[Silver LTZ]

As some of us have talked about, this is the new vibration thread.

If any of you want to reference the old thread, it can be found here. http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1663

A quick overview without rehashing the old one is this:

Some owners can feel a very slight, to very noticeable vibration around 40-60 mph. Usually comes from the front of the car and can be felt all over usually. Some days it might be worse then others, and we are not talking about a tire issue.

There are reflashes that can be done at the dealer that may or may not help, some have had the tires replaced, some have had nothing work at all.

So lets try to get a new, more updated thread going to help members who just haven't read though the huge old one and don't know any of the new information.

Please vote, and post!

 

[DrivenDaily]

So far (holding my breath) no vibes. 13K miles at this time.

 

[Silver LTZ]

Come on guys, I know ALOT of your have input on this....

 

[JasonZ34]

So this just started for me at just over 2k miles. Right now it seems like when the tires are at a higher PSI its more noticeable. I'm guessing the heat is just making me go hm to... there is something to this.

 

[safe2semi]

I had it. Got my tires balanced and rotated. So far it's gone. Now for some reason my alignment seems off. Yay...

 

[Silver LTZ]

Keep on voting guys....

 

[Sandhopper]

Initialy I just though it was our crappy roads out here in TX... Now I have noticed more ot the vibration. Guess I will make an appointment to have it looked at this week. May have them look into the Bass buzz in the back dash as well.

 

[V'sBU]

I have a 09 I4 LT with the 6spd Auto and it did vibrate a lot when new. About 2k miles ago the dealer did the reflash with the update for the tranny issues that most of us notice. Car now has a little over 14k miles on it and I must say it's almost gone. The reflash helped a lot mainly with the tranny slam that some describe during different throttle points and shifts.

My brother who has been a GM tech for 10 years at my local dealer said the tranny shifting/slamming that happens sometimes is just part of the design. Something to do with the TCC. I think another person sited this in the old thread. He said more software updates might help, but for now GM is basically saying it's normal. But as he said, in time they will perfect it. He had a 07 Eclass Benz with a 7spd auto and he said it did pretty much the same thing. So if a freaking Benz does it then lets not feel so bad guys. After all, our cars are way cheaper then a Eclass Benz

 

[CrazyJen]

I have a 2010 Malibu Silver Ice - Beautiful Car! Been to the dealership 6 - yes 6 times - for vibration problem and strange creak/squeal coming from front driver side wheel -1st time 24 days after purchase - dealer said ice build up - makes sense as it was that time of the year (michigan)- 2nd time said vibration still there (ice not an issue as the weather had warmed up enough) - said we high speed balanced your wheel/tires - can't find a problem - 3rd time I said vibration still there test drove with service adviser - he said yep, vibration exists you are not crazy - dealer said radial run out passenger rear wheel - we replaced it. 4th time = i say vibration still there - dealer says - OMG you have radial run out on your rear driver side AND flat spots on your tires ... replaced wheel and two back tires. 5th time, I say vibration still there - take service adviser on test drive for a second time - he says - and I quote from the service form.... sounds like a hub/bearing issue... kept it for one day.. called me and said we can't find anything but we contacted GM and they said steel wheels have been causing a problem so, they ordered aluminum wheels for my car... now, whether this solves the problem or not I have no idea but I have sneaking suspicion that it won't ... i'm telling ya, its that one front drivers side wheel... just a feeling ... feel like they just want me to go away... im a thorn in their side......

 

[DrivenDaily]

Keep on bein' a thorn, then! You have a right to expect satisfaction, since they guarantee it in writing. Plus there's probably something in some law somewhere (lotta "some's", huh?) that implies merchantibility.

Once you're done bein' a thorn you'll end up with a rose!

 

[Silver LTZ]

I have a 2010 Malibu Silver Ice - Beautiful Car! Been to the dealership 6 - yes 6 times - for vibration problem and strange creak/squeal coming from front driver side wheel -1st time 24 days after purchase - dealer said ice build up - makes sense as it was that time of the year (michigan)- 2nd time said vibration still there (ice not an issue as the weather had warmed up enough) - said we high speed balanced your wheel/tires - can't find a problem - 3rd time I said vibration still there test drove with service adviser - he said yep, vibration exists you are not crazy - dealer said radial run out passenger rear wheel - we replaced it. 4th time = i say vibration still there - dealer says - OMG you have radial run out on your rear driver side AND flat spots on your tires ... replaced wheel and two back tires. 5th time, I say vibration still there - take service adviser on test drive for a second time - he says - and I quote from the service form.... sounds like a hub/bearing issue... kept it for one day.. called me and said we can't find anything but we contacted GM and they said steel wheels have been causing a problem so, they ordered aluminum wheels for my car... now, whether this solves the problem or not I have no idea but I have sneaking suspicion that it won't ... i'm telling ya, its that one front drivers side wheel... just a feeling ... feel like they just want me to go away... im a thorn in their side......

Doubt it is the wheels as many have aluminum wheels with the same issue. Have they done the reflash? That helped the issue on my car.

 

[Emmexx]

I haven't noticed a vibration yet in that mph range, but I'll try to pay closer attention this week in my commutes to work and vote on that result. At this time I would say my vote is I4, A4 no vibes.

 

[Malo83]

14K on the speedo with no problems and aftermarket rims one of the best cars i've owned by far

 

[Silver LTZ]

Was at the dealer yesterday to pick up some touch up paint. I had then run my VIN to see if there are any further re-flashes/updates for the transmission, nothing yet and I had it done about 9 months ago last time. The one tech agrees that GM programmed the A6 way wrong. Too worried about an extra mpg or two killing the driveabilty and not downshifing as easy as it should and upshifting at to low of an rpm which can cause vibrations. While the other tech says it is "just fine" LOL. My car is alot better then it was when it was new since they did the re-flash months back, but I would like it 100% gone.

 

[stevedeal7]

I purchased a 2010 Malibu LTZ 6 cylinder 3 months ago and it seemed to test drive well but then it started vibrating between 50 and 70 mph so I took it back in and they said it had faulty tires, they replaced 3. I took it back in again and they said it needed a balance. I took it in again and they replaced the wheels, this time they said it needed better tires than the goodyears and said they'd order michelins, after jerking me around for 1 month, they now say they want to "Try some other things" and have not ordered the michelins. I now have 6500 miles on the car and feel very upset over their treatment of me and am ready to start looking for a lemon lawyer or some way to take a course of action as I have spent sooooo many hours waiting at the dealership and driving to and fro. The guy at chevy said he has other people with the same problem.

Anyway, I searched this issue wondering if I was alone in this but am thankful for all of your input...I'll do a lot more reading before I take the car back to Chevy tomorrow.

Steve

 

[Silver LTZ]

HI, I purchased a 2010 Malibu LTZ 6 cylinder 3 months ago and it seemed to test drive well but then it started vibrating between 50 and 70 mph so I took it back in and they said it had faulty tires, they replaced 3. I took it back in again and they said it needed a balance. I took it in again and they replaced the wheels, this time they said it needed better tires than the goodyears and said they'd order michelins, after jerking me around for 1 month, they now say they want to "Try some other things" and have not ordered the michelins. I now have 6500 miles on the car and feel very upset over their treatment of me and am ready to start looking for a lemon lawyer or some way to take a course of action as I have spent sooooo many hours waiting at the dealership and driving to and fro. The guy at chevy said he has other people with the same problem.

Anyway, I searched this issue wondering if I was alone in this but am thankful for all of your input...I'll do a lot more reading before I take the car back to Chevy tomorrow.

Steve

Steve, it is NOT wheels or tires related. My car has done this (was worse, now it is better, but still there) with the old 18's and with my new 20's. It is something in the car itself. Many of us think it is transmission related but the re-flashes really do not help much. Let us know what you dealer says and if they fix it what it was. Like I said, mine is better then it was, and it has its good and bad days. But I would love to have it totally resolved. As you can see, you are not alone. It seems to be VERY common in Malibus, G6s, Auras, all the Epsilons. It is the only aspect of the car that I dislike.

 

[stevedeal7]

Steve, it is NOT wheels or tires related. My car has done this (was worse, now it is better, but still there) with the old 18's and with my new 20's. It is something in the car itself. Many of us think it is transmission related but the re-flashes really do not help much. Let us know what you dealer says and if they fix it what it was. Like I said, mine is better then it was, and it has its good and bad days. But I would love to have it totally resolved. As you can see, you are not alone. It seems to be VERY common in Malibus, G6s, Auras, all the Epsilons. It is the only aspect of the car that I dislike.

Thanks for the response! Do you know if anyone has had any success with having the car returned under lemon laws? Do you know of anyone taking any legal action? I just can't see myself putting up with this for 3 years and experiencing serious disappointment every time I drive it. I'm going to try a few more times at the dealer but in NC, lemon laws say if you take the car back 4 times or more for the same problem and its not fixed, you're eligible for either a new car or a refund...just curious if you know of anyone who has done that. Thanks, Steve

 

[Silver LTZ]

Thanks for the response! Do you know if anyone has had any success with having the car returned under lemon laws? Do you know of anyone taking any legal action? I just can't see myself putting up with this for 3 years and experiencing serious disappointment every time I drive it. I'm going to try a few more times at the dealer but in NC, lemon laws say if you take the car back 4 times or more for the same problem and its not fixed, you're eligible for either a new car or a refund...just curious if you know of anyone who has done that. Thanks, Steve

I don't know anyone who has lemon lawed the car for this issue. I am not sure if they would consider this "a serious" issue to warrant that anyway.

When I am due for my next oil change I am gonna have my new dealer take a shot. The old one just did the reflash, which really didn't do all that much. I haven't had the new dealer do anything because I know they will blame my aftermarket 20" wheels and tires, which is not the cause. But I am gonna bring it up and have them take a look. I am sure that will be one of the days when it doesn't really do it though....

 

[RaineMan]

I guess I'll have to try driving at 50 and check this out for myself. I can't say I've ever experienced this. Of course literally all but 2 miles of my commute are at speeds above 70MPH. Those other 2 miles are below 40MPH (neighborhood, business park). I never actually go 50 or 60 for an extended period of time.

 

[Sandhopper]

Had my tires rebalanced and rotated. Seems to have helped. I mentioned the reflash but they did not note on invoice that it had been done. I wonder if they reflashed it and didn't note it in the paperwork.