I have had my new 2010 Malibu LTZ for about two months. It replaced my beloved 2007 Impala SS (I hope GM gets the SS people back on the job). The Malibu is a vastly improved car - quiet, relatively powerful V6, beautiful cocoa interior.

I have a serious issue that has happen four times that the dealer has tried to repair by reprogramming the car and relocating a cable. That did not work. They are trying to help but unless it happens to them how would you diagnose? The car has never generated an error code.

In a nutshell, when braking to a near stop, the transmission heavily shudders, the A/C compressor goes off (but the internal fan continue to run) and the car, while always in drive, acts as if it is in neutral. The engine continues running.

1. Quick braking to a stop or near stop.
2. Transmission heavily shudders while downshifting. You can really feel this. It’s like the car ran over a big blob of Jell-o.
3. A/C compressor goes off but internal fan is running. It's routinely 95 - 100 F this summer.
4. Stereo keeps working.
5. Engine is running.
6. Transmission will act as if in neutral even though always in drive.
7. Can rev engine but car will not accelerate.
8. Put car in park, turn off ignition. Start car. All OK with car until next event.

I now consider this problem a major safety issue. The car cannot strand me in moving traffic. I cannot always stop safely to cycle power to the car. I spend as much time as possible hugging break down lanes. This issues needs to be resolved quickly.

Does anyone have some insight into this problem? The next step is for the dealer to put a data recorder on the car.

My thanks in advance for any and all help.

Wow, that is a new one. I would have them put in the data recorder ASAP, plus I would call customer service and open a case. If that was my car I would be causing a HUGE stink.

macculver-
I couldn't agree with SilverLTZ more. We need to get you a case opened up.

I will PM you with all the information that I will need to set up a case.

Michelle P-Chevrolet Customer Service

Do you get a CEL?

Have you had it scanned yet? Some transmission fault codes do not produce a CEL, but the code remains in the vehicle system. The dealer can scan it to see if a code exists.

Michelle is back from the dead?

Michelle is back from the dead?

For the time being.

My thanks for the replies. I already have a case number.

I contacted GM customer "service" about 7 weeks ago. This began the most completely useless time-wasting exercise I have ever experienced.

I have an excellent relationship with my dealer (at least I did before this event). My dealer is unable to diagnose the problems with my car. They are making a best effort but the solution eludes them. They have reprogrammed more than one of the car's computers and re-routed a cable to no effect.

I would have thought GM customer service would have marshalled engineering resources within the Company to assist the dealer with these problems. Wrong. They have, in total, just angered my dealer by telling him that his performance is poor. Then they call me and tell me what I already know. Absolutely and completely useless.

The agent "assisting" me is, quite frankly, a waste of oxygen. She calls me at home during the day and at work at night (we're in the same time zone). You could not find a worse representative for General Motors if you tried. In total, GM is not stepping up to help in any tangible way. The dealer and I are on our own.

For the past 35 years I have always owned GM vehicles. This will be the last.

That's really a tough situation, having to deal with an inept CAC agent on top of it. I think there's no harm in getting in touch with Michelle to see what she can do.

I know it's nothing for me to say this but I just can't shake the feeling that you may have a power problem as if the TCM isn't getting enough power. I don't suppose they pulled the engine compartment fuse block to see whether any wires are kinked/damaged underneath? Sometimes it's the oddest things.