I have a LTZ V6 and for a while have been noticing a vibration in the floor and seat when cruising between 40 and 50 MPH (It usually goes away a few MPH above 50). At first I thought it was due to rear tire balance, but that has been rectified and the problem still exists. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this? A friend of mine suggested it may just be the "resonance" of the car; thought this was plausible but wanted to receive some feedback from other drivers of V6 Malibus. I am anxious to see if it goes away when I put on my smaller rims and winter tires in a couple of weeks...

Thanks in advance!

does it happen the entire drive? In other words, does it go away after driving/warming up (say 20-30 minutes)?

that s not normal. Need to start by checking all wheels and tires including a balance.

does it happen the entire drive? In other words, does it go away after driving/warming up (say 20-30 minutes)?

It is definetly most noticeable when the car/tires are cold, but never seems to go away.

that s not normal. Need to start by checking all wheels and tires including a balance.

I did have the tires checked for balance (rears were out of balance by 3/4 of an ounce). I am going to have them check the tires and wheels but was going to see what happens when I switch over to my winter tires/wheels in a few weeks.

you had the tires balanced today (between your first post today and now)?

if the vibration is worse cold, then there may be some flat spotting of the tires after being parked a while.

did they do a road-force balance or standard 'free spin'?

I had a similar problem once. Bought a set of tires and had a bad vibration that would not go away. The faster I'd drive the more the tires would vibrate. Had the tires balanced several times and there was always one tire that was way out. Finally after a month or so the tire dealer replaced the tire under warranty. When they broke the tire down they found a shop rag inside the tire.

you had the tires balanced today (between your first post today and now)?

if the vibration is worse cold, then there may be some flat spotting of the tires after being parked a while.

did they do a road-force balance or standard 'free spin'?

No I did not have them rebalanced as I had the balanced a week ago and the problem didn't go away. I do not know what type of balance was done. My dealer couldn't do it because their machine was too old where they have to manually place the weights on the wheel and they wouldn't stay on. They took it down the road to a tire store which has the latest and greatest tire balancer that does everything automatically. I did not realize there was two different types but suppose that makes sense.

you may want to just rotate all the tires and see if anything changes. When you put on your winter tires if it goes away then it s somewhere in your rims or tires.

I just spoke to the dealer and they are going to order two new tires. If that doesn't work they are going to try and rotate them to see if it changes where the vibration is. By that point I'll be ready to switch to the winter set which could isolate the rims.

Thanks for everyone's help and I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Update:

I had my rear tires replaced yesterday. They stated on the service invoice that they had the tires Road Force Balanced; this confirmed what they did a couple weeks ago. After replacing my tires they found my old tires to be out of round - 3M and had excessive radial force.

I have to say that now the free rolling vibration is gone, but I believe there is still a vibration. It appears to be worst when using manual sport mode and lightly feathering the accelerator. A friend suggested that it may be the same NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) that plagues the CTS (according to Motor Trend). Does this make sense to anyone? I want to go back to the dealer but they think after test driving my car that it is fixed; I don't want to be a pain.

Thoughts? Do those who have manual mode use it a lot? I use it about 85% of the time...

Wednesday I took the car back to the dealer and they found that the rear right Brake Shoe was hung, so they freed that and then turned the rotor. They thought this fixed the problem; Unfortunately it did not.

I then took it back to the dealer today and they called me late in the day to tell me that they drove a new LTZ on the lot and it vibrated worse than mine. I asked to drive it, and they were right, it is worse then mine. The car had 34 miles. The dealer contacted GM and said that there has been a lot of complaints and is related to the 18" wheel package. GM acknowledged that there is a problem but unfortunately don't have a fix at this time.

I know there are a lot of LTZ owners in this forum. Has anyone else felt this vibration? As I mentioned in the thread title it is at lower speeds. It goes away at highway speeds.

Did you/dealer try rotating tires front to back?
Did they do a 4-wheel balance?
Some dealers farm out tire/wheel work, where was the work done?
If the rear tires are new/ road force balanced... what are the fronts really like?

Hi all,

My 08 LTZ does the same thing and I have around 1081 miles on it and had 3 tires replaced due to being out of round at around 600 miles.I have had the car for about 2 weeks now and even after they replaced 3 tires and road force balanced them, I still get the vibration at that speed. Hopefully they will issue a recall and correct it asap.


Clay

yes the dealer rotated the tires front to back; they had a local tire store road force balance all of the tires since the dealer's machine requires manual placement of the weights. The only tires that showed abnormal wear were the rear tires, which have since been replaced.

why would a brand new car vibrate worse than mine?

why would a brand new car vibrate worse than mine?

A lot of times it's flat spotting from vehicles just sitting without use, which you'll find a lot on test drives with vehicles that may have been sitting for quite some time (I drove a new G8 that had been sitting since July with only 4 miles and it had a terrible "square tire" shake that started to even out a little with the drive). At my dealer, I somehow always do when I've taken vehicles off their lot for a spin, that have been there for a month or more with little attention.

Other times, it can just be improper balance, however odd that seems for vehicles that were just built and shipped that should be done properly, but somehow it happens. Particularly if there's a batch of defective, however slightly or severe, tires or wheels from suppliers. Shouldn't happen, but it does. I drove 4 different '09 Malibus in the past month, all with the 18" wheel/tire setup, and all were glass smooth including the one I picked.

I've dealt with so many wobbles, shakes, shudders, etc. on my '08 G6 with the 18" tires--the car that has been repurchased by GM--but none of it ever seemed to be with the tires, and mine has all been bizarre drivetrain glitches. Found a slightly out of balance tire once and road forced it to correct, but otherwise things continued and varied so much that I at least eventually narrowed down to a combination of drivetrain imbalance, transmission issues, and/or varied engine misfiring. Really, still hard to tell specifically, though.

Odd that the word from GM to your dealer came back that they have a lot of problems with vibration and the 18" tires, as generally it seems like most everyone reports no problem whatsoever with these other than a lack of traction, but maybe. I'll guess it's some kind of a hard to trace drivetrain or axle imbalance, but also very likely still could be a wheel/tire issue. I've known of some people with similar problems that have gone through tire after tire check and changing, only to eventually find little irregularities in wheels or in the suspension/steering that were just hard to trace.

why would a brand new car vibrate worse than mine?

a standard spin balance wont pick up any high tire uniformity issue...

no balancer will pickup flatspotting, unless it gets taken off the car right before perhaps...

a standard spin balance wont pick up any high tire uniformity issue...

no balancer will pickup flatspotting, unless it gets taken off the car right before perhaps...

Correct-o.

Another update... I had my 17" winter tire package bolted on yesterday and the vibration still exists. We have now completely eliminated the possibility that it is a wheel or tire out of balance. The vibration/pulsing sensation is most noticeable under light acceleration.

I found the following on the internet and am taking it back in next week to have it investigated.

http://www.chevroletforum.com/archive/threads/2008-malibu-vibration-problem-58610-1.html

Yeah, aside from a tire, do you guys think it is more possibly in the drivetrain?

After finally getting my '09 2LT V6, one of the first things I've noticed is a shudder in the 40-50 range under varied acceleration that's the torque converter in the transmission locking and unlocking, however odd feeling. Decelerating, I often get it when letting off the gas and letting the car slow itself down, as the TC unlocks.

So, torque converter locking and unlocking, in a shaky way? Otherwise, mine is smooth as glass at any speed and definitely does not have any kind of tire/wheel issue, just the torque converter sensations. I asked about this on a Saturn Aura board, as they have the same drivetrain but an extra year under their belt, and didn't get too much of "yep, mine does that". Maybe normal, maybe not, but after an old vehicle that had some TC shudder, I'm certain this is at least mine.

Yeah, aside from a tire, do you guys think it is more possibly in the drivetrain?

After finally getting my '09 2LT V6, one of the first things I've noticed is a shudder in the 40-50 range under varied acceleration that's the torque converter in the transmission locking and unlocking, however odd feeling. Decelerating, I often get it when letting off the gas and letting the car slow itself down, as the TC unlocks.

So, torque converter locking and unlocking, in a shaky way? Otherwise, mine is smooth as glass at any speed and definitely does not have any kind of tire/wheel issue, just the torque converter sensations. I asked about this on a Saturn Aura board, as they have the same drivetrain but an extra year under their belt, and didn't get too much of "yep, mine does that". Maybe normal, maybe not, but after an old vehicle that had some TC shudder, I'm certain this is at least mine.

This is exactly what it is. When my 6-speed 4 cyl engine is in the lower rev range I can feel the slight rumble. Imagine if you had a manual transmission and you slowed down but didnt down shift. The engine begins to lag and not run smoothly.

Here's how I figured this out:

I shifted to manual mode while cruising at 50mph. The DIC says I'm in 6th gear and I can feel the rumble as the rev range is very low at that speed. When I manually downshift to 5th gear the revs obviously go up over 2000 and the sputter is gone.

This is just another problem with this 6 speed tranny. It upshifts way too early in the rev range to save fuel and doesnt downshift quick enough to stay out of the low rev range.

At first I thought this might be rumble from the radio bass but that was clearly not the issue.

Ive stated this before, the 6 speed is not well thought out. They had mpg in their minds and forgot about how the car would drive.

This car is my company vehicle and currently have about 3000 miles on it. Nice car, nice ride, and great looks. But this 6 speed has me miffed and I have to live with it for 3 years and 100,000 miles.

R & D needs to go back and do their homework. Give up a mile or two mpg and get the gearing set to maintain a higher rev range.

Hmm, I love American companies.

The people say "We wan better fuel economy, no matter what!" Then they give it to them. "We want performance!" Repeat.

I can't blame GM, but then again, wasn't the 6 speed supposed to match the 6 cyl and not the 4?

Hmm, I love American companies.

The people say "We wan better fuel economy, no matter what!" Then they give it to them. "We want performance!" Repeat.

I can't blame GM, but then again, wasn't the 6 speed supposed to match the 6 cyl and not the 4?

Good point. Ihope it doesnt sound like Im bagging on the malibu - it really is a nice car but with a little more attention to some areas it would be even nicer.

I would think GM tests these engine/trans combinations for several thousand miles to work out the bugs. I just get the feeling at some point somebody said "it's good enough the way it is".

This car would be better with 5 gears as the 6th is mostly the issue here.

People are getting very particular about cars as build quality increases for all brands.

I do agree, but you have to keep in mind that during the tests possibly they assumed the 6 speed would be paired mostly by manual mode, and not automatic, and even then it may have been worth the product risk to send it into the market. All you're getting is a low rev anyways, which is not a major problem as long as you know what you're doing.

Yes, low revs. But this causes the vibration that we are describing at lower revs. Not only that but the constant upshift and downshift that occurs on the slightest incline.

Unless you experience this every day, you wouldn't know how frustrating it can be.

I do agree, but you have to keep in mind that during the tests possibly they assumed the 6 speed would be paired mostly by manual mode, and not automatic, and even then it may have been worth the product risk to send it into the market. All you're getting is a low rev anyways, which is not a major problem as long as you know what you're doing.

Are you saying the tranny was setup to maximize the paddle shifters over normal automatic driving? If so, I think that is the wrong assumption.

Most consumers could care less about the paddle shifters, especially on the 4 banger LTZ.

This is exactly what it is. When my 6-speed 4 cyl engine is in the lower rev range I can feel the slight rumble. Imagine if you had a manual transmission and you slowed down but didnt down shift. The engine begins to lag and not run smoothly.

Here's how I figured this out:

I shifted to manual mode while cruising at 50mph. The DIC says I'm in 6th gear and I can feel the rumble as the rev range is very low at that speed. When I manually downshift to 5th gear the revs obviously go up over 2000 and the sputter is gone.

This is just another problem with this 6 speed tranny. It upshifts way too early in the rev range to save fuel and doesnt downshift quick enough to stay out of the low rev range.

At first I thought this might be rumble from the radio bass but that was clearly not the issue.

Ive stated this before, the 6 speed is not well thought out. They had mpg in their minds and forgot about how the car would drive.

This car is my company vehicle and currently have about 3000 miles on it. Nice car, nice ride, and great looks. But this 6 speed has me miffed and I have to live with it for 3 years and 100,000 miles.

R & D needs to go back and do their homework. Give up a mile or two mpg and get the gearing set to maintain a higher rev range.

Yes, I have the same problem with a new 2008 LTZ which has the 4 banger and 6-speed transmission.

There is something wrong with the torque convertor or the gearing is too tall in 5th or 6th gear. It also could be a software issue.

I have the car back in the dealership for the 2nd time to complain about this issue as I speak.

If you have this problem, please get your dealer to document this issue. I have filed a formal complaint with GM and have been given a case number. At this point, one dealership says it's just normal for the car to do this - this is BS. Please call the customer assistance number in your owner's manual and file a complaint with GM.

The more complaints, the better a chance for a recall or TSB.

I'll keep you updated. Do not be afraid to call the field representative or district manager too.

After 3 weeks with my '09 V6, I think I'm getting a shudder more and more. It's definitely the torque converter in my case, and right from 40-50, and then a weird shudder/jiggle as you decelerate to a stop letting off the gas, at varied points.

Odd and not great after a G6 that was repurchased for, of many things, a rumble/shake while cruising that never seemed to get fixed or go away...BUT at least in the 'Bu, this sensation is only during the 40-50 range and only if I'm typically light on the throttle. Above the speeds, smooth in 6th gear cruising. Accelerate moderately or harder from a stop to speed, and it's not noticeable because the lock-up is quicker.

After my ongoing G6 saga I'm not inclined to go in for much of any repair or complaint anymore and it seems so solidly built--thankfully--there shouldn't be any issues in that regard. But, we'll see. I'm only at 700 miles, and though nasty converter shudder shouldn't ever be there, I keep thinking possibly it could improve with more driving. Don't know. But I think we're all experiencing the same thing, at least, or close. This 6-speed seems quite different in a lot of ways than the typical old GM 4-speed I've grown used to, but that's not a bad thing.

Another update... I had my 17" winter tire package bolted on yesterday and the vibration still exists. We have now completely eliminated the possibility that it is a wheel or tire out of balance. The vibration/pulsing sensation is most noticeable under light acceleration.

I found the following on the internet and am taking it back in next week to have it investigated.

http://www.chevroletforum.com/archive/threads/2008-malibu-vibration-problem-58610-1.html

Just to close the loop on my last post. I took the car back in to investigate the link in my previous post. They said that the air intake was actually quite tight, so they relieved some tension. I don't know if I am getting used to the vibration or not, but some instances it seems better and other times it seems the same. It definitely is reproducible by lightly feathering the gas between 40 and 50 MPH. My 08 LTZ V6 has 6200 miles on it. They have called GM many times on this, and at this time there is no answer. I am a little tired of taking my car to the dealer once a week! I'm just glad it is close to where I work!

Interesting...

On mine, it's weird because I drove the car on 3 varied test drives before getting it, and never felt a blip. But it's there, and weirdly, can be a little different on certain days at different times. When I first leave the house in the morning with a cold car, for instance, I don't think I've ever felt it do a thing. But after driving a bit, it's there. Similarly, anytime I start it and leave work, having to merge out onto the highway from our lot but only up to 45-50, it's the worst I ever feel it at that time and then seems to lessen a bit or just I don't notice it as much as I keep driving, albeit faster.

Oh well. It's very noticeable and doesn't feel right, but again after my G6 saga, at least it's just one thing. My dealer is only 1 stop light away from work too, so as I keep driving and racking up the miles and it continues to bother, I'll have it checked.

I searched some GM Lambda crossover forums for similar things, as they have essentially the same engine & transmission at the core, and there were some Acadia owner reports of torque converter shudder that I found. Just like here, it was a select few, and despite varied dealer attempts it didn't seem like anyone had a fix.

I took my car in this morning and just received a call from the service manager. He could feel the vibration/pulsing sensation I spoke of and decided to attach a vibration meter to the car. He said it read 12hz and .03Gs. They put the meter on a new LTZ on the lot (which I have driven) and it came back 12hz and .07Gs. They then proceeded to contact GM and was told that anything less than .10Gs is a waste of time to try and eliminate.

That seems quite odd, and would be curious what readings are considered "normal"? My car doesn't feel "normal".

Quite disappointing! :-(

I've come to the conclusion that it IS normal. Something about the engine / transmission vibration at the low rpm's (I get it when the engine is around 1700 rpms in 6th gear) that sets up a resonance with the rest of the chassis. It's not great, but I'm pretty sure that it's the cause- it's also something that other vehicles experience.

Blame tuning the engine / tranny for better fuel economy. If you've ever driven a car with a standard transmission and "lugged" the engine, you'll have noticed the same feeling in the car. These 3.6's have the low-end grunt to pull you around at those rpms, and give great fuel economy as a result. Use the paddles to force a downshift to fifth and you'll feel it get all smooth, as the engine's rpms go up. Imports don't do this so much, because nearly all of them run at higher rpms all of the time (mostly a result of the OHC tuning for high-rev hp that they do).

Almost forgot- something that irritates me worse is the stumble that sometimes happens between gearshifts. It's something to do with the torque converter locking and unlocking, and is evidently also normal, but is more of a gripe than the vibration because I've come to expect GM trannies to be pretty dang smooth between gears.

1900 miles and a little over a month on my '09, and I'm still shaking away in the 40-50 range, albeit randomly (can go from a lot to...why is it smooth this time?). Don't know. We know what the issue is, as torque converter shudder, but don't know how or why especially as it doesn't seem to be everyone.

That said, there's been a similarly interesting thread on the GMC Acadia forum running since 2007 with the discussion of the same issue with some owners--and, of course, others who report nothing--with the same 3.6L & 6-speed, albeit different tuning and such:

http://www.acadiaforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=2704.0

Doesn't seem like they've gotten much of any resolve, either. Revised programming can actually help or get rid of the issue mostly, as I've seen in the past, but as few report it and GM responds to complaints that it's normal or not bad enough to bother, nothing much has been done.

Ok, this is officially driving me nuts. I made it a little past a month, and am already worried with the white beauty.

One of the many issues my G6 was repurchased for was a shudder at speed that once in a blue moon would vanish but was pretty much always there, and other than rebalancing a wheel once, they couldn't find a thing. It always felt drivetrain related to me, but of course, it's not my job to diagnose a month old car.

The Malibu is definitely a better car and the 3.6L a buttery joy, but the torque converter shudder is far worse than any vibe the G6 ever had. The difference is, here, below and above this speed range it's generally smooth as glass and the engine always runs eerily smooth and shake free. Argh. Take it to my dealer and have them think it's a tire vibe or such, to start, or hope that they really notice something too and can't get much GM info on it....but know it isn't right.

After reading accounts from the GMC Acadia board with the same issue in the shared drivetrain, doesn't seem like much promise, but you never know.

I am finding this increasingly more annoying, especially as you said, it isn't consistent! I also notice that the vibration appears to be occurring at lower speeds such as 25 mph as well... Once I get up to 55/60 or above, no vibration what so ever.

I have also played with downshifting and putting the car into neutral as some have mentioned, and this usually does NOT make the vibration go away.

This is a shot in the dark and haven't tried it yet, but any thought that E10 gas could be contributing to this problem? I know some vehicles don't perform as well using the 10% ethanol (typically older vehicles). On my next fill-up I am going to either fill-up at a Sunoco, which doesn't have E10 or go up to 89 octane. It's a shot in the dark, but I am desperate!

Gas here in VT is now $1.81 so it isn't to costly too experiment with higher octane fuel...

Iffy gas can cause some things, but this is very clearly the transmission and specifically a torque converter issue at least in the 40-50 shake range. If gas was causing a running condition that resulted in a shake, you'd feel it pretty much all or most of the time and not just in a specific range.

I've read of Acadia's with the same thing, a couple of Enclaves including one that was bought back because trip after trip, there was nothing the dealer or GM could or would do about the "transmission vibration" among other things, a few people here, etc. It's also for sure not a problem in all of them, even though like in this case there are other new ones on your dealer's lot that vibe, they all don't.

The Aura guys don't report much of anything except for complaints on the 6-speed shifting in general largely before a reflash on early cars, but not shaking.

The fact that I drove this car 4 times as it was my lemon replacement and never felt a thing, but then all of a sudden did on the first drive home bugs me a lot, and really makes no sense. Similarly, I drove an '09 LTZ V6 while shopping for this car that was smooth, steady, and completely vibe free regardless of speed or throttle, as well as an '08 G6 GXP with the same drivetrain that was glass smooth...so it isn't normal. Not sure what the remedy is other than programming and/or trans component replacement, but since I've yet to read of someone with a 3.6L/6-speed that had any resolve, it doesn't bode well.

Did your dealer ever specifically say anything in relation to the transmission or did you suggest it? I need to get mine in and hopefully at least be vindicated that something isn't right, sometime. Argh. Joy. Just like the vibe issues with my G6...all it takes is a drive in our '08 4-cyl with 10k on it to feel a 100% silky, straight, vibe free ride and power all the time.

The dealer never mentioned the transmission specifically, but claimed that when coasting or shifting into neutral the vibration diminished or went away completely. In most cases they are correct, but can't say that is true 100% of the time.

Thank you for your opinions, much appreciated! Hopefully between all of us who have this problem, someone will come up with a fix!

Thank you for your opinions, much appreciated! Hopefully between all of us who have this problem, someone will come up with a fix!

I hope so, because it's certainly not normal or pleasant. Especially in my case after already going through a lemon, even little things perturb me...this is more than little. I'll try to hopefully get it in next week and first take them for a "see" drive.

Yes, I have the same problem with a new 2008 LTZ which has the 4 banger and 6-speed transmission.

There is something wrong with the torque convertor or the gearing is too tall in 5th or 6th gear. It also could be a software issue.

I have the car back in the dealership for the 2nd time to complain about this issue as I speak.

If you have this problem, please get your dealer to document this issue. I have filed a formal complaint with GM and have been given a case number. At this point, one dealership says it's just normal for the car to do this - this is BS. Please call the customer assistance number in your owner's manual and file a complaint with GM.

The more complaints, the better a chance for a recall or TSB.

I'll keep you updated. Do not be afraid to call the field representative or district manager too.


****UPDATE****

The car went to a 2nd Chevrolet dealer to be checked for the vibration/wobble/shake that occurs when the transmission shifts into 5th gear around 40 miles per hour.

The service manager and the tech said this is a normal condition - all in the design.

In other words, these guys at the dealerships are just a talking head for GM. Their bread and butter comes from GM and they're not going to say that something is really wrong with the car.

The GM representative spoke with both dealerships about the car; the representative was quick to close the case because the service managers said that there is no fix and this is the way it was designed.

This is what I'm experiencing just to be clear:

A) The transmission is pretty smooth through the first 4 gears. Not perfect - sometimes an occasional hard shift or a little vibration in 4th if the car is feathered.

B) Feathering the pedal, the car drops into 5th gear around 37-40 MPH. At that point, there is a vibration/wobble/shake effect in the drivetrain and you can feel some vibration in the front floor pan. I do not feel any shake in the steering wheel. As you move up to 45 MPH the vibration clears up a little.

C) Around 45 MPH, the car shifts into 6th gear if you're feathering the gas pedial. Again, the vibration increases in the drivetrain. The vibration will continue in 6th gear until around 60-65 MPH.

D) If you put the car in neutral or you coast during the above mentioned speeds, the vibration pretty much clears up.

E) If you shift into the manual mode and use the paddle shifters, you can bypass some of the vibration. By keeping the car in 4th gear until around 50 MPH seems to help. Also, keeping the car in 5th until 60-65 MPH helps too. Of course, I find the paddle shifters to be a novelty and very annoying after a few miinutes - I just want to slap it into drive and go without any shifting.

Final thoughts: For now, I'm going to live with it. I'm pretty sure the problem exists on all 6-speed Malibus. If you have a heavy foot, listen to music or you talk on the phone while driving, you may not have noticed the problem that much. IMO, the gearing is a little too tall for the Malibu at lower speeds. The problem could be with the torque convertor. Also, I think the converter lockup speeds are set too low. Maybe the problem is a combination of too tall of gearing, the torque converter and programming issues. Who knows? My only advice is to see your dealer and complain to GM through the 800-number listed in the owner's manual.

I'll probably pester GM about the isssue again in the future - I'm too tired of it to deal with it anymore. I hope that a handheld programmer comes out so I can increase the lockup speeds even if it equals worse gas mileage.

If it wasn't for this problem, the Malibu would be one of my all-time favorite cars.

USAI stated exactly what I've stated this many times here but I guess you dont believe me. When this car shifts, it shifts into the next gear but the RPM is too low which causes the rumble. If you have ever driven a manual shift car and upshited too soon, you'll get this chugging/rumble as well. Then as your speed increases, revs increase and it smoothens out.

This is very noticeable in the 6-speed tranny. It shifts way too soon so the revs dont match with the next gear. It's obviously built with gas mileage in mind but drivability suffers.

Forget about looking for the problem - the problem is the shift points in the rev range in the tranny. I guess you could say the problem lies with GM not doing their homework. It was more important to them to squeeze an extra mpg out of the car. Hell, if my 17 year old daughter complained about it the first time she drove it why can't GM engineers see the problem during their extensive R & D??? Her '07 Cobalt drives much better with the 2.2 and 4 speed tranny.

I have to drive this car for work for the next three years and by that time it will have 100k on the odometer. That day can't come soon enough. The lurching acceleration and this tranny setup is enough to upset your stomach. It's very difficult to drive it smoothly. Let off the gas and get back on it and it lurches forward as if it downshifted 2 gears. Just crazy.

Going to a dealership will result in just what you said, "they all do that" or "it's suppose to do that". One of the many reasons GM is fighting for their life. Frankly, if they go away I could care less. It isn't like there aren't other options.

My car feels fine, no abnormal shaking, not to a noticable degree. I suspest the dealerships basically have no idea and and therefore are doing their BS song and dance. My car, knock on wood, feels absolutely normal in all conditions, so obviously this condition is not inherent to the design. I have no lurching and it's easy to drive smoothly.

The only 'issue' there was - somewhat lazy downshift on highway speeds, but either I learned the tranny or it learned me, either way, I can make it downshift pretty much at will now. Takes a certain type of trottle input, that's it.

Yeah, see, mine is not like that.

It's generally smooth and responds well, but just case in point, if you ever accelerate smoothly up to speed on a smooth road with the V6/6-speed, at 40-50 do you feel any shake at all? A slight bit, with the right throttle conditions, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary. But mine, for instance, such as on my everyday exit onto the highway from work towards a stoplight, as soon as I hit 40 there is a whole car shudder that reverberates through the car, as the TC starts to do it's thing however improperly. Mostly, it'll lessen once past 50, but a lot of the time I'll continue on light with the throttle to 50 and above and still have a shaking wobble. After that, generally smoother, and typically cruises at 55 or so like glass. Then if I ever let off the accelerator say to just decelerate to a slow or stop ahead before braking, I'll also often get a shudder and weird jiggle as it downshifts and the TC unlocks...this doesn't bother me much, though, and isn't too obvious.

Don't know. The 3.6L/6-speed is by design a buttery smooth and silky combo not known for vibes or other oddities. That is, except in these odd cases, and in vehicles from the Malibu to the Acadia & Enclave, where I've seen the complaints but never seen a resolve.

mmmm......no, can't say I experience that. if there is a shake, it's nothing out of the ordinary, consistent with the overall feel of the car. I am a relatively conservative driver, so I use light throttle input regurarly...Totally satisfied and I am coming from Honda that had a pretty crisp and presize drivetrain feel...

mmmm......no, can't say I experience that. if there is a shake, it's nothing out of the ordinary, consistent with the overall feel of the car. I am a relatively conservative driver, so I use light throttle input regurarly...Totally satisfied and I am coming from Honda that had a pretty crisp and presize drivetrain feel...

Yep, that sounds like other 3.6L/6-speed cars I've driven, and what "normal" is like.

I am wondering maybe there's some info on Aura forums...

I am wondering maybe there's some info on Aura forums...

Been there;)

Like here, not much of anything regarding this kind of shudder, just a lot of general complaints about the 6-speed performance and feel, and mostly with 2007's. I already had a thread over there about this issue, and no one seemed to report anything.

This one was close but was fixed on a 2007 via revised 2008 programming (i.e., not an issue here), and a last post that also sounds the same:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120106&highlight=shudder

And, also, my shudder thread without any "me too" response:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127992&highlight=shudder

I just made contact with someone from GM who works on the Lambda crossovers (same 3.6L/6-speed, mostly) and who spoke with someone who works on the Epsilon cars. Of course, it was said they really knew nothing of such an issue and had to presume the same wheel/tire, etc. possibility, as well as exhaust. I just responded back after the different reports I've read of it and my own car that it definitely seems transmission induced, even if that doesn't seem possible from their design perspective, and hope he might have any other idea.

I'm assuming this is fairly light throttle when you notice this in the 40-50 mph range. You'd actually be in 5th gear at that point and the TCC has been on since 3rd gear. I don't think it's related to the TCC lock up in that case. The point you did make about feeling something in a coast condition is something we are aware of, but you seemed to indicate it wasn't that bad compared to the on throttle disturbance.

Have you taken it to the dealer? Could it be a wheel out of balance or a tire issue? Normally the transmission can't cause the steering wheel to shake or the floor pan to vibrate. Maybe you have a ground out issue with the exhaust? I would suggest taking it to the dealer.

Sorry I'm not much help here, but it doesn't sound like a transmission issue at this point.

Not really a help, but I sent him further clarification and a link to this thread again, and suggested the person/people involved with the Epsilon platform should check things out further. We'll see.

Nice work beach!

Although I don't experience any of the symptoms you mention, I also realize I don't put on the mileage most of you do. (11 months ownership and just broke 4K miles) Most of those were put on by the wife, so I don't have much experience driving the 'Bu. I do believe you're on to a breakthrough with the contacts you've made on other Forums. I'd like to thing you'll be instrumental in any resulting tranny hardware/software changes that may come about. Repairing problems like you're experiencing can only come about by supplying the responsible parties accurate and knowledgeable feedback. Exactly what you're doing. I thank you for adding your expertise to our Forum.

I will keep an eye on my 'Bu for the symptoms you describe and if I begin to experience them I'll be sure to relay them to you.

A new direct reply, and yes, those "at the helm" have been alerted to at least this thread:

The transmission always gets blamed, but usually isn't at fault. Somehow it's the trans that usually ends up fixing issues. A shudder coming from the transmission is most always associated with a shift event. A clutch slipping can cause this. Something you might try is in "tap mode" run through the same speed range in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. Take the transmission out of the equation. You'll also run through 40-50 mph at different rpm's too which could pinpoint to something too. It's a simple test to try. This will tell you if it's vehicle speed related or engine speed related.

I don't think the Lambda's have this issue either. What they did have was an issue with the flex coupling on the exhaust being torqued together improperly. This would cause a vibration/growl at 1100 rpm that you could feel and hear. It was especially bad cold. This should have been fixed in production and there was a service bulletin for it too.

As I mentioned earlier, this isn't something we're aware of as being a transmission issue. I'm not saying there isn't something wrong with your vehicle, but I don't believe it's the transmission.

Some suggestions and more interesting info, based on written descriptions as best as possible from those who would know. Hopefully those of us who must shudder abnormally will get somewhere with more trial & report back.

I'm going to start experimenting and videotaping the drive...helped with my G6 fiasco & maybe will here, too.

beach, do you mind sharing the forum where you find those wonderful people? would be nice to be in contact with them if not for problems but for maybe enhancements and things like that...

beach, do you mind sharing the forum where you find those wonderful people? would be nice to be in contact with them if not for problems but for maybe enhancements and things like that...
Better yet, invite them here! :cool:

btw, doing the tap mode test is an excellent idea, we should've thought of that :)

btw, doing the tap mode test is an excellent idea, we should've thought of that :)

Well, some with a vibration have already tried playing with it in different gears, to varied results. alivingMalibu already did this, and could vary his vibration, but changing it didn't really remedy the situation:

http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12885&postcount=40

Still, worthwhile to experiment with everything you can, direct from the guys who know the in's & out's and programmed the trans to do what it does;)

Better yet, invite them here! :cool:

They have been invited and have reviewed this thread specifically today per my request, hence some of the suggestions.

My original link was someone from the Lambda platform who has posted previously on a Lambda crossover forum, that I've been a member of from the start, with comments and questions for owners, and input on what was coming or what should help in regards to the transmission.

As has been the case on the Lambda forum, I would DEFINITELY suggest all of us with specific reviews and comments negative or positive start posting them as detailed as possible throughout the Dealer Problems/Service Issues section as we experience them or, as it fits, to add on to the comments of others for simplicity. Every little bit helps and hopefully those behind the scenes will read anything and everything as much as they can, and we'll help each other from both sides. There was no clear posting on the SaturnFans Aura board, but members spoke their mind as necessary in regards to the car that came out a year or more before our Malibus, and they did have at least one or two trans updates throughout the model years that helped in response. Thankfully the '08 Malibu benefited from '07 Aura experiences early on and we had a pretty well done powertrain calibration from day one, but nothing is perfect...as some of us well know, seen here in this thread.

I highly suggest we start doing the same in as orderly a fashion as we can, as much as possible.

btw, doing the tap mode test is an excellent idea, we should've thought of that :)

I have actually tried this as I read this is some other forum. I have noticed two degrees of vibration/pulsing sensation. One is much more extreme than the other. You can definitely make the pulsing sensation (as if I was driving a manual going up a hill in too high a gear) go away by down shifting. However there is a more consistent vibration that happens no matter what gear I am in. I'll cruise along at 40 and start at 5th and downshift to 4th, then 3rd, then 2nd and still feel the vibration. I have never felt any vibration in the steering wheel, only in the seat and the accelerator. In addition, the faster I go, the less I feel the vibration. As of late I believe I am feeling the vibration at slower speeds as well. As Beach has said, it isn't consistent. There are sometimes while driving I will never feel the vibration and other times I do. I pretty much drive the same roads consistently so it's not like I can pinpoint a specific driving situation. I also thought at first it was worst when really cold, but today it was 1 degree F and I barely noticed the vibration.

mpoczobut...Good info and mirrors what I've experienced, at least without ever having gone in for any kind of service on it yet. Your details should be read by the guys in relation to this, and we'll go from there, plus whatever I get in response by testing it out more and taping what goes on.

I jumped the gun by saying it's a trans issue, definitely, but it certainly seems as such by all of us given the symptoms to be one. Yet as the engineers have stated, it could still be a variety of other things, just hard enough to track down that dealers are stumped. Hopefully I'll have some vids or something myself tomorrow.

I'm happy people are stepping up to the plate to help with this problem - thanks!

Maybe it's not a transmission problem - however, it's pretty much confined to 5th and 6th gear at lower speeds.

I'm wondering about fuel tables and fuel enrichment programming when it shifts into 5th or 6th gear?

I've got about 2,200 miles or so and I'm only averaging about 20-22 MPG overall according to the DIC which seems lower than expected - 50% highway/50% city on a 4 cylinder/6-speed.

I hope other people will chime in....

Very true, alivingMalibu.

From past experience with similar issues, that's why I jumped on it being as so, and it still may be, but there's also a whole variety of other things in relation. As was said, the transmission gets pointed at immediately because it's a large component that essentially controls movement, power delivery, etc., but it isn't always the cause. Certainly could be, though, in anyone case.

Experimentation continues...and I will be posting the messages back from the engineers shortly, with a little editing. Videos of my driving today will also be up soon, with a whiny morning voice detailing what's happening;)

Perhaps that was answered before...is this a type of horisontal jerking one would get in a stick shift when being on too high a gear? I.e. fluctuations in thrust basically?

Perhaps that was answered before...is this a type of horisontal jerking one would get in a stick shift when being on too high a gear? I.e. fluctuations in thrust basically?

Yes, mostly, at least in my case. It actually feels exactly like that, typically as a lot of how I drive, it's revving harder off the line and into the 30's and a slower increase from 40 to 50 at pretty low rpm which is also when it feels like it's lugging and shudders. Oddly enough, today as I was videotaping it--and it's also now about 30 degrees warmer than it was the past week all of a sudden--it's still doing it but not as much as it has been. More of a slight shudder wobble.

Then, also, doing the same 0 to whatever, just stepping on it and doing so more quickly with faster revs right through the 40-50 and beyond range makes the low rpm lugging shake not exist...it just zips right through that range and is smooth revving harder. I showed that on a video, although it's hard to capture any kind of vibration like this.

Can we simplify and say that it only happens on certain rpm? Or light acceleration from certain rpm?
And what would the rpm be?

Can we simplify and say that it only happens on certain rpm? Or light acceleration from certain rpm?
And what would the rpm be?

It's definitely on light acceleration around 1400 rpm...

It's definitely on light acceleration around 1400 rpm...

Yes. One of my vids today shows when & how.

All today, somehow, mine seemed to dull and it really was quite smooth. Coming home? Nope. Wada-wada-wada shudder at that speed and even more below and above, which as mpoczobut has also seen, is a weird variance--but this specific issue usually is pretty set. Pitch black & being tired, no vids from this. And no paddle shifter play yet.

The other thing I notice, at least, is this shudder is a 5th gear light-medium throttle thing, actually all through 5th gear from start to finish. Right when it changes to 6th there's another odd "release" where it feels almost, hmm, like a pressure valve is let off, the shuddering dulls, and faster cruising continues at an initially lower RPM. This is why I jumped on it being a direct trans thing as have others, just from feel & operation during power delivery...but it could definitely be something else in the powertrain and the vibe, etc. occurring just gets passed on down through the trans.

First quick vids, from earlier today to help show when & how...enjoy the morning nasaly voice;-)

Just driving to work in the morning, no description, and just my usual light acceleration from the 40's to low 50's with a 5th to 6th gear change & cruising:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/th_MVI_1297.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/?action=view&current=MVI_1297.flv)

Again, doesn't tell much about the car, but shows where I exit work onto the highway & from where I typically get the worst shuddering leaving here & heading towards a light:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/th_MVI_1298.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/?action=view&current=MVI_1298.flv)

Ignore the nasty shake of the camera when I say "wobbling"--the camera slipped--but this is pulling onto the roadway from work and my usual light acceleration to 45-50'ish. Smooth as could be, hit 40 almost on the dot and the sound changes & it shudders with the "lugging". This run was not bad at all, though, and it was hardly noticeable to the level I typically get it...not sure why:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/th_MVI_1299.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/?action=view&current=MVI_1299.flv)

A few minutes later, just coming back to work on the exact same stretch in the opposite direction but this time standing on the throttle just a bit more to move more quickly, and zipping right through that 40-50 range without prolonging it. Doing this, quite often, the sound change & lugging shudder isn't really given time to come about and the car was at just the right temp or something:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/th_MVI_1300.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%209%202008/?action=view&current=MVI_1300.flv)

Doesn't show much, but gives a visual at least for the when/where/how of me getting the worst shuddering most of the time. Sort of like on my way home, for whatever reason, with a very noticeable wobble from 40-50 and cruising at 45-50'ish along the highway between lights a constant light jiggle. Smoother mostly above 50 and in 6th gear, though not totally on this run.

More tomorrow and I hope including paddles & manual gear changing, too, if I can manage all 3 things at once.

beach

Say you're driving steadily and getting consistent shudder. What happens if all of a sudden you shift to to M, paddle down, possibly giving it some gas to stay at the same speed?

beach

Say you're driving steadily and getting consistent shudder. What happens if all of a sudden you shift to to M, paddle down, possibly giving it some gas to stay at the same speed?

Yes, steady as could be just a light-medium constant pressure on the pedal. It may feel like I'm wildly backing off and on but I'm not and the engine RPM is also dead steady during this shudder. I played a little with that this morning but only really from a stop to get up to speed in a playful way.

That said, today started out even warmer & more humid than it has in a while and--somehow--it seems to have thrown the car into a spin. I had a vibration from the time I left home this morning, kind of like the 40-50 shudder but all the time varying in degree. It would build as it revved up to a gear change, lessen at least at a change, and then build back up again--that's how it feels. Initially the 40-50 shudder didn't stick out as much because of it, at least earlier.

Went out for my morning coffee a couple of hours ago--the route I taped yesterday--and this time it seemed smooth from a start as more typical BUT right as soon as it hit 40-50 with light throttle it just shook horribly and felt about as bad as I've ever had it. Let off the throttle in this range...smooths...toe back in...shudder, shudder, shudder. Stay steady, as I do, and the shudder is just constant. Coming back to the office, the 40-50 range was a little smoother but just with a slight reduction in the shudder--less than 5 minutes after the going trip. The shudder is pretty much always there but changes in severity from light to "holy crap...", and makes no sense.

Why, for instance such a thing would vary as much as it does is another oddity. Especially in relation to the shifts, it seems very 5th gear related whether that be just the RPM's it's at in that gear with light to medium throttle or what. From when I did run it through the paddles this morning and was in 4th gear in the 40's it didn't seem to be lugging or shuddering as usual, though it did come "on" when I tapped it into 5th at around 46'ish, I think.

That said, today started out even warmer & more humid than it has in a while and--somehow--it seems to have thrown the car into a spin. I had a vibration from the time I left home this morning, kind of like the 40-50 shudder but all the time varying in degree. It would build as it revved up to a gear change, lessen at least at a change, and then build back up again--that's how it feels. Initially the 40-50 shudder didn't stick out as much because of it, at least earlier.


This is exactly what I experienced this morning with the 50 degree temperature jump from yesterday. No matter what speed I drove today I felt the vibration.

Sooo...it seems like it'd be a good day to drive to the dealer and demonstrate the problem. If they still say it's normal then escalate it to the regional level or get the engineers involved for real.

Sooo...it seems like it'd be a good day to drive to the dealer and demonstrate the problem. If they still say it's normal then escalate it to the regional level or get the engineers involved for real.

Yes. I was actually just there to pick up my registration quickly, but am heading out later for an appointment and didn't have time to do a show & tell or leave it there. Very, very soon--it's a daily thing and pretty obvious regardless, just varies a bit in how much. I'll take a tech for a ride, explain as usual, and see what they can find.

Your engine or whatever sounds very rough compared to mine (your car's twin).

Is it sick??

I'll add the video of my acceleration to compare..

View My Video (http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=IJbGnkupdcHbXkAMHeOInw%3D%3D)

Okay well it says video not found even though I just uploaded it but you can still hear it haha.. it's 0-60 though so IDK!

If they still say it's normal then ....

If they do Yury, then ask them why I don't have the vibration issue? At least not yet, anyway. Maybe mine's not normal! :eek:

Yes. I was actually just there to pick up my registration quickly, but am heading out later for an appointment and didn't have time to do a show & tell or leave it there. Very, very soon--it's a daily thing and pretty obvious regardless, just varies a bit in how much. I'll take a tech for a ride, explain as usual, and see what they can find.

Best wishes with the dealer. 2 techs and the service manager did acknowledge that there is a wobble/vibration/shake in 5th and 6th gears at lower speeds. As I mentioned before, they stated that it was "normal" for the Malibu. The GM representative was quick to close the case because of the information from the dealers.

It would be interesting to find a dealer that would go after GM on this problem.

If they do Yury, then ask them why I don't have the vibration issue? At least not yet, anyway. Maybe mine's not normal! :eek:

I would love to drive a Malibu that doesn't have the vibration issue or conversely have that owner drive my car to see if they notice it. My wife claims that she didn't think anything of it until I pointed it out to her. Too bad our Malibu's reside so far from each other.

I would love to drive a Malibu that doesn't have the vibration issue or conversely have that owner drive my car to see if they notice it. My wife claims that she didn't think anything of it until I pointed it out to her. Too bad our Malibu's reside so far from each other.

I was actually thinking about that :) Too bad we're far away from each other.

Btw, none of our canadian members seem to have the issue....But there's just too few of us here on the forum.

I do believe there's an issue....Multiple sane, car savvy people can't start having the same delusion (or OCD flare up or whatever) all of a sudden. It's just not likely. I'd much rather believe the GM doesn't want to acknowledge the problem. But they will have to, eventually.


As to what gets noticed....I've been on my toes with my car for several days. It just doesn't seem to have the problem!

Best wishes with the dealer. 2 techs and the service manager did acknowledge that there is a wobble/vibration/shake in 5th and 6th gears at lower speeds. As I mentioned before, they stated that it was "normal" for the Malibu. The GM representative was quick to close the case because of the information from the dealers.

It would be interesting to find a dealer that would go after GM on this problem.

That's pure BS. Any of you guys were following the saga (or multiple sagas) of 2007 Camry's tranny? The dealers were feeding this crap to people at first, but then it became a pretty well known issue....Trannies started to get replaced...

alivingMalibu, bug them again, they hope to brush you off but you shouldn't take 'no' for an answer. I think they will realize that you're not going away and start doing their jobs.
Start going up the chain of command, complain directly to GM maybe.

Best wishes with the dealer. 2 techs and the service manager did acknowledge that there is a wobble/vibration/shake in 5th and 6th gears at lower speeds. As I mentioned before, they stated that it was "normal" for the Malibu. The GM representative was quick to close the case because of the information from the dealers.

It would be interesting to find a dealer that would go after GM on this problem.

Agreed, which is why I didn't want to immediately just take it in and not really have as good of a handle on show & tell of what the heck is going on.

Too bad I couldn't make it in today, because whether it was the sudden warmth, the humidity, or what, the car has never shuddered as hard and weirdly as it did today. Sometimes it's a light lugging and other times--ahem, today--it's like a bad misfire, an imbalance in the drivetrain, bent wheels, etc. Then, maybe, tomorrow morning--actually, likely--it will be back to glass smooth largely. The trans wouldn't necessarily do this, as the engineers said, and the more I drive it and am attempting to study what's going on, it seems like it could be a variety of things. It's always there, but the intermittent variety is just freaky. I'm thinking a Friday dealer visit should be a good move.

More post shortly...vids from today uploading, too, for sometime.

Your engine or whatever sounds very rough compared to mine (your car's twin).

Is it sick??

I'll add the video of my acceleration to compare..

Possible sound difference. It always sounded and felt mostly like other 3.6L's I've driven, maybe even a bit more husky, and certainly different than the G6 GXP that, well, maybe, seemed to scream and run more freely. Actually, I think that was just the lack of sound deadening as in the Malibu, pondering that drive.

Also have to remember, typically me driving and as shown in the video's is a lot of very light throttle & low rpm's...not doing full or even half throttle gooses from a stop. When I do, it's a bit different.

Unlike my G6 with the 3.5L that had rough running issues and would thrum and shake while idling, just like it might die--but it was completely normal, per spec apparently--my 'Bu with the 3.6L has never had such a blip and idles like a distant, silent nothing. Still, with the way this shaking is, it then feels like it almost could be exacerbated by a random rough running condition under load...well, maybe. Different gears & different RPM's certainly give unique sensations.

beach, it may be nothing..but I took a long way from work today through suburbia and kept driving at about 40 mph....I looks like my car might not be lingering that close to 1500 rpm as steadily as yours. It's really hard to tell though, we're talking about very fine difference here.
My goal was to stay as close to 1400 rpm and watch what happens when I baby the throttle to accelerate as little as I can. I found that it's quite difficult to keep at steady 1400...it seems to want to go higher. Not much, maybe 100 more rpm. When I can keep at 1400 rpm I get this disticnt growl of being on too high a gear, but it never goes into shaking as if the tranny knows the limits very exactly.

Again, I might be imagining things, I will keep watching. On the other hand if I am not imaginning things (which is VERY likely :)) what would that mean....that yours come to that near-shake point but instead of rpm going up from there it kinda stays. Now, I know from a stick shift that if you're coasing with no throttle you may be ok, but once you try and make the engine work a bit more it may go into shaking.
What can that mean .... throtle-by-wire doesn't react to the gas pedal well? Tranny learned the wrong thing? No idea.

BTW, first couple of months I was working out the tranny more that usual trying to develop the right input for more immediate/refined downshift at freeway speeds.

I shot some crappy vids this morning....is it me or is the rpm a tad higher than in vids beach posted??

Pardon the camera shake, I need t practice more :)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_6.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=6.flv)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_4.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=4.flv)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_5.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=5.flv)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_3.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=3.flv)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_2.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=2.flv)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_1.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=1.flv)

That's pure BS. Any of you guys were following the saga (or multiple sagas) of 2007 Camry's tranny? The dealers were feeding this crap to people at first, but then it became a pretty well known issue....Trannies started to get replaced...

alivingMalibu, bug them again, they hope to brush you off but you shouldn't take 'no' for an answer. I think they will realize that you're not going away and start doing their jobs.
Start going up the chain of command, complain directly to GM maybe.


Hello, I did complain directly to GM and they gave me a case number. I went to two dealers. They reported back to GM that this was "normal". One of the techs called Detroit and they said there were no fixes at this point. They tested an '09 Malibu on the lot and said the car had the same problem.

What's next? The BBB? The GM rep. said there is nothing else they can do on there part. I told them I wanted to see a GM field rep and they said okay. However, the GM field rep. only comes around once a month. What can the GM field rep. do for me?

Could this car be a lemon?????? I don't want to go through that process.

I would say the vibration is mild to moderate at times.

I shot some crappy vids this morning....is it me or is the rpm a tad higher than in vids beach posted??

Pardon the camera shake, I need t practice more :)

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/th_6.jpg (http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp335/YurySk/?action=view&current=6.flv)

From what you showed in your videos, this is where the vibration issues begin as the car shifts into 5th gear in the 37-40 MPH range. It clears a little a bit then starts again as the car shifts into 6th gear under lite acceleration. Basically, it clears up after 60-65 MPH or so.

So, the car is okay to drive from 0-37 MPH. Annoying from 37-65 MPH and nice again after 65 MPH.

What fun!

if they say the car on the lot also had this it may mean that this is a common problem (and your car is not a lemon), which they might want to address eventually...

is there a way to call their rep? or maybe email notes, videos and whatever ?

From what you showed in your videos, this is where the vibration issues begin as the car shifts into 5th gear in the 37-40 MPH range. It clears a little a bit then starts again as the car shifts into 6th gear under lite acceleration. Basically, it clears up after 60-65 MPH or so.

So, the car is okay to drive from 0-37 MPH. Annoying from 37-65 MPH and nice again after 65 MPH.

What fun!

I am wondering - does the RPM in my videos look like what you have in the same scenario?

beach

Say you're driving steadily and getting consistent shudder. What happens if all of a sudden you shift to to M, paddle down, possibly giving it some gas to stay at the same speed?

Ive done this. In manual mode there is no shudder as I can maintain higher revs.. My issue is definitley low rpm shift points with the 6 speed tranny.

I am wondering - does the RPM in my videos look like what you have in the same scenario?

Hello,

I'm going to videotape exactly where and under what conditions I'm experiencing the wobble/shake/vibration in the driveline.

I'll post up a detailed description and a video very soon. I'm talking to the GM Rep. again so I hope to get someone involved in this issue again. I'll probably have the field rep. take a look at this posting.

Under closer observation, I'm finding that this wobble/vibration/shake occurs in almost EVERY gear at low RPMs. I'm starting to notice it more in 4th gear too.

I'm located in the Hartford, CT area and I would love to drive a "normal" 6-speed 08+ Malibu to see if there is a difference between my car and a member's car. I suppose I could ask the dealer to test drive a new '08 or '09, but I don't feel ilke having the sales guy riding along since I just need to focus on the drivetrain. Any thoughts????

Hello,

Under closer observation, I'm finding that this wobble/vibration/shake occurs in almost EVERY gear at low RPMs. I'm starting to notice it more in 4th gear too.


There have been some days that I would agree with this. I don't see how a shudder/vibration can be inconsistent. There are even some days when I will feel the vibration at any speed as well. If I let off the gas and coast, it almost goes away; The vibration really never changes in intensity according to speed from what I can tell...

I have the same issue with a 2009 Malibu V6. I don't need to look at the speedometer to know I'm going 50. Do all 6 speed Malibus have this issue or just a few?

It sounds like there's a difference in how bad the vibration is in different cars. I've been monitoring mine closely and occasionally I notice some, but not a lot. At this rate it doesn't feel like something abnormal, just a characteristic of this drivetrain. But obviously it is much worse for you guys.

I sort of fell of the face of the earth in regards to updates on this...but good to see the updates from others.

With mine, there's still never been a dealer trip simply because of the random intermittence at times, really random. Or just when I'd be about to, it would change to the point I have no idea how to explain it or even try to show it.

That said, as I've continued to drive and drive and figure out what's going on, I've noticed something else different with mine. The shudder that could be quite bad at times between 40 and 50, and sometimes continue on at other times, is not as much so anymore--at least in that specific range. What has been happening, however, is just a sputtery, shaky in general at random times. Perfect example was this week where it was a different car everyday. Monday it seemed mostly fine all day. Tuesday it had a sputtery shake the entire drive to work 100% of the time under power, speed regardless, which lessened a bit the next time I went out and...after sitting all day and I left for home, it not only ran and shifted SO smoothly, probably the most it ever has, but it felt peppier and even sounded smoother. This has happened before, so I'm perplexed.

In my case, though I clearly thought there was a trans issue causing my shudder before, that specific shudder isn't as pronounced alone anymore. It still comes about, like, for instance, last night on about the 4th drive of the day it had a 40-50 shudder. Mostly though just running so generally different with the shakes at the drop of a hat is the main deal.

Here were more videos I took later in the week after the last ones I posted. Just as I say in my posts it's hard enough to detail after the fact let alone my random mumblings while in the car on video...so take it with grain of salt. Details are on the video pages so note them when viewing:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/th_MVI_1301.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/?action=view&current=MVI_1301.flv)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/th_MVI_1302.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/?action=view&current=MVI_1302.flv)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/th_MVI_1303.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/?action=view&current=MVI_1303.flv)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/th_MVI_1306.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20Malibu/Videos/December%2010%202009/?action=view&current=MVI_1306.flv)

Going from a comment Travis made before...does my car sound or do anything you can tell from grainy videos that's different from yours, IF yours (i.e. Yury & most others) is "normal"?

My current main issues:
1) Weird, random shudders and vibrations that range from very slight to quite bad, from something somewhere. Or a freak drive where things get so smooth and "right" it feels like a different car. Different almost every time I drive it, which is weird. It should have a shudder sometimes and feel boggy to the next day feel so creamy and normal, it's also weird.
2) Often when having a "vibe" kind of a drive with some shudders, power also seems effected oddly or at least changes, and the shifting seems to get softer or just lazier and with a jiggle itself.
3) Really noticeable shudder/shake downshifting if I'm at speed and then let off to decelerate and coast. I've never been in a vehicle that would decelerate or coast downward and give any feedback whatsoever--just slow down smoothly, but this is apparently normal to an extent per the engineers...or is it?

You'd think with what I report I'd be complaining and have had it at the dealer more than once already but generally I'm just used to it and with days where one time it'll wiggle/sputter 100% of the time under power to being so overtly smooth and peppy (i.e. the normal 3.6L/6-speed "normal"), I still can't nail it down.

I want to take it in and wish it was just the normal peppy, smooth & silky 3.6L/6-speed everyday as wants to be and sometimes is, but as is, I have NO idea where to even begin with my dealer unless I can make it in some day during a drive where it's clearly "off".

I have the same issue with a 2009 Malibu V6. I don't need to look at the speedometer to know I'm going 50. Do all 6 speed Malibus have this issue or just a few?

Welcome. Shame your first post had to do with an issue, but we're all in here together;)

Anymore details on what yours does? Just the vibration in this speed range or? Any random running weirdness as I've reported, with it seeming almost to be sputtering at times and freakishly smooth (as it should be) at others?

Beach...Is your situation the same, or has any progress been made?

Beach...Is your situation the same, or has any progress been made?

The same, essentially. Basically because it's a pretty constant thing but one that's constantly intermittent. I can't--and haven't--taken it in yet because, for instance, the 40-50 shudder isn't an "always" deal, and the fact that half the time it feels soggy with soft/delayed shifting isn't enough to complain about--they'd have no clue where to start. I went through something too similar with my G6, now gone.

Hence, why I'm still driving and STILL trying to nail down what/where/when. It sounds impossible, but the fact that on the beginning of a day my commute to work is shaky and hesitant from start to finish, but the way home 10 hours later it runs, feels, and sounds like a smoother, different car is the problem...the dealer won't be able to find anything far enough out of spec to mean much.

I'm going to contact at least the GM trans engineers again to get them up to speed on what more people have been discussing in this thread, my experiences, and also my videos. Don't know what I'll get back, but whether it's the trans or not, their advice is a good thing to have.

Shall contact them again and see if there's any other suggestions, especially given in my case and others the aggravating intermittence which makes it impossible to get any real help from a service check.

What are you feeling in your hands? At the wheel...Shudder or any loss of control?

I cant believe you guys are still discussing this. Frankly, the videos show nothing and prove nothing. The problem exists and has been properly described by many, including myself. What more are you guys trying to determine?

GM has already said that basically "it's a GM, accept the shortcomings".

Move on.......

So, if considering a new Malibu should I go for the 4 spd auto? Seems 6 speeds would be better, but perhaps not.

My advice would be to avoid the 6-speed. I drove a rental 4-speed today. No vibrations or other problems.

Welcome. Shame your first post had to do with an issue, but we're all in here together;)

Anymore details on what yours does? Just the vibration in this speed range or? Any random running weirdness as I've reported, with it seeming almost to be sputtering at times and freakishly smooth (as it should be) at others?

The vibration around 50 mph is a constant. I have noticed some other oddness, not constant though.

I cant believe you guys are still discussing this. Frankly, the videos show nothing and prove nothing. The problem exists and has been properly described by many, including myself. What more are you guys trying to determine?

GM has already said that basically "it's a GM, accept the shortcomings".

Move on.......

True, but as the majority of owners here (and the same for the Aura's) show, it's NOT normal. Dealers and even GM from what they hear about it still don't know what's going on, but it's there.

In my case, as I've just kept driving and avoided service, I actually think I have a bit of a different issue as it's not just the trans having a vibration quirk but a car that actually runs differently at all times, sometimes shaky and boggy and sometimes smooth as silk and strong as could be.

I didn't accept shaking as normal in my G6, and I won't here either. Hence, the discussion goes onward with me and others...like mpoczobut who started the thread. Something is up, and some of us may actually have slightly different issues, but regardless none of them are right--especially when so many others/most have no such issues.

The engineers I contacted agreed whatever is going on is NOT normal, the problem is just going down the long line based on just our own reports of what "might be", and trying to do the same with dealers who either think it's to spec or don't and simply can't fix it.

What are you feeling in your hands? At the wheel...Shudder or any lose of control?

The steering is absolutely rock solid steady. When the car shakes, it's a whole car shudder coming from the front drivetrain when under power, that sends a jiggle from the front engine/trans reverberating back through the rest of the car.

Essentially the same feeling as a bad wheel or tire causing a wobble, BUT from the powertrain and felt under power on the road--and also able to go 100% away one random drive, such as my last Tuesday with a terrible vibe in the morning and smooth, crisp, peppy run no matter how I was on the throttle or slowed on the way home.

Possibilities from my random mind, at least for mine:
1) Transmission issue...doesn't work for the "under power it studders intermittently", but does for some of the shaking and the sloppy shifting at the same times.
2) Engine issue...like a misfire, but only one that randomly shows up under load, or certain loads, can go away, isn't ever felt sitting still at idle, etc.
3) PCM (computer) issue sending bad messages which causes the varied running conditions from smooth & strong to shaky & bogged down with no rhyme or reason.
4) Engine/trans mount problems, although, with idle and otherwise smoothness and just actually running problems, I doubt this.

Basically, again at least in my case, it's purely in the power delivery as otherwise everything about the car is rock solid.

I just test drove a 2009 4cyl 6spd today and couldn't find any issues. Does this crop up after a certain amount of miles?
thanks

I just test drove a 2009 4cyl 6spd today and couldn't find any issues. Does this crop up after a certain amount of miles?
thanks

No, it shouldn't. I had this exact same experience with several cars, including (2) 2009 LTZ 4-cyl 6-speeds that were smooth as could be regardless of how I was on the throttle, letting off trying to coast, etc. This is how they should be and "normal".

As should be noticed there's only a handful of us members in this thread discussing shudder and vibration problems in the drivetrain while the vast majority are perfectly fine A-ok and smooth in the rest of the forum. Or, as I can see in my own driveway, as our '08 4-cyl car is with 10k and no matter how light or hard it's driven, what kind of roads, etc. it's still smooth as could be and without a vibe anywhere, ever.

Also curious still on this...at least listening to my vids, however useless they are in aspects, does my '09 V6 sound or seem to run at all differently--at least from what your ears and eyes are telling you--if your car is fine?

And to those of you with shakes, do you ever have days like I explained where it has a constant vibration & feels boggy the entire drive and then by the end of the day it's so freakishly smooth & peppy, as it SHOULD be, that it feels like driving a different car? Or do your shaky Bu's always seem to run about the same & with the same power output, but specific trans "power to the ground" vibrations?

I don't own a Malibu, but am considering various configurations. LT or LTZ, with 4cyl 6 spd. Am also considering Hybrid which has the 4 spd. I'm feeling kinda confused as no one model has everything I'm looking for, but I want a smooth running vehicle.

I don't own a Malibu, but am considering various configurations. LT or LTZ, with 4cyl 6 spd. Am also considering Hybrid which has the 4 spd. I'm feeling kinda confused as no one model has everything I'm looking for, but I want a smooth running vehicle.

Well, again, if you look at the majority of people just on this forum with no complaints about anything let alone what we're talking about, the chances are slim of issues. Take a nice long test drive in very varied conditions at least once, if not more, and you should be reassured. Threads like this can be worrysome, but even as I know from our '08 and all the other '09s I drove, any vibration is not normal.

I really like the 6-speed combos with either the 4-cyl (very peppy, better mileage, and the lighter front end feels more nimble) or the punchy screamer of a V6. It's just a shame that some of us are having such random issues...don't let it scare you. For all that have been in for fixes only to be told it's normal or to drive other new cars on the lot that have the same or worse issue, most still don't. If they did, you'd see threads like this regularly here or on the Saturn Aura board--the latter, which has been out an additional year, has essentially no such talk from all that I've researched.

beach, I watched your vids a couple of times, couldn't hear anything different from mine...

beach, I watched your vids a couple of times, couldn't hear anything different from mine...

Gotcha. Thanks Yury. Now, if only if the thing would run and shift as properly smoothly as your "normal" car does;)

Beach? Maybe the torque converter.............

I have tried to replicate your situation with my car which is the same other than color. To start with I drive like a 90yr old man always have. Meaning I am so light on the gas pedal it makes people sick. If you drove as much as I have you eventually would understand,anyways. The only thing I can get is a different shift at the 40mph range almost like aggghhhhh click. Seems like the first few gears are super quick then finally with the ultra low rpms and leanness needed to propel this ship hits a lag at these final gears. I have no complaints really I just drive the car with more pedal power than I did with others and notice the bumps more kinda like my old Bonneville sse. I guess it's engineered that way to snap up to 75mph and drop down to 1800 rpms needing almost nothing other than tail wind to keep it going..........

Beach...I've replayed your clips a number of times and I most definitely hear a different tone right at about 40 mph...A sort of rumble.__Any chance it could be in the air mixture?

Beach? Maybe the torque converter.............

I've said this a few times myself and it was my immediate self diagnosis given past experience with my older Cadillac with some converter shudder that I worked around via programming, as well as some other random cars.

The GM engineers I contacted said anything was possible but specifically for the 40-50 thing they didn't think so because the TCC is on from the 30's. Not sure, especially given how mine changes SO much, and if it was TCC shudder I don't know how it would be there one time and then not the next.

I have tried to replicate your situation with my car which is the same other than color. To start with I drive like a 90yr old man always have. Meaning I am so light on the gas pedal it makes people sick. If you drove as much as I have you eventually would understand,anyways. The only thing I can get is a different shift at the 40mph range almost like aggghhhhh click. Seems like the first few gears are super quick then finally with the ultra low rpms and leanness needed to propel this ship hits a lag at these final gears. I have no complaints really I just drive the car with more pedal power than I did with others and notice the bumps more kinda like my old Bonneville sse. I guess it's engineered that way to snap up to 75mph and drop down to 1800 rpms needing almost nothing other than tail wind to keep it going..........

EXACTLY. This is like other 3.6L/6-speed GM vehicles I've driven, from a few Lambda crossovers to a G6 GXP to another '09 Malibu LTZ V6.

And, odd as it may be, this is exactly what my car "changed" to be like once last week for a drive home. It was such a pleasant surprise. Anymore the shuddering or vibes aren't really severe, at least as much as it used to be with the daily 40-50 hand of God shaking the car, but still happen in all different sorts of degrees.

It's natural for it to get laggy once you're close to up to speed or cruising, just due to tuning and the operation of a torque converter. It's not natural for any of it to be accompanied by varied jiggles and wobbles under power that can come and go.

Beach...I've replayed your clips a number of times and I most definitely hear a different tone right at about 40 mph...A sort of rumble.__Any chance it could be in the air mixture?

Anything is possible. I will say this. The night last week when, all of a sudden, the car became "normal" and was so smile inducing smooth, crisp, and peppy like normal, it also sounded different. Not as husky, if that makes sense, and a little smoother of a song.

Beach...I've replayed your clips a number of times and I most definitely hear a different tone right at about 40 mph...A sort of rumble.__Any chance it could be in the air mixture?

now that maliblu said it...I did hear a bit of rumble too. But...I dunno, kinda hard to say. Let me listen to mine carefully and then replay the videos.

Well, again, there's little the GM guy could add based on what he knows on his part directly, aside from having intentionally making it a point to drive one of their Malibu's in the fleet for himself and see if there was anything in that car he noticed.

He told me no, basically, but that's not unexpected as one would presume the cars they use in their actual fleet wouldn't exactly have issues...or if they did, the testing would point it out and it would be taken car of. Other than a slight audible difference in the 40-50 range that was ever so minor and he only really noticed it because he was trying to, nothing seemed out of spec and regardless of how driven, there was no notable shudder or vibration. And, as he pointed out in regards to part of my issue, certainly no performance degradation or change.

Same review as Yury and others on this board and elsewhere, without complaint, straight from the source. So, again, this is not normal as most know, but determining what is causing the issue for those of us here or knowing how to remedy it is beating a dying drum.

beach, some owners reported something along the lines of stripped/missing torque converter bolts. Just wondering if it's relevant at all. Different symptoms but who knows.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f17f7d0/0

beach, some owners reported something along the lines of stripped/missing torque converter bolts. Just wondering if it's relevant at all. Different symptoms but who knows.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f17f7d0/0

The link doesn't work, but I remember the issue (if it's the same one), both from the 'Bu and the Aura with the 3.6L/6-speed.

The bolts were too long/not in far enough/wrong and when remote start was used, wherein the trans defaults to max line pressure, it would cause interference between the bolts and other internals and a grinding or scraping sound.

Those people with it at least didn't also seem to have shudders, and well, there was at least a clear fix via TSB from GM for it;)

Self diagnosis again: Torque Converter

I said this initially, based on past experience (and, really, I am a Mechanical Engineer...as unsure as I am, there are some things mechanically I'm a little adept at), and despite having other ideas, I'm back at it.

A big reason why? One, it still makes sense. Two, reading through accounts of "torque converter shudder" with other vehicles, the whole list of symptoms detailed by some read like they're directly from me talking about my Malibu.

And, funny enough, the best of which was from Toyota. The new Tundra has had torque converter shudder issues worthy enough to warrant it being a common discussion among owners and also an official TSB from Toyota to dealers mentioning manufacturing issues they have resolved, calling out tests, and also then replacement. This one thread in particular on a Tundra forum just read like a book from me or our thread here, almost to a T...except they have a clear fix:

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/transmission-drivetrain/1446-07-tundra-torque-converter-shudder-tsb.html

From my symptoms, many of which have made me wonder if it really might not be the trans, here's a my comparo list to the Tundra guys and lines taken from their posts in just this one thread:

1) It's there the majority of the time BUT can also randomly go away, to the extent those with it have had trouble duplicating it on the fly at their dealer or worry about being able to. Check PLUS.
2) Stand on the gas from a stop, and the power is being put out but it's getting to the ground through the wheels in a rumbly, boggy manner that makes the shifts feel slushy and weird. Not smooth and crisp, although it rarely can seem better. Check.
3) "Rumble Strip City", referring to the sensation of rolling over rumble strips when ever on the power, in a variety of situations. Couldn't have put it better myself. Check.
4) Acts like the fluid flow through the converter is not doing being regulated correctly or is sporadic, causing irregular shakes, shudders and bogging. Check.
5) "3 times it was bad enough", going up a grade and the shudder came on enough to scare the owner. Isn't fully sure it makes sense it could vary or be so noticeable at times and not at others...but is. Check.
6) Started towing, and though didn't notice much before, under harsher load there was an immediately present shudder. Like me climbing grade or just on flat land, standing on it, especially with added weight in the car. Check.
7) Fuel mileage was down with it at its worst, and after repair there was immediately a seen improvement with the proper smooth running. As I drive 100% of the time with the Instant MPG on, the days it seems to be bogging and shuddering the most my readout is notably lower--and all of a sudden is easily higher on my freak "smooth" days, with less of a struggle to get the power out correctly. Check.
8) "My 2007 six speed auto has not shifted properly under full acceleration. Depending on the speed when jumped on, it is slugish shifting or fast. From a start it sometimes bogs and shutters." Gee, oh so much what I experience daily. Check.

Completely different vehicle, powertrain, etc. from a different manufacturer, but dear lord, are the symptoms and owner feedback IDENTICAL to not only me but also what others have experienced to different degrees. That doesn't immediately mean it's the answer, but it makes absolute sense and is the closest I've come to being dead on with every point I've made.

The difference is, in their case, with multiple reports (certainly moreso than with the Aura/Malibu, which is still limited), Toyota investigated it, found a cause, made a change, and issued a TSB and there are now Tundra owners who used to deal with shuddering, bogged down, bizarre running trucks that are now smooth and crisp as intended.

It's also not what the GM transmission engineers believed could be the issue, but real world vs. other vehicles it seems the opposite. Now, who here wants to head to their GM dealer with a printout from a Toyota Tundra forum and say..."SEE. Do this." I'm going to send this to the ones "in the know" and also get the car in ASAP because I can't stand this anymore. Won't help if again we hit a wall with "well...", but it's certainly the most solid lead yet, irregardless of what GM has said.

The link doesn't work, but I remember the issue (if it's the same one), both from the 'Bu and the Aura with the 3.6L/6-speed.

The bolts were too long/not in far enough/wrong and when remote start was used, wherein the trans defaults to max line pressure, it would cause interference between the bolts and other internals and a grinding or scraping sound.

Those people with it at least didn't also seem to have shudders, and well, there was at least a clear fix via TSB from GM for it;)

the link seems to work for me...but regardless, you seem to be an expert at this point anyways :)

Beach...Phenomenal researching!...I hope it works out and makes a difference.:cool:

the link seems to work for me...but regardless, you seem to be an expert at this point anyways :)

That, or things just drive me crazy enough I post and post and post again about it.

After going through what I did with my G6 only to end up with any kind of "not normal" crap in replacement car #2, I'm just a little miffed;)

I sent the link and my comparo list to the GM tech, also, just to see if there were any other thoughts on his part, being one of the go-to people on at least this 6-speed.

That, or things just drive me crazy enough I post and post and post again about it.

After going through what I did with my G6 only to end up with any kind of "not normal" crap in replacement car #2, I'm just a little miffed;)

I sent the link and my comparo list to the GM tech, also, just to see if there were any other thoughts on his part, being one of the go-to people on at least this 6-speed.

I can understand your frustration...going from a problem to a problem like this. I myself had to replace my 2 previous cars early because they both were driving me nuts (with different types of issues though).

I cant believe you guys are still discussing this. Frankly, the videos show nothing and prove nothing. The problem exists and has been properly described by many, including myself. What more are you guys trying to determine?

GM has already said that basically "it's a GM, accept the shortcomings".

Move on.......

Do you work for GM? hahaha.

Seriously, we will prevail on this issue because there are a number of growing reports on here so far and I suspect that others will chime in as time passes.

Please, everyone:

1) Get your car into 2 different dealers to document this problem.

2) Call the 1-800 number in your owner's manual and get a case number regarding this problem. Do not close out the case - ask for other dealers to examine the car or for the GM field rep. to investigate.

3) I may request or pay for an outside evaluation in order to document this problem from a neutal party.

4) Folks, we have a lot of options regarding this problem including legal action.

5) I'm prepared to follow legal action if the problem is not resolved. There is no way I'm going to drive the car like this for the next year or two.

I'm not letting GM off the hook for this problem - it will be resolved.

Do you work for GM? hahaha.


No, I dont. And, far from it.

I wasnt telling people to "move on" to cover up for GM. I was telling them to move on because GM can't/won't do anythig about it.

Their famous "it's normal" excuse has gotten very old over the years yet they want us to stay loyal.

Oh, and let us know how your legal action works out.

At this point,GM has pretty much put most of Chevy's future in the new Volt and the Malibu....They HAVE to do something about it...Or die._(And by 'die' I mean business go bye-bye).

Well, mine goes in tomorrow at least for a first time "what the heck" check. Being New Year's, etc. this week they're apparently already quite booked and typically busy, so I don't think the ideal of me hanging around the entire time to show them myself what's happening and give points will happen, but I'll do what I can from a mile away at work.

I'm going to get a little short & sweet symptoms list together tonight to help, and we'll go from there. As long as nothing changes, that's the plan for now.

Driving around today at lunch I could really feel it and, looking back in this thread, the 37-50 range seems to be the most waddle-waddle shudder, which, of course, is also the range for the TC to be doing its thing. Or, is it.

Here's to hoping--as I used to with my G6 and its weekly dealer visits--that it's shudderific tomorrow, and I don't just end up with a "we checked the tires" call.

good luck, beach.

I drove a friend's camry hybrid this week and it had a simialr vibration as my malibu. The main difference was the camry would vibrate at all speeds not just between 30-50. I read that the accord v6 has a problem with thier cylinder deactivation. So the malibu is not alone, still, I hope we get a fix.

Yeah, mine has always had a pretty "hard" shudder/vibration coming out of the drivetrain, well, unless in a once every few weeks fit of smoothness. As for tomorrow, we'll see. Driving around today at lunch was a perfect showing, doing my usual 40-50 puttering to errands and back.

A little bit of something is normal, that's just the nature of the beast. Our '08 2.4L/4-speed is steady and like silk 99% of the time, but if you back off and then get back on the gas once in a blue moon in the 40's it will cough out a shudder...but only for a second or two. That's normal. Mine--and the others here, clearly--is not.

I'm going in calling it torque converter shudder from the start, along with some other specific details, and see what the guys think. I'd rather be there the entire time but can't, so we'll see. As long as I don't get the "we checked the tires" line, it's something.

I drove a friend's camry hybrid this week and it had a simialr vibration as my malibu. The main difference was the camry would vibrate at all speeds not just between 30-50. I read that the accord v6 has a problem with thier cylinder deactivation. So the malibu is not alone, still, I hope we get a fix.

speaking of Camry's.....they had a lot of issues in 07 when that generation started. Various issues - lurching, hesitation, losing a gear. Many people miserable with this benchmark of the industry. What we have here simply cannot compare. I'd say GM still has done better than Toyota in that respect.
However of course being on the bleeding edge of things always hurts...

Well, dropped off it is. A little later than I hoped, but they should get to it.

New service adviser this time who seemed to really listen and knew I knew what I was talking about, and said "Oh..." when I said torque converter shudder, and then gave him a little detailed write up of a few specific things it does.

Hitched a ride back to work with a co-worker who has a '03sh Mountaineer and good lord...like the other old one with miles we have at work, that thing just ran and shifted like silk compared to my '09 Bu with 2500 miles. Shudder, shudder.

I've been thinking about this whole thing and I can almost bet that it's a relatively small batch of bad torque converters or something like that...Just doesn't seem to be a widespread issue neither in Auras or Malibus. I bet all this will eventually result in a replacement of TC or the whole tranny or something along those lines.

I've been thinking about this whole thing and I can almost bet that it's a relatively small batch of bad torque converters or something like that...Just doesn't seem to be a widespread issue neither in Auras or Malibus. I bet all this will eventually result in a replacement of TC or the whole tranny or something along those lines.

I agree. I seriously think it's something EXACTLY like that issue with the new Tundra's that I posted, except in that case Toyota noted enough service visits and calls from dealers for the same issue that they jumped right on it, figured out a manufacturing flaw that was showing up in batches, fixed it, and issued a TSB of how to test & replace.

In our case, despite the handful we have here, GM just must not have enough of it coming back for it to throw off any alerts--exactly as I've been told by the engineers. It typically takes quite a bit until such a thing actually gets through the chains and onto their desks, to find a solution.

It happens. It's not normal, as evidenced by the numbers here and especially on the Aura board, that's been out longer. The worrying part is dealers and GM claiming such a shudder is normal in complaints, but I think it's because there's been no formal investigation and few have really understood what's going on, instead mainly looking at wheels & tires, etc. for a problem they typically don't experience in new vehicles.

Well, some dealers are not exactly brilliant or willing to help. It's amazing what kinda crap some of them will try to feed you. That pretty much goes for all makes, so on a bigger scale GM is not doing any worse that others so far.
But as far as TC goes, if you manage to get a dealer to admit the issue they will have to replace something even though there is no TSB. I had that happen on my 05 Vibe with grinding noise on cold start. That was a very rare issue but they did replace the tranny with not much pushing from me. Well, that's a 'good' dealer that I use, surely others might not have been so accommodating.

beach, something I came across on the saturn forum. not sure if it's worth anything, but I'll throw it here anyways

in this thread : http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120505
there's a mention of a procedure of resetting the "fuel trim", so the car can relearn the amount of air it needs in various conditions. I wonder it it's worth doing as an experiment.

beach, something I came across on the saturn forum. not sure if it's worth anything, but I'll throw it here anyways

in this thread : http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120505
there's a mention of a procedure of resetting the "fuel trim", so the car can relearn the amount of air it needs in various conditions. I wonder it it's worth doing as an experiment.

Yeah, I've seen that before. Common idea when things are changed regarding an intake, etc. but it will also just re-calibrate itself eventually.

Regardless, an experiment like you said to maybe toy with, if necessary and it turns into a saga, though it really shouldn't effect much in our regard. SaturnFans is a great place for info, again having another year under their belt with the Aura and all the same stuff.

Beach...Off topic here....Would you know when the 2010 Malibu is set to come out?

Beach...Off topic here....Would you know when the 2010 Malibu is set to come out?

Nothing much is supposed to change for next year, which will be the 3rd, other than typical little stuff--and possibly some powertrain revisions for expanded E85 compatibility. There was a thread started about this, believe it or not, very recently on another forum:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f60/rumored-2010-malibu-largely-unchanged-more-e85-73235/

Like the 2009's, orders should start in June and the first 2010's will start rolling in July.

Helpful, as always.Thanks....I was hoping the Mal' might get the same Nav option as the 2010 Equinox.Next Gen' maybe.

Helpful, as always.Thanks....I was hoping the Mal' might get the same Nav option as the 2010 Equinox.Next Gen' maybe.

No Nav will ever be installed in the current gen Malibu because the electronic architecture--at least according to GM, despite what it may seem given the current radios already used--so no. The current Epsilon I car will stick with the electronics mostly as they are, until the new next gen Epsilon II Malibu which will have an interior and electronics much like that new Equinox...give or take. Think of those gadgets as the new corporate parts bin standard.

No word on the car yet, but sometime before 5 I'll at least hear back, on something.

Guess WHAT?

I just had the exact same experience all of you had. The adviser called me a few minutes ago and said they definitely experienced exactly what I had described in detail and didn't think it felt right. That said, they weren't sure what to do or what could be done, so they called into the tech line and had a conversation about it and they also "put an engineer on the phone" who also told them it was normal.

I didn't want to drive him nuts on the phone, but I brought up how I had driven others and they were NOT like mine is, we had an online discussion specifically about the issue and how there was a handful experiencing it, but most weren't, etc. He understood that, but in his words "this isn't the most popular drivetrain in this vehicle, so there being a handful of people claiming theirs does it doesn't necessarily mean much--it really might be normal."

Shock. At least I was vindicated that, yes, they felt it immediately and in every way I reported, but didn't know what to do and calling GM, "the words of God" told them it was normal. I said I understood, of course, having gone through this before and of course through others here, but there's an issue and if it wasn't we wouldn't have what we do here;) His response: "It's not that we can't do anything, but even going to the extent of replacing the transmission, it's probable it would be the same afterwards."

Another dealer? Probably. These guys are great and we have a good relationship thanks to my G6 disaster, but I'm tired of shuddering and not just a little. It's pretty bad when, yes, someone else feels it but "deal with it" is the answer.

I should, too, at least call Chevrolet tonight, just to vent. I did that with my G6 and though they did nothing, it made me feel better. Argh.

Oh, and like others, they too took a new 2009 2LT V6 off the lot (the only V6 one they have) and, as he said, with only 12 miles it felt "the same". I doubt it was fully the same, and as he also said, "well, and with only 12 miles and sitting a while, who knows".

It boggles the mind to think that they can show such contempt for the customers, with the mess they're in.

Guess WHAT?

I just had the exact same experience all of you had. The adviser called me a few minutes ago and said they definitely experienced exactly what I had described in detail and didn't think it felt right. That said, they weren't sure what to do or what could be done, so they called into the tech line and had a conversation about it and they also "put an engineer on the phone" who also told them it was normal.

I didn't want to drive him nuts on the phone, but I brought up how I had driven others and they were NOT like mine is, we had an online discussion specifically about the issue and how there was a handful experiencing it, but most weren't, etc. He understood that, but in his words "this isn't the most popular drivetrain in this vehicle, so there being a handful of people claiming theirs does it doesn't necessarily mean much--it really might be normal."

Shock. At least I was vindicated that, yes, they felt it immediately and in every way I reported, but didn't know what to do and calling GM, "the words of God" told them it was normal. I said I understood, of course, having gone through this before and of course through others here, but there's an issue and if it wasn't we wouldn't have what we do here;) His response: "It's not that we can't do anything, but even going to the extent of replacing the transmission, it's probable it would be the same afterwards."

Another dealer? Probably. These guys are great and we have a good relationship thanks to my G6 disaster, but I'm tired of shuddering and not just a little. It's pretty bad when, yes, someone else feels it but "deal with it" is the answer.

I should, too, at least call Chevrolet tonight, just to vent. I did that with my G6 and though they did nothing, it made me feel better. Argh.

Isn't is nice to be in the same club??? - hahaha

When you call the GM 1-800 number, see if you can get Barbara. She'll listen to our sad story and say there is nothing that GM can do at this time.

Beach,

Have you driven a V6 malibu that did not have this problem?

Any idea what the deals will be after Jan 5th? If they offer rebates plus 0%, I might see what a trade will be, either a malibu, without the problem, or something else. The 0% would offset some trade-in loss.

I'd say let them replace the transmission if they are willing to do it. If that's a relatively rare issue the chances are it will cure it. If not, get a lawyer perhaps.
Or before that perhaps have another conversation with the engineer and the advisor that admitted the problem. Because it does not make sense otherwise, the dealer is supposed to act as a customer support basically validating the customer complaint in this case. Obviously GM does not know you and doesn't trust you, but they should trust their own representative as to whether it's normal or not.
For God's sakes what's normal about a car shaking constantly??? The engineer has to take the complaint seriously, that's it.

btw, at the beginning of the trouble with 07 Camry a lot of people were given 'it's normal' at first...Well, I believe any manufacturer would be like that at the beginning of an issue.

another note....they're claiming other cars on the lot do that and there's something fishy. If all new Bus did that there would be some talk about the issue on the internet already cause you guys (beach, aLivingMalibu, Wisconsin Proud) had your cars for some time. The lack of talk indicates that the issue is rare but it does consistently appear in 'other cars' on the lot. How come? It's way too convenient for GM. I'd say they either feel the same vibe but much less so it's within norm (which I doubt, in my car the norm is smooth ride with vibes so insignificant I have to make an effort to separate them from the road imperfections) or they simply lie (which wouldn't entirely shock me) or do not follow the instructions.

So, next time, I would insist on riding with them in that 'other' car on the lot.

Beach,

Have you driven a V6 malibu that did not have this problem?

Any idea what the deals will be after Jan 5th? If they offer rebates plus 0%, I might see what a trade will be, either a malibu, without the problem, or something else. The 0% would offset some trade-in loss.

Are you thinking about trading in your Malibu because of this problem? If this is the case, please do not do this. Your car is under warranty and you have other options.

GM would love for you to just quietly turn in a car like this at a loss - it happens all the time. Most people do not understand their legal rights under state law.

If it turns out that this problem has effected only a small amount of us, it would be wise to look into your state's Lemon Laws. Most Lemon Law cases are good up to 24,000 miles or 2 years, depending on your state.

In CT, the Lemon Law is very strong and I do believe it will be the road I will follow if GM doesn't repair or compensate.

Again, do not slither quietly away from this - this is what GM wants us to do.

You should seriously look at the LEMON LAW before you act! The Lemon Law is specific in what it entails towards a new car that is defective.

Prepare yourselves...LONG post...

Isn't is nice to be in the same club??? - hahaha

When you call the GM 1-800 number, see if you can get Barbara. She'll listen to our sad story and say there is nothing that GM can do at this time.

HAH! I shall remember that;)

I talked to enough of the Pontiac people before to know a few of them by name.

This is just insanity. My car is certainly not the only V6 '08-09 Malibu in the area, and definitely not the only one the dealer has ever sold. It's one of many. And, in over a year, it's also the FIRST they've ever gotten back for such an issue, an issue the tech assigned to it noticed right away and didn't think "eh...it's not bad" but rather that something really was wrong. They data logged. They test drove. They tried pulling codes from the trans computer "because we knew immediately what you were talking about and it didn't feel right", but found nothing. Hence why they then called GM TAC for higher up input on what really might be going on, if they had any tips, TSB's, etc. because shuddering, vibration, and bogging should not be normal aspects of anything in a new car.

At least the dealer confirmed what I've been feeling and tried--we chatted, and they clearly knew what was up, but per GM were told it was normal and they should do no further. There's no way something, especially something as thoroughly well done and refined would be designed to physically send a reverberating shudder throughout the car and make it boggy at times, but this is still the line the GM Tech Center is telling dealers and I'm clueless as to why. As the engineer I've been keeping informed about this said, a very slight audible difference is normal at a certain speed range BUT nothing should be shuddering or vibrating--and he verified that, as a point, on one of their test fleet Malibu's. There's a communication disconnect somewhere.

Beach,

Have you driven a V6 malibu that did not have this problem?

Any idea what the deals will be after Jan 5th? If they offer rebates plus 0%, I might see what a trade will be, either a malibu, without the problem, or something else. The 0% would offset some trade-in loss.

YES. Actually more than just Epsilons with the same drivetrain, but also several Lambda crossovers with the same powertrain combo, and quite a few of each. Of the cars, however the first I drove was an '08 Pontiac G6 GXP with the 3.6L in early summer when I was first new-new car shopping and had a thing for the G6 coupe after looking at some. Loved the car but really LOVED that drivetrain, and borrowing it for the afternoon, I ran it both gently as I typically drive and also moreso like a wild banshee. Never once did it have a vibration at any speed, throttle pressure, decelerating, etc. It was exactly like the 4 or 5 Lambda crossovers I had driven before, clearly, but just a beast dropped into a much lighter sedan. Buttery power and sound, crisp and quick shifts (not the studder and bogging of my 'Bu at times), and idled silently. Then later shopping for the 'Bu, I drove an '09 Malibu LTZ V6 and it too was smooth & crisp, both driving in traffic and faster on the highway, without any kind of shuddering at speeds under power or decelerating--at least that I noticed. It seemed like everyone else with a normal V6 Malibu describes their car, solid, quiet, smooth, and meaty power in a refined way.

The same with all of the Lambda's, a line of which where all creamy smooth and didn't shudder--although, I might add, there's a discussion very similar to this on the Acadia forum still. Basically, owners (about the same number as we have in this thread) talking about a shudder at a certain speed range as well as a vibration...with the exact same response by dealers and GM. I asked the Lambda engineer about this and he was aware of it, but although there was no response as to what the heck it was, he did say again he didn't think it was trans--I think, like here, it likely is though. Oh, and on another of the boards, someone who had an Enclave repurchased after a list of problems, one being a seemingly uncurable "transmission vibration".

It's not good that GM claims, at least from dealer phone calls trying to explain it, that "it's a normal characteristic of that powertrain" WHEN, if it was, there'd be WWIII with owners going after them for their shuddering Malibu's. Not just a handful of us.

I'd say let them replace the transmission if they are willing to do it. If that's a relatively rare issue the chances are it will cure it. If not, get a lawyer perhaps.
Or before that perhaps have another conversation with the engineer and the advisor that admitted the problem. Because it does not make sense otherwise, the dealer is supposed to act as a customer support basically validating the customer complaint in this case. Obviously GM does not know you and doesn't trust you, but they should trust their own representative as to whether it's normal or not.
For God's sakes what's normal about a car shaking constantly??? The engineer has to take the complaint seriously, that's it.

btw, at the beginning of the trouble with 07 Camry a lot of people were given 'it's normal' at first...Well, I believe any manufacturer would be like that at the beginning of an issue.

another note....they're claiming other cars on the lot do that and there's something fishy. If all new Bus did that there would be some talk about the issue on the internet already cause you guys (beach, aLivingMalibu, Wisconsin Proud) had your cars for some time. The lack of talk indicates that the issue is rare but it does consistently appear in 'other cars' on the lot. How come? It's way too convenient for GM. I'd say they either feel the same vibe but much less so it's within norm (which I doubt, in my car the norm is smooth ride with vibes so insignificant I have to make an effort to separate them from the road imperfections) or they simply lie (which wouldn't entirely shock me) or do not follow the instructions.

So, next time, I would insist on riding with them in that 'other' car on the lot.

I went in telling him it was torque converter shudder, called it that on my detailed description list of what's happening, and I think in the end they still thought it was that as well--in some form. They very clearly thought from the get go of my description and especially driving it that it was the transmission, plain and clear. That led them to trying to pull codes from it to check for proper gear changing, etc. and any faults, as well as calling GM Tech to see what they'd say.

Then, of course, we were back to the page others here have been. I really don't think GM Tech has any clue what is going on, just as it seems like such a mystery to the engineers I've been contacting who've never experienced it, but have multiple ideas on at least things to check.

For God's sakes what's normal about a car shaking constantly??? The engineer has to take the complaint seriously, that's it.

Precisely, and even my dealer believed this, but being they could find no faults and had never experienced it before--but clearly knew something was up--looked to GM, and GM said normal. They tried, really, and that was how their phone call got escalated up to speaking with an engineer directly, but he only said the same thing. Again, no one who hasn't experienced this has any clue.

The drive home, shaking again in different ways, was nice again. It was amazing climbing in the used Mountaineer of a co-worker and being stunned, really, at what a properly spec'd and well used truck can run, shift, and ride like in comparison. That shouldn't be true, and it wasn't if I compare it to other 3.6L's I've driven that were normal.

So, next time, I would insist on riding with them in that 'other' car on the lot.

I plan on just test driving it myself, hopefully soon if my salesperson is around. I, again, have a feeling it probably did have a little bit of something--the 12 miles and just sitting for months not helping, as the tech even said--and that helped write off mine more easily. Again, NOT normal, even if another car does do something...they certainly all don't.

This was one thing that bugged me, and really the only thing, with the dealer. When I said something about this discussion, how I've driven others that were not like mine, etc., the first question I got was "did they have the same powertrain?". No, sherlock, I drove a used G6 with a stick and wondered why my Malibu didn't feel like that. Otherwise, they tried...though they didn't seem convinced, either.

Are you thinking about trading in your Malibu because of this problem? If this is the case, please do not do this. Your car is under warranty and you have other options.

GM would love for you to just quietly turn in a car like this at a loss - it happens all the time. Most people do not understand their legal rights under state law.

If it turns out that this problem has effected only a small amount of us, it would be wise to look into your state's Lemon Laws. Most Lemon Law cases are good up to 24,000 miles or 2 years, depending on your state.

In CT, the Lemon Law is very strong and I do believe it will be the road I will follow if GM doesn't repair or compensate.

Again, do not slither quietly away from this - this is what GM wants us to do.

I absolutely love this car, but am hating the drivetrain--the one aspect I hoped to love. The worst part is that I suffered through 3-4 months of a lemon G6 that had issues from the very first day, even hours, I had it until it was finally repurchased by GM. I was worried to death about what to replace it with, picked this Malibu because our '08 has been so great, drove it a few times to be sure, and then end up dealing with shudder and bog-a-rific. Thankfully the rest of the car is absolutely spot on, it's "just" tiring to drive and/or think about daily.

Ever since I first noticed this shuddering, I was already looking for an escape route in the back of my mind. It's the last thing I want, but it was old after a month with the G6, let alone more crap now. I just wish there was a freaking fix...actually, I think there is, but no one will even try by digging into it further thanks to GM saying no

You should seriously look at the LEMON LAW before you act! The Lemon Law is specific in what it entails towards a new car that is defective.

Been there with the last one. Nowhere near valid for such a thing at this point, but I'm keeping it in mind depending on how long and how many times I decide to take it in for this. Also unlike my G6, proving shuddering isn't as easy on video as warning lights, chimes, and loud rattling are (video was a huge help in the case with the Pontiac).

I love this car, but good lord...STOP the shaking. I'm 0 for 3 this year already with cars, and actually one of those was my first 13 year old monster Cadillac so it at least had a reason to not be perfect--although, looking back, it largely was in comparison to the next two.

Here's part of my receipt, by the way. Nothing I haven't said and doesn't give all the detail I gave but they went through it all, for sure:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/ServiceReceipt12-30-08Clip.jpg

Beach-

I don't know if you remember how old engines were broke in or not. Not really the case so much today but the transmission is also part of the equation with breaking in engines of the past. I run all mine the same not as much today but still do it. I know it's past the point on yours by now too. I do run it kinda hard up and down no more than 50-60 for the first few hundred miles. I also stop everyday somewhere during that first few hundred and slam the gas in REVERSE for quite some length.

The fodder comes straight from the men who hand built the first hydra-matics 60yrs ago. So it is not smoke. You can learn a great deal from them lazy old stupid UAW workers who get paid way to much. HUH? Ya. OK

Beach-

I don't know if you remember how old engines were broke in or not. Not really the case so much today but the transmission is also part of the equation with breaking in engines of the past. I run all mine the same not as much today but still do it. I know it's past the point on yours by now too. I do run it kinda hard up and down no more than 50-60 for the first few hundred miles. I also stop everyday somewhere during that first few hundred and slam the gas in REVERSE for quite some length.

IMO, the "break-in" period has nothing to do with this issue. I followed all the standard break-in practices and it didn't have any impact on the transmission vibration.

FWIW, I've restored/fixed a few muscle cars (Trans Am, 'Cuda, Charger), went to a technical college for automotive 22 years ago (never pursued the career though) and was trained in the military to repair heavy-duty trucks. With this background, it helps me to know I'm not crazy - at least not yet.

It's becoming clear that this situation is normal...In GM's corporate view....Those of you affected with this issue fall into the category of the "Acceptable, occasional, Sacrificial Lambs".Just part of doing business on a large scale...In other words; the "Just suck it up, Sucker."group._I almost feel for those who have to face the customers.

IMO, the "break-in" period has nothing to do with this issue. I followed all the standard break-in practices and it didn't have any impact on the transmission vibration.

FWIW, I've restored/fixed a few muscle cars (Trans Am, 'Cuda, Charger), went to a technical college for automotive 22 years ago (never pursued the career though) and was trained in the military to repair heavy-duty trucks. With this background, it helps me to know I'm not crazy - at least not yet.

Agreed, same here. It's a useful suggestion, but following what Aura and other owners have said, I broke the car in from a start driving pretty much as I would any other time. And as much as I still drive like a 90 year old, at least once a day I stomp it to roar by or around someone...although that gets annoying in how boggy and with a vibe it can feel mushing it's way up to higher speed like that.

Like I said before, it has exactly every characteristic of the new Tundra's that had a recognized torque converter issue, and even if it's not that, no car would be correctly designed to shudder or have a constant vibration from the driveline. If they did, we'd have hundreds of Malibu V6 owners here complaining, or more than the zero Aura owners doing the same about theirs.

The dealer immediately thought something was wrong, clearly, but before tearing the transmission out spoke to GM--as is typical--for a back up and more information, and that's where the "normal" comes in. Just like others here have been told.

I haven't called or emailed anyone yet, but will soon, on the next plan of attack, in some form.

It's becoming clear that this situation is normal...In GM's corporate view....Those of you affected with this issue fall into the category of the "Acceptable, occasional, Sacrificial Lambs".Just part of doing business on a large scale...In other words; the "Just suck it up, Sucker."group._I almost feel for those who have to face the customers.

Exactly. And I too feel for my dealer, especially after the saga of my G6, because they know that I don't complain just to complain and if I bring a car in for something...guess what, it's real. They found that and I could tell from speaking with them, even though it was apparently the first time they experienced it, they knew I wasn't happy and that something wasn't right. But their hands are tied, somewhat. They would have gone ahead and started tearing into it, wherein calling GM was to give them more info on if there was a reprogram, a known trans issue or defect, etc. before doing so, but when told not to, that was that.

I'm going to at least get another message sent to the engineers with this update (and I continue to wonder who the engineer was my dealer got escalated to yesterday...), today.

Interesting tidbit...driving to work this morning was actually smooth. Like I've said, this strange smoothing randomly happens from time to time, as it did today.

There's a little judder under the right throttle & speed and also on decel, but if you drove it right now, you likely would characterize it as normal, mostly, unless really nitpicking. I'm not sure what was different this time, other than me letting it sit in remote start idle for an extra minute or two and/or the nearly 50deg temp, but alas.

It is quite nice when it's smooth. This random changing--albeit this is the rare mode--doesn't make sense to most, but again it did with the Tundra guys and their TC issue. Same deal, there, frequently.

It's becoming clear that this situation is normal...In GM's corporate view....Those of you affected with this issue fall into the category of the "Acceptable, occasional, Sacrificial Lambs".Just part of doing business on a large scale...In other words; the "Just suck it up, Sucker."group._I almost feel for those who have to face the customers.

This is the crap that GM customers have been told for years. It's the basis for them losing alot of market share.

My Father was a GM customer, Buick was his brand. His POS new car brought him the same replies back then - "it's normal".

Just when they put together a good design, then something else crops up. What they really need to do is fix their customer service if they want to retain customers.

Ive driven Chevy for work for over 20 years because I have to. My other cars have been imports that consistently have performed well without any service other than maintenance.

This is the crap that GM customers have been told for years. It's the basis for them losing alot of market share.

My Father was a GM customer, Buick was his brand. His POS new car brought him the same replies back then - "it's normal".

Just when they put together a good design, then something else crops up. What they really need to do is fix their customer service if they want to retain customers.

Ive driven Chevy for work for over 20 years because I have to. My other cars have been imports that consistently have performed well without any service other than maintenance.

It happens with everyone, just like Toyota and their new Camry 6-speed issues for a while, although they seem quicker on the draw to actually believe something is wrong and go at it. Often they do so quietly as not to create a ruckus and admit they've made a boo-boo (many cases of that), but eventually it gets accomplished. Look at the Tundra, as I posted.

In our cases, I'm at a loss. Directly from the engineers, who, of anyone, would know about something if it was going on, have had no reports and don't experience even the supposed "normal" issue in the cars they have on hand, clearly stating that if it's as we describe it is not normal. But there's a disconnect, STILL, between the tech center, warranty repairs logging, the engineers, and us.

Unlike as I was told, it's not that there aren't just a handful of rare V6 Malibu's out there and the normal issue is just only being reported by the smaller number of owners that do have them and think there's a problem...it's that there are quite a few cars that something is wrong with, but the majority are fine and report nothing.

I need to get a message over to the engineers and whoever else, soon, so if anyone else has any info they'd also like me to include from their cases (we could have a log, perhaps, of names, vins, dealer visits, etc. eventually), let me know and I'll do that now or as it comes.

Are Malibus assembled in multiple plants? Mine was made in Lake Orion, MI. I wonder if the problem is isolated to one plant.

Are Malibus assembled in multiple plants? Mine was made in Lake Orion, MI. I wonder if the problem is isolated to one plant.

Yes, they are--Lake Orion, MI and Fairfax, KS--and that's a good point to bring up here in relation to the discussion, possibly.

I wondered earlier and looked through this thread, and it seems like there's at least some mixture among us shakers as far as what plant. So, maybe, maybe not...but good to also record this.

Yes, they are--Lake Orion, MI and Fairfax, KS--and that's a good point to bring up here in relation to the discussion, possibly.

I wondered earlier and looked through this thread, and it seems like there's at least some mixture among us shakers as far as what plant. So, maybe, maybe not...but good to also record this.


Just for the record: My 4 cylinder/6-speed LTZ was built in KS during June of 2008 and it has this vibration/shake/wobble/shudder issue.

How about you other guys???

My car was built in Fairfax, Kansas in 03/08.

Yeah, so at least from the handful of us here, we already have a split between the plants. If it's a trans thing, as thought now, I wouldn't think there would be a difference given that it's a component that comes from one place and is shipped to and installed at each plant. Same with a lot of things, but you never know, I guess.

Hold on a minute. All these posts that GM is being GM again gives you crap and says it's normal not fixing anything is BS. Look at the TOYOTA 6speed transmission issue they were not going to do a damn thing! Issues with the Tundra galore and said it is not going to get fixed. Both operate as a business my friend.

Hold on a minute. All these posts that GM is being GM again gives you crap and says it's normal not fixing anything is BS. Look at the TOYOTA 6speed transmission issue they were not going to do a damn thing! Issues with the Tundra galore and said it is not going to get fixed. Both operate as a business my friend.

Oh, I agree. I hope I never played the "it's stupid GM again" card...I hate that.

Our issue is that there still isn't a substantiated number of claims to warrant further investigation through the chains of command. When it's Toyota, they flatly refuse that there is a problem--sort of in the way we're dealing with here--only to quietly, under the table, sometimes issue a fix. The Toyota FWD 6-speeds were a real joy, not, and still continue to have issues with varying degrees of "it's normal" too. It's business. The case I noted, the Tundra, was just a clear example of an identical set of issues and how they fixed them.

With this issue, the message just is not getting through but with pressure from more of us dealing with it, hopefully it will and we'll get somewhere.

Everyone dealing with this problem has the new 6 speed transmission, right? Well this is the first year for this new transmission and I'd bet GM's still going through durability tests with this newly designed transmission. As dealers across the nation get more owners coming in with this issue GM will have to take a closer look at what's going on, give it time. Granted this is the first year of this new body and some of the innovations GM instilled in this chassis. as they say it's always best to buy a new model after the third year it's been out, by this time usually they've gone through all the bugs and pretty much eliminated the majority of them. Look how long GM has had only a 4 speed transmission available and then the OD transmissions weren't much of an improvement, they showed signs of weakness for years. Now this new 6 speed auto, it's gonna take GM time to figure out areas of concern on these transmissions and address them accordingly.

Beach...The next time one of them tells you "It's normal.", just say 'I agree, it is normal...FOR A MALFUNCTIONING CAR!'

Hold on a minute. All these posts that GM is being GM again gives you crap and says it's normal not fixing anything is BS. Look at the TOYOTA 6speed transmission issue they were not going to do a damn thing! Issues with the Tundra galore and said it is not going to get fixed. Both operate as a business my friend.

Maybe. But here's the difference: GM is in no position of leverage to hose the customer and must do all that is necessary to retain the diminishing market share they currently have. Meanwhile, Toyota's market share continues to rise because their overall approval is much higher than GM's.

Now, you can say that these are very similar issues with faulty transmissions but you must realize Toyota has built a track record for quality vehicles and can weather an issue better than GM who's track record is the complete opposite.

It's like in pro sports when the star athlete gets the benefit of the doubt from the referees because they have "earned" a higher degree of respect.

Maybe. But here's the difference: GM is in no position of leverage to hose the customer and must do all that is necessary to retain the diminishing market share they currently have. Meanwhile, Toyota's market share continues to rise because their overall approval is much higher than GM's.

Now, you can say that these are very similar issues with faulty transmissions but you must realize Toyota has built a track record for quality vehicles and can weather an issue better than GM who's track record is the complete opposite.

It's like in pro sports when the star athlete gets the benefit of the doubt from the referees because they have "earned" a higher degree of respect.

I don't think GM will fix this, a fix would admit that there is a problem. The malibu is suppose to be GM's future, and saying there is a major problem could be fatal. A recall would make the evening news.

I don't know it sucks for anybody. I still think it's tranny related maybe dump that fluid and start with some new fluid.

I don't think GM will fix this, a fix would admit that there is a problem. The malibu is suppose to be GM's future, and saying there is a major problem could be fatal. A recall would make the evening news.

Perhaps, but I doubt. But I don't think they even need a recall. Recalls are usually safety related. All they need is to get down to the cause issue a TSB. No one would notice that.

Everyone dealing with this problem has the new 6 speed transmission, right? Well this is the first year for this new transmission and I'd bet GM's still going through durability tests

Platform wise it's the second year starting with Saturn Aura in 07. Interestingly though Auras don't seem to have the issue. Only certain malibus seem to be affected and the issue does not seem to be mileage related.

I don't know it sucks for anybody. I still think it's tranny related maybe dump that fluid and start with some new fluid.

btw, that's something to try, surely dealers can try that first...

Perhaps, but I doubt. But I don't think they even need a recall. Recalls are usually safety related. All they need is to get down to the cause issue a TSB. No one would notice that.

Correct. An engineer eventually has to actually get a car with the issue to decipher, and a TSB issued to replace, repair, etc. the actual defect--just like with the Tundra.

Platform wise it's the second year starting with Saturn Aura in 07. Interestingly though Auras don't seem to have the issue. Only certain malibus seem to be affected and the issue does not seem to be mileage related.

You know, it really isn't even noted, other than a couple of random threads I've found perusing the Aura boards in relation to an XR 3.6L vibration--of a few different kinds. But, somehow, not like this much and it was crickets mostly after the thread I made about it, asking. Same car, different visuals, and pumped out of the same Fairfax line...so I would think there's also some Aura's out there the same, just not vocal online.

It doesn't seem baffling, but again, there's that communication shut down of the GM tech center not comprehending or just not having any substantiated data on it, so dealers are told to leave it and us be. Doesn't help, either, when they do a lot test and, somehow, the cars there do it--or do something, in some form.

New message to the GM engineers soon, among other things and a new poll thread in relation to this I think. Happy New Year's:)

I don't think GM will fix this, a fix would admit that there is a problem. The malibu is suppose to be GM's future, and saying there is a major problem could be fatal. A recall would make the evening news.

But a major problem ould be something that makes the car un-operable. All manufacturers wouldn't want to admit a problem, why do you think dealers get these TSB's...Now a major recall would only be needed if it was a safety issue that was deemed dangerous, like Ford's recall on some of its pick-up due to fires inside the cab due to a wiring problem.

Still,..A broadly known 'Fix' on the evening news would tell the world that GM is taking care of business and it's customers.

Still,..A broadly known 'Fix' on the evening news would tell the world that GM is taking care of business and it's customers.

why would a routine thing like that make the news?

why would a routine thing like that make the news?

I can see the headline "More bad news from GM, there once highly rated Malibu ..."

I can see the headline "More bad news from GM, there once highly rated Malibu ..."

let's maybe not get carried away here. we're only aware of several vehicles affected with this non-safety related issue. it's probably no more than a slight ding in the ratings, if that.

I guess, sucks though, I thought I would give GM a chance, my last 3 cars were honda, toyota, and mazda, and they had no problems. I'll probably trade in for 2010 mazda6, if no problems are reported.

I guess, sucks though, I thought I would give GM a chance, my last 3 cars were honda, toyota, and mazda, and they had no problems. I'll probably trade in for 2010 mazda6, if no problems are reported.

I'd say it's nothing out of the ordinary, these things do happen. The Camry's problems were (not sure maybe still are) very significant for example. Sucks to be at the beginning of it when the manufacturer denies it.

I'm aware this is not a life treating issue. My thought on the news report was more in thinking that ANY news of GM's taking concern in their customer's complete satisfaction, could only be good for business....People,generally, are aware that problems arise with new models. There's no escaping that for any company...It's about whether or not these guys are going to take care of it when things do occur, that the public needs to hear.

I rant on...Wouldn't you be more inclined to do business (or in Chevy Malibu 23's case; stay in business) with a company that you kept hearing how they bend over backwards to take care of their 'valued' customer. As opposed to being treated like a 'Necessary evil' that they need to fill their already bloated bank accounts.

for me, since I don't yet own one. really thinking twice about the 6speed. Am considering an LT1 or Hybrid, both of which have the 4spd. Perhaps this a better option? Really like the LTZ trim and equipment, however.

for me, since I don't yet own one. really thinking twice about the 6speed. Am considering an LT1 or Hybrid, both of which have the 4spd. Perhaps this a better option? Really like the LTZ trim and equipment, however.

We've had zero driveability issues with our '08 4-speed, BUT I really do prefer the 6-speed performance and feel in most cases to it with both the 4-cyl and V6. And, as I've said before, our issue is NOT common. If it was, everyone would be in here complaining and not just a handful of us.

It's terribly annoying but it's not something I'd actually worry about if buying another one--or even getting the one I did, only for this to be the case. It's like any new car issue. A very thorough test drive, through a range of speeds and such and it should be easy to spot whether there's an issue or not.

I would not let it lead you to a different model, etc., just check it out like you would any new car.

This is the priceless value of forums like this one, it gives people the heads-up on what to be on the look-out for....Really thankful for it!:cool:...Thank you, to whomever started this site.If it was you,Pizza Man, really,thank you.

This is the priceless value of forums like this one, it gives people the heads-up on what to be on the look-out for....Really thankful for it!:cool:...Thank you, to whomever started this site.If it was you,Pizza Man, really,thank you.

Yes;) Great note to make, even if it's in a thread about an issue...that's how forums are an asset, for both good and bad.

More info, polling, etc. soon on this, to try and further our case.

I'd like to add a few thoughts too.....

I also agree that this is a great thread because it's sharing information with potential new Malibu owners - I would hope that people would do the same for me if I was looking for infomation on a buying a new car. I always love to hear "look out for this" kind of things.

I'm not here to knock GM. As taxpayers, we all have a stake in GM through these bailout loans, etc.

All we want is for GM to provide the BEST customer service available. We want them to go above and beyond the call of duty. I go out of my way to make people happy all of the time; there is no reason why a company like GM can't do the same. It's all about the Golden Rule.

Now, back on task:

Today, I stopped by my local Chevrolet dealer to get some warranty work done on the car. The service manager seemed a little put off by my presence. After addressing the warranty issue, I reminded him about the transmission shudder/vibration/shake/vibration issue. He immediately recalled the issue and gave me the old song and dance: "Normal operation in the Malibu. The other Malibus drive the same way." I immediately discussed the information in this thread and how a few other owners are reporting this. Being kind, I asked him for his advice in the matter. He really didn't say too much. I asked him if a GM Field Representative could examine the vehicle. He said "Yes" and he'll call me in February (GM Field Rep. comes in 1 day/month) when the GM Rep. is coming. It will be interesting to see if the Service Manager actually calls me back. However, I'm going to write him an email to request a meeting with this GM Field Representative.

Does anyone have a dealings with their GM Field Representative? Would it be a reasonable request for GM to replace the transmission and/or torque converter in the hope that this will solve the problem?

Anyway, this is my next step in the saga.

Does anyone have a dealings with their GM Field Representative? Would it be a reasonable request for GM to replace the transmission and/or torque converter in the hope that this will solve the problem?

Anyway, this is my next step in the saga.

I really think it's best NOT to jump to a conclusion on what is CAUSING this issue. You; vetaken the information from another company that has HAD a simillar issue with one of their models. What should be addressed is the issue itself and if GM has come across this and is investigating the CAUSE! Now I haven't mentioned this but will now. For some of us who own the N-body Malibu we've had an issue of this shudder but it's under acceleration and only when you've got the gas pedal pushed down past a certain point from idle. The conclusion on this issue was a shift soleniod in th transmission is faulty. Did GM do anything about it though, not really to my knowledge, they just pass along the it's normal. Now maybe it's a design issue with these transmissions from the N-body and into the new Malibu as far as components inside the transmission not being ideally suited for their perspective duty.
GM is still in a learning stage on what's coming up as issues on these new Malibu's and as I've mentioned GM will have done changes by the third year this model has been out on most issues, as I've been told the old adage of buying a new model is to wiat till the third year if it's release and you'll find that all the issues that have come up have been dealt with.

I have a 2008 LTZ w/ 18's. The wobble in the steering wheel and the vibration in the car is horrible. I even went to Discount Tire and paid for an road hazard warranty (free rotate and balance for life) thinking the dealer could not correctly balance the tires or find an "out of round" tire. All-in-all tires appear not to be the issue. I agree it is a drivetrain issue. It is horrible. I am going to take my LTZ back to the dealer and ask for their throught thoughts. Has anyone had their transmission replaced? Transaxles?

And we have another.

It DEFINITELY is not a wheel/tire issue, regardless of how common those are, and I could prove that just with how perfectly smooth mine cruises at times only to be shuddering the next. Somehow, some way, after taking mine to the dealer last week the time since then the car seems to have smoothed out more, mostly. Today I had a vibe again and it really wanted to do the big time wada-wada-wada from 40-50 accelerating lightly, but was otherwise smooth. I'm not sure if it's having crossed 2500 miles (not exactly notable, but still), me being angry about it, or what, but it has been smoother.

But it's still not right, and there should not be any driveline shudder like this. The engineers who, at least, develop the transmission tuning concur and have not experienced any such thing on their test fleets, the dealer tech who drove my car last week immediately recognized what I reported and--precisely--came back and said "transmission" and they started trying to pull codes, etc. and see if anything was going wrong in that aspect. Only to call GM tech line and be told to leave it alone, "that's normal". Similarly too, driving the other identical new car on the lot only for it do something, I'm not sure what, but something to back up what GM told them didn't help. I've driven several vehicles with this drivetrain, and not had this. It still pretty clearly seems to be bad torque converter impulses, but no one official will refute it or have anyone look into it further.

Why my car has smoothed out in the past week, give or take a few random drives where it just again suddenly will throw in the shudder bug, is beyond me, but it's still there and still going on. I've been bogged down lately with other things and just not had time to get back in touch with the engineers or file a case with GM, but likely will. Everyone says it isn't normal until GM tech gets involved with the dealers and says otherwise.

At least, unexpectedly, my dealer uttered the words "drop the transmission" so they noted what I did, but now per GM said to live with it because they do that. On my end, they've told me if there's ever any updates issues, TSB's addressing it, etc. they'll contact me, but otherwise oh well.

I hate to say it, but I just hit 8K miles today and it's not getting any better. Yesterday the vibration was absolutely awful between 25 and 55. I wish I could say that it gets better with age... Today it felt pretty mild on my way into work; It is always a surprise to find out whether my drive will be pleasurable or not. :(

Today it felt pretty mild on my way into work; It is always a surprise to find out whether my drive will be pleasurable or not. :(

You sound exactly, to the T, like me and mine. Strangely, I haven't had a bout of where it just feels like shaking for an entire drive or boggy for over a week now, but I still get the 40-50 "what the hell?" shudder throughout the car when accelerating...a lot of the time.

I've driven the car 3 times today, to work, from work to get coffee and then back to work. So far today, it's been smooth, but just yesterday was throwing a nice shake and maybe it will later today too. Seems to really do it when I accelerate for the first time out of work, which is the first time it'll have revved up through the gears and lock the torque converter from sitting cold...but not always.

It's always a surprise. You just hope for the smooth one, and not the shaky.

This is a great thread for information and for some of us to rant, but I wonder if knowing that there is no fix will prevent some from going to the dealer?

I have not gone yet, plan to, but don't look forward to the "its normal" response.

This is a great thread for information and for some of us to rant, but I wonder if knowing that there is no fix will prevent some from going to the dealer?

I have not gone yet, plan to, but don't look forward to the "its normal" response.

I wont be taking mine in. Not worth my time.

However, if we keep this thread going and potential buyers see it they wont buy this car.

So GM better do the right thing soon or it will hurt sales in the future.

Sounds like this issue needs some kind of escalation. I wonder if there is a way to dispute what the tech's verdict, especially with dealers agreeing that it does not feel normal. Maybe get the regional rep to drive the car, perhaps it'd be harder for them to deny the issue.

Are there any stories of shocked passengers witnessing this issue?

I use my "shakey" Malibu for commuting, and yes, everyone in the car feels it. I am going to take it in, but like many have stated in this thread, why? Even if GM recognized this issue, they need to have a solution. I know my solution, I will not buy another one! I would tell other too. PS I know others who have the Saturn and they too experiance the same shutter...

Sounds like this issue needs some kind of escalation. I wonder if there is a way to dispute what the tech's verdict, especially with dealers agreeing that it does not feel normal. Maybe get the regional rep to drive the car, perhaps it'd be harder for them to deny the issue.

Exactly what I want to work on. I'm sending the update in regards to mine, what the dealer said and what GM told them and how we're still getting new members here once in a while that come reporting this.

Their response so far has, of course, been "take it to the dealer" or asking what the dealer has said. At this point, it's pretty clear that route is worthy but they either can't or don't do anything and GM tells them not to. Particularly in my case, per the dealer's pressing after driving it and another, when I was told "we escalated it to speak with an engineer", I'm curious to find out who they might have talked to in such a case and why that person would again tell them it's normal and to leave it be--the rest of us don't concur.

Again, basically, something is wrong but it's not getting reported enough or up through the chain of command to be accepted as real. For the time being, we should all just keep posting in this thread, taking the cars in if they haven't been (even if you think, from here, you too will get the "nothing wrong" diagnosis, you never know), and complaining to GM direct.

The one thing big corporations love more than money,is for the people they screw-over to remain quiet about it....Do any of you affected by this issue have a local news ' Consumer Watchdog ' reporter that you can get to publicly shame GM into acting on this matter?

Perhaps the rough idle that has been reported is a related issue. Today the car had a smooth idle and a lot less vibrations. Perhaps a fuel mixture issue. Anyone tried premium gas?

Yes because I thought the same thing, and it didn't appear to help. I even thought it might have to do with the 10% ethanol. I don't know how many full tanks you would have to run if that was the case.

The one thing big corporations love more than money,is for the people they screw-over to remain quiet about it....Do any of you affected by this issue have a local news ' Consumer Watchdog ' reporter that you can get to publicly shame GM into acting on this matter?


Look, instead of trying to shame GM or to envoke the lemon law, those affected with this issue need to have your dealer record these issues and with enough of them Gm will need to look into the ACTUAL cause of this problem and find a fix. Talk with a GM Representative about your problem and try to get GM to look into this much more seriously. It does no good to SLANDER GM on their It's NORMAL. Both the Aura and the Malibu have the FIRST 6 speed tranaxles GM has brought out and it's obvioous that there are somethings that will happen that GM hasn't seen YET! GM has dealt with issues on new models in the years after initial models have been brought out. As I've said it takes time and patience besides a diligences talking with GM and reporting this issue.

Does anyone know of a car company that does a better job in supporting their cars? Toyota, Honda, and GM seem to ignore issues until they go away. But with the internet nothing goes away.

GM should have an engineer post on this site explaining the problem and what they are doing about it.

Malibu Glow....It's been more than three months since this thread began.Lord knows how long since GM's been hearing reports from the dealers of customers with this issue....It's coming to the point, if not IS to the point, when it's time to play hardball with these guys and stop being their victims.To tell them to take their "It's normal" and shove it up their 'No sunshine in-put'.____Off topic...The news states that Toyota's sales are off way more than either GM's or Ford.

Gm's response to this issue has been insulting, if not abusive.

Perhaps the rough idle that has been reported is a related issue. Today the car had a smooth idle and a lot less vibrations. Perhaps a fuel mixture issue. Anyone tried premium gas?

You know, though I too have said mine has weird "really smooth" days it still idles and such like it's not even running, purring all the time. This is unlike the lemon G6 it replaced, albeit with a different 3.5L, that stumbled so much at idle it felt like it was about to stall, thanks to just how the fuel trim was setup apparently. And I swore that same stumble vibration continued into the drive quite a bit giving it a non stop shake on the road, but no one could ever figure it out.

However, my Malibu does still have days where it also runs strangely, not rough, but strangely like yesterday afternoon and night. Still idling in distant vibe free silence, but the trans (or trans-like) shudder was teamed with a really grainy, growly engine feel & sound, dogged out power and the transmission in relation confused trying to react to it (I think), with some weird clunks, downshifts/upshifts, and RPM fluctuations. It was really strange, but I've experienced it before. The shudder will be there but it's combined with engine gruffness. Things like this make you think maybe it's an engine thing, but days when it's running like a scalded cat and screaming, I'll still get the bad wada-wada-wada with light-medium throttle from the trans or whatever in the 40-50 range & nothing otherwise. Or, once or twice a month, I won't get anything at all...the nice days.

Then days like today where I put 70 miles on the car and generally everything was fine again, even after last nights weirdness, with some of the shudder, but not necessarily in any way that would be objectionable or noticeable unless you're used to the car. Or it would just vary throughout my drive from a lot to nothing to a little. Again, just further complication in trying to nail down what the heck is going on.

Does anyone know of a car company that does a better job in supporting their cars? Toyota, Honda, and GM seem to ignore issues until they go away. But with the internet nothing goes away.

GM should have an engineer post on this site explaining the problem and what they are doing about it.

At this point, seriously, no one knows what really is going on. Trust me, it is at least being looked into based on what we've said in various reports, what dealers have tried, and then also what the GM tech center may be telling dealers. It's not something that has been escalated or recognized yet through official chains, largely because on GM's end it's not something they've directly run into in testing and there still aren't that many reporting it in the customer arena.

From what has been said so far, we know it's powertrain but that's not a help. Is it an engine/RPM thing? Is it a trans thing internally or that's being caused by something the engine is doing out of spec? Is it the exhaust? Is it a computer thing? It's hard to nail down specifically, without someone who know this platform & the powertrains inside & out with time and tools to spare driving the vehicles for some time, running tests, data logging, etc.

Trust me, I'm going to every avenue I can with this, and trying but it's still hard because we can't directly take our cars to the people "who know" at GM and let them figure it out, but rather dealers that try and can't spend multiple days going over every little thing, logging, testing, reporting, and on and on. And regional reps who may get involved are rarely help, even if they drive the car, because they'll get the same kind of response from GM Tech.

We're doing what we can as far as reporting it to dealers, GM customer assistance, and whoever else we can contact, and in the interim the only other worthwhile thing is to keep trying to nail down specifics on what's going on, where, when, and why and being able to detail that info. Some of our cases may be a little different here and there, but at least the shudder moving seems pretty solid.

I know I was asked this and others have brought it up in the midst of their cars being at the dealer for it, but who else has driven OTHER 3.6L Epsilon cars (Malibu, Aura, G6) and not had such an issue? Did you have this issue on your test drive of the car you bought, or was it something (like me) that wasn't apparent until you actually had it and drove more?

Don't know if this is valuable but thought I would document it here none the less. An interesting situation occurred, where I parked outside Thursday night (I normally get the garage but my wife beat me to it) and my car sat until Saturday morning (approx 40 hours). It was really cold, -9F on Saturday and I had left my radar detector plugged in. I went to remote start my car and found that the battery was dead... :-( I had this problem in my CTS too. I wish the power outlet would turn off when the car turns off, but I digress.

Anyway, I used my battery pack and jumped the car. It made some awful noises for that start and the next couple starts, but here is the thing. All day, with many engine starts the car never drove smoother! I did a lot of traveling at different speeds on Saturday and it was amazingly smooth. I have never had a entire day where the car didn't vibrate/shudder in one fashion or the other.

Unfortunately on Sunday, it was back to it's normal self... :-(

So, is this a coincidence or did something "reset" when the battery died? I figure at this point, any information could be helpful...

I know I was asked this and others have brought it up in the midst of their cars being at the dealer for it, but who else has driven OTHER 3.6L Epsilon cars (Malibu, Aura, G6) and not had such an issue? Did you have this issue on your test drive of the car you bought, or was it something (like me) that wasn't apparent until you actually had it and drove more?

I actually never test drove this car when I bought it. I test drove an identical Malibu that was black granite with Cocoa/Cashmere. Neither that car, or mine the day I drove it off the lot had any type of vibration. I have been reading some posts in the CTS forums where individuals are complaining about a bad vibration in the steering wheel for 08 CTS's. The none DI version uses the same transmission and engine as the Malibu! Is it a front vibration because it is a rear-wheel drive biasis vehicle? Just a thought.

There was a slight vibration during my test drive. I blamed it on the road. Next time I test drive a car I will be familar with the roads around the dealership.

As I mentioned in an earlier post. Some CTS owners are also complaining about vibrations, may or may not be related. First one seems more in line than the second one.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/156407-low-pitch-rumbling-noise-b-t.html

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/119196-have-we-solved-steering-vibration-freeway.html

Don't know if this is valuable but thought I would document it here none the less. An interesting situation occurred, where I parked outside Thursday night (I normally get the garage but my wife beat me to it) and my car sat until Saturday morning (approx 40 hours). It was really cold, -9F on Saturday and I had left my radar detector plugged in. I went to remote start my car and found that the battery was dead... :-( I had this problem in my CTS too. I wish the power outlet would turn off when the car turns off, but I digress.

Anyway, I used my battery pack and jumped the car. It made some awful noises for that start and the next couple starts, but here is the thing. All day, with many engine starts the car never drove smoother! I did a lot of traveling at different speeds on Saturday and it was amazingly smooth. I have never had a entire day where the car didn't vibrate/shudder in one fashion or the other.

Unfortunately on Sunday, it was back to it's normal self... :-(

So, is this a coincidence or did something "reset" when the battery died? I figure at this point, any information could be helpful...

You just described EXACTLY how mine can be, although it's never had anything happen aside from a nighttime stay in the driveway outside. Never a power drain, etc. Some days it has the luggy shudder 40-50 but is otherwise peppy and smooth, somedays it feels boggy and shakes all together, and some days, albeit less of them, it can be really smooth all the time like a normal "normal".

This is part of what does not make sense, largely, when it comes to the diagnosis, somewhat. Or maybe it does. No one seems to know.

I actually never test drove this car when I bought it. I test drove an identical Malibu that was black granite with Cocoa/Cashmere. Neither that car, or mine the day I drove it off the lot had any type of vibration. I have been reading some posts in the CTS forums where individuals are complaining about a bad vibration in the steering wheel for 08 CTS's. The none DI version uses the same transmission and engine as the Malibu! Is it a front vibration because it is a rear-wheel drive biasis vehicle? Just a thought.

There was a slight vibration during my test drive. I blamed it on the road. Next time I test drive a car I will be familar with the roads around the dealership.

You guys described pretty much exactly what happened with me, although I drove others for quite a few miles and in particular flogged, puttered around, and did every other kind of driving in an '08 G6 GXP for the most miles of all and it felt sublime in every way. Light throttle, smooth & quiet. Hard throttle, quick, crisp shifts, no vibration ever, and power galore. Drove (2) '09 LTZ 4-cylinders and one did have a bit of a wiggle I noticed in the 40-50'ish range from the first time I hit the road but not hugely notable, and the other was perfectly steady and smooth no matter how I was on the throttle or letting off. Drove an '09 LTZ V6 for about 10 miles and it felt just like my car on a good day, with smooth and quiet power but without any shudder whatsoever accelerating, cruising, or notably so when decelerating.

Also drove my car 4 times beforehand, in various ways, and didn't feel a thing. It wasn't until my drive home the first day that I noticed a bit of the jig, and then we ended up here.

As I mentioned in an earlier post. Some CTS owners are also complaining about vibrations, may or may not be related. First one seems more in line than the second one.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/156407-low-pitch-rumbling-noise-b-t.html

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/119196-have-we-solved-steering-vibration-freeway.html

The basic engine is shared, yes, albeit with a slightly different setup, tuning, and a completely different RWD transmission that is a full GM design (not related to the transverse 6-speed used in the 'Bu and others co-developed by GM and Ford and used by both).

That said, the new CTS has had some vibration issues, one of which was that torque converter/rear axle interraction as noted. Something very similar could be the case here, too, as I've just called it a torque converter shudder which is exactly what it feels like, but I have no tech data to support that and can't explain the variability or why it can come and go at times--or why the powertrain as a whole, at least in our cases, can have weird times where it just feels bogged down, growly, or lacking in conjunction with the shake out of the blue.

It's a driveline thing, and as I could show today in my car having a good day mostly but not totally, I can vary at least the shudder via throttle. Stand on it or just be a little harder, and it doesn't have the time to "lug" and shudder, albeit lightly as it did want to do slightly today if I really feathered the throttle as accelerating. But is it an engine->trans interraction gone weird? Is it something intermittently acting up in the transmission? Is it a programming/computer glitch that's sending weird signals to the powertrain, causing the shudder to be pronounced and/or the power to be bogged down at weird times? Maybe. Not sure.

We need someone higher up to data log, drive repetitively in different ways, go over every little thing, etc. and see if anything is obvious or hidden, causing this.

I've focused for almost a year now on getting a Blue LTZ V6, optioned to the hilt...But hearing this on-going drama,month after month, of dealing with an uncaring GM has begun to sour my interest._(My first car, when I was 17, was a Chevy. I've been wanting to come back to the fold.But now I'm not so sure).

I've focused for almost a year now on getting a Blue LTZ V6, optioned to the hilt...But hearing this on-going drama,month after month, of dealing with an uncaring GM has begun to sour my interest._(My first car, when I was 17, was a Chevy. I've been wanting to come back to the fold.But now I'm not so sure).

I thought you owned a Malibu already?

Before giving up on it, I'd try to get some perspective. We're dealing with a new platform here and many things are probably due to that. GM may be as uncaring as others in this type of situation. For instance Toyota had been in denial for a while too when the trouble with the 6speed auto in Camry's started.

Trannies in first half of prev. generation of Accord are going to the junkyard regularly at around 60k. However to be fair to Honda they extended the warranty for transmissions, but I hear people still somehow end up paying some of the cost. So it's not all peachy in Honda's land either.

So...in my mind it comes down more to the choice of a mature platform vs a new one and maybe not so much of GM vs others. If you're not willing to risk that would be understandable...


Btw, I owned a end of the generation year of Accord. It didn't have big issues, but there was a variety of small problems (namely rattles) that were never addressed in the entire generation. At that time Honda was not looking to solve those, it was quite aggravating. Instead they created a whole bunch of new ones in the new generation.

Yury...I know it's always a roll of the dice when you buy any car.Whether it's a Malibu, a Mercedes, a Maserati, or which ever.I would just like to have the sense that the company I'm dealing with won't blow me off in the case of a flaw occurring...If I'm required to come through on my end of the deal by paying for the car, I don't think I'm being unreasonable to require they come through on their end of the deal by supplying me with a properly functioning vehicle...Not a gas-powered vibrator.

Yury...I know it's always a roll of the dice when you buy any car.Whether it's a Malibu, a Mercedes, a Maserati, or which ever.I would just like to have the sense that the company I'm dealing with won't blow me off in the case of a flaw occurring...If I'm required to come through on my end of the deal by paying for the car, I don't think I'm being unreasonable to require they come through on their end of the deal by supplying me with a properly functioning vehicle...Not a gas-powered vibrator.

I hear you. What I was saying is that I doubt that GM is acting worse than others in this type of situation...at least not worse than Toyota did.
Are you sure that any other manufacturer would not deny an issue until certain number of complaints?

According to the links in this thread, Cadillac is having issues as well. GM is saying they are working on it...I wonder if the first few unfortunate souls have gotten the cold treatment as well....

BTW, I have gotten my radio replaced last Friday due to a VERY intermittent issue I had since new...They just replaced it no question asked....I was pleasantly surprised, they did not even try to replicate the issue after I said that it was infrequent. Of course that was easy for them to do....

The thing is...this thread isn't about Toyota.My leaning away from the Malibu has more to do with the fact that GM is,apparently,perfectly OK with owner's of brand new Malibus driving across this country in cars that sporadically go into convulsions...On principle alone, it's an insult for GM to say to ANY customer that they've intentionally designed a car to go into seizures at certain speeds....That "It's normal.".

The thing is...this thread isn't about Toyota.My leaning away from the Malibu has more to do with the fact that GM is,apparently,perfectly OK with owner's of brand new Malibus driving across this country in cars that sporadically go into convulsions...On principle alone, it's an insult for GM to say to ANY customer that they've intentionally designed a car to go into seizures at certain speeds....That "It's normal.".

What I am saying is that perhaps it would be hard to find a manufacturer that would not use the "it's normal" line in this type of situation (i.e. at the beginning of the complaints when there's just a few of them) and the Toyota seemed to be a good example of that.
I, personally, would not put it past any manufacturer. That's the point I am trying to make here.

But leaning away from a model with a problem like that, however infrequent it may be I can understand. I would've done the same last summer when I was researching the Malibu if there'd been reports of it back then.

For me, my years with Toyota have been near flawless.But I want a change....Those of us who have been part of this forums for months now,including you Yury,witnessed Beach's story with his G6.The buy-back.The finally deciding on and getting his beautiful white 'Bu...Only for a month into it,BAM!!...My heart really goes out to him,even more than most...It's just not the way to win back customers or gain new ones.

For me, my years with Toyota have been near flawless.But I want a change....Those of us who have been part of this forums for months now,including you Yury,witnessed Beach's story with his G6.The buy-back.The finally deciding on and getting his beautiful white 'Bu...Only for a month into it,BAM!!...My heart really goes out to him,even more than most...It's just not the way to win back customers or gain new ones.

I really don't know what to say. If you wish to draw conclusions from beach's case (which is bad, I agree) and a few others please do. I choose not to, unless I see more data. Why? Because many many people don't even post no more. Me and TMoney are the only people without the shudder who continue posting, others just went away somewhere (Truitt, Pizza Man, Canadian Girl, zeev just a few that come to mind).

In fact, let me post a poll ...for some reason we have never done it before.

EDIT: poll created:
http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1657

In fact, let me post a poll ...for some reason we have never done it before.

EDIT: poll created:
http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1657

Agreed, thanks Yury. Posting there now. And, may I suggest, as I will do unless there's a worthy development, my posts here will halt mostly as I watch this poll turn out...great, great thing to do.

I've focused for almost a year now on getting a Blue LTZ V6, optioned to the hilt...But hearing this on-going drama,month after month, of dealing with an uncaring GM has begun to sour my interest._(My first car, when I was 17, was a Chevy. I've been wanting to come back to the fold.But now I'm not so sure).

Now that you know about this issue, you should be able to spot the problem in a test drive. I would also consider a new 2008 Acura TL, I read they are going for around 28K.

Chevy_Malibu_23...I can't recall anyone saying they noticed their shuddering until well into their ownership.About a month or so after getting their car.Some even longer...Myself,I've considered a just used Infiniti G35 at about the same price __Anyway..I agree with the polling, even though it's never been said to be a wide spread issue.

Chevy_Malibu_23...I can't recall anyone saying they noticed their shuddering until well into their ownership.About a month or so after getting their car.Some even longer...Myself,I've considered a just used Infiniti G35 at about the same price __Anyway..I agree with the polling, even though it's never been said to be a wide spread issue.

Not really. At least not in my case. Somehow I never noticed anything, as it didn't seem to do anything noteworthy on my test drives except being very different from my G6, but I was aware of "something" the first longer drive home. That never made sense, but given the on/off/little/lot-ness of the issue in my car, it sort of does now.

Again, if this were really, truly a common or normal thing, I'd also have heard about it on the Aura forum with that guts sharing car that's been out an extra year and we'd have a much higher population of owner's here, a lot just because of the issue, doing nothing but posting about it. My dealer compared it to a new 12 mile car on the lot said to be "the same", so it still stands that if something is amiss, you will notice it.

If anything, with such threads, prospective shoppers will know what to look for.

Beach...I stand corrected (about when the issue was first felt)...Thank you.:o...Again.I said "...it's never been said to be a wide spread issue."

Maybe GM is right, it is normal for the 6 speed to run this way. It could be that some people notice and care and others just don't.

Has anyone driven 2 different 6 speed Malibus, one with the issue and one without?

Maybe GM is right, it is normal for the 6 speed to run this way. It could be that some people notice and care and others just don't.

Has anyone driven 2 different 6 speed Malibus, one with the issue and one without?

Aye, yes, for SURE. A really physical, your body shakes with it waddle in the power delivery is not normal. What is normal is a typically very slight audible sound change as the torque converter is locking up and, sometimes, the faintest of a wiggle perhaps if you're analyzing what's going on and varying the throttle...but that's not this.

I want to drive a used V6 with some extra mileage to compare as well as another new one. I have no doubt there are cars on the lot the same that do something similar, if not the same, but if you have this issue and it's full fledged...it's not something some would notice and some wouldn't, unless they were used to some really strange vehicles.

Beach...I stand corrected (about when the issue was first felt)...Thank you.:o...Again.I said "...it's never been said to be a wide spread issue."

Not a problem. I hope you still get a blue LTZ and enjoy it...if you stick around the forum for any possible car choice you'll never want to buy one of whatever it is, in most cases. I've been on many, many forums for years and the times "what's with all these problems...I'm scared" comes up is limitless. The Malibu didn't win awards and isn't rated so highly still for no reason.

Aye, yes, for SURE. A really physical, your body shakes with it waddle in the power delivery is not normal. What is normal is a typically very slight audible sound change as the torque converter is locking up and, sometimes, the faintest of a wiggle perhaps if you're analyzing what's going on and varying the throttle...but that's not this.
.

It is normal if that is the way the 6 speed malibus works. I'm not saying it is good, it is not, but if that is the way they work, then it is not something that can be fixed. The sensitive people, like myself, will have a problem with the cars, others will not.

Okay. I think I finally experienced the same issue, but my conditions don't match very well with those the rest of you have described.

I was cruising at around 35 mph on a rural road near my house (school bus up ahead limiting speed). The engine / transmission were still cold. The stretch of road in question has short gently rolling hills. When I had my foot on the throttle (lightly) to maintain speed, the car felt like it was shuddering or bucking slightly. Whenever I removed my foot (downhill sides of hills) the shuddering would stop. Once the car warmed up the issue disappeared.

Okay. I think I finally experienced the same issue, but my conditions don't match very well with those the rest of you have described.

I was cruising at around 35 mph on a rural road near my house (school bus up ahead limiting speed). The engine / transmission were still cold. The stretch of road in question has short gently rolling hills. When I had my foot on the throttle (lightly) to maintain speed, the car felt like it was shuddering or bucking slightly. Whenever I removed my foot (downhill sides of hills) the shuddering would stop. Once the car warmed up the issue disappeared.

That sounds really sounds like the normal bit of light flutter that can happen in any vehicle with a typical torque converter trans, depending on throttle & speed. In that range, it's in the process of locking up, so if you were to let off suddenly or lightly or all of a sudden stomp it, a light something is usually normal. Our vibe free '08 4-cyl/4-speed car can even be made to do something similar if you let off/step back on it right about when it's in the middle of locking the TCC, but it's a rare, "have to make it do it" normal thing.

But otherwise, unless the car is actually shuddering or rumbling under movement in general--not just trying to make it do something--and, for instance, shakes badly in a certain range just as you're either maintaining or increasing speed, you're probably fine. Just normal transmission/engine interaction behavior, unlike some of ours.

Beach...Found this small bite of a '08 owner who had to have his Torque converter replaced.Look in comment #21_http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4260874.html

Beach...Found this small bite of a '08 owner who had to have his Torque converter replaced.Look in comment #21_http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4260874.html

I read that awhile ago when doing a little research - I wondered if it had anything to do with this problem?

It is normal if that is the way the 6 speed malibus works. I'm not saying it is good, it is not, but if that is the way they work, then it is not something that can be fixed. The sensitive people, like myself, will have a problem with the cars, others will not.

No, nada, whatsoever. If this specific series of issues was, we'd see more here, as this is not something you could be oversensitive about if it's full fledged with the car shaking and bogged like something is either somewhat or really wrong.

Or, more clearly, if it was I--and others--wouldn't have "smooth" days where it not only doesn't shudder notably, or at least actually does it so imperceptibly it's not unusual, but also seems to sound and run differently. Today, and mostly yesterday, would be one of those days for me. Accelerated and cruised crisply without wada-wada-wada "is the trans imploding or a wheel falling off?", and good power with a smoother sound. Similarly, on days like today, I can let off the gas, fully or partially, coast, apply the brake and feel normal downshifting not obnoxious sputter-like shudders as it drops through gears & unlocks the TCC, slowing. Today might be normal'esque, but other times are not...hence the conundrum.

Beach...Found this small bite of a '08 owner who had to have his Torque converter replaced.Look in comment #21_http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4260874.html

Interesting. If only we knew more or could contact them...

I noticed another forum talking about this issue. It didn't go anywhere though:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f39/frustrated-new-08-malibu-ltz-v6-owner-67003/

Looking at the poll results I see that there are no more shuddering cars than the 4 we knew about for a while and the number of cars without the shudder grows slowly. That combined with no mention of the problem anywhere else (except that one topic on saturn forum) probably suggests that we're dealing with a rare issue. Which can be good news for the platform in general, but bad news for the owners of those 4 cars....GM may not recognize the issue if it's present in 4 cars only. However, in that case the right course of action may be to get them to simply replace TC and tranny without getting on the engineering level.

But, let's see how the poll develops...

I have a 08 and have recently noticed a growling or shuttering noise and it appears to be in the pass. side drive line while cruising 30-40. It does not happen all of the time but when it does you certainly can hear it. The other issue I have is poor gas mileage. mine is a 4cyl early production with 15.000 miles. I have calculated several times and my overall average is 22-24 hwy. I have yet to see 29 - 30 mpg. as some say they get. I have owned the car for just short of 1 yr. and really enjoy driving it, no other issues at all. Being in the midwest snow belt it handles exceptionally well in all this snow however they could totally eliminate the traction control. It has proven to be a complete pain in the ass when pulling through snow out of a side street.

I have a 08 and have recently noticed a growling or shuttering noise and it appears to be in the pass. side drive line while cruising 30-40. It does not happen all of the time but when it does you certainly can hear it. The other issue I have is poor gas mileage. mine is a 4cyl early production with 15.000 miles. I have calculated several times and my overall average is 22-24 hwy. I have yet to see 29 - 30 mpg. as some say they get. I have owned the car for just short of 1 yr. and really enjoy driving it, no other issues at all. Being in the midwest snow belt it handles exceptionally well in all this snow however they could totally eliminate the traction control. It has proven to be a complete pain in the ass when pulling through snow out of a side street.

It doesn't necessarily sound like the same problem we're researching here....Does it actually shake?

It doesn't necessarily sound like the same problem we're researching here....Does it actually shake?

Yeah, that could still be something, but I'm not sure what...just like ours. Does is shake, and if so, how much or under what conditions?

The friend/co-worker who I haven't seen since this summer, who has an '08 G6 GXP 3.6L/6-spd that I rode in several times last year and often compared to my problematic GT came in again today. Upon asking about my new-new car, I asked about hers--since the drivetrain is identical--and she's now had it since last April, with probably 10k or so miles.

I asked if she has ever noticed any kind of vibration or shaking, then clarified "does your car have any kind of shudder between 40-50 or elsewhere?" She does quite a bit of driving, both around town in the same places once again that I do and longer jaunts to PA and back, but said it does absolutely nothing. "No, it's so smooth...I've never had anything like that." Thought about it more, and still said nada. Then the funny thing after I told her a little more about mine. "What? That's not normal, why would a new car be supposed to shake? That's crazy."

Mine hasn't been so bad recently, but as always, it changes and I'm just so used to the various oddities they may not stand out as much. Anymore, there also seems to be some further strange/clunky shifting at times, too, but nothing too standout. The growling shudder is old news, and hopefully our poll numbers & descriptions are helpful in some way.

According to the poll results thus far, 15% of the responders are reporting the abnormal shudder/vibration. Interesting! I wonder how the percentage will vary as more members chime in on the Poll.

I have re plied to the poll and have no problem with an 08 v6, 6 spd,,,7000 miles but after reading thru the posts it would seem (To some at least) that it is not the tires. Posts have said that after different tires have been put on the same condition exsists.. My thoughts would be something in the trans or torque converter..or ECM with shifting, Sorry for the troubles some are having... I suggest you all call GM customer Service too ( if you haven t already)>>They will sometimes light a fire under the dealers....

I have re plied to the poll and have no problem with an 08 v6, 6 spd,,,7000 miles but after reading thru the posts it would seem (To some at least) that it is not the tires. Posts have said that after different tires have been put on the same condition exsists.. My thoughts would be something in the trans or torque converter..or ECM with shifting, Sorry for the troubles some are having... I suggest you all call GM customer Service too ( if you haven t already)>>They will sometimes light a fire under the dealers....

Correcto, yes, it is a transmission/engine issue most likely, but even after dealer visits and calls to GM no one seems to know how or what;)

So we get the "normal/as designed" verdict, most often.

i have this same problem on my 2006 malbiu 2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4, when i hit 55~60 mph it will begin to shake and then go away after i go a little faster. I bought this car used, so there is porbbly nothing i can do about it? i still make payments on the car i owe about $9500, and its has 75,000 miles on it. So the loan is more then the car is worth should i just let it get repod?

According to the poll there seem to be a number of 4 sp. units affected too...which is odd. Can it be something common, such as transmission fluid (just guessing here)?

According to the poll there seem to be a number of 4 sp. units affected too...which is odd. Can it be something common, such as transmission fluid (just guessing here)?

The million dollar question...what the heck is going on. Not sure, fully.

Regarding the 4-spd, it doesn't seem to be a common mention, but I have seen at least one Aura owner with a 3.5L/4-spd who complained of a vibration when the engine was under load as when on a slight grade and some other members mentioned similar things, but not much:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117771&highlight=torque+converter

In his case, the dealer discussed it with Saturn and decided that the torque converter was defective, replaced it, and his vibration under power was then gone. The Aura guys also have lots of issues with their 17" steel wheels being bad too, but this was a powertrain thing and at least one person had it remedied. I still suspect the same kind of thing here, but engineering says "it doesn't usually act like that, if the TC is a problem" (although, I've had past experience that it does, others have, etc.), dealers don't want to drop transmissions and such just on a hunch when GM tells them not to, and so on, so on.

Could still be a number of things, or in some cases some of the things multiplying together, but it's a mystery. And getting more and more agitating.

i have this same problem on my 2006 malbiu 2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4, when i hit 55~60 mph it will begin to shake and then go away after i go a little faster. I bought this car used, so there is porbbly nothing i can do about it? i still make payments on the car i owe about $9500, and its has 75,000 miles on it. So the loan is more then the car is worth should i just let it get repod?

With that number of miles it probably isn't a major issue.

Bill