A class-action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors in U.S. District Court in Michigan over an issue related to the brake vacuum pump on certain 2013 to 2022 model year Chevy Malibu mid-size sedans.
According to Car Complaints, this lawsuit claims the factory cam-driven brake vacuum pump on affected Chevy Malibu models is defective and can cause a hard-feeling brake pedal and reduced braking performance.
The suit was filed by Virginia plaintiff Tiffany Johnson, who purchased a new 2017 Chevy Malibu in April of that year and later experienced a brake failure on the vehicle in September of 2021 when the vehicle had roughly 78,000 miles on the odometer. The repair shop replaced the vacuum pump at a cost of $118, however the pump failed once again in November 2021 when the vehicle had just under 84,000 miles on the odometer. These repairs were covered under the plaintiff’s insurance, although she still had to pay a $250 deductible.
A third brake vacuum pump and brake booster failure happened on the same vehicle in June of this year, the lawsuit alleges, which damaged unnamed “other components,” in the vehicle. The dealer replaced the vacuum pump, exhaust camshaft and gaskets in the vehicle this time, with the insurer again covering all repair expenses save for the $250 deductible.
As the Malibu uses a cam-driven vacuum pump, the suit claims that when the pump fails, “unintended mechanical resistance forms, affecting the timing of and/or damaging the camshaft and other engine components.” The suit also claims that GM is aware of the defective vacuum pump and the potential for it to cause damage to engine components, but has not done anything to address the matter. GM also allegedly refuses to extend the warranty on affected customer vehicles, Car Complaints reports.
This case will proceed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. We’ll provide more information on the suit once an update is available.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Malibu news, Chevy news, GM legal news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I guess lawsuits and payouts are cheaper than getting it right the first time eh gm?
That’s why GM must be sued into bankruptcy and liquidation.
Evan someone needs to pull the stick out of your a$$. Everyone of your comments are the same.
Why? Ford has far worse design issues that cost bigtime, and they are still in business. 🤷♂️
I have a 2017 Chevy Malibu and I’m
Going through the same exact thing. Identical issues.. my car will now have had a total of 3 engines in the car 2 that I have to put in and Chevrolet is refusing to help!!!
GM’s engineers need to look into this issue to find out why these failures are happening.
Sounds about par for this company. If this was something to do with an EV they would be all over it.
This story is incomplete or I missed the part about how many more similar complaints are out there. It does seem kind of dumb to run the brake vacuum pump off of the engine camshaft. Why would you involve an important internal engine component that has huge replacement costs to power a brake vacuum pump? For failure proof performance? That didn’t work. I guess today’s engines don’t produce enough intake vacuum to assist the brakes like the old days? Why not use an electric motor or belt that’s easy and cheap to replace? Just seems to be over engineered. On the other hand people need to understand that vehicles don’t run forever without maintenance and repairs.
Ed: I tend to agree with you there. Something in this story just feels off. Normally in a class action suit, there are many having the same problem. Not only did this article not mention numbers or how many cars have actually been affected, but I’ve never read one thing about this “issue” until this story.
However, I think if we ask him to, Evan (our resident anti-GM person) wish surely be compelled to educate us all.
As a Malibu owner, I am well aware of the problem. Dirty oil/sludge – due to inadequte oil changes/bad oil clogs the oil port on the cam-driven pump, starving it of lubrication. The gear then shatters and metal parts often end up together with the camshafts, and then God forbid into the sump. All of those bits and pieces have to be fished out or else the motor is a total loss. Some owners are just replacing the pumps as a maintenance item – cheaper than the headache when they shatter.
Yup I never run my oil more than 5 k miles and always buy top quality full synthetic oil. I’ve never have engine issues for decades. It’s cheap insurance to always have topped off clean motor oil.
Thanks, I forgot to mention that I honestly love the Malibu and really wish they would bring back the LTZ trim with sunroof and spoilers!
I would like to buy a used one if it had been sorted out before I buy it.
i have a 2016 buick regal and my pump failed causuing serious engine damage, look into engineered obselecence and the picture may come into focus as to whats goin on.
Modern systems do use electric power brake systems (GM’s eBoost) where a servo motor drives the master cylinder.
Engines don’t provide enough manifold vacuum any time you do something non-traditional. Diesels, turbocharged engines, hybrids, auto-start-stop, all preclude the use of engine vacuum. Also, the manifold pressure disruption disrupts air-fuel metering and increases emissions and lowers fuel economy.
The cam-driven vacuum pump is due to safety because there’s no belt to snap. The other reason is, like many vacuum/gas/fluid pumps, it requires oil for lubrication and cooling, so a cam-driven design lets it be directly connected to engine oil galleys. The oily exhaust air can be blown into the crankcase, where it’s recovered by the engine oiling system.
The same thing is currently happening to my same car smh
Too many people are looking for something for nothing.
Cars do wear out and we see very little of the story here.
Its strange the malibu was just awarded the most trouble free sedan by JD power surveys for 22, beating the Honda and Toyota in this segment. Maybe the lawyer pursuring the case drives an Accord!! LOL
I hear all the time of folks wanting to Sue GM for things wearing out , but i never hear the same for Hyundia/ Kia for there massive engine failures. Many Elantras / Konas/ Tuscons etc, have low mileage engine failures that cause huge inconvenience
and cost to the owner , and that seems to be accepted .
Wow the gm haters live on!!
They are great cars. Ask that driver for her maintenance records.
this is why the newer cars are getting a hydroboost brake system where the power steering pump supplies the boost.
Power steering pumps don’t exist anymore, except on HD trucks. Everybody went electric power steering starting in the mid-2000’s for fuel efficiency purposes. New cars are getting electric brake booster systems, an electric servo motor pushes the master cylinder.
Not a GM problem. I have seen this many times before. It is a lack of maintenance causing the filter/screen to plug up seizing up the pump
I flushed my oil with engine cleaner changed the oil and problem was solved. The little screen it’s really small on the brake booster pump clogs with dirt and sludge.
Its probably because the oil is not changed every few thousand miles like it should. I change my oil in my cars every 3,000 miles no matter what the manufacture says.
I changed at 3000 until I switched to full synthetic oil now I go 4-5k.
just use the oil GM recommends and change when the oil minder on the DIC tells you to change. depends how and where you drive as the one on my 18 silverado sometimes it say change a 4500+ miles and some times 6000+ miles
It’s easier for me to just do it every 5k on the odometer. 5, 10, 15, etc.
I have a 2018 and it’s been nothing but problems from the accelerator position sensor to these vacuum pumps . First pump failed at 13k next 27k 31k 33k 34k 55k 107k and now again at 131 k every time it’s fail it’s been replaced at the dealership under that part warranty. but now I use about 3 quarts of oil a month because of all the scaring of the cylinder walls .. gm knows this is a issue but would rather sweep it under the rug . I guess if you have a family and own one of these cars pray that your not on the interstate when these go out .vin my honest opinion they are death traps on wheels
What engine? How do you know the cylinder walls are scarred unless you’ve had the head off?
You stick a borescope through the spark plug hole.
When I say I have a 2016 LS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS from the very beginning. I’m actually going through the very same thing now and have been since 69,000 miles. Yes my vehicle is well maintained. I got my car in February of 2021 and I’ve done had a transmission rebuild, reprogramming several times, new gas pedal, New alternator and a new battery now I’m dealing with my breaking system. Nothing but a headache
I had a 2017 Chevy Malibu Model. I always performed regular maintenance on my car, never had a problem for four years. I probably had over 70,000 miles on it. You must perform regular maintenance on any car. You take it in for regular maintenance, GM will find the problem if there is one or give you another car. I bought a platinum maintenance plan with my car.
Has anyone with a malibu had problems with the instrument cluster completely stop working took it to chevy dealer and they were baffeled has power to it but does not power up was quoted 700 bucks for new one but back ordered for months don’t want to buy new if it will happen again
Kelly what year is your car? There are places that repair or you can buy rebuilt clusters for a couple of hundred dollars that usually have a lifetime warranty and are surprisingly easy to change, replaced instrument cluster on a gmc .
I have a 2018 malibu and i was driving on the interstate a little over a month ago and my vacume pump went out. I took it to the shop and got it fix. Thank god no wreck happened. But was most definitely scared.
Make brakes great again if you don’t like gm then go get a Ford I am sure they never killed anyone with their cars, look up pinto for a start. I have owned gm my entire life and I am still alive.
Yes, I’ve just went threw the same problem with my 2017 Chevy Malibu, lucky I had a extended warranty on the car! This car only has 40,000miles on it and I’m interested in this lawsuit. Because hasn’t been driving well since I got it out of the Chevy dealership service department. I’m very concerned something May go wrong while I’m traveling.
I have a 2015 Malibu LT. JUNK!
I have had nothing but problems with the brakes. I had them changed twice in one year. My dash looks like a Christmas tree with all the lights on.
I just had to replace my engine due to that issue . It was mostly covered bit I had to pay $1100 out of pocket. Hoping I don’t have it happen again
I have the 2016 premier. After putting the car in park and turning it off. It tells me to put the car in park. Thus leaving me to have to turn the car on and off and jiggling the gear shift until it goes off.
HAVE THAT ISSUE AS WELL “SHIFT TO PARK” IT ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM THEY ARE AWARE OFF AND IT CAN BE VERY BAD.. SET THAT e BRAKE EVEN IF THAT MATTERS!
I bought a used 2017 Chevy Malibu from the dealership and within a month the engine power reduced errror appeared on the dash. After extensive research and various repairs (brake booster sensor, maf sensor, accelerator pedal) the error still showed daily. The car would usually reset after being powered off then waiting and turning it back on. After a while the brakes started crunching and making horrible noise then eventually I could no longer stop effectively and the brake pedal became extremely hard to push. so after even more research I came across a forum that said it could be the vaccumn pump. Took the vaccumn pump off and it was destroyed! Tried to retrieve the 80% of it that broke off in the engine just to get about half of that 80% out. When going for the left over pieces (attempting to take off the top half of engine) the engine bolts just snap in half (also had the bolts for the spark plug wells completely break as well like wtf). Mechanics will tell you it’s everything under the sun except for the vaccumn pump (it’s supposed to be a “lifetime” part) and needless to say I’m livid. CHECK YOUR VACCUMN PUMPS ON YOUR MALIBUS BEFORE THE DAMAGE IS IRREVERSIBLE!!!! Probably have to get a whole new engine now :((( when the pump broke it started letting oil into the throttle. I’m 20 years old and got the car as my first. This model is a complete piece of s*** and I would suggest never buying one!! If you’re like me and still owe on the car I would suggest you check your vaccumn pump before it’s too late. They break on you if you don’t change the oil exactly when the car tells you to. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR IT IS COMPLETE GARBAGE AND GM WILL LAUGH IN YOUR FACE KNOWING THEY JUST JIPPED YOU OUT OF YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY!!!!!!
When I say I went through The same exact thing. My steering power reduced is still coming on. When I would come to a light my car was shut completely off. And I may not the on and off auto stop and start it was shut completely off. It became so dangerous to even drive the car. I had to switch out my gas pedal to because my car wouldn’t accelerate over 20 mph. Now A warning no keeps saying stability track keep popping up which also causes my car to shut off. I am going to check my vacuum pump because I’m having the same issue and last night my call came in for a brake booster sensor I change that out and it’s still doing the same thing like I don’t have brakes is making his loud noise. This car is definitely horrible I would never buy this vehicle again
It’s crazy because I said I was going to Check my vacuum pump yesterday when I made my last comment. here it is last night my vacuum pump went on Bailey Avenue and I almost got in a car accident. I can’t push my brake down. It barely stopped I was so scared.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE SIMLAR SITUATION!
I see a lot of comments here from people who think they know the answer to everything, but these people aren’t holding the pump in their hands to see the issue. When you’ve physically removed the pump and are holding it in your hands, you’ll see the oil passage holes are the size of a match tip. Not to mention the mesh screen covering those holes on the factory part. The replacement we got had no mesh screen. Coincidence, no? This is 100% a GM cover-up. Found out the truth when I ordered the pump to replace myself only to find out the original part number is obsolete. Improved? Slightly – but not NEARLY enough. It’s like trying to birth a 13 pound turkey through parts that can only handle 9 pounds or less, things will tear/malfunction I can assure you! Also, if you do mostly local travel without your vehicle fully warming up, you’ll develop sludge even if you change your oil frequently. As is my case! Can I help it that I live 120 seconds from a grocery store? GM should be ashamed? Yes. This design is awful and dangerous. I used to own a repair shop. Shame on you GM!
Its a design to get you back in thier showroom to sign up for another pile of junk, hey! it keeps the economy going!
Glad your okay. That’s how it happen to us. Coming off interstate into a huge intersection in St. Augustine, FL
I’m having the exact same problem with mine..now my cam has to be replaced
Yes I bought a 2016 Chevy Malibu as well back in march 2019 and a couple months ago I experienced the same problems brake booster and vacuum pump I changed the vacuum pump and still experiencing more problems I changed all the sensors under the hood and now having problems with cranking issues hesitating and transmission slipping now I advise myself to never buy another one of them GMC you deserve a lawsuit because it’s not fair to us to go through issues like this and you know all about it.
Where do I sign up for the lawsuit
call the miller law firm in Michigan and they will take your information and will notify you if needed but pretty much anyone who is ownership. KEEP all receipts etc but they are for the people on this one!
We purchased a 2017 Malibu and immediately had the shift to park issues. We took it back to the dealer who of course could not reproduce the issue and did nothing. Recently it has started having issues with the car not restarting after auto stop. I have to carry a battery booster just in case it decides to die. It was also tested at the dealer and deemed good. Of all the cars I have owned, only the Cavalier was worse. My faith in GM is failing fast.
I’ve already had to replace mine twice
Today I experienced the call that a parent doesn’t want to have. My daughter called me today in full stress saying her car would not stop! As she tried to stop her brakes would NOT work, she said it felt like a rock was under the pedal once second and the next they went to the floor. Thank God she stayed calm and knew to just stay in the right lane and let the car come to a stop. What is needed for this to be a recall?
next time tell her to do the same but if she going at high speed , to use cruise control to help slow it down, and then take it off and roll to stop, i had to do this on the interstate…
I am currently dealing with a vacuum pump issue. I’ve since replaced the pump. The brakes work now but it’s leaking oil from the vacuum pump.
Replace the vacuum seal to the pump I just got mines done last week. Soon as I replaced the pump I started leaking oil bad. He had to take pump back off and replace the seal.
guess a little gasket sealer would help if i ever found the new pump …
I paid $106 from Chevy dealer and $5 for the sealer
We just had the same issue it cost us well over 1500 to get everything repaired. They had to replace the vacuum pump, battery, get an oil change. and engine cam. All this from the vacuum pump going out.
Hi, I bought 2018 Chevy Malibu e 1 in half years ago and it had like 25.000 and I It blew engine in fall I was driving and abs vacum pump broke when. I was driving 50 miles an hour had no brakes engine had stopped because blew and thank Go I found way with nutural and side of road to slow car down without wrecking. I drove car 4 more months after engine was replaced under warranty and now as 2 weeks ago motor blew again. Oil pooring out of oil pan car shuts off in middle of road in rush hour had push off road. Mind this is work car so know out work again first time motor blew lost 12 weeks off work waiting for car get fixed and now lost all my income to this car now and needs a 3rd engine in 9,000 miles. Worst is owe 18,000 dollars on payments still needing 3 Rd engine it basically very expensive yard decoration. They won’t fix engine this time so I don’t have 10,000 for engine. GM should took these pile of junk cars back made it right for us people. I’am ashamed of GM now my Grandpa retired working at GM My family was GM people were we have had every kind of GM cars in our lifetime and this how they repay us.
WHO DO I CONTACT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS? I EXHUASTED THIS HAS PUT MY WIFE AND I IN A BAD SITUTATION WITH THIS CAR. THIS CAR HAS NOT BUT PROBLEMS , I HAD MINE FAIL ON ME COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE!!!!
I’m experiencing the same thing with a 2020 Chevy Malibu lt right now,Chevy keeps calling me about the car hard brake pedal and booster, I got a tune up on Friday and it wouldn’t start on Monday,between geico,simplicity car warranty,the manufacturer warranty and the finance credit union no one knows who is responsible for not paying however the 1100$ I pay monthly has me walking while they figure out who’s paying what,but 1100$ won’t come out of a check I can’t get to work to pay so I hope they figure it out soon cause this walking in nyc ain’t working for all the money I been paying.
do not drive it , if its like this do not drive, u can damage alot, FL DEALERSHIPS SAID THEY HAVE PARTS, shipping it is an issue so check around, you WILL ONLY FIND THESE AT DEALERSHIPS RIGHT NOW! they really like GOLD lol
Hi Stephanie, sorry about your car. I have had a motor replaced with faulty vacuum pump that blew motor driving and had no brakes to stop car at around 55 miles an hour had stop car without brakes by God’s power It stopped without wrecking. First time they took 12 weeks to put motor in. they put remanufactured motor in and 30,000 miles Iam sitting for 4 weeks with blown motor again My car is 2018 Malibu. So be careful if that vacuum pump brakes when driving will not have brakes to stop be careful. I have a lawyer now going at the dealer and not sure if GM yet.
I have a 2016 Malivu LS and is currently being repaired for exactly this thing. They said the booster disintegrated and pieces of it were spread throughput the engine and wanted to charge me extra to pull it all apart to clean out the disintegrating debris. I have to pay $300 to replace that pump and continue with my cay payments on top of that. Smh
There’s also many complaints about the turbo going out on the malibus as well!!
Having the same problem now vac leak hard pedal.
When I tried to put it on a trailer to get it back home 75 miles it acted like it was out of time
Hi I have a 2017 malibu with 59k miles and my brake booster is bad my car don’t stops like it should I think gm should replace my car this is crazy we chevy malibu lovers should be treated right we buy these car and they have defects and we have to pay for it not fare at all we are customers of chevy and gm I demand change can’t even drive my car and don’t have the money to fix it smh
Hi I recently had to replace to vacuum brake pump in my 2017 Chevy Malibu. The vacuum pump went bad while I was picking up my daughter. Good thing I have fairly strong legs to press the brakes. Or we might’ve been seriously hurt or even dead. Chevy needs to figure out why these pumps go bad. I spent $400 to get my car fixed and still had to make my car payment. Why do paying customers have to go through this? We still get shafted by a small settlement. We get screwed while GM makes millions!
I just bought a 2019 Chevy Malibu in may 2022, it’s Dec 2022 and my vacuum pump just locked up and took out my camshaft. $3150 in repairs and my warranty is refusing to payout! So I completely believe this suit and think I’ll be contacting my lawyer.
I purchased a 2016 Malibu LT 2.0. Had issue with Brake booster & vacuum pump in 2021. Just got car out of shop for the same issue on 1/4/2023
The same thing happened to me! The brakes went out and while pumping the brakes the car stalled three times and I 95! I think God that my children are not driving the car! January 27, 2023 we have a 2017 Chevy Malibu! All the stories are exactly the same. This company should be ashamed!
I bought a Chevy Malibu back in 2018 the worse decision I ever mad a peace of crab
ANYONE GOT ANY NEW UPDATE ON THE LAWSUIT?
I’m going though this right now where my brakes got hard and I couldn’t stop my car I had to get it towed and it’s now in the shop where they saying 2800 hundred dollars to get fixed why I’m being responsible for something that I didn’t cause I’m now scared to get it back in drive it
Best indicator to know if the pump is failing, if the idle power fluctuates in cold weather and if it stutters/ jerks through first and second gear.
This is why GM is the most sued motor company. Same exact issue as the plaintiff
This happened to me this week and the vacuum pump where it attaches to the camshaft broke into pieces inside the camshaft. Will be a costly repair. No warning except when the issue happened I received a “engine power reduced” message and lost brake power while on a major freeway in Houston. Very dangerous situation and hopefully GM won’t wait for people to die before they take action to correct this issue.
My sister’s 2018 Malibu has just experienced this situation. She has roughly 130k. Miles on her car. I watched a few youtube videos and it appears to be a simple fix @ $85+.
I have a 2020 that all of this already happened to right after 60k miles. This is the worst obviously erroneously engineered monstrosity. So many issues with this car, engine also runs rich leaving carbon deposits everywhere. Worst car I have ever purchased.
I would love to be on one of these class action lawsuits, i literally have every issue down to the damage cam parts…. Replaced fixed everything at the dealership… less then 20k miles later it’s all happening again plus other issues….
Worst car ever, they are crooks to have put this thing out there for people to finance…. Crooks.
I own a 2016 Malibu LT 2.0 (Black) and I had to replace the Defective Brake Vacuum Pump 3 times within 2 months. I was backing out of my driveway, hit the brakes car kept backing up. The next time I was exiting off the interstate and almost hit someone. The next time I almost hit someone again after I had just replaced. I also have issues with the screen going black and have to change out the fuse often. The hood, top of the car and trunk are all faded as if the clear coat was not applied.
AN EXTERNAL ELECTRIC VACUUM PUMP WITH A BLOCK OFF PLATE WOULD RESOLVE 100% OF THESE ISSUES. DOESNT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO REALIZE THE PUMP LUBRICATION IS INADEQUATE.
ELECTRIC VACUUM PUMP WILL RESOLVE ISSUE AND SAVE GM MILLIONS.
Well We bought Our 2018 Malibu in October 2018 and Have had multiple issues that have been common across the different GM lines. The Shift to park failure,ECM recall, Dead battery that required an engine reset to idle at dealership ,low tire lights that didn’t reset when proper air inflation and Now after completely shut down at a major Louisville intersection blocking traffic and having car towed to dealerships, now we are faced with the dreaded Vacuum pump camshaft failure. Guess I’ll go back to Honda or try a Toyota SUV
This happened to my Malibu and now the #1 cylinder is damaged and has less than 50% compression and now I need a new engine because of this.
If this is how GM does business then I’ll NEVER purchase another GM product and I will discourage everyone I know to purchase a GM product and tell them of my terrible experience
This is the reason social networking must be made a privilege like driving a car on the road. Rules are needed so that the wealthy who are colluding and deciding who wins and loses in this connected economy can not impose significant injustice to many fairness seeking people. The vacuum pump supplier did not have to invest on quality, because they were chosen to win the business by way of connections.
I want to add that I saw a engine tear down by I do cars of gm 2.0 turbo. And they use the same vacuum pump off of the cam shaft. But this engine failed at 175,000 miles. He explained 87 regular gas caused engine knocking or detonation and melted the piston ring. But none of the other pistons failed. Only the one next to the vacuum pump. I say poor lubrication on the vacuum pump turbine put extra drag on the cam shaft. There is wear shown on the cam shaft. And when exhaust valve opens ever so slightly late each and everytime, the cylinder pressure is allowed to get higher than desirable.
Ok, I just had to pull the vacuum pump( that failed while she was driving with our daughter and family friend in the car) on my ex-wifes 2016 Chevy Malibu with the 1.5 turbo and auto start/stop. What I saw when I pulled the valve cover to retrieve the shrapnel from inside the engine is a build of oxidised and coked oil residue on the exhaust side of the engine from the heat of the turbo cooking it. I also noticed that the turbo oil feed line runs between the block and the turbo right next to the turbo exhaust housing that gets extremely hot. IF there were more heat shielding around the turbo exhaust housing to protect the block and oil feed pipe it SHOULD stop the coking of the oil and stop the oil inlet screens from becoming blocked causing the failures… That’s just my two cents!