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Any high mileage Gen 7 Bu's here?

39K views 89 replies 59 participants last post by  Lord Blackfair 
#1 ·
how many miles do you have?
 
#2 ·
Define what "high mileage" is to you.

I have a 2009 Malibu 1FL (labled as LS) that now has 75,000 carefree, low-maintenance miles on it.

In the 2 years and all the miles, I had to bring it to the shop twice. Once for the turn signal switch that forgot to shut off after left turns, the other time for a problem that wasn't GM's fault. My son was clearing heavy snow off the car and cleaned one of the washer nozzles right off too.

The OE (Hankook Optima 725) tires went 73,000 miles, and I got the leasing company to replace them just before I bought the car. (It was my company car from 3 miles on.) It's almost ready for new brake pads.

That's it. No other issues.
 
#4 ·
I am at 65K on my 2.4L 4 cylinder. Although, I bought it with around 48K on it after it was a rental. All I have done is front brakes and one fuel injector, other than that the car has been great. Just got back from a trip involving many miles with no troubles. All I need to do now is get rid of the horrible goodyear tires.

I think there is someone else on here that rolled 100K on their 08', and has had minimal problems.
 
#5 ·
I have almost 41K om my 2 year old Bu... Either seems to be breaking in or I am over the issues but, the breaks don't make noise anymore and the vibration @55 seems to have gone away with the last rotation, balance and alignment... Still have some bass related rattles but over all I am happy... especially since it is all but paid off now and I am getting 27-30 mpg with the 3.6...;0)
 
#12 · (Edited)
Just a few miles from 97k on my 2009 LTZ. I've had one failed wheel hub assembly replaced that the same one is already growling again. Good thing it happened prior to 100k.
 
#13 ·
33.1K miles on a 2009 LTZ currently. Only a few minor problems luckily.
 
#15 ·
approaching 65k on my 09 LT, feels like it gettign stronger by the day, no issues. ::knock on wood::
 
#17 ·
It is refreshing to see people posting about their trouble-free or only minor problem miles with a 7th gen Malibu... I was concerned after we bought ours, but have grown to enjoy it - amazing what a good quality leather cover over the steering wheel can do for one's perception of "quality." Only 39k so far with a couple minor pieces of interior that were covered under warranty for us...
 
#18 ·
65k 2009 LTZ
Bought with 46k June 2012
Past Problems:New Tires, sunroof leak, door locks, rear speaker rattles, brakes and rotors, dead battery cells

Current problems: rattling noise coming from front end, weird humming noise coming form somewhere when I drive
 
#19 ·
45k on my 2011 1LT, wife has 25k on her 2011 LT. So far both have been problem free!
 
#20 · (Edited)
2009 LTZ @ 182k Miles

Casper_, the weird humming may be a wheel hub assembly. For me it sounds kind of like a groaning, can (barely) be felt in the pedal and sound like it's emanating from low in the firewall. I've noticed that it's usually most prominent at 45-50 MPH. You can usually get an idea of which hub it is when going around a curve. The outside wheels take more weight due to the vehicle rolling opposite the direction of your turn. This additional weight makes the failing hub groan more noticeably. Conversely, turning so the failing hub is on the inside will usually make the noise completely stop as weight is removed from that side... depending on the severity of the roll. Sorry if you already knew this. Hopefully it's useful to someone.
Basically, louder turning left = right hub, louder turning right = left hub.

Out of warranty cost for GM part... about $500, but as much as I drive that lifetime warranty is worth the cost.


I guess I should also update my other info.

:D 182k miles on a 2009 LTZ 3.6L bought new in August of '09. I've had the following non-consumable repairs done in that time:

-Two Front Passenger Wheel Hub Assembly (1 IW, 1 OOW)
-One Front Driver Wheel Hub Assembly (OOW)
-One bent wheel. More a problem with crap roads than manufacturing.

The Bluetooth/On-Star module isn't working at the moment, but I've not had time to check it. It may be something simple... dunno.

Other than that things are OK. It has the occasional squeak, I think I need to change the front strut mounts, and that crappy plastic wing-nut holding the spare tire down has broken.

A few of things to note:
- Headlights suck to change in this car. If you've not had to do so, be prepared. There are a couple of videos online about it, but I can make another if for some reason they're not available. It's not a simple done-in-ten-minutes job, but it's not impossible.

- Michelin HydroEdge are great on this car, but they're out of production. I'm breaking in a set of Michelin Defenders currently and so far I'm pleased with the performance. No snow or ice to speak of in the area yet. You'll probably have to order them since few stock the odd size (225/50/18 on the LTZ), but they're nice.

- Draw-Tite receiver hitches fit perfectly. You can't see the main cross-member of the assembly. Only the end of the receiver shows.

Three things this vehicle has taught me to check on my next purchase...
- Is it a common tire size? (Um, not on the LTZ)
- Are the headlights reasonable to install? (LOL)
- Does the passenger side wiper inhibit the driver's view? (On the '09 Malibu the passenger wiper stops in the middle of the driver's viewing area.)

Take care!
 
#21 ·
Re: 2009 LTZ @ 182k Miles

Casper_, the weird humming may be a wheel hub assembly. For me it sounds kind of like a groaning, can (barely) be felt in the pedal and sound like it's emanating from low in the firewall. I've noticed that it's usually most prominent at 45-50 MPH. You can usually get an idea of which hub it is when going around a curve. The outside wheels take more weight due to the vehicle rolling opposite the direction of your turn. This additional weight makes the failing hub groan more noticeably. Conversely, turning so the failing hub is on the inside will usually make the noise completely stop as weight is removed from that side... depending on the severity of the roll. Sorry if you already knew this. Hopefully it's useful to someone.
Basically, louder turning left = right hub, louder turning right = left hub.

Out of warranty cost for GM part... about $500, but as much as I drive that lifetime warranty is worth the cost.


I guess I should also update my other info.

:D 182k miles on a 2009 LTZ 3.6L bought new in August of '09. I've had the following non-consumable repairs done in that time:

-Two Front Passenger Wheel Hub Assembly (1 IW, 1 OOW)
-One Front Driver Wheel Hub Assembly (OOW)
-One bent wheel. More a problem with crap roads than manufacturing.

The Bluetooth/On-Star module isn't working at the moment, but I've not had time to check it. It may be something simple... dunno.

Other than that things are OK. It has the occasional squeak, I think I need to change the front strut mounts, and that crappy plastic wing-nut holding the spare tire down has broken.

A few of things to note:
- Headlights suck to change in this car. If you've not had to do so, be prepared. There are a couple of videos online about it, but I can make another if for some reason they're not available. It's not a simple done-in-ten-minutes job, but it's not impossible.

- Michelin HydroEdge are great on this car, but they're out of production. I'm breaking in a set of Michelin Defenders currently and so far I'm pleased with the performance. No snow or ice to speak of in the area yet. You'll probably have to order them since few stock the odd size (225/50/18 on the LTZ), but they're nice.

- Draw-Tite receiver hitches fit perfectly. You can't see the main cross-member of the assembly. Only the end of the receiver shows.

Three things this vehicle has taught me to check on my next purchase...
- Is it a common tire size? (Um, not on the LTZ)
- Are the headlights reasonable to install? (LOL)
- Does the passenger side wiper inhibit the driver's view? (On the '09 Malibu the passenger wiper stops in the middle of the driver's viewing area.)


Take care!
The issues with changing the headlights and the wiper stopping in front of me are ones that I'll be looking for if/when I ever get another car.

The extremely difficult headlight removal is just lame and can't be reasoned away. No excuse in the world can ever be made. Period. The "designers" were either sleeping that day or they chose the cutest design from a competition of elementary school children and went from there. Either way, they dropped the ball big time.

The wipers, though, are more a consequence of the extremely raked angle of the windshield and wanting to still use only 2 blades to wipe it. But I'll bet ya a case of peach ice cream (good stuff, not that cheap knock off brand) that changing the position of the lever that attaches to the passenger wiper arm would make it wipe not as far and it'd still wipe enough of the WS to work just fine. Make the passenger's lever a little longer and the same amount of movement from the driver's side would travel less on the passenger's side. Just proves it doesn't take a freakin' Master's Degree to figure things out.

The other issue with the tire size is thankfully only minor since the size is available, just not as ubiquitous as many others. A 235 or 245 with either a 50, 45, or 40 aspect ratio should fit just fine without rubbing and give you more choices.
 
#23 ·
I've never really noticed the wiper thing, at all. As far as I know, all cars have to do that to some degree. Big deal.

The headlight thing is an irritation. It reminds me of the 1977 Plymouth Fury station wagon I had. The 400cu in engine, when equipped with air conditioning, so filled the engine bay that you had to put the car on a lift and cut a hole in the passenger side inner fender to change the No.6 & No.8 spark plugs. Brilliiant deisgn! I've seen other examples over the years too, this one is only middle-of-the-road bad and not quite enough to earn a Shoot The Design Team award. Dope slap...yes, shoot no.

My wife's car is just under 100,000 miles as it sits today. No major or even notable minor repairs. I replaced the front brake pads (with OE replacements) at 75K, tires at 72K. Wiper blades twice now (super easy!), and it's just now got a little tick from the belt tensioner.

Question, I know I should RTFM myself, but do the 2.4L 4 cyl motors have a timing belt that needs changing?
 
#24 ·
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I got my 2012 LS last August, and I crossed 11,000 last week.

Running pretty well except I started to hear some clunks coming from the front, it does not happen all the time, only certain bumps on the road!

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#25 ·
i have a 2010 with 14k, theres some clunking in the front, sounds like maybe sway bar bushings, the headlight leaked moisture in the housing, and the seat belt light comes on from time to time even when the seat belts plugged in. they cant find the cause so ive learned to deal.

otherwise i seriously love this car!!!!!
 
#26 ·
I am a trip from the bank and the grocery store away from 90,000 miles on my 2010 Malibu with the 3.5L V6.
I've done tires once (factory hankooks lasted 64,000+), front brakes once (upgraded to a premium ceramic brake pad) a ton of synthetic oil changes and about half as many air filters. Actually, just did a battery for the first time last night, not the cars fault either, its been in the single digits here for days now. Its time was up.
 
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