NHTSA Complaint #11316451 — 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF 2016-2018 CHEVY MALIBU OF ALL TRIM TYPES, PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN ONE SIDE OF REAR OF VEHICLE GOES OVER SMALL BUMPS. GM PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDING THAT DEALERSHIPS AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS ADD A WASHER TO TOP OF BOTH REAR SHOCKS AND POSSIBLY REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES. MANY DEALERSHIPS GIVE CUSTOMERS 'THE RUNAROUND', REQUIRING THEM TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC FEES AND REPAIRS, PERFORMING OTHER REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS THAT DO NO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELLING CUSTOMERS TO JUST DEAL WITH IT. THIS REAR KNUCKLE PART IS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER, CAUSING DELAYS OF APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS FOR THE SAFE AND TIMELY REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE. WITHOUT THESE WASHERS ON THE REAR SHOCKS, THE TOP OF THE SHOCK MAKES PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUT MOUNT, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION KNUCKLE TO FAIL, WHICH THEN CAUSES BUSHINGS TO FAIL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT CHEVROLET IS LARGELY IGNORING.