What's going on with my Chevy Malibu transmission?
Under the hood of the 2024 Chevy Malibu, you’ll find a 1.5L inline-four cylinder (I4) engine paired with a continuous variable transmission (CVT). The Malibu is propelled with front-wheel drive (FWD). 2024 will be the last year of production and prior years are a very different story.
The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-wheel drive intermediate, GM revived the Malibu nameplate as a front-wheel-drive car in 1997. The Malibu is the last sedan sold by Chevrolet in the U.S.
A new front-wheel drive Malibu was introduced for the 1997 model year on an extended wheelbase version of the GM N platform. Although the vehicle could be ordered with several different engines (2.2 L L61 I4, 2.4 L LD9 I4, 3.1 L L82 V6 or 3.1 L LG8 V6) all of them used the same 4-speed 4T40-E automatic transmission.
By 2004 the Malibu name was moved to GM's new Epsilon platform, powered by any one of sevearl options (2.2 L L61 I4, 3.5 L LX9 V6, 3.5 L LZ4 V6 or 3.9 L LZ9 V6) mated to either a 4-speed 4T45-E automatic or 4-speed 4T65-E automatic transmission.
In 2013 Malibu morphed again into a product based on the GM Epsilon II platform with seven different engines and either a 6-speed 6T40 automatic or 6-speed 6T70 automatic transmission.
Chevrolet plans to end production of the Malibu in November 2024 without a replacement for the North American market.
The quality of the transmissions used within Chevy Malibus is often held under the microscope. Typically, when these machines reach around 100,000 miles, their transmission system begins to experience some trouble. You'll likely see this in the form of hefty jerking and difficulty changing gears.
In fact, General Motors built 2011 Chevy Malibu models with a faulty pressure control solenoid, which causes the transmission to skip gears. Similarly, those built from 2011 to 2013 had trouble shifting or even starting due to a broken transmission fluid pump. Earlier vehicles, including those made between 2008 and 2010, were recalled for a defective shift cable, making it possible for the gear shifter to slip into park on its own. Similar models were also recalled for a separate issue with their four-speed automatic transmission, enabling certain vehicles to roll when in park.
Another common occurrence with Chevy Malibus is the key getting stuck. This problem has been tied to an issue with the automatic transmission shifter and is often solved by replacing the ignition lock cylinder. The transmissions used with Chevy Malibus are nothing to write home about. While these troubles are often linked to models from years ago, more recent models continue to have problems with hesitation, jerking and shaking.
If you live in Folsom and are having these problems with your Chevy Malibu, bring it into our shop and let us determine exactly what's going on. We can get your transmission fixed and put you back on the road!