7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$400
Average Mileage:
47,750 miles
Total Complaints:
14 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace wheel bearing (14 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

problem #14

Jul 112022

Malibu LT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,451 miles

I currently have 63.000+ miles I have done all brakes 3 times, with 2 rotors all around. Wheel Hub assembly were almost completely falling apart. Then there is something loose in the rear side panel that vibrates bad. Those the main issues few others not mentioned. Over I’ve owned 4 cars and this car/dealership the worse ever. The dealership is somewhere my family always got our vehicles from and my dad has a landscaping/irrigation business and gets -4-5 trucks every 2 years and 4 or 5 for family every few years.

I currently still have this car but in October or November I’m supposed to be getting new vehicle. Since this happened with me, he not only stopped going to Betten Baker of Muskegon, he stopped buying Chevy and we get all Toyota for Family & Ford for business.

- Jonathan N., Muskegon, MI, US

problem #13

Jan 012018

Malibu LTZ 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Never had to replace wheel bearing with so few miles on a car.

- J R., San Antonio, US

problem #12

May 192017

Malibu LT V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

Had loved my 2013 Chevy Malibu, now I hate it. 61,000 miles had done every maintenance item at the dealership even the oil changes and tire rotations I felt were too frequent. Driving along the car got really loud while going down the road and accelerating from a stop. First thought exhaust, then though tire and broken a radial belt. I had never had a wheel bearing go out.

took to dealership and they diagnose as BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS!!! I asked how that was even possible at 61,000 miles. They of course said, well that's not normal but we have seen it. I'm sure you have.

$730 dollars to replace the rear. They said they checked the front ones and if they didn't or they go bad in the next year I'll burn the car. I have been a GM owner all my life, this might be my last.

- branvaughnlaw, Streamwood, US

problem #11

Mar 012017

Malibu LT2 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,652 miles

Well I had a noise from rear right wheel . I new rate away it was the wheel bearing . replaced it but now the left magnet broke cause the abs light to come on. There is nothing wrong with the bearing but the only way to fix the abs light now is to replace the wheel bearing. really not a good design on gm's part . especially for those of us that live in the north where salt is used

- George H., Ottawa, ON, Canada

problem #10

Feb 222017

Malibu 3 LT 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,720 miles

Mad that another wheel bearing going out. This time it's the driver side front wheel bearing and the warranty ran out in Nov 2016. Called the dealer and could get me tomorrow and then he called me back and said it's out of warranty. If I had the money I would get the other ones done tomorrow too.

- rah rah, South Bend, US

problem #9

Jul 102016

Malibu 3 LT 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,300 miles

Bought the car in Nov 2015 with 36k miles on it. Then in July I keep hearing a noise and figured out it was the rear passenger wheel bearing. Never had a wheel bearing go out on my 20 yr Toyota EVER. Luckily it was covered under warranty.

- rah rah, South Bend, US

problem #8

Jan 122016

Malibu LTZ

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,757 miles

I am thankful this was under warranty. However, the second replacement is not. I will add another complaint for it.

- mcs64157, Leawood, KS, US

problem #7

Dec 012016

Malibu LTZ

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,621 miles

So, it starts failing again in less than 24,000 miles. I just started hearing more noises which I thought was road noise. I should have contacted chevy then because I might have caught it when it was still under their repair warranty, but I was not so quick.

Also the price of the repair though Chevy is much higher than others paid, per their complaints. Maybe it's just the local market, but I am very angry that this may likely be an annual repair I will have to continue. To avoid that, I will trade this car for something else, but will not buy a GM product.

- mcs64157, Leawood, KS, US

problem #6

Jan 032017

Malibu LT2 2.5L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,203 miles

Absolutely unbelievable that wheel bearings fail at 40k miles. My three previous, non GM cars each had over 200k miles, and not a single wheel bearing failure. My grandmother purchased a 2011 GMC Terrian, and ALL 4 wheel bearing had to be replaced before 50k miles. I think GM should issue an alert, and reimburse me when I get the final bill. GM -- please respond. Interesting how they last just long enough to get pas the 36k warranty, then fail. That can't be a coincidence.

- dennisswanson@yaho, Glenwood, IA, US

problem #5

Feb 262016

Malibu 1LT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,020 miles

I posted a separate complaint after having to replace the left rear wheel bearing set at 42338. It started making noise before that obviously. Now, the right rear wheel bearing set had to be replaced at 49020 but again it was howled before that. I phoned the call center which is a waste of time. My dad worked in the assembly plant for decades but we'll never buy another Chevy product. There's other manufacturers providing better warranties. Chevrolet needs to issue a service bulletin and/or a warranty recall on these bearings. They're junk and the guys who have to fix them will tell you that.

- nomorechevyproduct, Spring Green, WI, US

problem #4

Nov 262015

Malibu 1LT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,338 miles

The left rear wheel bearing set began to make noise in November 2015. We ended up having to replace this side on 12/01/15 at 42,338 miles. We previously swore off Chevrolet products after a coil spring snapped on a Malibu we had a few cars ago. Instead of helping us in even a minor way financially with the repair, Chevrolet sent us a $1000 loyalty check to buy another of their products. My dad worked in the GM assembly plant for decades so we always felt compelled to buy GM products. We mistakenly gave Chevy another chance and bought this 2013 Malibu. We won't make that same mistake again. Now I need to add a second post because the right rear bearing set went out as well.

- nomorechevyproduct, Spring Green, WI, US

problem #3

Jan 192016

Malibu LT 2.5L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,192 miles

The bearing failed at 38,192 miles. This is the second bearing that I've had to replace. I am not happy. It is unacceptable for 2 bearings to fail this early.

- Keith B., Commerce Township, MI, US

problem #2

Oct 302015

Malibu LT 2.5L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,721 miles

The rear left bearing failed at 34,721 miles. Luckily, this one was covered under warranty. I wasn't so lucky for the rear right bearing...

- Keith B., Commerce Township, MI, US

problem #1

Aug 122015

Malibu LT3 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

This is the third wheel bearing that has been replaced do to failure. The first one was replaced under warranty, the second bearing went bad after the 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and cost over $400 to install a new one. I asked the dealer if this has been an issue, their response was no. Now at 68,000 miles it failed again, this time I told the dealer they needed to find out why my car is going through so many wheel bearing. The service manage told me up till 2009 GM covered wheel bearing under the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, but do to so many failure they no longer cover wheel bearing under the powertrain warranty. So GM knows they have a bearing problem rather than fixing their problem they have pass their problem unto the consumer. This is just WRONG GM you need to own up to your bearing problem and STOP expecting your customers to foot the bill!

- rocket, Otisville, MI, US