Battery Cable Problems of Chevrolet Malibu

A few times that I have been driving my car, I have experienced issues with the car turning off and losing power steering and control while in motion. The whole car turn off and wheel locks up, preventing me from being able to control the car. Countless searching through forums led me to find many people who have experienced the same issue. And from the forums, many claim the reason for these problems happening is faulty battery cables that gm that doesn't want to admit. This is a safety issue because I have had my car turn off while driving on the highway and in the city. And I'm not the only experiencing this issue. It's widespread among 2013 Chevrolet Malibu's. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

While driving on the highway my car will just shut down completely then turn back on. Sometime the radio will go out with power steering, etc. It just shuts down for no reason. We've replacement the battery cable several months ago as we had the exact same problem and it worked for about 6 months. If I use my turn signal sometimes it will shut down and turn back on. Did it about 20 times today on the way to work. With my two small children in the car with me. I am usually driving around 65 to 75 mph when this happens.

Update on complaint #'s 1144041 & 11172602. On 2/8/19, I was 2 blocks from work when messages displayed for (service ecs, reduced engine power, check engine light). I drove right from work to the dealership, which was 9 miles away, with my hazards on and at a max speed of 25 mph. I drove it into the bay and told a service advisor that I was told to bring it back while the problem we keep trying to fix was actually happening. He tried to get someone to come hook up the code reader to it but was unable to so he turned off my car. I received a voicemail mid-day Monday 2/11/19 to say that because my battery had been out of my car too long, they had to relearn the throttle body assembly. I left a message to specifically say that the last time the battery had been out of my car to my knowledge was 3/2018. When they called back, their conclusion was that the battery had not been installed or secured properly which caused them to have to relearn the throttle body assembly. On 2/19/2019, it happened again but they could not read a code when I brought it in, so was again sent to come back when it was occurring so they could hook up the code reader while it was happening. On 3/5 I drove my car to them while it was displaying the messages and running rough. They again tried to put the blame on the battery. Even though the codes where p2176 and p2135, the recommended fix was new battery and battery cables ($733). I still had warranty for that battery as it was installed nearly a year ago after the first incidence, so I went back to that auto shop. He did not find anything associated to battery but did find gm bulletin from 2012 (pip5019). He re-crimped throttle body circuit pins after doing a pen out test at ecu. It is now 3/25 and no other issues! hoping we have found root of the problem. No thanks to dealer or chevy customer care. . .

See all problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I took the car to the mechanic because of check engine light car wasn't acting weird or anything. They recommended replacing multifunction power supply converter, it has internal issues I approved they told me everything is fine everything cleared. The next day the vehicle started to go crazy I stated that engine light is on again car lounges forward and that the doors lock and unlock all while driving and car then just stops I had to restart it. They recommended replacing battery I approved . The same day I picked up my car check engine light showed but the next day car started to be it self again so I kept it didn't take it in. A week later the same symptoms car jolts forward,it locks and unlocks when driving and car turns off completely this time they recommended replacing negative battery cable I approved. 30 minutes after leaving the mechanics, car has the same exact previous symptoms but now car went beyond crazy, car was on drive but won't accelerate, break, and steering wheel locked, dash said (service stabilitrak) (ice possible) it hot outside. It happens when I get off freeways, when I'm driving on regular streets: doors locks and unlocks dash always say check rear door locks the, car lunges forward and then car just stops and won't go I have to turn it off then on again. Just imagine if car completely stop in a freeway, I'm lucky that it gives me a warning when I hear the locks go crazy I pull over I then able to drive it slowly home and all the way home car jolts towards locks are going crazy and car stops frequently in the middle of the streets. Then I'm able to take it to the mechanics like nothing ever happens to it. Goes back to normal with no check engine light like nothing ever happened.

See all problems of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Tl the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving, the instrument cluster lighting flickered and the vehicle lost power. Additionally, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ed rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC (26125 van dyke, center line, mi 48015, (866) 461-1170) where it was diagnosed that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 8-4683000874. The contact was advised to call the dealer. The failure mileage was 77,494.

When driving the car the radio panel, air conditioning, control panel and power steering goes out. When driving over 45 mph on the highway, the engine will not stop. However, when driving 45 mph or below on city streets, the car will shut completely off and I will have to restart the car. Everything goes complete off. This has been an ongoing issue for several months now. The car has had this issue while in traffic and I was hit from behind. Fortunately, we were pulling off from a stop light and the impact was not enough to cause an injury. I have researched on youtube and online and there are several other consumers with this exact same issue. Also, the check engine light never comes on but it does say service power steering and service stabili trak. Sometimes when the car is not moving (parked) it will also cut off. Once, I went to start the car and it would not start and it would not allow me to remove the key. I tried making sure the car was in park (which I knew it was because it had been parked for hours) but nothing would move. I almost had it towed and then out the blue everything popped on. Chevrolet advised that they "think" it could be the battery cables and the fuse box but cannot guarantee that this will fix the issue. I have already paid 167. 00 for them to "tighten" the cables and tell me what they "think" may be the issue. I also have video of the car while having this issue but it is not in the format allowed for upload. The last time it had this issue was today 07/28/2017.

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel abruptly locked while attempting to turn at a low speed. The failure was experienced several times. While the bluetooth was in use, the radio and steering wheel simultaneously failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery cable was defective and caused the electrical system to lose charge. The vehicle was repaired. The battery cables were replaced and routed correctly. The manufacturer stated that the cable failure was due to wear and tear. The failure mileage was 47,607.

See all problems of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I purchased a 2013 certified pre-owned Chevrolet Malibu from a Chevrolet dealership in November of 2014. I was satisfied with my purchase for a few months with no issues until I started having problems with the electrical. My first frightening experience was traveling on the interstate exiting onto a highway via a cloverleaf. While merging onto the highway, I lost all power, including power steering. Luckily no one was in the other lane, as my car veered across the line, into the other lane. The power came back on a few seconds later. I brought my car into the dealership where I purchased it, however they were unable to pinpoint the issue. They scanned the vehicles system for error codes, cleared the codes and sent me on my way. Since this initial issue, my car loses power randomly while driving, parked, using my turn signal, turning left, turning right, etc. The power steering goes out, the dashboard and vehicle display monitor go black. Some instances it will flicker, other times it will shut down completely. I have had it towed from my driveway as I have been unable to turn it on and towed from a retail parking lot. I have had the car inspected by the dealership 4 times and a separate privately owned garage twice, with no resolution. I contacted gm/Chevrolet regarding the issue and a case number was given to me. They had me bring my car to a Chevrolet dealership. After their inspection, the dealership stated it was the positive battery cable that is malfunctioning. I reached out to Chevrolet again about a resolution and they indicated the vehicle is outside of warranty so no repair support will be provided. If this issue would have been resolved within the initial inspection, the certified pre-owned status of my vehicle may have covered repairs. My concern is the larger impact of others experiencing the same issues and getting the same response by gm.

Car bought from the dealership as used with 28k miles in Nov 2014. In March 2015, the steering wheel started to lock while turning. Meanwhile, the screen and the radio restarts. The locking of the steering wheel happens under different circumstances, including but not limit to when parking, cruising on the neighbourhood (speed below 30 mph), change lanes in highways (speed around 50 mph), and several times while the car was actually parked without motion. The car was brought to the dealership in April 2015 for the first time. In the following two years until last week (March 2017), the dealership replied "could not duplicate the issue" every single time. In the recent several times of me visiting the dealership about the same issue, they replaced the battery cables (with a charge for $750), and the fuse box (with a charge of $108), but still, the problem exists. The last visit to the dealer ends up with the routine reply of "can not duplicate" but they did admit that there is indeed an issue since I showed them a video I recorded when the issue happens. The locking of the steering wheel happens every single time when I tried to rotate the steering wheel (to make turning while driving or parking of course), but the issue is that it does not always happen. It only happens every now and then. That is why I am still driving it after two years since unfortunately, that is my only car. This is extremely dangerous since the locking of the steering wheel only locks while turning. It can cause accidents in the neighbourhood and a lethal accident on the highways. The gm offered me a coupon for some credit to be applied to my next purchase of a new gm car but I don't think that is a solution I can accept. I am attaching some of the service histories to support my statement. There are more but I can only upload 5.

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.

If you think gm had a big problem with the ignition switches here is a bigger one. I have owned gm since 1972 and have always found that the delco batteries are the best. You could go 8 to 8 1/2 years before you needed to replace the battery because an internal plate would separate from the bank of plates. But something changed in the 1990s. I have had two delco batteries do this and I read about a man in florida that died in his car because it happened to him. Your get in your vehicle, start the engine, put the car in gear, the door locks activate, and the engine quits. You put the car back in park, and try starting the vehicle again, nothing !! all electrical circuits are dead. The positive battery cable and post have seperated from the battery. To get out of the car you have to trip the manual door locks. If someone holds the post back into the battery you will have power but as soon as they let go, all electrical circuits die. Think of it this way. You are heading home after a holiday, on an expressway in the country, doing 70 mph, in the dark. Bumper to bumper. The positive battery post breaks loose. You now have no head lights, no horn, no turn signals, no brake lights, no body lights,no power steering, no power brakes, all electrical circuits have died. You are the captain of a ghost ship and that driver that you know was behind you will only have a second to react when his headlights pick you up. Gm needs to investigate and correct.

See all problems of the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 mph, burning fumes were present inside the vehicle and smoke appeared out of the front bumper. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the battery cable caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

I own a car rental company and the primary vehicle in my fleet is the 01-03 chevy Malibu. Over the past 14 months the ignition anti-theft system has left my customers stranded and frustrated. One customer was stranded at night in a wal-mart parking lot with her small kid while sitting through a heavy rain storm. All of our keys/spares are original and purchased from gm dealers but the problems remains.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I bought a 98 chevy Malibu about 3 months ago. It onlyhad 69,000 miles on it at the time. Since that time I have had to replace the brakesand buy a new battery. My abs light pops on and off,my airconditioner cuts on and off by itself, and my car clucks all the time. My friend has the same car and we ride together we recognize the fact that both of our cars are giving us the same problems.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

My car is only 3 1/2 yrs. Old, but, I'm having problems with it that I shouldn't be having. Last summer, I had to have my battery and surrounding wires & hoses replaced due to a corroded cable which had leaked acid everywhere--luckily under warranty. Now, my intake valve gasket is ruined, so antifreeze leaks out constantly and the car is perpetually on the verge of running hot. I have to constantly add antifreeze and water to keep it from overheating, although, it still smells overheated all the time. It will cost me between $900-$1100 to repair the problem, even though the part only costs $150 due to the labor involved in removing the top of the engine to get to the gasket. Since the warranty has already run out, I'll have to foot the bill myself. I don't appreciate this because I shouldn't be having this problem with this car at this time, nor do I feel that it is my responsibility to fix it. The dealer or manufacturer should foot the bill since the car is so young and there is no way that I caused this problem.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.