Badeye
Bonaire GA
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After buying a Chev Cruze and then finding out that the Chev Cruze was not towable 4 down I was assured by the dealer that the 2012 Malibu was towabe 4 down. I also read it in the owner's manual. I traded for the Malibu.
Through this forum I got information that made me believe that they were wrong. I kept looking for a definite answer and called GM Customer Service. The first two people that I talked to did not have a clue what I was talking about. I finally got through to a Supervisor and she started digging into the matter. Now, just as we were preparing to install the base plate, I find that the Malibu with the 6 speed automatic transmission is not dingy towable. I am waiting now on a call from GM to tell me how they or the dealer will handle the situation. That call is supposed to come tomorrow according to the GM Customer Service supervisor.
I now know that even though the Owner's Manual says that the vehicle is dingy towable, it may not be. How do we determine which vehicles are flat towable and which are not if we cannot depend on the car manufacturer's Owner's Manual? In the case of the Cruze and the Malibu both manuals said that it was flat towable. I am truly dissapointed in GM.
UPDATE: As noted in a later post, I am now assured by GM Area Rep that the Malibu 2011 and 2012 with the 6 speed automatic are towable. There was a lot of confusion at GM about the subject. Bad communication between engineering and sales.
Badeye
* This post was
edited 09/09/11 07:04pm by Badeye *
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sepisllib
Cresco, Iowa
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Badeye wrote:After buying a Chev Cruze and then finding out that the Chev Cruze was not towable 4 down I was assured by the dealer that the 2012 Malibu was towabe 4 down. I also read it in the owner's manual. I traded for the Malibu.
Through this forum I got information that made me believe that they were wrong. I kept looking for a definite answer and called GM Customer Service. The first two people that I talked to did not have a clue what I was talking about. I finally got through to a Supervisor and she started digging into the matter. Now, just as we were preparing to install the base plate, I find that the Malibu with the 6 speed automatic transmission is not dingy towable. I am waiting now on a call from GM to tell me how they or the dealer will handle the situation. That call is supposed to come tomorrow according to the GM Customer Service supervisor.
I now know that even though the Owner's Manual says that the vehicle is dingy towable, it may not be. How do we determine which vehicles are flat towable and which are not if we cannot depend on the car manufacturer's Owner's Manual? In the case of the Cruze and the Malibu both manuals said that it was flat towable. I am truly dissapointed in GM.
Badeye
Bob.
That transmission was "specifically" designed and engineered - as a joint venture between Ford and GM several years ago - to be towable. Is incorporates a special "drip" pan feature that lubricates the necessary seals and bearings.
I don't know if I could locate the article now - however I will look and see if I can.
Good Luck
God Bless
Bill
Bill W. Trammell
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NavyChaps
Bartlett, TN
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Thus why I am driving a Ford....
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Ford 6.8l V-10, Stow Master 5000 Tow Bar, Blue Ox Patriot Brake System Toad:2009 Ford Focus SE.
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Norm Payne
Livingston, TX
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Badeye wrote:How do we determine which vehicles are flat towable and which are not if we cannot depend on the car manufacturer's Owner's Manual? In the case of the Cruze and the Malibu both manuals said that it was flat towable. I am truly dissapointed in GM.
Badeye
Buy a Honda CR-V or a Jeep.
Norm
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Badeye
Bonaire GA
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NavyChaps,
The transmission that is giving them the problem is the one that was co-developed by GM and Ford and is the one that is giving Ford so many problems in the Escape. Some owners have had multiple replacements. I looked into an Escape before I started looking at the Cruze but did not know about the common transmission till much later.
Badeye
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sdometahi
canada
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Badeye wrote:NavyChaps,
The transmission that is giving them the problem is the one that was co-developed by GM and Ford and is the one that is giving Ford so many problems in the Escape. Some owners have had multiple replacements. I looked into an Escape before I started looking at the Cruze but did not know about the common transmission till much later.
Badeye
My friend had towing problems with the 2010 escape even though ford said it was good.They fixed it under warrenty.He,s never had a problem since?
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sdometahi
canada
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Norm Payne wrote:Badeye wrote:How do we determine which vehicles are flat towable and which are not if we cannot depend on the car manufacturer's Owner's Manual? In the case of the Cruze and the Malibu both manuals said that it was flat towable. I am truly dissapointed in GM.
Badeye
Buy a Honda CR-V or a Jeep.
actually a Trail blazer or envoy are much nicer vehicles and tow very well problem free.The CRV is small and ugly and as far as iam concerned jeeps are overpriced and over rated junk .JMHO
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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Buy a Honda CR-V or a Jeep.
actually a Trail blazer or envoy are much nicer vehicles and tow very well problem free.The CRV is small and ugly and as far as iam concerned jeeps are overpriced and over rated junk .JMHO
sdometahi, why not tell us how you REALLY feel about Honda and Jeep... .....Dennis
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Badeye
Bonaire GA
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Executive,
I would but the cost is a factor, fuel mileage and they are heavier. I got rid of a very good Dodge Durango for those reasons (fuel mileage and weight). It did tow well and if I had known what I was getting in to I would still have it.
Badeye
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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Get something with a manual transmission, before they become extinct.
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