[bromley]

Looking for some suggestions. I bought a new 2008 a couple years ago, and have brought it in close to a dozen times, for over a dozen seperate issues.

I have had weak door lock, this intermediate steering shaft replaced 3 times, YES 3 TIMES!!! key fob replaced. steering motor adjusted. visor fixed twice because of falling apart. bake rotors warped and had to be turned, and my pads machined. both head lights replaced because of condensation. wipers replaced because of falling apart. a rattle that they say they can't find, but they can hear? lights go dim and then bright again while idling(haven't had this looked at yet)

It shifts rough(can't find a problem, all shift points good on computer)
And I may have forgotten a couple things, but does anyone have any practical suggestions, os have they had to pursue something like this???

My worry is that I will be on the hook for all these repair bills once warranty runs out! I bought a brand new car, and I have had to fix it more that all of my other cars, I have ever owned, put together!

Any advice, or help would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know what has worked for you. Thanks

 

[Silver LTZ]

Not enough to lemon law a car, and you can't blame the car for a lot of that stuff. Like the wipers, brake pads, brake rotors and even key fob. The steering is very common, and since yours was done three times I'd call GM customer service before your warranty runs out and ask for a grace period on parts related to those repairs.

 

[bballr4567]

You got the brake pads machined? Wha?

 

[Silver LTZ]

You got the brake pads machined? Wha?

Sure he meant rotors.

 

[BASS]

Can you go into some detail about "this intermediate steering shaft replaced" and "steering motor adjusted"? I think I'm having those issues now and want to go into the dealership with ammo.

http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3322

Also my right wiper just fell apart last week. The rubber blade part just hangs.

 

[bromley]

No I mean they put my brake pads on a lathe, and take some pad off so that it matches the newly turned rotors. lol. I know the difference between rotors being turned, and pads being machined.

As for the intermediate shaft. If you are having a clunk in your steering wheel, especially when you are bringing the wheel back after making a turn. Or even, when it gets worse, while making a turn. This is the intermediate steering shaft. The shaft dries up inside, and starts to rub, that'sd wherte the clunk comes from.

Make sure your dealer replaces the shaft, and that they don't grease it. If they simply grease it, the problem will come back, and you may be passed warrantty at that point. Even atfer I told them not to bother greasing it, my dealer still tried, and then proceeded to tell me, it didn't work, and then replaced it anyways. lol

Mind you, even if you have it replaced, you could end up returning several times. As you can see.

 

[bromley]

As for the wiper, mine also did that. See I told you there was things I forgot. I just used a favor from the sales manager, and they replaced it for me.

I explained I never even use my wipers, since I am a rain-x, and aqua-pel fan, and that when I do it is the bare minimum, such as in winter once in a while. Mine went at like 25,000kms, which since I never used them, was rediculous.

 

[bromley]

As for the brake pads and rotors. Gm puts very cheap rotors on the malibu, as well as the G6(same platform), and as a result they warp usually within the first year or so. I also explained this to the dealer, and they did all the above mentioned for free, because it was indeed, the cheap rotors fault, and none of my own.

 

[Silver LTZ]

If your car has a issue that has occured multiple times (your steering) as I said, contact GM customer service and they can extend that past your warrany date. They have done it for my on a past car. If that part broke they covered it for an additional 2 years....

 

[bromley]

Just a quick note. I sent a few letters around to GM canada, as well as my dealer, and my dealer will speak on my behalf to see if they can get my warranty extended to the max for me, at no cost.

Nice gesture I think.

 

[bromley]

Bumper to bumper, not just the steering shaft,

 

[BASS]

I love loving my car and don't want to hate it. The steering issue is my main thing because it vibrates at stand still and i feel the "bumps", if u wanna call it that, when I turn the wheel. I just don't want the dealership saying NO THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. It's bad enough my dealership shut down 2 weeks after I got the car and I lost any goodies they offered me.

 

[Darren]

I think I brought mine in over a dozen as well.
I have had the door lock problem on my car as well as all latches needing to be replaced because someone driving my car couldn't get out ( dealer had to get them out ) also I have had the steering shaft replaced as well due to the clunking sound..only once though thankfully lol.

Also like you Im worried whats going to happen once the warranty is out and Im on the hook for the bills. I am so sick of arranging someone else to take it in for me because I can't or when I do take it in its so many times and there not all minor issues.

I knew a friend said he just traded his for a Mustang becuase the steering shaft went , the struts went and alot of other parts ..and it was new.

and because of my issues two people I know didnt even consider a chevrolet they went out and bought a ford and a honda...pretty sure I'll be considering a different make next purchase. I know not all cars are perfect but I've never had this many issues.

 

[Silver LTZ]

I think I brought mine in over a dozen as well.
I have had the door lock problem on my car as well as all latches needing to be replaced because someone driving my car couldn't get out ( dealer had to get them out ) also I have had the steering shaft replaced as well due to the clunking sound..only once though thankfully lol.

Also like you Im worried whats going to happen once the warranty is out and Im on the hook for the bills. I am so sick of arranging someone else to take it in for me because I can't or when I do take it in its so many times and there not all minor issues.

I knew a friend said he just traded his for a Mustang becuase the steering shaft went , the struts went and alot of other parts ..and it was new.

and because of my issues two people I know didnt even consider a chevrolet they went out and bought a ford and a honda...pretty sure I'll be considering a different make next purchase. I know not all cars are perfect but I've never had this many issues.

No car is perfect, and some are always worse then others. My wife had an Accord. We bought new for her to use as a daily driver a few years back. That car was in for service about 15 times in 7 months. To say the least we traded it in. You just never know....

 

[bromley]

Yah I agree, I would have to say. There are alot more goos reports about our malibu than bad, but as you will agree, when they are bad, they ARE BAD!!!

Just an update, my intermediate steering shaft went again this weekend! Big surprise. This will be the 4th or 5th time just for this part! I was already bringing it in for the rattle tonight. I'm sure they will be pleased. This just further helps my case though, and will give them more reason to give me the extended warranty for free.

Hey Darren, let me know if you want some copiesof what I sent, or tips. That way hopefully you can get something out of your head aches, other than the shaft.

I will keep updating when stuff happens. That way I have copies, and so do others going through the same thing.

 

[Darren]

Thanks Bromley , I'll let you know what happens and if you need any copies as well I'll send them over i'll actually post a list of the repairs on the car soon.

 

[BillD64]

As for the wiper, mine also did that. See I told you there was things I forgot. I just used a favor from the sales manager, and they replaced it for me.

I explained I never even use my wipers, since I am a rain-x, and aqua-pel fan, and that when I do it is the bare minimum, such as in winter once in a while. Mine went at like 25,000kms, which since I never used them, was rediculous.

Actually wiper blades go bad just sitting around on the car unless you never bring the car out into sun light. Older blades used to require replacement every 6 months. Newer ones seem to be able to go 12+ months even though you never turn the wipers on.

I replaced the blades on my 08 Bu with new ones purchased from the dealer because I found them to be better than the Bosch Icons I have on my truck.

Bill

 

[BillD64]

Looking for some suggestions. I bought a new 2008 a couple years ago, and have brought it in close to a dozen times, for over a dozen seperate issues.

bake rotors warped and had to be turned, and my pads machined.

Any advice, or help would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know what has worked for you. Thanks

Contrary to popular opinion brake rotors do not warp. There is excellent info on the web that can be researched. Read this White Paper from one of the world's premier aftermarket brake system suppliers: The "Warped" Brake Disc and Other Myths of the Braking System" http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_brakedisk.shtml

I have found the best thing to do when brake pulsation starts is to go out and use the brakes harder. Several really hard stops usually stops the pulsing. Saves a trip to a shop, saves money and saves worry over a non-existent problem.

Bill

 

[Darren]

So , just noticed a clunk in my steering wheel , yet again.. and got no answer as to why the door latches was a common problem , may call GM the start of the week, this is getting annoying.

 

[Red Ryder]

Update on mine, I've had mine in four different times for the "Front end Clunk" and have taken it in to two different dealerships for this. The last time was last week, they replaced the steering rack and stabilizer end links. The time before it was the ISS. This DID NOT FIX the clunks. I'm at my wits end, the wife WILL NOT DRIVE the car because she says "It sounds so Bad", worse than her old Saturn SC1 that had 180,000 on it. We're at 28,000 now. I'm at the point of calling an lemon law attorney, but I'm going to call the GM Customer Assistance Center first thing in the morning and see what they say.