NHTSA Complaint #10142716 — 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING AFTER THE CAR WAS WARM. WOULD USUALLY HAVE TO GIVE THE CAR GAS TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS THE LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS SINCE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR THE LEAKING GASKET WAS OVER $650 AND TOLD WAS QUITE COMMON IN 2000 MALIBUS AND IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE WIRES, PLUGS, IGNITION COIL AND FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS AN ADDITIONAL $475. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WIRES, PLUGS, COIL AND FUEL FILTER AS USUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS, HOWEVER, THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH IS QUITE COMMON FROM BOTH YOUR WEBSITE AND CHEVY WEBSITE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED A POTENTIAL RECALL. OR INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME FUNDING BY CHEVY TO OFFSET THE HIGH REPAIR COSTS TO MANY OWNERS OF THE MALIBU WHO HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED. *JB