NHTSA Complaint #10108487 — 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU

IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. GOT IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD THAT FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT. PAID $350 FOR REPAIRS. REPLACED PUMP AND CAR STALLED AGAIN AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 150 MILES ON HIGHWAY. LUCKILY (WIFE AND OUR 2 KIDS WERE WITH ME AND IT WAS 15 DEGREES F OUTSIDE) IT RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME ANOTHER 100 MILES AWAY. TOOK IT TO DEALER (OGDEN CHEVROLET-630-986-8000) TO GET IT CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A BAD INTAKE GASKET AND NEEDED NEW WATER PUMP AND DRIVE BELT-TOTAL COST APPROX $1100.00. GOT THE WATER PUMP AND BELT REPLACED BUT NOT INTAKE GASKET. PAID $500 FOR REPAIRS. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM. GM HAD MORE THAN 900 COMPLAINTS ABOUT BAD INTAKE GASKETS CAUSING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS ON THEIR VEHICLES 2 WEEKS LATER, CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED IT TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD THAT 2 IGNITION COILS WERE BURNT AND NEEDED REPLACED. GOT THIS DONE WITH NEW PLUGS, WIRES AND TUNE UP AND ANTIFREEZE. PAID $520 FOR REPAIRS. FEB 2, CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. GOT IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. CAR STARTED OK AND COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. COSTS $700-$1000. *JB