no moon.... I found this out after I slammed a nice chunk of ice and replaced a guard.
edit - I am pretty sure the guards are the same between the 1.5 and 2.0 but not 100%. According to the online catalog they are - just a guess anyway.
I have a 2017 Malibu Premier with 245/40R/19 tires and rims. I have had amplified road noise on various road surfaces since day 1. I’ve had it back to the Dealer numerous times and finally one of the noises was heard. The Dealer ordered new tires under warranty and ‘‘this eliminated the whine on the highway” however the car still has a oscillating roar on The Interstate. You can’t turn up the radio at times to mask the noise, it’s ridiculously annoying. Dealer keeps trying to give me the BS that it’s a characteristic of the vehicle. In August of 18 we took a vacation to Florida some 880 miles one way. We rented a 2018 Malibu since we did not want to listen to more noise hopefully. This Malibu was totally quiet the entire trip. Had an idea on way home that when we returned home before I returned the rental car I would take it to my shop and swap the rims and tires with mine. Very strange result, my car was now quiet and the rental Malibu was noisy. The noise is a low profile tire and wheel combo problem. Not wanting to totally rely on this finding I rented another Malibu from Enterprise and performed the same experiment and got the same result exactly. Now GM has a decision to make. Fix the car properly, replace the vehicle or refund my money. PERIOD!!!!!!!!
You are correct and prudent to do tests with another Malibu. The rentals are likely 1FL which are like the LS. Now that you have isolated the noise/problem to your tire and wheel combo the final test is getting the dealer to swap with a Premier demo equipped with the same tire and wheel size. If your car quiets down you would then know it's the wheels (or tire if the replacement was the same tire). If it is still loud you know what you feel is abnormal is a normal condition.
I have the same issue with my 2017 2.0T. Only hear it above 55 and gets louder around 70. Sounds like a heat shield, kinda tinny. I checked all the under body shields last week when I changed my oil, but didn't find anything loose. Taping on the parts didn't duplicate it either. its still there. I'm going to call the dealer and get it in. Just turned over 30,000 miles. Its been there since I got the car, but it seems to be getting worse. Don't have a lot of faith in the dealer since they told me that its normal for the fuel gauge to not go to full! Hate those words "no trouble found'.
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