This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid. Consumer writes in regards to transmission slipping. The consumer stated the vehicle experienced numerous issues. The dashboard warned to service the traction control and hybrid.
Please review NHTSA id numbers 10360384, and 10464366. My original case is 10360384, and both are the same problem. I worked with GM a few years ago, when I submitted my case. They noted the hesitation and said that it was normal. My car was "better" for a while and has gotten worse lately. I am wanting to know now if this is a similar issue in reality to the owners that complain of the brakes being locked on. Now I am also noticing that when at a cruise and having to accelerate some, there is a chugging feeling. My fuel economy for city driving has also dropped down to 18 mpg or below, which is unusual. I have not taken back in for service because I have already had no luck dealing with them on this issue, which is why reported to NHTSA. This is an extreme safety issue and is very dangerous to drive because there is no warning. If the vehicle isn't chugging, it is just extremely bogged down, especially when accelerating into traffic and turning. This could indicate something wrong with the steering system since it is integrated with the hybrid system. I 100% agree with having to push the peddle all of the way down to make it not feel that it will stall when I notice the chugging is happening. Unfortunately, the chugging is extremely random, so how to reproduce for a dealer. The sluggishness is frequent. In relation to this being similar to the brakes being locked issue, I am wondering if it is similar but our vehicles correct themselves quickly. The vehicle does act as if the hybrid auto stop feature is trying to turn the car off while accelerating. There has to be more people with this same problem and concern with the Malibu hybrid, but not that many were built or sold, so you may not notice enough cases to warrant investigation or a recall. This problem is obviously with the hybrid system because I have driven the standard 2009 4 cylinder Malibu.
My car feels like it is almost going to stall out whenever I accelerate from a stop. This has become very dangerous for me when crossing and intersection from a stop. I have almost been hit several times. I am not sure, but I think it has to do with the hybrid system. This usually only happens when the air conditioner is on, but I have experienced it with it off too. Now, whenever I come to a stop and try to accelerate, I have to push the gas pedal all the way to the floor because if I do that, it doesn't feel like its going to stall out near as bad. I am very concerned over this issue, but I cant afford to pay for fixing the issue if the dealer tries to say its not drive train or hybrid (which I still have warranty for).
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid. The contact stated that while driving, the shift cable for the automatic transmission became detached. As a result, the vehicle was stuck in gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the shift cable needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted who stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 09V073000 ( power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 53,000.
On 4/29/10, I took my car to the dealer because of not accelerating over 45. On 6/18/10, I was trying merge onto a interstate at rush hour, but the car had no power. I almost was hit because of this. Immediately the service hybrid light came on so took to the dealership where they found a leaking battery and bad sensor. Car repaired and began to drive home. After stopped at a light, I tried to accelerate. The car started to go but then started to chug like it was going to stall. It would not accelerate any more than around 5 mph. Kept chugging for about 100 feet while I tried to pull off road. Right before I did that, the car started operating normally. I immediately returned to dealer. I had never experienced issues with sluggishness or chugging prior to the 45 mph issue or the hybrid light coming on. Ever since the car will randomly and dangerously have no power for acceleration. The dealer has worked with GM on the issue, but told it is normal operation. I owned this car for almost one year prior to the battery replacement and no issues like this, so not normal operation. It is scary to drive the car on busy roads when merging or accelerating because there is no way to know if the car will move. In August my wife had to drive my car where it was trying to accelerate up a hill for her. I say trying because the car did not want to go up the hill. Since the battery issue I have randomly experienced this also. On 10/11/10 I was driving near my office in a downtown area. After being stopped at a light I tried to accelerate and the car started chugging and not accelerating like it had done when I got the car back from the service hybrid problem. Very dangerous and scary. I immediately called the service manager at the dealership to advise him. On 10/13/10 I tried to take a left turn at a busy intersection while heading to work, tried to accelerate, and the car bogged down severely. I was almost hit by oncoming traffic during rush hour. Updated 10/21/10. Updated 10/16/10
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Jose, CA, USA