Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Sep 14, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 721 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming powertrain
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 14, 2016
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING UPWARD ON AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES "LUNGING" OF THE VEHICLE. CAR WOULD LUNGE THAN BACK OFF TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SPEED IF THE VEHICLE. I COULD OBSERVE THE SURGES ON THE RPM GAUGE, AS IT WOULD FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 2200 AND 2400 RPM WHILE LUNGING WAS TAKING PLACE. THEN SUDDENLY THE GAUGE WOULD JUMP UP TO AROUND 3200-3400 RPM, AND THE LUNGING STOPPED AND CAR REGAINED REGULAR SPEED. THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENS ON EVERY INCLINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER OPERATING MANUALLY OR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OPERATING. PROBLEM IS NOT SO NOTICEABLE ON INCLINES AT LOWER SPEEDS WHILE CITY DRIVING (MILDER LUNGING I GUESS) BUT STILL OCCURS ON STEEP INCLINES ONLY THEN; ON HIGHWAY IT OCCURS ON ALL INCLINES. (I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY WORRISOME, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO NOT FIND ANY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS A MECHANIC I MET SAID HIS MALIBU HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS AND INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR IT; YET I FOUND NONE LISTED.
NHTSA ID
10906267
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Mileage
143,982 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AFTER GOING OVER A POT HOLE THE CAR TURNED OFF. AFTER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP. IT STARTED UP FINE BUT WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO MAKE TURNS. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THEY SAID THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT NEEDS A NEW RACK AND PINION AND NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY SAID IT COULD BE RELATED TO AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL SO I CALLED GM. THEY SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COVERED BY A RECALL BUT NOT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING. *TR
NHTSA ID
10649819
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Mileage
154,392 mi
EngineOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 16, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
CAR WAS FORCED OFF ROAD THEN ROLLED OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ID
10633566
Incident
Oct 4, 2010
Mileage
43,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2014
OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE MALIBU HAS STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS OCCURRED BOTH ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION ONE TIME ALMOST CAUSING A BROADSIDE IMPACT AS MY SON PULLED OUT TO MAKE A LEFT ONTO A BUST STREET. HE WAS FORTUNATE AND THE ONCOMING DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IN TIME. WE TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THAT SAID OUR IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WE HAD DONE. CURIOUS BECAUSE THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CHEVY RECALL, BUT OUR VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS OBVIOUSLY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10593904
Incident
May 21, 2014
Mileage
67,631 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 20, 2005
ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED APOXIMATELY. 2003 AND JAN. 2005. *AK
NHTSA ID
10114376
Incident
Apr 16, 2003
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 16, 2004
VEHICLE DEFECTS OF CHEVROLET MALIBU.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *NM
NHTSA ID
10089155
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 12, 2003
AT 500 MILES IT WAS FOUND THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. RACK AND PINION SYSTEM FAILED AT 48,000 MILES. AT 49,000 MILES THE FRONT AXLE SHAFTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THIS CAR.*AK
NHTSA ID
10032690
Incident
Jul 17, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 16, 2002
THE TRANSAXLE WAS STUCK IN PARK. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TORQUE LOCK IF YOU HAPPEN TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK INCORRECTLY, THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY GETTING IT OUT. THIS LOCKING OF THE TORQUE HAPPEND TWO MORE TIMES DURING CONSUMERS TRIP. *JG *SCC
NHTSA ID
567478
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own