9th Generation Malibu News and Notes

Excess gas –– we’ve all had it, no-one likes it, and the same holds true for your braking system.

GM says it needs to bleed the brake systems of 230,000 cars because the vehicles have rear brake caliper pistons that have hydrogen gas trapped inside that could be released into the brake systems. ZF, the manufacturer of the brake pistons, didn't properly temper and chrome-coat the pistons, causing hydrogen gas to remain trapped in the bodies of the pistons.

This problem may cause your brake pedal to feel “spongy” but it’s unclear if it affects stopping distances.

A tiny number of 9th generation Malibus are being recalled to make sure the airbags deploy when there’s a passenger in the front seat.

The problem is caused by a "passenger presence system" that wasn't calibrated to the car's seat type, causing a failure to read the difference between an adult or child in the front passenger seat.

You had one job, passenger presence system.

GM is recalling 850 vehicles with improperly welded fuel pumps.

The automaker says the joint that connects the fuel pump’s outer housing to the pump’s flange may not have been properly welded by the supplier. Over time, the weld could crack and cause a separation of the high-pressure fuel pump from the flange, allowing the pump to oscillate inside the engine compartment.

The oscillating pump can bump into a nearby fuel line and calamity ensues.

The recalled vehicles include the 2018 Chevy Colorado, Equinox, and Malibu, as well as the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, and GMC Acadia, Canyon, and Terrain.

The Bosch fuel pump that Chevrolet used in a small number of 2018 models is moving and creating a potential fuel-leak nightmare.

GM says the joint that connects the fuel pump’s outer housing to the pump’s flange may not have been properly welded by the supplier.

That weld could crack and cause a separation of the high-pressure fuel pump from the flange, allowing the pump to oscillate inside the engine compartment.

The moving pumps can damage a high-pressure fuel line which is going to create an even higher-pressure situation when you start spraying flammable gas onto hot car parts.