2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

OVER THE PAST MONTH, THE MALIBU HAS STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS OCCURRED BOTH ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION ONE TIME ALMOST CAUSING A BROADSIDE IMPACT AS MY SON PULLED OUT TO MAKE A LEFT ONTO A BUST STREET. HE WAS FORTUNATE AND THE ONCOMING DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IN TIME. WE TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THAT SAID OUR IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WE HAD DONE. CURIOUS BECAUSE THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CHEVY RECALL, BUT OUR VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS OBVIOUSLY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. *TR

THIS CAR IS AN ABSOLUTE LEMON,IT FORCES YOU TO USE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE AND THIS EATS AWAY THE RUBBER IN THE LINES,HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS FIXING HEAD GASKETS AND REDOING THE WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO USE THE OLD GREEN ANTIFREEZE AND AFTER ALL OF THE PROBLEMS(CANT AFFORD NEW CAR!) I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND I AM NOT ALONE,THOUSANDS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM,THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE WITH CHEVY ABOUT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM,YOU HAVE TO PUT KEY IN ON POS. AND WAIT TEN MINS FOR IT TO RESET. I HAVE LOST A JOB B/C I WAS LATE FOR WORK TOO MANY TIMES,HAVE HAD IGNITION REPLACED TWICE,IT HAS NOTHING TO DO W/IGNITION. I GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE CAR WONT START AND GOTTA FREEZE TO DEATH (IN MICHIGAN!) WAITING FOR IT TO RESET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. AND CHEVY DOES NOTHING! *TR

I WOULD LIKE ALL THE RECALLS FOR THIS CON OF A CAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET IN ON ANY LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR THEIR DRUG DEALING BUSINESS ETHICS OR LACK OF THESE CARS ARE A DEATH TRAPWAITING TO STRIKE GET GM OUT OF BUSINESS AND BAIL OUT THE CONSUMER NOT THE GREEDY LIARS THAT SELL TRINKETS FOR 50K OR MORE GIVING US LESS THAN SAFE GARBAGE THEY CALL A CAR. MY SKASTES RUN BETTER 2100.00 2X FOR REPLACED ENGINES AND 375.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR ALARM FIX NOT WORKING PROPERLY FROM FACTORY YOU KNOW IT AND YOU ASK FOR A BAIL OUT I WANT YOU IN PRISON EVERY WORKER AND THE CEOS NO BAIL OUTS BAIL US OUT YOU ROBBING LIARS THAT SELL GARBAGE THAT CAN KILL HUMANS BAIL OUT MY REAR END. *TR

MY CAR SEEMED TO BE RIDING ROUGH AND MY RADIATOR LIGHT CAME ON. TODAY I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID I HAD AN "INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK." MY OIL IS LEAKING INTO MY COOLANT. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL FROM GM FOR DEXCOOL. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THIS BUT TO HAVE IT FIXED WILL BE VERY COSTLY. *TR

PASSCODE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM - 2 SEPARATE REPAIRS, LATEST OCT, 2011 INVOLVING THE IGNITION/THEFT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR OVER HEATED, TEMP GAUGE OVER NORMAL RANGE. ADDED TWO GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE, STILL OVER HEATED, AND CHECKED FOR ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL. ANTIFREEZE WAS PRESENT INDICATING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. NO CORRECTIVE REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE YET>. *TR

SHAWN JANSEN'S MALIUBU WAS DRIVING FAST, AND I COULD CLEARLY SEE HIM WINGING IT. *TR

WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL DONE? HTTP://WWW.GIRARDGIBBS.COM/DEXCOOL.HTML THE CHEVY DEXCOOL ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOREVER AND ACCORDING TO THIS THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN. I'VE GOT A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND NO WAY TO COVER THE COST. NOT ONLY THAT BUT BECAUSE I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE RESULTS OF THIS LAWSUIT I'VE MISSED THE TIME TO REPAIR AND FILE. WHAT'S THE DEAL AND HOW COME THERE ISN'T A RECALL? *TR

WE HAD PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU LS IN 2004, IT HAD 28,922 MILEAGE. ON JULY 1ST 2004, HAD 28,959 MILES, THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SO WE BROUGHT IT TO FOREST CITY TO GET IT CHECKED OUT, THEY FOUND THE RESERVOIR LOW AND TOPPED IT OFF, THEY SAID NO VISIBLE COOLANT LEAKS! ON JULY 12TH 2007 WE HAD BROUGHT IT BACK TO QUIRK ( WHICH WAS FOREST CITY) THEY SAID THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD CASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT, THEY WANTED $879.00 TO FIX IT (MILEAGE 46,495). WE GOT IT FIXED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR $370.00 ON JULY27,2007. NOW WE HAD A 20 POINT INSPECTION DONE ONJANUARY 29TH 2007 AND QUIRK SAID THAT WE NEED INTAKE MANIFOLD CASKETS AGAIN!, WITH ONLY 9,953, AFTER THE FIRST TIME THEY WENT, ( MILAGE 56,248). I HAVE TALKED TO QUIRK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE 10% OFF THE $695.00 PRICE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET, LOCATED NEAR THE WATER PUMP, WAS LEAKING WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND WATER WOULD LEAK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $695. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,130.

HAVE A 01 CHEVY MALIBU WHOSE LOWER INTAKE HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. HAVE 53 OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOWER INTAKE AND MANY MORE TO COME. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU WITH A 3.1 LITER ENGINE AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET ONCE BECAUSE IT LEAKED OIL INTO THE ANTIFREEZE AND ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL. IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT I DID NOT KNOW EXISTED WITH THIS MOTOR? I FOUND OUT A SHORT TIME LATER THAT THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE AND HAD TO PUT A MOTOR WITH 30,000 MILES INTO MY CAR. THAT WAS 1YEAR AGO LAST AUGUST AND AS OF TODAY SEPTEMBER 5TH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AGAIN. HOW CAN I GET THIS REPLACED AT GENERAL MOTORS COST, RATHER THAN MINE AGAIN? I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE VALVE. THE DEALER AND ANOTHER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,800.

I HAVE TWICE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. BOTH TIMES IT HAS STARTED AS A SLOW SEEP FROM THE END OF THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. AT FIRST WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PUDDLES, JUST A LOW FLUID INDICATOR ALARM. THEN WE HAD INTERMITTANT PUDDLES. THE LATEST OCCURENCE INCLUDED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH ABOUT AN HALF A GALLON OF FLUID INTO THE ENGINE, AND IT WAS 200 MILES FROM HOME. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FIRST REPAIR OCCURED IN JANUARY 2005 AT 101K MILES, THIS ONE IN AUGUST 07 WITH 144K MILES. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE AT AN ASCE SHOP AND COST $700, THIS ONE WAS AT A DEALER AND COST $1200. I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HIS FIRST QUESTION WAS, "GM CAR?" IT...

CAR INITIALLY WOULDN'T START, WOULD ONLY TURN OVER. CAR WOULD DIE IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING REQUIRING TRYING TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF TRAFFIC IF POSSIBLE WITH A SEVERE POTENTIAL TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND EVEN WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON. CAR TOWED TO CHEV DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. TECH SAID GASKET WAS LEAKING CAUSING ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK. THIRD TIME DRIVING THE CAR SINCE REPAIR, CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC AGAIN ON FREEWAY. CAR IS SETTING AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN WAITING FOR TECHNICIAN TO DIAGNOSE SINCE OBVIOUSLY THE $1200 REPAIR JUST COMPLETED DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU AND OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY MY ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN RIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD IT CHECKED DUE TO FINANCE PROBLEMS. NOT ONLY THAT I ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE MY WHEEL BEARINGS EVERY WEEK TO TWO WEEKS. I HAVE HAD THIS CHECKED AND THE GARAGE I TAKE IT TO FOR ALL MY REPAIRS CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT EITHER. PLEASE HELP THANK YOU, MRS.SPARKS *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE WAS NOTICED UNDER THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAULTY INTAKE GASKET. A NEW GASKET NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN AN OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER, A COOLANT LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE GASKET. A SECOND OPINION WAS SOUGHT AT ANOTHER INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALERS AND WHEN THE LEAK WAS CONFIRMED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO ADD COOLANT TO THE VEHICLE. THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS WERE COATED BY THE COOLANT VAPOR, ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM.

5 MOS AFTER PURCHASING CAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED: IGNITION MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, FAN BELT, WATER PUMP, KNOCK SENSOR, CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

MY 2001 MALIBU IS STARTING TO OVER HEAT AND LEAK COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN CONSTANTLY. I WENT TO A MECHANIC, HE STATED IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT CHEVROLET/GM WILL NOT RECALL THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $600 FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I WAS THINKING ABOUT BUY A NEW CHEVY, BUT AFTER THIS ISSUE I WILL NEVER BUY AN AMERICAN CAR AGAIN!!!*JB

5/05 COOLANT LEAK- REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET $1100.00 8/05 COOLANT LEAK(CONTINUED)- REPLACE HEAD GASKET, COMPLETELY REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT-$1085.00 1/06 REPLACE EGR VALVE, SOLENOID, GASKETS $435.00 I'VE BEEN AROUND CARS ALL MY LIFE, MY FATHER WAS A MECHANIC. MY POINT IS THAT I KNOW IF YOU TAKE CARE OF A CAR IT WILL LAST LONGER. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR AND I KNOW GASKETS SHOULD NOT DETERIORATE THE WAY THESE DID. LOOKING AT THE REPORTS ON MYCARSTATS.COM IT APPEARS TO ME THAT WHAT EVER MATERIAL WAS USED FOR THE GASKETS IN THIS CAR MUST BE DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS TO BE ANY THING ELSE. MAINTAINING MY CAR IS A PRIORITY FOR ME AS I AM DISABLED. TO HAVE A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN IS A MAJOR ISSUE. THIS CARS ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN COMPRESSION BECAUSE OF THE LEAKY GASKETS. IT KEPT STALLING...

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES, CAR WILL SURGE, AND THEN STALL. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AND GO ANOTHER 15 MIN OR SO. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AND AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A BUSY BRIDGE WITH NO HAZARD LANE; A POLICE OFFICER PUSHED ME OFF THE BRIDGE WITH HIS SQUAD CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, FUEL FILTER, & FUEL RELAY. AFTER EACH REPAIR I WAS ASSURED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. AFTER EACH REPAIR THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. *JB

3.11 GM V6 ENGINE HAS A COMMON PROBLEM OF A NOTABLE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, WHICH OIL AND COOLANT SYSTEM CONTAMINATES ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH. HAD TO GET AN EXTREME ENGINE FLUSH AND FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IS NEEDED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE HOT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. WHEN ENGINE HOT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. ON THE THIRD OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN WHICH CAUSED THE ANTIFREEZE TO GET INTO THE OIL. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED.

SIX MONTHS INTO DRIVING OUR NEW MALIBU A INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOP A SLOW LEAK OF ANTIFREEZE. IN THE WINTER MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THE SUMMER SLOWER. YET IT INCREASED GRADUALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THE LEAK GREW SO BAD THAT IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED THIS MONTH. THE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE IS NOT ONLY A DANGER TO THE PARTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED PART AND GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE REPAIRS. THE TOTAL COST TO PUT A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED GASKET WITH LABOR IS $ 691.25. *JB

MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU HAS STARTED LEAKING COOLANT. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAS COME ON, GONE OFF, COME ON AND GONE OFF. WHEN I CHECK THE RESERVE, THE LEVEL IS SO LOW IT'S EMPTY. AFTER PURCHASING, SO FAR 6 GALLONS, OF DEXCOOL AND MIXING IT ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIONS EACH TIME, THE COOLANT LASTED A SHORTER AND SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. THE TEMP. WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND RINGING, THEN WENT OFF AND THE TEMP WENT DOWN. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE, WHERE I JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET IS BAD AND THE REPAIRS WILL COST ME $1023.00 AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THAT GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC GASKETS FOR SOME TIME. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE DUE TO AN OVERHEATED ENGINE, A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE GM WILL RECALL AND FIX...

OUR 2001 MALIBU DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK AND IN MAY OF 05. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN COMPRESSION AND KEPT STALLING. I AM DISABLED AND I FELT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER 3 OR 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER WITHOUT RESULTS I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET THAT WAS LEAKING. I AM OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR THAT'S NOT VERY OLD. AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS I AM CONVINCED THERE MUST BE A DEFECT WITH THESE GASKETS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPLETELY REPLACED AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF ONE HAS ANY THING TO DO WITH THE OTHER BUT IT WAS AT THE SAME TIME. NOW MY HEATER WON'T TURN OFF SO IT'S OVER RIDING...

FAX FROM CONSUMER (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD WITH THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *NM THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

FAX FM (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD W/THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU & 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *TS THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

THE VEHICLES HEAT GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL AND DISCOVERED SLUDGE IN EXPANSION CHAMBER ( COOLANT RECOVERY TANK). FLUSHED SYSTEM OF SLUDGE AND TROUBLE SHOT REASON FOR COOLANT LOSS. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. VEHICLE WILL REQUIRE NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SET, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, WATER PUMP AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR. TRIED TO FLUSH SYSTEM COMPLETELY BUT FOUND SECONDARY PLUMBING SUCH AS HEATER CORE, RADIATOR,COOLANT CROSSOVER AND COOLANT BLEED HOSING GUMMED UP WITH OILY WAXY TYPE SUBSTANCE RESEMBLING GUMBALLS (DEX-COOL?). I THINK GM SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SO CALLED "WONDER COOLANT". AFTER ALL THE STICKER ON THE EXPANSION CHAMBER DOES SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CHANGING EVERY 5 YEARS OR 150000 MILES. *JB

LEAKAGE OF OIL AND COOLANT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. CAUSED A MIXTURE OF COOLANT AND OIL THAT REQUIRED A COMPLETE FLUSH OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM, REPLACEMENT OF COOLANT, OIL FILTER, AND OIL CHANGE. COST OF THE REPAIR WAS OVER $900.00. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT HAD THE EGR VALVE, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, INTAKE GASKET, AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, SHE HAD THE BLOCK INSPECTED FOR CRACKS. IT HAS BEEN 18 MONTHS SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DEFECTS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ,AND THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF GAS MILEAGE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ONLY OFFERED A DISCOUNT ON A NEW VEHICLE.*AK

DT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING ONE COULD HEAR A METAL PINGING SOUND COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WILL RATTLE FOR A MILE OR TWO AND THE NOISE WILL QUIETLY LOWER ITSELF. NOTICED THIS ON JULY 1, 2005. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT HAD A PISTON SLAP IN THE MOTOR. *AK

2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS, COOLING SYSTEM AND THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: A CONTINUOUS BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS, THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH. THE RIGHT SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL, THEREFORE THE INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. *SC *JB

HAD A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1000 TO FIX. I CALLED THE PHONE # FOR CHEVY IN MY OWNERS BOOK. FILED A COMPLAINT, AND WENT TO THE DEALER, GAVE THEM MY CASE # CHEVY GAVE ME. THEY CALLED CHEVY, CAME BACK AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $350. THEY CHANGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR, AND CHANGED MY OIL. CHEVY HAS A REIMBURSMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PROBLEMS THAT AREN'T BAD ENOUGH FOR RECALLS. THEY ALSO REIMBURSED ME $862.00 FOR MY PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT , FULLY REIMBURSED. IF YOU LIVE IN ILLINOIS, THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE YOUR CAR SERVICED IS GEORGE WEBER CHEVROLET IN COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS. THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT , THE SERVICE IS GREAT. I LIVE 50 MILES AWAY BUT AFTER DEALING WITH OTHER CHEVY DEALERS IN MISSOURI GIVING CRAPPY SERVICE, ITS WORTH THE TRIP!

AT 36,370 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET ON 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *BF THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 28,000 AND THE BLOWER ONLY WORKED ON HIGH SPEED. *JB

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS LOW, AND THAT MADE IT SHUT OFF. A FEW WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC, AND THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS UNSAFE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DEERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP.*AK *NM

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...

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TRIED WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

GASKET LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. MOST OF MY FIRENDS AND CO-WORKERS WHO OWN MALIBUS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT $1266.00 (MICHAEL CHEVROLET, SUMMERVILLE, SC - 843-875-8034). TO ME, IT APPEARS THAT MOST OF THE CARS (2 YEARS OR OLDER) HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE PART SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ENGINE HESITATED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED "VALVE-SLAP" SINCE APPROX 5000 MILES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS IS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE TO MAKE IT ECONOMICAL. CHEVROLET OFFERED 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE. THE (CHECK ENGINE) LIGHT ACTIVATED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. CODE INDICATED "SMALL EMISSIONS LEAK". MADE SURE GAS CAP WAS ON TIGHT, THEN CLEARED CODE WITH READER - ISSUE RESOLVED. APPROX A MONTH AGO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. CODE WAS P1404 (TEMPORARY CODE). TRIED TO CLEAR OUT CODE WITH READER, CAME BACK. DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY EGR VALVE SO REPLACED THE EGR VALVE WITH GENUINE CHEVEY PART, CLEARED CODE WITH READER - APPROX 20 MILES LATER (CHECK ENGINE) LIGHT BACK ON. I SUSPECT THAT ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE VALVE-SLAP PROBLEM AND RELATED WEAR ON PISTONS. *AK

I HAVE 43,000 MILES ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND HAVE BEEN TOLD MY HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING. ANTI FREEZE IS LEAKING EXTERNAL TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR MAINTAINED AND SEE NO REASON A HEAD GASKET SHOULD FAIL WITH ONLY 43,000 MILES, THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IF THE LOCAL MECHNIC'S KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHY HASN'T CHEVROLET BEEN MADE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS DEFECT AT THERE COST INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER FOR A KNOW DEFECT.

MY 2001 MALIBU HAS 45,000MILES AND I NOW HAVE TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING COOLANT. THIS I'M TOLD IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU 3.1 LITER MOTOR. IS THIS POSSIBLE? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING?*AK I ALSO HAVE HAD THE EGR VALVE CHANGED 3 TIMES BY THE DEALER. IT NOW SEEMS TO BE FIXED?