What 268 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

MY CAR HAS BEGUN DYING IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON ON TOP OF THE FUEL ECONOMY NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF FILLING IT UP. IT WILL SAY 195 MILES THEN JUMP TO 207 ON THE FUEL RANGE.

NHTSA ODI 11101919

THIS WAS 3RD TIME I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARS RANDOMLY AND THE IGNITION FAILS TO TURN ON. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY A FEW TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. MY CAR WAS SEEN THURS, WAS TOLD NO ISSUE WAS FOUND AND MANAGER WOULD DRIVE CAR HOME IN EVENING TO TEST. CALLED TODAY, FRIDAY IN AFTERNOON SINCE I DIDNT GET A CALL, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. HAD TO PAY $260 FOR BATTERY. THE PAST TWO OTHER VISITS, I WAS TOLD BATTERY WAS GOOD AND NOW ITS BAD...WAS JUST LEAVING THE DEALER, I STOPPED AT FIRST LIGHT AND NOTICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON! RETURNED BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. NOTHING TO DO WITH BATTERY YET ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY. MY CAR WAS LEFT FOR THE 4TH TIME IN DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT. A CODE APPEARED AND TECH TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AUTO STOP! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE END OF JAN!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I BOUGHT CAR OCT 2015. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BATTERY HAD BAD CELLS ALL OF A SUDDEN.

NHTSA ODI 11079889

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS PARTIALLY MELTED AND THE CARPET WAS BURNT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT PRESENT AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA WHERE THE HEAD MECHANIC FROM HEADQUARTERS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NEVER PROVIDED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11074446

ON DECEMBER 10, 2017 AROUND 11AM I CAME OUT OF CHURCH, I OPENED MY CAR DOOR AND SMOKE CAME FLOWING OUT. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND FLOOR MATS WERE COVERED IN BLACK ASH AND MELTED AS WELL AS THE CONSOLE. THE INTERIOR WAS COVERED IN BLACK SOOT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY AND THE CAR CRANKED FINE. I CALLED GM, THEY ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAY, SO I FILED A REPORT WITH THE GM REPRESENTATIVE ON MONDAY, SHE WAS TOTALLY COMBATIVE. I HEARD NOTHING FOR 4 TO 5 WEEKS SO I CALLED THE ASME NUMBER AND COMPLAINED VEHEMENTLY. FINALLY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TO CONTACT THE DEALRSHIP AND TAKE THE CAR THERE. THE DEALER, STEVE RAYMAN, WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL, THEY ADVISED ME HOW TO PROCEED AND IN 2 DAYS I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. FOUR WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED AN OFFER OF $13,000.00 AND A STATE THAT WOULD ABSOLVE GM OF ANY LIABILITY. ICALLED TO SEE IF I COULD SIMPLY SUBSITUTE A CAR I FOUND FOR $11,000. 00 , SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, THIS WOULD HAVE REDUCED GM'S LOSS; I WAS TOLD "NO WAY." I ASKED WHY?, THEY RESPONDED "I DON'T KNOW." THE VECHILE WAS PARKED IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, IT WAS SNOWING, AROUND 32 DEGREES. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11074449

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WENT TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AND THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH TO TURN ON THE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE AND THE A/C WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES OCCUR MULTIPLE OF TIMES IN HOT AND NOW COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 11066616

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE STARTED AND FIRE BROKE OUT BURNING VEHICLE TO GROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11042956

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUMBERTON CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 500 LINKHAW RD., LUMBERTON, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED UPDATING. THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED; HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE CONTACT LEFT THE DEALER, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10992943

A CAR CAN NOT HAVE TWO BATTERIES CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE AT THE SAME TIME AND BE STREET LEGAL. THAIS CAR HAS THAT AND THEY ARE MISMATCHED BATTERIES AS WELL. MY CAR WAS STOLEN BY TOM LEHOUSKY. HE SOLD IT AT TROPICAL CHEVROLET FOR $15,000 AND KEPT THE MONEY.

NHTSA ODI 10971432

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED AND EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY DISENGAGED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AND RADIO REMAINED ON. ALSO, WHEN THE KEY WAS ENGAGED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. ..UPDATED 06/08/17 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10967761

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON MARCH 2015 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON JUNE 18, 2016 MY CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR BLOWING FROM THE DEFROSTER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I DROVE TO THE STORE AND CAME BACK HOME. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STOOD ON THE PORCH TALKING TO MY FAMILY. WITHIN IN 10 MINUTES OF ME EXITING MY CAR, IT WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE CAR AND COULD SEE THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD ENDS AND WHERE THE HOOD OF THE CAR BEGINS, RIGHT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY USED THE JAWS OF LIFE TO PLY THE HOOD OPEN AND CUT THE MAIN WIRE TO THE CAR. I THEN CONTACTED THE GM MANUFACTURING COMPANY CHEVROLET AND STARTED A CLAIM WITH THEM TO DO AN INVESTIGATION ON MY VEHICLE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY TO THIS BRAND NEW CAR. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THEIR WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE, THANK GOD AND AS TO NO ONE COULD OF STARTED THE FIRE BECAUSE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE ALLEGED INVESTIGATION TOOK ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF TO COMPLETE. I RECEIVED A CALL A WEEK PRIOR TO GM CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING MAKING A DECISION FROM ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ASKING ME HAVE I EVER GOTTEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE. I STATED TO HER NO I HAVEN'T AND REMINDED HER THAT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THEIR SHOWROOM FLOOR AND THAT I HADN'T HAD ANYTHING REPLACED OR ALTERED ON THAT CAR. ON JULY 29TH I WAS CALLED BY A GM CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN TELLING ME MY CLAIM WAS BEING DENIED BECAUSE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE. I STATED TO HER THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. SHE THEN CHANGES THE REASON AND STATES THAT GM CHEVROLET REALLY CANT DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY WERE DENYING MY CLAIM. THEIR HAD BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON GM CARS

NHTSA ODI 10896661

MY IGNITION KEYS (BOTH) SOMETIMES STICK IN THE 'START' POSITION WHEN STARTING. SOME DAYS THEY STICK SEVERAL TIMES AND SOME DAYS THEY DON'T. IT DEPENDS ON HEAT AND HUMIDITY. GENTLE PRESSURE EASILY RETURNS THE KEY TO THE 'RUN' POSITION. WE ALWAYS NOTICE THIS WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WE TURN THE KEY TO THE 'RUN' POSITION. BUT IF IT IS UNNOTICED IT COULD RELEASE WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND GO PAST 'RUN' AND INTO THE 'ACCESSORY' POSITION, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW IN APRIL, 2015. THE DEALER CLEANED THE KEY AND LUBED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE KEY DID NOT STICK WHILE THEY HAD THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OFTEN (ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME) WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT AND/OR HUMID. IT OCCURS RARELY WHEN THE WEATHER ID COOL/DRY.

NHTSA ODI 10895271

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND MAKING A STOP, THE RADIO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10846048

WATER ENTERED THE CAR FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND FLOODED THE CARPET AND ALL THAT IS UNDER IT. I PERSONALLY SUCKED GALLONS AND GALLONS OF WATER OUT OF IT FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE I GAVE UP AND TOOK IT IN. THE SERVICE DEPT PULLED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY. THAT TELLS ME THAT SOMEONE AT GM KNEW ABOUT IT AND THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. B/C IT CAME IN BEHIND THE DASH, THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL WILL BE AFFECTED B/C ALL THAT MOISTURE WILL NEVER GET OUT. RUSTING HAS ALREADY STARTED. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR A WEEK. I AM GOING TO DEMAND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BECAUSE MOLD/MILDEW WILL BE GROWING, AND MOISTURE WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. I WILL NEVER GET A GOOD PRICE ON A TRADE-IN B/C OF THE WATER. THE CAR IS RUINED.

NHTSA ODI 10733534

DRIVING A LONG THAN STEERING GOES OUT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN DEALER SAID NEE NEW ELECTRIC MOTOR UNDER DASH 1.000 TO FIX

NHTSA ODI 10722440

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS RE-ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81.

NHTSA ODI 10701616

WHILE DRIVING THRU HOUSTON, TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 10 WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE ANALOG INSTRUMENTS SHUT OFF, THE CENTER MY LINK SCREEN SHUT OFF AND THE DIGITAL READOUT ALTERNATED BETWEEN MPH AND MILES TRAVELED READOUT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, NO RESULT. SHE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST THRU SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC AND SAFELY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS SHIFTED TO PARK AND STARTED. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES TO OUR DESTINATION AND TWO DAYS LATER EXCHANGED THE CAR FOR ANOTHER RENTAL. *TR

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