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2011 Malibu Transmission Issue Major Bummer

87K views 141 replies 42 participants last post by  babydo8 
#1 ·
Just bought 2011 Malibu LS 2.4L mid-January with less than 12 miles. Today, after fighting off the denial and disappointment, I had to drop it off at the dealership because of what seemed to be a major problem with the transmission. When I put the car into D it felt like it didn't catch as I accelerated the car did not move until the RPM's were almost above 2, at which point the whole car hick-upped and shook as it went into gear.
It was driving ok after that until I came to a light. I came to a complete stop, tried to accelerate once the light turned green - the car rolled backwards!!!, and the engine just revved and again the RPM's shot up until the car finally caught and shook before driving forward.

Luckily the dealership was on the way. This is my second malibu. My first was a 1999, and i bought it used with 53,000 miles. I didn't have a single problem with the 99 until well into the high 70,000 mile mark. My first payment is not even due yet, and the Brand New Mailibu is in for repairs?!?!?! Any advice or insight would be much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
I agree this has to be a big disappointment.

A similar thing happened to a new vehicle my day bought about 40 years ago. It died about 25 yards from the dealers lot. I remember they gave my dad a loaner and the next day the salesman and the owner of the dealership delivered the vehicle to our driveway and picked up the loaner. I don't remember having any other problems with that vehicle as long as my dad owned it. This was the car I learned to drive in and even took my road test with it.
 
#3 ·
So, the dealership is sticking to the, "that's what the warranty is for" line. This is turning into a total disaster. The car has been in the shop 3 days now. No complete diagnosis, just that they think it might be the main seal. I don't want this car - and the dealership is acting like I am crazy?!?! Not even 3000 miles, I just made my first payment while my new car is currently disassembled in the shop. Is it nuts to think they should get me a new car to replace this one? I would think they would rather a satisfied, repeat customer, rather than forcing me to pursue Lemon law which will make nobody happy. This is my second Malibu from this dealership - what chance do I have for a replacement? Do you have any recommendations for other avenues to pursue?
 
#4 ·
If this is the first issue you have had with the car, I do think you are going a bit overboard wanting the car replaced.

Issues happen with cars they are very complex pieces of technology, especially transmissions. If they are fixing it that is a good start. If you have more issues with the transmission and they can't or won't fix it then you might have a lemon law cause as it is right now you don't.

Yes we all want a perfect car when we buy it and most of the time we get it other times things happen just as it can with anything.
 
#5 ·
I think most states' lemon laws require 3 tries and a certain number of days in the shop to trigger. They're not going to give you a new car on this one; worst case, they'll replace the transmission. Not a big deal. But they should be providing you a loaner in the mean time.

I bought a 1984 Pontiac Firebird new. I got it home, and there was a big puddle of transmission fluid under it. Took it back, got a loaner. They called and said it was ready. I picked it up, got it home, big puddle returned. Took it back, told them I was paying to drive a new Firebird and I expected one for a loaner. They gave me the dealer's wife's demo ( much nicer car than mine!) which I drove for about 5 days. Turned out the transmission had a porous casting, and they replaced it. Never had any more trouble with it.

No way are they going to take the loss of value on that car when they can get GM to pay for a new transmission.
 
#6 ·
Thanks - I appreciate each of your perspective's. The dealership is certainly determined to push back and they are really showing their true colors. I have found a rare few instances where the dealership is concerned enough about their customer (particularly repeat customer's) that they step-up and allow a switch. I fully understand the concept of warranties as well as the risks I took in making a new car purchase - that being said, the dealership should take the reins and handle the problem with GM, rather than tell their customer "it's not our car, we just sold it to you."
I do have a nice loaner. I also would not be making such a request if I had more than 2800 miles. But, in this situation, they are not owning up to the seriousness of the problem - 3 days in the shop, towed to a transmission specialist, still no complete diagnosis after 3 full business days! Also, they have disassembled my entire car, less than 45 days after purchase - this is unacceptable to me - as a customer.
I will keep posting updates to help document the process and Chevy's handling for those interested. The dealership has maintained, "worst case scenario you get a new transmission" (awesome, a new tranny to replace my brand new tranny). Ultimately, I feel GM needs to make this right, they certainly can afford to fix this type of problem when they are selling such a bogus car. 2 months ago, I would have told every single person I know to buy a chevy. It doesn't take much for one's reputation to be diminished so I am going to keep playing hard-ball and hope they act like customer satisfaction matters.
 
#27 ·
rather than tell their customer "it's not our car, we just sold it to you."
It doesn't take much for one's reputation to be diminished so I am going to keep playing hard-ball and hope they act like customer satisfaction matters.
I just brought my 2010 Malibu into the dealership for service and they had the same exact attitude. It seems like they trained these dealerships to have terrible customer service. I personally was not happy with the dealership when I purchased the car. They weren't willing to throw any extras in at all and this is the second car in a row that I got through this dealership. The service department was a total disaster. I wanted a loaner and they told me that I would have to wait 4 hours to see if the car needed to stay overnight before I qualified for a loaner. Hey, some of us have to go to work.

The only thing I can say is modern transmission are extraordinarily complex and it may take some time for them to get it right. At least you have a nice loaner. Let's just hope they fix the problem. They didn't fix it on my car.
 
#7 ·
I understand being upset, but I guess I am missing the reason you think they should replace the car.

Is the dealer not trying to fix the issue? If they are then they are doing what they are required to do. They supplied you a loner and I know at least here they are not required to but most do to help out the customer. I can see wanting a replacement if they are not doing anything but it seems to be that they are.

I am not trying to argue but I think you need to give them the time to fix the issue. I think you might have gone crazy dealing with the brake master cylinder leak that the 05 and 06 mustangs I had got, and the grinding brakes and the other issues it ran into within 100 miles :) .

There are thousands of parts on a car it is honestly more amazing if you don't have issues then if you do. I know I rather see the issues show up when it's under warranty than when it's out.
 
#11 ·
Just want to add my experience with my 2011 Malibu. Third gear failed after 794 miles and 36 days. It sat in the dealers shop for 13 days. They did give me a loaner HHR from Enterprise. The HHR is a joke and a poor substitute for my new Malibu. Now the car frequently hesitates 2-3 seconds when accelerating around 15 -20 MPH. Infrequently, it feels like the transmission shifts to neutral around 35-40MPH then picks up and goes normally. Now dealer says he can't find anything wrong. GM did offer free oil change and tire rotation for two years. They said it was a $240 package. As few miles as I drive, actually, it is worth about $50 dollars as another dealer in town does oil changes for less than $20 dollars. Colorado lemon law says four times or 30 days in a dealers shop in the length of the warranty or one year which ever is less. So I'm only about half way to having a lemon law case. I've kept records of all contacts with anyone related to Chevrolet during this fiasco. DO NOT BUY a Malibu.

Jim,
 
#13 ·
This question is really for anyone.............after reading Radioshoppe's post - What is the next option for a customer if the dealer is insisting there is not a problem? Technically, Jim could be even closer to the 30 days if the dealership acknowledged his ongoing concern, right? So who or where do we go once the dealer makes a "fix" but does not actually fix the overall transmission problem - basically saying, "go away, the issue has been resolved?"
I ask because if we are forced to pursue lemon law we must meet the requirements and that depends on the mechanics taking the car in.
 
#12 ·
Come on, Jim. One car doesn't make a whole line bad, just like one bad apple in a barrel doesn't mean the tree needs cut down.

I sympathize with your issue and hope GM fixes it until it's right. It might even take a new tranny, but that shouldn't be something you have to chase. They should fix it right regardless, especially since the written warranty is in effect.
 
#14 ·
If I recall correctly, if the dealer will not address the issue you should talk directly to GM. If that still does not fix the situation you may go into arbitration as stated in your contract.

But as they are still trying to fix your car I really think you are jumping the gun.
 
#15 ·
I am just gathering information and preparing for all scenarios. The dealership has been surprisingly guarded and somewhat vicious in their dealing with everything. They hooked me up with a nice loaner, but they have been fairly demeaning and somewhat aggressive with every conversation. In fact, they have lied a few times leading me to have even greater concern as we endure the process.

What else can I do but wait? - At the very least I can prepare, as time is of the essence. This is not some loose threading in a t-shirt from Walmart, its kind of a big deal. Call it jumping the gun if you want....We're on day 9 and still waiting.
 
#16 ·
I would suggest you talk to the owner of the dealership or start talks with GM. From your various comments and discussion nothing is going to make you happy unless they replace your car, I expect this would not either.

It seems you don't trust anyone from the dealership so have them put the car back together and take is somewhere else.

Good luck.
 
#17 ·
My wife and I just purchased a 2011 1LT Malibu. Thought is was a really nice car for first 1500 miles. Then the transmission troubles started. Bucking, revving before shifting, hesitating. Car seems unsafe to drive.
Took the car to dealer and since no code was thrown, they could find nothing wrong. They said they could not replicate problem so we must be mistaken. Said it must be how we drive. Went to drive car home and didn't even get out of lot before hesitation started again. Turned around and went right back to dealer. Again was told that since they had driven it and it was fine that it must be my imagination. Was told if I brought car back next morning they would try again. I do not have time to drive back and forth to dealer. Never offered courtesy car. Was told to drive car until problem got severe enough to throw a code ( or get in an accident I guess ).
I have been buying new Chevys since 1986 and this is first time I am actually afraid to drive car
 
#122 ·
Familiar words actually...I went through the exact same situation except they claimed that the transmission was "learning how I drive and would take a month or so to do so"...22k on the car and a year later, still doing it and now the transmission is leaking with a vengeance...There should be a recall on the so called "new design"...
 
#18 ·
If that's what they were telling you in those words (and I believe they are since you said so), then that's beyond shocking! Why would they tell you that you're imagining it just because there aren't any codes? Maybe because they drove it and didn't experience it, so it must not be true?

That would make me seriously consider doing 2 things: taking it to another dealer, calling GM and insisting on satisfaction.

I hope things go better for you next visit! Please keep up posted.

Oh, and see about heading over to the new member intro section and putting in an official "Howdy", ok? :)
 
#19 · (Edited)
First I would like to say that the Malibu is a beautiful car and I do plan on keeping mine for a very long time! I too have experienced two Transmission issues when shortly after buying my Malibu and can understand the frustration that many are having because we just don’t expect something major like this coming from a new car! Yes their will be even some things that will need to be corrected on even a new car since some errors do happen and every car Manufacture is not perfect and things happen! That being said, the problem I find is with GM and their Dealerships! They need to revamp their whole Customer Service Relationship with the Customers to make the customers experience more pleasurable and less painful! Any issues that are covered under Warranty should be corrected; fixed, replaced without question! We should not have to run to Dealership to Dealership or return multiple times on any issue and hope we find one that is going to correct an issue that is/happening on our cars! I do understand their will be bad Apples so to speak with any business but their seems to be some bad Apples adding to the basket on GM’s part too!

I think the Malibu is a great car and has a lot to offer for the money but GM needs to take care of their customers and honor their warranty policies better! Like I have said, you will sometimes even have issues on new cars but Dang, Just fix them! Make my experience so good that I will have full confidence in their product and Service! Now if they could do this, just maybe they would not have so many angry customers!

If GM wants to keep and have returning customers, they need to do the right thing! What is right is right, what is wrong is wrong is one of my/many sayings!

"GM", Now just prove it! Show us that you care and are going to stand behind your product and want our returning business when looking for a new vehicle in the future!
 
#26 ·
I couldn't agree with you more. I just posted a thread on how disappointed I was with my dealership's service department. They couldn't be more uncooperative. What good is a warranty if they don't want to honor it. I've been hearing this problem from many people here. The service department did tell me that a lot of dealerships have closed and they're overwhelmed.
Still, if you buy a new car at that dealership, they should give you some priority.
 
#20 ·
For the first 1500 miles I really liked the Malibu. It is a nice quiet, smooth drving car with a nice non-GM looking interior.
I stopped by the dealership again yesterday to speak to the service manager. He basically told me the same thing as expected. He told me if the problem does not show up while they ( the service techs ) are driving it then there is nothing they can do. I understand this but it does not make me feel any better about driving the car. He wants me to drive the car aound with his tech and his gear connected until we replicate the problem. Again, I am expected to take a day off work to drive my brand new car around until it possibly does it's tranny dance. I don't know about the rest of you but I cannot afford to keep taking days off to get my car fixed or told there is no problem.
We are four weeks away from driving from New York to Florida and as of right now I am not comfortable driving this car. I would hate for the tranny to crap out at 3am in the morning 100 miles from anywhere.
 
#21 ·
I had a similar dealer problem with an electrical issue on my 2010 2LT. My door locks would fire open on their own while driving or even while I was at work and the car was in the lot. Also the door locks didn't work some times.
As you have done, I took it to the dealer and explained what was happening. They took it for a day and could not replicate and said there was nothing they could do. I continued to drive and it the locks firing would happen extremely intermittently. I even got video of the issue, but the dealer could not diagnose. I got frutstrated. Luckily my brother in-law is Mid-size vehicle Manager for GM Canada and I called him up. He made some calls and the next thing you know the dealer called and hooked up a VDR (vehicle data recorder). I kept it for a month and pressed the log button any time the issue appeared. Eventually they figured it out, but the best part was that they didn't need to take my car.
Ask about having a VDR connected to your car. Then when it happens again, you just punch the logging button and the VDR records all your vehicle information for 30 seconds before and after the button was pressed.

Good luck.
 
#22 ·
Thanks for the idea. I will definitely ask about the VDR on Monday.

My wife says the car has been OK but I drove it and problem there immediately. Guess it doesn't like me.

I now feel that I can bring it to the dealer and replicate the problem anytime. Anything more than a gentle press of the pedal causes the tranny to act up. The bucking and reving are the things that bother me the most. It CANNOT be good for the driveline in any way. The dealer's reply is "That's why you have a warranty". I somehow doubt they would replace the motor if they discovered it was routinely redlined which is what the tranny causes it to do as of now.

Thanks again for the idea about the VDR> Hopefully I will be able to show them how bad it is and they will be forced to figure it out somehow.
 
#25 ·
Just bought 2011 Malibu LS 2.4L mid-January with less than 12 miles. Today, after fighting off the denial and disappointment, I had to drop it off at the dealership because of what seemed to be a major problem with the transmission. When I put the car into D it felt like it didn't catch as I accelerated the car did not move until the RPM's were almost above 2, at which point the whole car hick-upped and shook as it went into gear.
That's a serious and potentially dangerous problem. Supposedly, these cars are fully inspected before they're released to the customer. I truly don't believe that. My salesman didn't even know how to work the controls on my car.

Anyway, give the dealership a chance to fix the car and insist on a loaner. You shouldn't have to be inconvenienced for having a defective car.
 
#29 ·
I traded mine in at a different dealership. Not only will the first one never see me again, I'll be steering people away from them.

My experience with Bob Hook Chevy in Louisville, KY: Just about every time I got my car back after a service visit it was either assembled incorrectly or broken. What does it say for "certified" technicians when a shade-tree guy like me can do it better? Certified nincompoops if you ask me, but hey, that's just an opinion that I support on actual experience.

The car itself wasn't all that bad until they touched it and made it worse. So I started over with my '11. So far my visits to date in 5 months at the new dealership have been good. Nothing broken, nothing assembled wrong. More importantly, what they've done was right. I'm not sure if I can get used to being treated well. ;)
 
#37 ·
Not that I'm defending the dealerships, because the one I deal with is the same way. The service department was very callous and uncaring and this is the second car I bought at this dealership. The truth of the matter is the GM Dealerships are overwhelmed. GM Closed a bunch of dealerships which leaves the ones that are still open unable to handle all the extra cars they have to repair. In addition, GM stopped producing several brands, so our Chevy dealership has to repair Saturns, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, etc. They just can't handle it. It took me over a week to get an appointment for service. I used this dealer in the mid 90's for a couple of repairs. They were terrific back then. And one of the repairs should not have been covered under warranty. I had a Caddy with the motorized pull down trunk. A person at a valet lot opened the trunk by accident and they slammed it closed and broke the mechanism. I brought it to the dealer and they repaired it under warranty, no questions asked. Nowadays, they would have told me to take a walk. As you said, I really like the Malibu, but the dealership experience will really give me second thoughts about getting another GM car.
 
#30 ·
For those interested in an update - I got our malibu back after they replaced the TCM (transmission control Module). They gave me a thorough write up of the tests done as well as the work they did to fix the transmission. The truth, at the moment, is that the car is running 100% better. In traffic there is still a slight hesitation and short burst of RPM's as the car gets close to a stop and then as the traffic moves I accelerate - this causes a split-second of weirdness (best i can describe it).
I guess this is what comes with the new technology, though it might be a good idea to inform customers of this in case it is not experienced during the test drive. I know I will be sure and test drive in traffic from now on.
Also, after 9 full days in the shop I am approaching lemon law requirements for MA - it would be great if GM or the dealer would budge one inch and provide a free or discounted extended warranty. In a way, we feel stuck with this car - who would buy this car when given the option of an identical malibu minus the transmission issues at 2700 miles. So, we are psyched to have the car, but a little shook up and disappointed in the whole treatment we received from the dealership. The mechanics are the real heroes, the owners and salesmen are all really quite disgusting people.
I would recommend people bypassing the pretty boys in the sales room and build a relationship with the mechanics.
 
#34 · (Edited)
In traffic there is still a slight hesitation and short burst of RPM's as the car gets close to a stop and then as the traffic moves I accelerate - this causes a split-second of weirdness (best i can describe it).

The short burst of rpms, how significant is it? 100 rpm? 500 rpm? I suspect you are experiencing a feature called neutral idle. It is a fuel economy enabler. The 6T30/40/45/50 transmissions are a clutch to clutch transmission. Meaning, at any one time, there are 2 clutches that are on to acheive a gear state. Say 2nd Gear. C1234 and C26 are engaged. So, regarding neutral idle, as you come to a stop and brake applied, one clutch disengages to reduce load on the engine saving fuel. As you release the brake and apply the throttle, the clutch that was disengaged, is reapplied.

There was a recent TCM flash update that improved that transition. I'd expect your car received that, but I would suggest inquiring about it. Based on your observation, it may not have received it.
 
#32 ·
I drove back to the dealership this morning to have the service manager take a ride with me to check car out. As I made a turn and started to accelerate the engine revved but the car barely moved. Then the shifts were hard and erratic. After less than 1/2 mile he asked to drive car ( I think maybe he thought I was manipulating the throttle ). The problem was exactly the same with him driving.

He now had to agree that the car has a serious problem. After telling me there was nothing wrong because there was no code he now tells me " not all problems set off a code " and he doesn't understand why people ( I guess myself included ) think that if a car doesn't show a code there is no problem. Sure sounds a lot like what I said to him when I first brought in car.

Anyway, they gave me a 2010 Impala from Enterprise to drive and told me not to expect to see our car again for "at least a week". Instead of saying they will get right on the car and get it back as soon as they can he was already making excuses as to why it will take so long.

This is the first ( and last ) car we purchased from this dealer. Unfortunately the dealer I have been gong to since 1986 when I purchased my first new Chevy has been closed by GM. They always gave a fair price and great service.
 
#33 ·
Megalodon_Al,

Thank you for the update from your visit with the dealership. I apologize that you will be without your vehicle for that extended period of time. However, it is great that they have provided you with the 2010 Impala.

If you have further questions or concerns please, don't hesitate to contact me.

Michelle P., Chevrolet Customer Service
 
#39 ·
We have had our car back for a week and a half now. Tranny seems to shift pretty good now. It turned out they had to replace the valve body and all the clutches for first through fourth gears.
I was waiting to see how car ran before posting again. Doesn't shift nearly as nice as my Blazer but it seems to be OK. I am a little concerned though that now I am driving a brand new car with a re-built transmission.
No one from the dealership has called or written to us as to whether or not the car is OK. Guess they just don't care!
 
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