Chevrolet Malibu Maxx fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11052952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM BACK OF 2005 MAILBU MAXX, NOTHING LEAKING FOR 3 DAYS, THEN NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND, WAS HAVING ISSUE STARTING (FUEL LINE NOT PRESSURIZED) TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE CRANKING WORKED TO PRESSURIZE THE LINE. AT THE SHOP NOW, THEY SAID IT A NON-REPAIRABLE FUEL LINE COMING OFF OF THE PUMP, GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SENDING UNIT AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME OUT THE WAHZOO TO REPAIR, HOW IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS? I SPOKE WITH GM RECALL LINE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN OF MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10967736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ISSUE ONE IS THE DRIVERS SEAL WELDS BRAKE ON THE REAR AND FRONT FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT BASE TO THE ELEVATED CONTROL THUS IN THE CASE OF A CRASH THE SEAT IS COMPROMISED TO SEPARATE COMPLETELY FROM THE FLOOR MOUNT DUE TO THESE WELDS BEING BROKE. SECOND ISSUE FUEL PUMPS BEGIN TO LEAK AT THE SEAL OF THE PUMP AT THE FUEL TANK LEAKING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF FUEL FROM THE TANK AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THIRD ISSUE WHICH I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF RECALLS BUT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MAXX THAT ONLY THE BASE MODEL IS EFFECTED BUT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AND THE CAR HAS NO CONTROL AND WILL VIOLENTLY JERK IN ONE DIRECTION THROWING THE VEHICLE IN TO ONCOMING LANES OR EVEN INTO THE DITCH. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON MAIN CONTROL MESSAGE SCREEN AND CAR WILL SOUND AN ALARM, OTHER TIMES THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS FROM CHECK ENGINE, OIL, AIR BAG, SEAT BELT, SO ON SO ALL COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING WHETHER SLOWLY OR EVEN WHILE TRYING TO SPEED UP MORE AGGRESSIVELY TO MERGE UNTO EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED INTO NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO STEERING GOING OUT AND WHEEL WILL VIOLENTLY JERK ONE DIRECTION OR TO THE OTHER. NOT SURE WHY THIS SITE SHOWS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING BUT DEALERSHIP DENIES THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE MAXX BUT THEY HAVE ONE FOR THE 2005 BASE MALIBU

NHTSA complaint #10783309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING AND HAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED, THERE WAS ODORS OF FUEL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA complaint #10783436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP LEAK. NOTICED STRONG GAS SMELL THAT ONLY INCREASED AS TIME PASSED, DRIVING AND PARKED. FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #10782208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I FILL THE CAR UP COMPLETELY WITH GAS, THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR READS ZERO AND I GET A LOW-FUEL WARNING MESSAGE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED, AFTER DRIVING 15-20 MINUTES, THE GAUGE WOULD THEN READ 'FULL' AGAIN, BUT THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND DURING THIS TIME THE REMOTE START FUNCTION WOULD NOT WORK. NOW THE CAR READS EMPTY AT ALL TIMES, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AND THE REMOTE START DOES NOT WORK. THIS LED ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR STALLING WHILE ON THE ROAD, AS I HAVE READ HAPPENING TO OTHER GM VEHICLE MODELS, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF GAS AGAIN. FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON WITH GM VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY THE MALIBU, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10680024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THERE IS A CRACK/LEAK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (2006) AND THE NEWEST PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AROUND THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR (2014). I TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE UNIT IS AROUND 500 PLUS LABOR AND TOTALS ABOUT 1000 DOLLARS. THIS IS ON THE SHORT LIST OF PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ISSUES AS OTHERS HAVE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE CONCERNS ME QUITE A BIT.

NHTSA complaint #10648788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL LEAK FROM THE SENDING UNIT ABOVE THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10640539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STRONG ODORS OF GASOLINE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. GAS MILEAGE HAS BEEN IMPACTED. HAVE CALLED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES - NO RETURN PHONE CALL. ASSUME WHEN THEY DO CALL ME BACK, I AM IN FOR A $1,000 REPAIR BILL BASED ON PREVIOUS SUBMISSIONS. I WOULD GUESS THIS SHOULD BE ANOTHER RECALL ITEM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ.

NHTSA complaint #10630238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER FOUR (4) MINUTES OF DRIVING CAR AT 6:30AM IN THE MORNING, TEMPERATURE WAS 58 DEGREE ON 7/21/2014, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALL POWERED FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED W/VEHICLE DID NOT WORK. ALL IDIOT LIGHTS FLASHED ON. THE MESSAGE IN DISPLAY WAS "ENGINE DISABLED." CAR WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. AFTER 4-5 MINUTES OF REST, THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED AND DRIVEN BACK HOME ABOUT ANOTHER TWO (2) MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10614890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006, I WOULD DRIVE TO A LOCATION SHUT THE CAR OFF COME BACK OUT (DOSE NOT MATTER HOW LONG OF A TIME I WOULD BE WHERE IM AT) TRY TO START THE CAR, IT STARTS AND THEN DIES, THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS MORE THE ONCE IN A ROW, BY THE SECOND AND THIRD TRY IT WOULD START AND BE FINE AFTER THAT. THE LAST TIME IT DID IT AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE IDLING, IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO START IT BACK UP. DURING THIS TIME I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE BY DIFFERENT CAR. I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. I SAW A RECALL FOR MALIBU'S ABOUT THERE FUEL SYSTEMS. IM WONDERING IF THE MAXX TYPE IS PART OF THAT PROBLEM AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10587603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT WOULD HESITATE BEFORE TURNING OVER. LATER IT BEGAN TO STRUGGLE TO TURN OVER. NOW ITS STRUGGLING TO TURN OVER BUT WON'T. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AT FIRESTONE LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND THE CAR HAS PLENTY OF GAS. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR INTO FIRESTONE FOR A VEHICLE INSPECTION THE DAY BEFORE I BOUGHT THE BATTERY. IF THE CAUSE IS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, THE PUMP MAY SEIZE STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION. A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE. MANY CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS FOUND THAT THE ALARM OR ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND AT THE MOST INCONVENIENT TIMES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ON POSITION LEAVE IT ON FOR 10 MINUTES, THEN TURN IT OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN IT STARTED UP. I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS YET BUT I WILL IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA complaint #10560464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I HAVE A 2007 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX I HAVE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND SERVICE TRANSACTION. I TOOK THE CAR WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON. THEY TELL ME IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT. I AM DISABLED AND DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. HAS THIS PART BEEN RECALLED ? I READ SOME ON THE INTERNET WHERE THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD BEEN RECALLED . I TAKE MY GRANDSON TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY AND PICK HIM UP . THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GO OFF. THE WEATHER IS COLD HERE. THAT SEEMS TO CAUSE THE LIGHT TO COME ON. I WORRY ABOUT A SAFE CAR. HERE IS THE INFORMATION I PULLED UP. RECALL ID # 79907 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP PLUS FULL DETAILS RECALL DATE FEB 28, 2011 COMPONENT FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP MODEL AFFECTED MALIBU POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED 4887 IF THERE IS A RECALL WHOM DO I CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ?

NHTSA complaint #10560254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

YOU CAN SMELL FUEL WHEN YOU ARE BY THE CAR. AT THIS TIME IT TAKES 2 TO 3 CRANKS FOR THE CAR TO START. I'M TOLD THAT THERE IS A LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK SOMEWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #10520281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NOVEMBER 02, 2011 DROVE IT HOME. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICE THE CRANKING ISSUES. THE CAR WILL CRANK RIGHT UP OF THE MORNINGS, BUT AFTER IT WARMS UP IT COULD TAKE UP TO 5 TIMES. THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND DIE. SO I HAVE NO WARRANTY FOR THIS CAR I BOUGHT USED. SO IT'S LIKE I AM STUCK WITH IT UNTIL IT'S PAID FOR. SO I GOOGLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAR FOR ANY RECALLS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE FUEL PUMP HAS OR NOT BEEN REPLACED FOR THIS CAR. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT IS MY FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL WAS FEBRUARY 28, 2011, I FEEL THIS CAR WAS MISSED. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST CHEVROLET THAT I HAVE BOUGHT, BUT TRYING TO CRANK THIS CAR IS JUST CRAZY. I GET SO FUSTRATED THIS IS A POOR QUALITY OF A CAR. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO IT. I WANT TO CRAWL UNDER THE TABLE, CAUSE I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I HAVE A RETARD OF A CAR. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE.

NHTSA complaint #10505001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE SMELLED GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,660. UPDATED 9/19/13 *CN THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE LINE CONNECTER LEAKING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT. THE CONSUMER ONLY AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10490862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AROUND JUNE 2012 I STARTED SMELLING FUEL WHEN I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE OVER FILLED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I TOOK THE CAR INTO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE PLASTIC LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED CAUSING THE LEAK OF FUEL. I CHECKED FOR A RECALL AND FOUND THERE WAS ONE BUT THE MAXX WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I DO BELIEVE THIS RECALL INCLUDED A PONTIAC WITH THE SAME FUEL PUMP. SINCE I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE ARIZONA HEAT IN PHOENIX THE MAXX SHOULD BE INCLUDED DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THE YEAR. THANKS

NHTSA complaint #10483593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING. THEN, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, AND SUDDENLY GAS WAS POURING OUT NEAR THE MUFFLER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. TRACED THE LEAK ONCE WE GOT IT HOME. THE PLASTIC LINE ON THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED. I LOST OVER 1/8 OF A TANK AFTER I PARKED IT. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH I LOST WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I AM THANKFUL THAT THERE WERE NO SPARKS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN. I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THEIR CAR SEATS FAST ENOUGH HAD I NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN PRECAUTION.

NHTSA complaint #10483187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I STARTED TO SMELL GAS AFTER PARKING MY CAR IN GARAGE ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. CHANGED FUEL CAP, DIDN'T WORK. THE GAS SMELL BECAME MORE AND MORE STRONG AFTER FEW WEEKS. DID SOME SEARCH AND FOUND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM OF FUEL PUMP LEAK IN 2004-2006 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX. THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE BREAKS AND THE OWNERS HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP COMPLETELY, WHICH COSTS MORE THAN $600. THERE WAS A RECALL OF FUEL PUMP BUT NOT FOR THE ORIGINAL ONE. GM/CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT'S EASY TO CATCH FIRE AND VERY BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!!!

NHTSA complaint #10482291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP BECAME FRACTURE D ON THE ELBOW OF THE PUMP. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASOLINE LEAK IN FRONT OF THE EXHAUST AS HE WAS DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO ATTEMPTED TO SEAL THE FRACTURE WITH EPOXY BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND STATED THAT HIS MODEL VEHICLE WAS SUFFERING FROM THE SAME DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 11/01/12 *BF UPDATED 11/02/2012

NHTSA complaint #10478188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.