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2000-2011 Chevrolet Malibu
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Comments
I think safety is also designed into the power window button. You'll notice it's not a rocker - type button. Rather, you have to pull back on the switch in order to roll the window up. This prevents anything getting caught in the window while leaning on the switch.
In my glory college years of late-night mooning sprees, I should know a thing or two about getting things caught in the window from accidentally leaning on the switch...
I don't think these innovations are "cutting safety features for cost savings" as some posts suggest. Instead, I think the engineers are successfully incorporating the same safety into the design without requiring user intervention. In fact, I think that lack of user intervention makes the Malibu safer.
Dave
triedntru: what harm is it to offer the feature? If you don't want to use it, don't. If you do then flip the lever. But give the consumer the option, esp. when every other car in your class offers that same feature. And you are targeting families. Similar to traction control. you have a button that can kill the feature if you want or you can leave it on.
How much money could GM save by eliminating this feature? 50 cents, maybe a dollar. My guess is they didn't feel the need to have this feature based on their programmable lock system. I think it is an ovesight rather then cost cutting. I bet it will return for 2005.
It is obviously the intent of GM to remove this feature across their model lineup. My take is it is a cost reduction issue and nothing else. Time will tell if GM gets hung out to dry in the courts for removing a safety feature that they used to have but no longer do because they could save a few buck per unit. This action puts them in a more precarious position than if they had never had it in the first place.
I would never argue against child safety. I think it is a necessary feature. I'm trying to tell you that it is there. It's incorporated into the car's computer to lock the doors whenever the car is shifted out of park, and the car has lock knobs instead of switches in the rear seat to prevent little children from unlocking the doors.
If you own a car that has the typical child safety lock, and this is such an important feature to you, then you better check BOTH rear doors EVERY time you use the vehicle to be sure that BOTH switches are engaged, right? Otherwise, how can you absolutely be certain that your children are protected?
With the current Malibu, this is taken care of automatically, which is why I think it is more safe.
I'll double-check, but I don't think this functionality is any different for the 2005, because we're building them right now.
As far as very small children unbuckling themselves out of their baby seats and climbing up to unlock the doors, you need to pay attention to make sure they don't do that. That would be a hazard whether or not they open the doors also.
This would appear to be to be within easy reach of an inquisitive young child in a car seat or booster seat.
I agree that parental supervision is the most important safety feature in any car, however if the push-pull button cannot be locked out, an adventurous active child would certainly be tempted.
If GM is eliminating the child proof locks across their lineup (We'll have to wait and see about this) and the new locking system compensates for this, then they need to advertise it better and educate the consumer. Also this is a feature that many people "assume" is on a car. Heck they even have it listed on various sites.
And you are right that if this is an automatic feature, it is a better system. I don't own the new Malibu so I can't say what the functions locking system are. But anyone who knows them should print them on this board so that consumers investigating the Malibu know about it.
P.S. Trust me I try to stop my son from slipping his arms out of the car seat but.....
I understand the frustration, but its still too much of a generalization to say that based on the particular vehicle you have build quality is not up to standards, as the build quality on my car and thousands of others has been excellent. But I'd nonetheless be intersted to learn how early/late in the build cycle your car was to see if this was a problem that was corrected during the build process.
Speaking of the locking mechanism, my 3 year old daughter figured out how to unlock the door and roll the window while sitting strapped in her car seat. I'm not worried at all since he's firmly strapped in and her arm isn't long enough to reach out the window. Plus we've told her not to stick her arm out and she's an obedient kid If I ever get concerned I can always override her from the driver's seat.
Drove behind a few new Malibus on the road today, I wish we were in the market now so we could get the new Malibu! Gotta be careful not to let our Malibu hear that, we're still in love with it
2004 Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx
2004 Oldsmobile Alero
2004 Pontiac Grand Am
Built After January 16, 2004
with 4T45E Automatic Transaxles (RPO MN5) Built Between Julian Date 4016 and 4126 and
3.4L or 3.5L V6 Engine (VINs E, 8 - RPOs LA1, LX9)
This bulletin is being revised to include a repair procedure and parts availability information.
Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-07-30-021 (Section 07-Transmission/Transaxle).
Condition
Some customers may comment on a growl or howl type noise during light to moderate acceleration from a stop. This noise is load and engine RPM sensitive and will occur between 1500 RPM to approximately 2300 RPM. The noise is most noticeable in first and second gear. The noise may dissipate prior to the 1-2 shift, but will be noticed again in second gear depending on the load and engine RPM. The pitch of the noise will change during the 1-2 shift.
Cause
The noise is due to the new 5/8 inch drive link assembly being at a resonant frequency during certain driving conditions.
Correction
Important
Only RPO MN5 transaxles built between Julian date 4016 and 4126 have 5/8 inch drive link assemblies. Refer to Transmission ID and VIN Derivative Location, SI Document ID #760312 for Julian date location information.
Follow the service procedure below to replace the 5/8 inch drive link and sprockets with a 7/8 inch drive link and sprockets.
This was posted by alcan on the Malibu maintenance forum. You are not from Mars....
TriedNtrue, you may want to raise the issue somewhere in Detroit. It is, after all, the job security of GM plant workers that is at stake. For the obscene amount of money charged by the dealers for parts and repairs, welcoming and cheerful demeanor of the staff is a must. Or it's "hello, Toyota" for quite a few of us
7937: thanks for the info, but could you translate this into english for me? Where can I find this information on my car?....hidden in the VIN......on a stamp plate attached to the transaxle??
Toyota has also done a great marketing job in creating their image and for that they must get credit. Generally speaking, they are the only car company that has this. Even Honda has faltered as of late so it's not that GM is so bad it's just that Toyota is so good.
Indeed. That's why they know nothing about cars.
Further, please tell me where I said that GM has a superior product? Please don't put words in my mouth. The fact of the matter is that all vehicles have had their ups and downs at times and Toyota is no exception. In fact, Asian carmakers do not have the edge on reliability that they used to have and American cars are closing the gap. The European carmakers are trailing behind all in the reliability stakes.
And yes, I have owned Toyota cars and they were all very good. So, I'm not blind to facts.
When I sit in a foreign car, even a nice foreign car, its just not the same feeling as when I'm behind the wheel of the worst chevy. I dunno, their is a certain "magic" in the air, knowing that my people built and own the corporation that does it, that the nation with enough roads to go to the moon and back four times can build the cars to ride them.
I'm not saying those of us who drive hondas and toyotas are bad or anything. Its just how I feel, when the descision is up to me.
Now, if it wasn't for the UAW, allot more people would feel this way without feeling like they compromised features or quality for American.
The issue for GM is not dealer satisfaction. I think its just simple marketing and brand reputation. For many of the uninformed public, Toyota and Honda just represent quality in their mind. Some of that is deserved, some of it isn't.
The problem is that GM is still paying for the sins of the 80s and early 90s when the imports really made their moves. GM had lousy products and the imports had better technology, reliability, and competitive pricing. Now the pricing is not so competitive, and the products aren't better. But you can't undo a decade-old image. The key is going to be people my generation (18-29) who need a different brand image of GM.
And certainly, marketing is a huge problem...much of it is not product marketing, its price marketing. I just purchased a new Malibu Maxx, an innovative vehicle that has features nothing else can match. There is one Maxx add out there, some stupid gimmicky bit that features the Maxx driving up a one way bridge or something ridiculous. It does NOTHING for the acutal product.
I think you have it backwards. Survey after survey shows that people who buy foreign nameplates have generally higher education level (and therefore likely to be more informed) than people who buy domestics. If you check Consumer Reports, a very respected consumer product magazine, you will see that most Toyotas and Hondas have a full or a half full red circle next to its reliability rating whereas most domestics in general have a full or a half filled black circle. There are a few reliable domestic car out there like Buick Regal and Century but they are a small minority. Hopefully the new Malibu will continue that trend.
In the end all cars will be equally good or bad. What's going to be the deciding factor in buying one will be color and shape.
There simply is no denying that Honda, Acura, Toyota and Lexus are much better cars. They have been for 30 years, and continue to be so. I cannot see how anyone can argue otherwise and keep a straight face. Nonetheless, I picked the Malibu because Japan has gotten WAAAYY too smug with their #1 position, and refuses to build something comfortable for a 6 foot person. As Matt pointed out, GM also put creature comforts into the Maxx that Honda and Toyota cannot touch at that price. But if the UAW and GM put out a car (the Malibu) that I had to have an extra piece of cardboard removed out of my headliner from the assembly process (it really did happen), have steering columns which fail, have rotors warp upon delivery, then I can guarantee you that the end is near for GM. The generation which kept GM in business is quickly leaving the planet. The ones who research Consumer Reports and care about quality when spending 30% of their annual salary on a vehicle won't quickly turn to US manufacturers who bungled the job during the 70's, 80's and 90's.
Matt's comment about the Malibu advertising is also right on. If GM thinks this is such a good car, then why don't they let the two of us stand in front of the buying population and tell them so, instead of rediculous commercials which make me think that they are NOT serious about selling the product. It is interesting to watch businesses fail. We may be very close to seeing 3 giants fall real soon should they take motownusa's comments for granted.
I'm poorly paid and therefore uneducated but sheesh, I'd love a Lamborghini!
Being in Canada, it's less a patriotic thing but more a generally warmer feeling for GM and Ford who build a lot of cars and have a long history here. I have friends who work for both and I know they appreciated me buying a Grand Prix. I also think in general, domestics have a better value equation, even before incentives.