2000 Chevrolet Malibu Body & Structure Problems

WHILE MAKING FINAL TURN WHEN ARRIVING FROM A 30 MILE COMMUTE A NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I REMOVED THE TIRE ON MY LUNCH BRAKE TO REALIZE THE RACK AN PINION ASSEMBLY WAS FLOATING/HANGING THERE. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALED THE ACTUAL MOUNTING BRACKET AND PART OF THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER WERE RUSTED AND GONE! WITH NUMEROUS ISSUES TO FIX AND 2 ENGINE REPLACEMENTS LATER, THIS MALIBU IS BEING SCRAPPED. OTHER RUST AREAS CAUSED OR CAUSING PROBLEMS ARE AROUND THE GAS FILL OPENING, SUSPENSION COIL, AND ROTORS FUSED TO HUB. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNING LEFT AND NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AS IF SOMETHING HAD SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE. THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD CORRODED AND WAS COVERED WITH RUST ON THE STEERING GEAR (RACK AND PINION). HE TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE OVER $1,000. GENERAL MOTORS WAS CONTACTED AND REPORT NUMBER 71-858074874 WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

AFTER PARKING THE CAR I WAS NOTIFIED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS CALL AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.THE ARSON SQUAD WAS CALLED AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLES FIRE WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. AFTER I RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS AND FOUND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I WAS UNAWARE OF IT. I PURCHASED IT USED. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE ON THE RECALL. I FOUND THERE WERE MANY OTHER FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY BURNED UP VEHICLE WAS NON REPAIRABLE AND TOWED TO THE JUNK YARD AFTER ARSON INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A NOISE PRESENT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME AND BOLTS HAD RUST ON THEM WHICH CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $2,000 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 80,010.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE RUST WAS BUILDING AROUND THE FILLER PIPE FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL DOOR WAS HANGING OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE HINGES WERE WELDED TO THE BODY AND IT RUSTED THROUGH. UPDATED 06/23/11

ON 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S AND OTHER MALIBU'S OF THE SAME BODY STYLE, RUST WILL OCCUR UNDERNEATH THE FUEL DOOR. THE RUST APPEARS TO START FROM THE BACKSIDE OF THE QUARTER PANEL AND WORK ITS WAY TO THE FRONT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY MALIBU'S OF THIS BODY STYLE. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT STEMS FROM THE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. A POPPING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FROM EITHER BOTH THE TRUNK AREA AND OR SUSPENSION, A HOLLOW SOUND NOT VERY LOUD THOUGH. IT HAPPENS ON UNEVEN SURFACES AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND SOMETIMES THE SOUND OR SOUNDS ARE NOTICED BUT NOTHING IS DONE,EXCEPT FOR LUBRICATION. SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO DUPLICATE AND AT OTHER TIMES IT CAN. ALSO IT NEVER HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ONLY SLOW SPEEDS AND ON RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. I HOPE THAT THE ENGINEERS CAN DISCOVER IT. THE CAR IS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. VIN [XXX]. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR