NHTSA Complaint #10140353 — 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU LS IN DECEMBER OF 2002. AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE SOMEONE WORKING IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A GM DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD MADE A BIG MISTAKE. HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE ONLY WAY OF FIXING THE PROBLEM ALSO INVOLVES REMOVING THE ENTIRE ENGINE FROM THE CAR. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED A MECHANIC TO FIND HOW COMMON A PROBLEM THIS IS FOR THE ENGINE. HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT HAPPENED TO ALL GM V6 ENGINES. THIS FAILURE IS A MAJOR MECHANICAL EXPENSE WHICH I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO FIX. WITH LESS THAN 65,000 MILES I DO NOT FEEL A CAR SHOULD DEVELOP MAJOR MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *NM