2005 Chevrolet Malibu fuel/propulsion system problems

“This problem has occurred many times and I have taken to the internet to find out what I could to try to remedy it myself as I don't have endless disposable income to have someone else fix it. I have not had it seen by a professional, only consulted with a manager of a gm dealership repairs department over the phone as well as various mechanics and locksmiths. As I said I don't have endless disposable money to throw at this. The car will completely shut off in the middle of driving, I lose all power. The antitheft system engages in the middle of driving. Then I get no crank no start. I get stuck in the middle of the road. In the past I was able to just turn the key off and remove it and let it sit for a while and then it would let me start it again, this began a year ago and has gotten progressively worse and more frequent since it first occurred and I am now at the point where the car is completely no crank no start and anti theft system will not disengage. From my own research online I've found many others complaining of similar problems and they say it's related to gm passlock system.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RETURNED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK FUEL CAP WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”

“WHEN I AM DRIVING, HIGHWAY OR LOCAL, MY ENGINE WILL STUTTER AND SHUT DOWN, OR JUST QUIETLY SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS HAPPENING A LOT. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC DURING SOME OF THESE STALLS. SOMETIMES I CAN GET IT TO RESTART SND OTHER TIMES I CANNOT. ALSO. I AM HAVING TROUBLE GET GAS INTO THE TANK WHEN FUELING. I HEAR AIR ESCAPING AND THE PUMP WILL SHUT OFF. LOCAL MECHANICS DO NOT WANT TO TACKLE THAT ISSUE. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SAYS SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED, AS-IS, THAT THE PROBLEM IS ON ME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT ME IRE ANYONE TO BECOME A FATALITY BECAUSE OF THIS. WHAT CAN BE DONE?”

“STARTING AROUND TWO YEARS AGO, FUEL GAUGE AFTER FILLING TANK AND THEN STARTING CAR WOULD FALL TO EMPTY ALONG WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN RESTART CAR WAS OKAY. SO, DID NOT FILL TANK ANYMORE, ALLEVIATED PROBLEM FOR A YEAR. IN PAST YEAR GOT WORST, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON UNTIL USING UP UNTIL AT LEAST 2 GALLONS WAS USED WHEN GASOLINE WAS ADDED. THEN ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. AS TIME WENT ON, FUEL GAUGE ACTING UP MORE, NEVER READING ACCURATELY HOW MUCH GAS IS IN CAR. IN LAST MONTH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OR LITTLE FUEL IS ADDED, READS FULL FOR A LONG TIME, THEN GAUGE DROPS SUDDENLY TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAD CHECKED, INDICATES THE FUEL SENSOR IS ENTIRELY NOT WORKING NOW /OR FUEL PUMP MAY NOT WORK SOON. SO EVERY 100 MILES, GUESS HOW MUCH FUEL TO ADD. NOT KNOWING, COULD RUN OUT OF GAS ANYTIME, AND CAR SHUT DOWN. COULD NOT LIVE WITH CONDITION ANYMORE. SO, HAVE THE COMBINED FUEL SENOR/FUEL PUMP REPLACED. MY OPINION, THIS SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD RESULT IN GENERAL MOTORS ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND REIMBURSING ANY OWNER WITH SAME PROBLEM; SHOULD THEY HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY.”

“HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING THEY GO OUT ONCE A MONTH AND NOW THEY JUST OUT AND THIS CAR IS DEFIANTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AND AUTO LOCK IF LEFT RUNNING. GAS FUMES THROUGH OUT THE CAR. THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, ALSO I HAVE TWO TODDLERS THAT ARE FORCED TO RIDE IN THIS DEATH TRAP!!”

“THESE ARE THE PHOTOS TAKE OF THE FUEL PUMP AFTER IT WAS REMOVED BY MATHIS AUTO SERVICE (SEE THE ATTACHED INVOICE). AS YOU CAN SEE THE TAG HAS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A BAR CODE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS THE PART NUMBER OR NOT, BUT IT SEEM THERE WAS NO NUMBER. THE TOP OF THE PUMP WAS VERY DIRTY AND WET FROM GASOLINE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACE AFTER I WAS TRANSPORTING A CLIENT AND THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER FROM 45-MILES-PER HOUR TO ABOUT 10-MILES PER HOUR, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS SCARED THE CLIENT AND LEAD THEM TO REPORT TO LYFT ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I ALSO REPORTED THE ISSUE TO LYFT RIDE SHARE AND THEY SHUT DOWN MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS BY DEACTIVATING MY ACCOUNT. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE 4 RECALLS, WHICH DID NOT CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. OR CORRECT THE FUEL PUMP FROM SEIZING UP AND STALLING OUT. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART OF A NEW FUEL PUMP AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. AND MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN REACTIVATED WITH LYFT. I SPOKE TO TI AUTOMOTIVE CEO, ABOUT THEIR RECALL ON THEIR FUEL PUMP SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION. I…”