2013 Chevrolet Malibu Other / unspecified Problems

While driving my vehicle the rear toe link broke leaving me stranded on the side of the road. With no dealers close I replaced the passenger rear toe link to get the car mobile again. Once that was done I called the dealer to setup an appointment to do the recall repair. After dropping the car off at the dealer I received a call back stating that I would need to replace my OEM lug nuts at an inflated dealer price in order for them to do the repair. My issue is that these OEM lug nuts should also be included in the recall because I've done nothing to create an issue with the lug nuts. Swelling lug nuts is a major ongoing issue among the big 3 automakers and this should be corrected. Allowing the companies to sell cars with low quality lug nuts is insane. Dealers thinking that customers should pay for a flaw in their own design of the lug nuts before they will do any repairs is even more insane. How my car sits now I am refused recall service on my car that is unsafe to drive due to them releasing cars with unsafe lug nuts. Then to add a paywall to you getting your recall repairs. This is extremely unsafe and unethical, and I pray that the NHTSA will do something about this ongoing issue that is putting millions of Americans in danger and allowing these companies to take advantage of their customer base. I took action to bring this to your attention and I hope you will take preventive action to keep Americans safe on the roads.

NHTSA ID

11563518

Incident

Jan 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear tow link fractured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V633000 (Suspension) and the contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11563486

Incident

Dec 14, 2023

Mileage

250,000 mi

I have contacted the dealer multiple times since August 2021(first notification of the official recall). I am told that I am in a waiting list because the manufacturer(GM) has not provided the repair parts. I have contacted the Customer Assistance Number provided on the recall letter multiple times with no results. I filled out the manufacturer survey based on the contacts to the assistance number indicating my dissatisfaction and requested a follow up contact. No results. I keep getting notices from the manufacturer that I have not had the recall fixed and the dealer will not fix it. I feel stuck.

NHTSA ID

11461005

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. JUST LAST WEEK I STARTED THE CAR IT MADE A NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING I HAD NO SPEEDOMETER, NO BLINKERS. NO RADIO ON GAS GAUGE AND NO TEMP GAUGE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR STALL IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND NO RECALL? IT'S BASICALLY A DEATH 🪤

NHTSA ID

11415472

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ WE BOUGHT AT 19,000 MILES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN ANY CAR I HAVE HAD!! WHEN I FIRST GOT IT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND NOT JUST ONE THEY WENT OUT ONE BY ONE AT END EXPENSES OF $900 AT ONE TIME AT XMAS!! IT'S BEEN RUNNING GOOD NOW, IT NOW HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT. BUT FROM DAY ONE THE RIMS HAVE BEEN PEELING OFF THEY HAD SOME COATING OVER IT AND IT'S SLOWLY PEELING OFF MAKING MY CAR LOOK REALLY BAD!! I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY REPLACEMENT RIMS! NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SAND BLASTING THEM AND PAINTING THEM. BUT WHY CHEVY WOULDN'T REPLACE THESE ANS MAKE THEIR OWN CARS LOOK CHEAP AND CRAPPY IS BEYOND ME!! I'M JUST HOPING MY CAR ISN'T GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE STALLING ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING! I PLAN TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL IT'S A RUST BUCKET!! LOL ;-)

NHTSA ID

11354424

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

19,000 mi

I AM OR HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS RELATED TO MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU, YET I WHEN ATTEMPT TO GET THE REPAIRS FOR THE RECALL I'M TOLD THEY'RE AREN'T ANY CONNECTED TO MY VIN. IF THAT'S SO, THEN MY VIN[XXX] AND OTHERS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALLS. MY MALIBU HAS BEEN OR IS EXPERIENCING THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP IN RECALL #'S 50490, 50491, 13136, AND 12212. NOW WHY AM I STUCK HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THINGS THAT ARE KNOWN IN A RECALL. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME. GOING FORWARD, SHOULD I SUCCEED IN GETTING THIS RECALL ACCEPTED, I DON'T NEED TO HERE THAT IT MAY BE OUT OF WARRANTY. THAT WOULDN'T BE FAIR EITHER. AS THE PRIOR OWNER COULDN'T HAVE HAD THE WORK DONE AS A RECALL BECAUSE THE VIN WASN'T IN THE SYSTEM IN TIME TO BE DONE BEFORE ANY RESTRICTIONS OR WARRANTY EXPIRED.AS I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT, I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE REPAIRS DONE AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING REIMBURSED FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED. AS I WAIT FOR A FAVORABLE RESPONSE. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11230555

Incident

Jul 3, 2019

HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS. USED ABOUT 50000 MILES. I AM ON MY 3RD WHEEL HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY. THEY ARE LASTING ONE ABOUT A YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11180029

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

25,000 mi

BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS WENT BAD QUICKLY. AT 71382 MILES , A NOISE STARED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND WITHIN FEW DAYS BECAME VERY LOUD.

NHTSA ID

11081387

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

Mileage

71,300 mi

IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAD TO REPLACE, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, 3 OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLIES ON MY 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THERE IS ALSO A TERRIBLE TOXIC SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING VENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAR'S EVAPORATOR CORE. CHEVROLET HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THESE PROBLEMS, BUT REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THESE ISSUES HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. CHEVROLET MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED, SICKENED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11030163

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

Mileage

55,062 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TRANSWEST CHEVROLET BUICK, 1200 W MAIN ST, STERLING, CO, 80751) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR AND REAR PASSENGER WHEEL HUB FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-3108717924. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY AND THAT THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,900.

NHTSA ID

11011142

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

Mileage

69,900 mi

*TAKATA RECALL* WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE IN A JERKING MOTION FELT LIKE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. ON TOP OF THAT TOOK CAR TO DEALER SHIP AND THEY DIDN'T HANDLE ISSUE UNTIL MY SECOND VISIT TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY 100$ AND FIND OUT MY STABILITY SERVICE LIGHT, AND LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ARE ON DUE TO A REAR BEARING HUB BEING BROKE AND THE SENSOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DETECT SPEED CAUSING MY RPM TO BE AS THE TECHNICIAN CALLED IT DRIVE ERRATIC AND TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING UNTIL 4-6,000 RPMS. ALSO NEEDS A FUEL INJECTION, AND THEY MENTION A FRONT TURN SIGNAL BEING OUT WHICH I NEVER HAD ANY INDICATION OR KNOWLEDGE OF MY HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ALSO, BEGAN TALKING TO CHEVROLET AS I WAS ON THEIR SIGHT AND SEEN RECALLS WHICH I HADN'T BEEN NOTIFIED AND WONDER IF SOME ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE FROM PREVIOUS RECALLS THAT WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE NOT AFFECTED ME? IS THAT POSSIBLE? I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT, IN DEBT WITH LOANS AND CAR PAYMENTS AS I DON'T GET ANY SUPPORT FROM FAMILY. THE STEERING ISSUE OCCURRED VERY BADLY AND SUDDENLY ON 3/13/2017. STABILITRAC SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON SINCE FEBRUARY 15 WENT TO DEALERSHIP ON 20TH THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK WHEN I MENTIONED IT, THE ISSUE WASN'T LOOKED AT OR EVEN NOTED JUST MAY NEED 2 FRONT TIRES. CURRENTLY AT 75,259 MILES I GOT THE CAR IN 2015 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES. DO HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ONE VISIT FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC. ALSO DIDN'T REALIZE A RECALL OR ISSUE HAS OCCURED WITH A SOLENOID AS MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP VERSUS THE DEALERSHIP I PAID 400$ AND FOUND OUT THAT WAS RECALLED AT ONE POINT PRIOR TO ME OWNING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10965999

Incident

Mar 13, 2017

Mileage

74,796 mi

THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON STATING THAT I DID NOT HAVE STABIL TRACK CONTROL ANYMORE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ENTERING A BUSY ROAD WHEN I SPUN TIRES ON SOME GRAVEL ON PAVEMENT ROAD SURFACE. IT HAPPENED WHEN I SPUN TIRES ON A ICY ROAD DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS. IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DRY PAVEMENT STATE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR. A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. EVERY TIME IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DIFFERENT WHEELS. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH LR, RR AND RF WHEELS PART REPLACED WAS 13589507W-(S) WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENCODER RING WHICH IS PART OF THIS ASSEMBLY IS CRACKED, PIECES GONE OR THE WHOLE THING GONE. THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH EARLIER VERSIONS OF THIS ENCODER RING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PART WILL BE ON THE NEW 2017 MODELS AND THAT IT WILL AFFECT THE COMPUTER EVEN MORE THAN THE 2013 VERSION WITH SOME FEATURES SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

10957565

Incident

Jul 28, 2015

Mileage

42,333 mi

MY MALIBU STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE SHORTLY AFTER I PASSED THE 40000 MILE MARK BACK IN LATE NOVEMBER OF 2016. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TIRES AS THEY WERE ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE SO I REPLACED ALL 4 BUT THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. I THEN WENT ON LINE TO INVESTIGATE IF OTHER MALIBU OWNERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE CASES LIKE MINE THAT INVOLVED THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAILING ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I PURCHASED TWO NEW REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY'S AND INSTALLED THEM WHICH TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE PERSON AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE SHARED WITH ME THAT HE HAD REPLACED 3 ON HIS FATHERS MALIBU. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAIL ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED LET ALONE ONE WITH LESS THAN 41000 MILES ON IT. IF I HAD NOT REPLACED THE PARTS WHEN I DID I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN THE PARTS FAILED COMPLETELY. I DO HAVE THE PARTS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10954373

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

40,850 mi

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A CITY STREET, AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH, THE AXLE SHAFT ON THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR BROKE. THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR WENT TO THE RIGHT AND I HIT THE BACK-LEFT SIDE OF A VAN; THAT IMPACT SENT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR UP IN THE AIR WHERE I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ON THE TWO LEFT WHEELS. ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO FLIP AND LAND ON IT'S ROOF, THE CAR DID COME BACK DOWN ON THE RIGHT WHEELS, BUT LANDED/HIT THE FRONT OF THE VAN AND THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10946730

Incident

Jan 18, 2017

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHEEL BEARING FROM GM DONT LAST. MY CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL 4 AND THOSE WERE DONE MAY 9 USING GM PARTS AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS FAILING.

NHTSA ID

10897306

Incident

May 9, 2016

THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED ON PAVED OR CONCRETE CITY STREETS. AT LEAST ONCE LAST MONTH AND 3 TIMES THIS MONTH I EXPERIENCED TRANSIENT EPISODES OF WHAT I CATEGORIZE AS POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THREE OF THESE TIMES WERE AT REDUCED SPEEDS LESS THAN 20 MPH DURING A TURN AND ONCE TRAVELING 65 MPH DOWN A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. ON TWO OF THE TURNING EVENTS I MANAGED TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES AT THE INTERSECTION/PARKING ENTRANCE. THESE EPISODES ARE SHORT DURATIONS AND MAY BE CHARACTERIZED BY SUDDEN STIFFNESS IN THE WHEEL, JERKING TO ONE SIDE OR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A POWER STEERING FAILURE. ON THE LAST EVENT TODAY A POWER LOSS TO MY CONSOLE WAS NOTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND GIVEN MY NEAR MISSES IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR, I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM WERE OUT THERE THAT ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. ON A SAFETY NOTE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM TO MAINTAIN A FIRM GRIP WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHEN MAKING A TURN ON A SEPARATE NOTE I MENTIONED THAT I ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TIRES. THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN A MODERATE DOWNPOUR. THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE TRACTION ON EVERY PUDDLE I HIT. IT MADE FOR A VERY SCARY RIDE AND FORCED ME TOO CAREFULLY REDUCE SPEED TO A MINIMUM OF 45-50MPH. THIS IS STILL VERY SUBJECTIVE AND I STILL NEED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, BUT IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE HYDROPLANING AS I KNOW IT.

NHTSA ID

10876629

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

37,500 mi

A LOW HUMMING NOISE EMITTING FROM REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE NOISE APPEARED AT AROUND 470000. I HAVE 52000 MILES CURRENTLY. RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND NOW APPEARS THE LEFT SIDE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

10855668

Incident

Apr 14, 2016

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AND CREATE A HUMMING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON GM ISSUE WITH OUT OF SPEC PARTS.

NHTSA ID

10763822

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO FLICKER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED COMPLETELY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,200.

NHTSA ID

10734832

Incident

Mar 21, 2015

Mileage

34,200 mi

ISSUE WITH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING GOING BAD AT 60,000 MILES. THE CAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE AT ACCELERATION AND A CONSTANT HUM AT SET HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH THE CAR ON A LIFT, YOU CAN PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE HUB, AND SPIN THE TIRE YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION. THE CONCERN IS THE HUB IS OUT OF ROUND CAUSING THE WHEEL BEARING TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT. ON-LINE RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

10734250

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AND HAD JUST TAKEN AN EXIT THROUGH TOWN ABOUT A MILE WHEN HER REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE (GOODYEAR ASSURANCE) BLEW OUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE BLOWOUT WAS IN THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE RIM AND WAS ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG, WHICH I HAVE A PICTURE OF. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A "POP", LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A RUMBLING NOISE. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THIS 2013 MALIBU ONLY HAD 12,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS EARLIER I HAD JUST TAKEN THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP NEAR OUR HOME AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED BUT NO ONE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED ANY PROBLEMS OR BULGES WITH ANY OF THE TIRES.. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TIRE ISSUE. THEY STATED THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER TIRES AND WE WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH GOODYEAR OURSELVES. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAD DISCOVERED THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ON THESE PARTICULAR TIRES SUCH AS BULGES IN THE SIDEWALLS AND BLOWOUTS WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A DEFECT OF SOME KIND AND THESE TIRES NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. MY DAUGHTER SAID SHE NEVER RAN OVER ANYTHING, IT JUST POPPED ON ITS OWN. THANK GOD SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629805

Incident

Aug 23, 2014

Mileage

12,000 mi

ON MY WAY TO WORK TODAY I HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHICH RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO CALL ONSTAR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPARE OR JACK IN THE TRUCK. ONCE I CALLED ON STAR IT TOOK THEM THREE TIMES CALLING ME BACK TO GET ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE ON THE PHONE. I WAS STUCK FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK EVEN ARRIVED. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED I ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HE TOLD ME THAT ON STAR JUST CALLED HIS OFFICE AND TOLD THEM THAT I NEEDED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR THAT I ONLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A SPARE TIRE INSTEAD OF A CAN OF GOO AND A TIRE PUMP. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT MY CAR LOADED THAT IS WHEN I LEANED THAT I COULD NOT RIDE IN THE TOW TRUCK. SO AFTER BEING STRANDED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TWO HOURS HAD TO WAIT ON A RIDE HOME AND THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED AT 5 PM SO, I STILL CAN'T GET MY CAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF A FLAT TIRE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD A SPARE TIRE. SO, I COULDN'T MAKE IT TO WORK AND I HAD TO THUMB A RIDE HOME BECAUSE OF GM WANTING TO SAVE .4 MPG OF GAS BY TAKING AWAY THE SPARE TIRE AND JACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525245

Incident

Jul 16, 2013

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF A FLAT TIRE INCIDENT MY WIFE HAD ON I-75 AT DAVIDSON ON 6-18-2013. I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THIS TO CHEVY.COM/WARRANTY, AND FELT THAT YOU TOO SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE. "HAD A FLAT TIRE, 6/18/13 ON MY 2 MONTH OLD MALIBU. CALLED ON-STAR, NO HELP AFTER 1&1/2 HOURS. CALLED ON-STAR AGAIN, NO HELP AFTER TOTAL OF ALMOST 3 HOURS. MICHIGAN DOT ROAD SERVICE CAME ON SCENE AND TRIED REPAIR WITH EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO GOOD, TIRE DID NOT INFLATE. FINALLY CALLED AAA WHO RESPONDED IN 10 MINUTES. WANTED TOW TO DEALER, BUT DEALER (RINKE) WAS CLOSED AFTER 6:00PM. WAS TOWED HOME AT COST OF $84.00. NEXT DAY, 6/19/13, TOOK TIRE OFF VEHICLE AND BROUGHT TO (RINKE) SERVICE DEPT. FOR REPAIR AT COST OF $25.00. ASKED ABOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF CANISTER IN EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO ONE AT DEALER SERVICE HAD EVER REPLACED THE CANISTER OR WERE FAMILIAR ON HOW TO REPAIR IT. WENT TO PARTS DEPT. TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CANISTER - NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT PRICE OF OVER $26.00. ASKED ABOUT PURCHASE OF DOUGHNUT EMERGENCY TIRE AND TOOL KIT - AGAIN, NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT A PRICE OF OVER $400.00. WITH COMPLETE ABSENCE OF DEALER ASSISTANCE, I TOOK TIRE HOME AND INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. MY RESOLUTION TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF THIS EVENT WAS TO GO TO OUR LOCAL BELL TIRE STORE AND PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE SO THAT MY HUSBAND (84 YEARS OLD) AND I (75 YEARS OLD) WOULD HAVE THE SECURITY OF A REPLACEMENT TIRE IF WE ENCOUNTERED A FLAT AGAIN. IN OUR OPINION, THE ELIMINATION OF THE EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE WAS A BAD MOVE, AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS IS A SAD AND DISCONCERTING CONDITION." *TR

NHTSA ID

10522278

Incident

Jun 18, 2013

Mileage

1,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TIRE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT DUE TO FUEL ECONOMY, THEY DID NOT EQUIP VEHICLES WITH SPARE TIRES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515514

Incident

May 20, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE. HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT ALLOW MANUFACTURERS TO SELL VEHICLES WITH NO SPARE TIRES? A COMPRESSOR AND TIRE SEALANT WILL NOT WORK WITH A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT, OR AN UNREPAIRABLE PUNCTURE. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT PURCHASING A SPARE WITH A JACK, AND THE COST WAS $500 - WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!! I YOU WANT TO MAKE HIGHWAYS SAFE, INSIST THAT MANUFACTURERS OFFER SPARE TIRES AND JACKS AT A REASONABLE PRICE, OR MAKE SPARE TIRES MANDATORY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10513420

Incident

May 24, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi