TSB # 09-03-10-009, steering wheel vibration issues

17988 Views 25 Replies 8 Participants Last post by dennisk, Oct 27, 2009

dennisk

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2009

Has anyone had this problem? 09 Malibu LTZ with V6. The TSB is specific to 18" wheels.

When driving, after turning, or making slight adjustments in the lane you are driving, when the wheel returns to center, you can feel a slight pulsation in the wheel; it will not return smoothly. While driving straight, you cannot feel a thing.

Service manager and tech know about it, they started by replacing the front tires; tech said as he balanced it he could still see the tire was slightly wobbly. TSB had a GM tech guy's actual phone number on it, so I'm wondering if this is a bug that affects a small amount of cars.

Anyone else had this issue?

So far, I've had a radio squeak problem, the bluetooth issue, a seat trim piece that kept popping off, and now this. If GM had that 60 day guarantee when i bought the car, who knows, I might have used it.

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dennisk

Discussion Starter · #21 · Oct 20, 2009

LTZeeeee said:
I had the steering rack replaced on my LTZ due to grinding issues and unusual steering response - everything seems fine now. It does seem to catch grooves in the road pretty easily but I've had a few cars like that. As for quality concerns; EVERY car I've owned has had issues. My new Acura CL had a few unsolvable squeaks and rattles, my GTI had a couple rattles and a quirky transmission, (I have also owned Mazdas, BMWs, Fords...). I would say the Malibu has the fewest annoyances of the many cars I have owned. I really think getting ANY new car is a bit of a gamble especially as the miles add up.

I know, but it just seems like this car has had more and quicker than any car I've had.

At least your steering rack solved your problems.

I tried to convince the dealer about the tires, but they put the rear on the front also and still the same issue, so... yea.

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dennisk

Discussion Starter · #22 · Oct 22, 2009

Well, service advisor called me and said new axles went in, feels much better, but still slightly "wobbles", so they're replacing the steering gear.

I had an Impala for a rental the other day, and I noticed it did the same thing my Malibu does. Perhaps it is a mechanical issue, because the Impala doesn't have LS-2's.

Oh well, I have my fingers crossed.

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Silver LTZ

· #23 · Oct 22, 2009 (Edited)

dennisk said:
Well, service advisor called me and said new axles went in, feels much better, but still slightly "wobbles", so they're replacing the steering gear.

I had an Impala for a rental the other day, and I noticed it did the same thing my Malibu does. Perhaps it is a mechanical issue, because the Impala doesn't have LS-2's.

Oh well, I have my fingers crossed.

Doubt it's the steering. Have they put the wheels/tires on from a different car to eliminate a bad tire or bent wheel?

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Yury

· #24 · Oct 22, 2009 (Edited)

On the subject of squeaking and Hondas. They are actually quite prone to squeaks and rattles. I drove a 07 Accord and guess what, Accord has more unwanted sounds than Malibu. I had a pretty major radio squeak in cold weather.
Also it had a fair share of irregularities. Body panels didn't fit that great, mufflers were hang unevenly....All that in a last year of a generation. My malibu had similar amount of issues in the first year.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Hondas are bad cars. But I know first hand they are just as bad as others (or as good as others). They might have an edge on long term durability over good GM models like Malibu, but quality wise...no, I wouldn't say so.

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Yury

· #25 · Oct 22, 2009

LTZeeeee said:
...It does seem to catch grooves in the road pretty easily but I've had a few cars like that...

oh yeah, mine was like that. it was one of the most annoying things in the bu.

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dennisk

Discussion Starter · #26 · Oct 27, 2009

Well, dealer called and said car was fixed. Wife picked it up, and a day later I drove it, same problem.

They Road Force Balanced the tires. Service Advisor says he drove it afterwards and it was ok, and I do believe him, the tires could have been warmed up (seems to go away then) and at that time maybe the balance helped.

He was nice enough to follow up also, and said bring it back, but I don't want to give up the car again for another week, so I'm going to ride it out and see what happens with the next set of tires. If no wobble, then problem solved, and no more goodyears for me. If there is a problem, then I'll take it back in then.

What a pain.

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