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Sedans Chevrolet Malibu 2007 Malibu Vibration Problem
20 messages, Last post on Jan 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM
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Replying to: 1988fierogt (Jul 16, 2008 5:16 pm) Last week, I took the car to a sympathetic Chevy dealer. The service manager even gave me a rental car for a day since I was there last spring and there was no fix. My car was OK until it hit 2500 miles and now at about 8000 it still has the problem. The dealer noticed the problem, although it had settled down and is sometimes difficult to feel. You must accelerate slowly and right at 15 mph it will vibrate like clockwork. The dealer felt it, had other mechanics drive with him, they eventually noticed it. He even found some 2005 and 2006 Malibu models on the car lot that DID NOT exhibit this problem. They did not have a 2007 to test so he went down the street to the Enterprise rent-a-car dealer that they work with and found one. (Like I said, he was thorough.) And, presto, it vibrates too! He called GM and talked it over, etc., and in the end there is no fix. He says that certain vehicles have certain "issues" like this. He was nice but I explained that if and when I try to sell the car, a potential dealer or buyer will notice the problem and I wouldn't get full value and this is not fair. Since the 2007 model is the only one where GM changed the motor mounts (for some reason) I asked him to replace them to see the results but he felt that it would not fix it. I pressed him but he declined. Still, there is nothing he can do until GM comes up with a fix (or an interest in finding one) and he said that they may never issue one. This is the third time I've taken the car to a Chevy dealer about this. At this point we (2007 Malibu owners) need to pursue a legal solution or a "Lemon Law" reimbursement or ? Any help will be appreciated. We need to see what we can do about this. Any suggestions?
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Replying to: sneakyuser (Oct 24, 2008 10:59 pm) My opinion is the mounts or the wheel bearings are faulty. I hate to look into the lemon law in NY. Please keep me posted of what you are going to do. Thanks |
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I'm also from ny. Where do you live? Maybe we can get together and compare. I have to tell you. When one part of a machine is out of balance, eventually other parts connected will have premature wear and failure. This will effect the value of the car down the road if not now and may cause you to have some big repair bills in the future when the warranty has run out. Let me know, Thanx
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I am from Lockport, NY. It is near Niagara fall area. You? Anh Le |
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I'm from the syracuse area. How would you like to proceed from here? Let me know, thanx |
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Replying to: winz (Oct 26, 2008 6:26 am) Did you or the listmate find a solution to the 2007 Malibu shake issue yet? Here's an update: I bought my 2007 Malibu 4 cyl new in December 2007. At about 2400 miles I noticed a vibration or shake in the front end when I accelerate.. It happens at 15 mph regardless of shifting, usually after warmup. This problem was not seen to occur on 2005 or 2006 models. They changed the motor mounts on the 2007 Malibu (although they may have done this on same late-model 2006 models). There is a GM Bulletin about this: 060601025 November 06 - (NHTSA Item Number - 10020726). In February 08 I visited a dealer who went through the "lower motor mount tightening procedure" and this had no affect and the issue is still there. In June 08, I went to a second dealer, dropped off the car for service. They said that they drove it with the head mechanic and they swore they never felt anything (!?) On my third visit (back to the first dealer) in October 08, the head of service noticed it, drove some 2005 and 2006 versions and they did not shake. He found another 2007 model (from their Enterprise Car Rental affiliate) and it vibrated too. He called GM and they are aware of it but there is no official recall and they won't approve the dealer to replace anything. They gave the the stock answer of "This is how this powertrain will likely operate." I left disgusted. No one wants a new car that shakes. I can drive cars with 150,00 miles on them that don't vibrate! I contacted the national Chevy customer service center and they pushed the issue up to another level. After 5 days (!) they called me back, (because of a weekend and they called an incorrect number) to keep repeating that this may be a "characteristic" of the vehicle. I said no, it's a DEFECT. He wanted me to go to a dealer for the FOURTH TIME. I said for what? He kept insisting and I requested a loaner which he balked at. After contacting the local delaer to arrange it he came back and said that the service manager said another visit will be a waste of everyone's time if GM doesn't approve of replacing any parts. The customer service rep said a final decision will be made next week by the local GM rep. When I asked for a summary of my calls and visits, he refused. What are the chances that they will offer a buy back? Have any of you, or your friends, had to deal with the automaker via the Better Business Bureau or with a Lemon Law attorney? I've heard bad things about both but If they don't repair the car or offer a buy back what is my next step? How do I prepare? Any help is appreciated and Happy New Year everyone! Regards, Sneakyuser
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Replying to: sneakyuser (Dec 31, 2008 1:43 pm) Did the GM rep get back to you yet. If so what was the final decision? PS- I did contact a no fee lemon law attorney, he also refused it. Not a slam dunk for him to get his money. |
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Replying to: winz (Jan 07, 2009 2:49 pm) I also let my salesman and the sales manager know what I was doing and wasnt satisfied.....
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Replying to: pao (Jan 09, 2009 12:33 pm) I also let my salesman and the sales manager know what I was doing and wasnt satisfied..... " Pao, What results did you get after filing with the BBB? How did the dealer respond and what fix did you receive?
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Replying to: winz (Jan 07, 2009 2:49 pm) Did the GM rep get back to you yet. If so what was the final decision? " Winz, I contacted the Customer Service number on 12/26/08 and would you believe they still have not resolved the issue! After calling me back on the wrong number, and trying to get me to go back to the dealer for the 4th time (even the dealer said this is a waste of everyone's time) and saying he has to speak with the Zone Rep, he was supposed to call me on Friday but didn't (although I did receive a voice mail but no one left a message). The only progress is he confirmed with the Zone Rep that no repair will be performed and the vehicle shake is a "Characteristic." So, my only hope (with GM) is for a buy-back or trade. If not I will have to go the BBB route. But first, I am going to visit AAMCO and two more local shops to get written evaluations of the condition and their repair opinions/ cost estimates. If I must I'll take them to small claims court, altough the maximum awarded is $7500.00. I was thinking on filing a claim for the devaluation of the vehicle and the unnecessary costs I will have to absorb to get another car - $600.00 delivery charge, local taxes, transfer fees, licensing, etc. There is no way I will sit still for this. This is grand larceny by GM. If we purchased an HD TV with bad pixels or a washer/ dryer with a flaw, the manufacturers would stand by the warranty. But car makers can be the judge of what THEY consider to be normal? No, no, no. If all of the methods to get renumeration fail, I plan on doing some sort of publicity stunt. We can locate (online) disgrunted GM/Chevrolet owners to get together and tape segments on how they were mistreated and why they used to buy American cars but will never do so again. Reporters are always looking for news stories and the public is aware of automakers asking us to bail them out. This is the perfect follow-up to why they caused their own problem. In the 1970s, US car makers had 90% of the market. Now, it's about 40%. If enough of us did this, contacted the media and put up a great-looking, 10-minute Youtube video, it would get spread around and cause others to notice and reconsider buying from GM in the future. Locally, a dozen or more current, disatisfied owners could form a car parade, with service records and and attract all sorts of negative media attention for GM. This could continue city-by-city until it was just too embarrassing for them. Even if we did not receive direct renumeration from GM, it would be satisfying to know that they didn't get away with this crap this time. I want your ideas on this plan. I'll post my results from their final decision next week. |
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