NHTSA Complaint #10576526 — 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED THIS REPORT/COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE, TO GM AND TO THE FTC AROUND 2004 WITH NO RESPONSE. THE CHEVROLET MALIBU FROM 2000 HAS SIMILAR IGNITION AND ENGINE ISSUES NOW REPORTED ON THE NEWS IN THE COBALT AND OTHER CARS. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEVERAL TIMES, THE IGNITION,STARTER, KEY SYSTEM, IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND OTHER PARTS NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THE CAR ENGINE SMOKING, "TURNING OFF" OR NOT STARTING AFTER STOPPING, PARKING, AND NOT STARTING UPON INSERTING THE KEY, IDLING HIGH OR TIMING OFF. THIS BEGAN WITHIN 2-3 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING OR STARTING THE CAR. MULTIPLE TIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD BLINK AND OWNER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES TO TURN IT ON. GM EVEN HAS THIS LISTED IN THE MANUAL (IN SECURITY FEATURE/LOCK SYSTEM). OWNER FIRST TOLD IT WAS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, THEN KEY, THEN IT WAS A SECURITY PROGRAMMING ISSUE, THEN IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR SOME REASON). SOME OF THE REPAIRS COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND COSTS FOR TOWING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL AND IT MUST BE REPROGRAMMED, WORKED ON BY DEALER. THE MALIBU AND OTHER CARS SUCH AS SATURN HAVE THIS ISSUE. MAY BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE AND IGNITION ISSUE MENTIONED IN THE NEWS. AT TIMES OWNER WAS STUCK FAR FROM HOME AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR. HIGHWAY DRIVING WAS NERVE WRACKING BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT THE CAR WOULD DO. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MALIBU FROM 2000 AND ONWARD RELATED TO ENGINE AND IGNITION FAILURES. *TR