There are 11 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2000 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE GOING BETWEEN 45 TO 65 MPH THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT SHIFTING OR ENGAGING RIGHT. I HAD TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER SHIP WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE ENGAGING AND TO GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *NM
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR 8 TIMES IN 2YRS I HAVE HAD IT. *AK
1. COLD ENGINE KNOCK CYLINDER/PISTON DEFECT:MANUFATURER HAS SEVERAL BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM YET HAS NO PERMANANT FIX AVAILABLE. COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE SCORING AND OR FAILURE OF ENGINE COMPONENTS. 2.ENGINE STALL UPON DE-ACCELERATION DUE TO COMPUTER OR COMPONENT DEFECT. COULD LEAD TO ENGINE STALL WHEN LEAVING ROAD INTERSECTIONS OR RAIL CROSSING RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AS THOSE FOUND ON THE INTERNET. 3. HEATER FAN SPEED SWITCH ELECTRICALLY FAILS. MANY COMPLAINTS FOUND OF OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME 3 PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHCLE. SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPAIRS AT DEALERS.
WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL STALL, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SURGES AND SEEMS TO WANT TO UPSHIFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN ON AN INCLINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I STARTED NOTICING THIS 2002 AND HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THIS DEFECT FOR YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION TCC SOLENOID, AS MANY OTHER CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS, THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN SPINNING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE AND THE PAVEMENT WAS NOT WET, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/60R15, CLAIM 20-5363-226. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS, THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN SPINNING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE AND THE PAVEMENT WAS NOT WET, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/60R15, CLAIM 20-5363-226. *SLC
VEHICLE KEEPS SHIFTING OUT OF DRIVE AND SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL BY ITSEL., THIS DEFECT HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND TWICE WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED ON THE INSIDE CAUSING THE TIRE TO COME OFF AND LOSS OF CONTROL, CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BARRIER WALL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION IN A ACC POSITION WHEN CONSUMER'S NEPHEW CHANGED GEARS WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES. CONSUMER CHECKED OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND THAT BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FLUID SPRAYING OUT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR. MECHANIC SEEMS TO THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IF SO, THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME. TRANSMISSION LINE IS BENT. WILL RETURN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026