2001 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

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 TO FIX IT, SO I TALKED TO GM AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T THERE PROBLEM BUT WOULD TAKE 25% OFF. IF IT WASN'T THERE PROBLEM THEN WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT? WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY I WASN'T CONTACTED ABOUT THE DEX COOL PROBLEM, THEY HAD NO ANSWER. I HAVE CHECKED A LOT OF WEB SITES AND THIS IS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO PEOPLE. WHY CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ALL OF US, THAT ARE HAVING THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR

APPROXIMATELY THE FIRST OF JULY 2007 OUR VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING RAPIDLY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE SPEED. EVEN WITH HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, IT WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 65 MPH AND HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY STRONGLY TO SLOW IT DOWN. WHEN HE WOULD TAKE HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKES, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN 100% OF THE TIME, BUT WAS MORE APT TO HAPPEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP. IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO HIS CAREFUL DRIVING. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE REPAIR GARAGE ON 7-24-07 AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACING WHICH THEY DID AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT SINCE THEN. WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHER LIKE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2001 MALIBU. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. ATLEAST 1X A WEEK. I HAVE FOLLOWED TEH TURN TO ACC UNTIL LIGHT SHUTS OFF, TURN OFF AND THEN TRY AND START, BUT THIS IS TIME CONSUMING. NOW WHEN THE CAR DOES START THE FUEL GAUGE SAYS I AM EMPTY, RADIO WILL NOT WORK, ACC AND HEATER WILL NOT WORK AND IF AND WHEN IT KICKS ON THE CAR MAKES A WEIRD SOUND. *TR

THE CAR WOULD TURN ON BUT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED JUMPING BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T WORK. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND SPENT $200 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND FOUND OUT IT COULD BE RESET BY LEAVING THE CAR ON FOR 10 TO 20 MINUTES THEN START IT. ALSO, I READ THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MALIBU OWNERS AND GM WAS DOING NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

I OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU, FOR THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER 3 TIMES. THE THEFT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND GM WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO HERE I AM AGAIN HAVING TO REPLACE THE PART AGAIN. *AK

I PURCHASED A USED 2001 MALIBU AND HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM , AND LEARNED OF IT BEING A COMMON PROBLEM FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES ,AND WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ANY EFFORTS TO GET GM TO FIX WHAT WAS CLEAR TO ME A SYSTEM DESIGN DEFECT. THE INTENT OF THE SYSTEM MAY BE WELL MEANING AND MAY WORK WELL, HOWEVER, WHEN IT CAUSES THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE SUCH INCONVENIENCE, AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY. IN 3 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME OVER $200 AND OVER 12 HOURS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING TO DISCOVER WAY TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS JUST THE ANNOYANCE OF HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU LS. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A DAY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE THEFT SYSTEM. THE THEFT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE MODEL YEAR WAS RECALLED FOR THE THEFT DEVICE. THE MECHANIC TEMPORARILY FIXED IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,038 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,028.

ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU. I LOVED MY CAR! THAT SUMMER MY SISTER AND I WENT TO THE BEACH AND SPENT THE WHOLE DAY THERE. WHEN WE GOT INTO MY CAR TO CRANK IT UP THE THEFT LIGHT WAS ON AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE BEACH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP IN MY KEY WAS WRONG AND I NEEDED ANOTHER KEY. WELL I GOT A KEY MADE AND IT WORKED FINE. TODAY I GOT OFF OF WORK AND WAS ON MY WAY TO TACO BELL AND MY THEFT LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR STARTED BUT WHAT IS THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT TO STOP ANYWHERE JUST IN CASE MY CAR WONT START. I AM PREGNANT NOW AND IT IS 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE, AM I EXPECTED TO WAIT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE MY CHILD AND THIS HAPPENS? I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT OR EVEN DIE FROM THIS IN ORDER FOR A RECALL? I THINK IT IS CRAZY THAT I SPENT MONEY ON A CAR WITH DEFECTS AND NO ONE WILL FIX THIS. BELIEVE ME I WILL NOT STOP WITH THIS COMPLAINT..

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

BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUAL FAILURES WITH THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS. WHEN BRAKING IT APPEARED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE BRAKING LOCK UPS WAS ENGAGING WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO. BRAKES WERE WEARING AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE , WHICH WAS WARPING THE ROTORS WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BRAND NEW. PULSATING NOISE WAS COMMON ALONG WITH SCRAPING AND SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL. IN RESEARCHING IT APPEARED THAT THE MALIBU HAD AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF BRAKE FAILURES IN A SHORT TIME. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE ANY FURTHER INJURIES OR DEATH OCCUR. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE LOW ANTIFREEZE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ANTIFREEZE HAD TO BE REFILLED ONCE A WEEK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,849. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE WAS INFORMED BY TO MECHANICS, THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

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

I BOUGHT MY 2001 MALIBU IN 2003. I HAD NO REAL PROBLEMS TILL THIS YEAR 2009. MY MILEAGE NOW IN 74,000 AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED AT ABOUT 60,000. AFTER A ACCIDENT EVERYTHING STARTED TO GO. MY GAS GAUGE WENT DOWN AND MY TEMP GAUGE ALSO. MY AUTO LOCK FOR MY DOORS WAS NOT WORKING. MY AIR VENTS ONLY WORK WHEN THEY KNOB IS ON 3.MAIN FUSE BOX HAS MAJOR ISSUES AND THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND COST $2300.00 AND NEEDS A $500.00 SERVICE FOR THE MAIN FUSE BOX. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED ALSO 2005. COST ABOUT $600.00 THEN. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE POINTED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE; ESPECIALLY AFTER TAKING MORE MONEY FROM THE TAX PAYERS FOR THEIR MISMANAGEMENT. I LOVE MY MALIBU BUT GM BETTER GET ON THE STICK AND HELP THE ONES WHO HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE 2001 MALIBU. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVORLET MALIBU WHICH HAS CLOSE TO 67000 MILES, AND NOW ITS SHOWING SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAKING ,AND COOLANT HAS TO BE TOPPED UP EVERY 200 MILES OR SO, AND THE COOLANT USED WAS DEX-COOL, GM RECOMMENDED. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) UNIT AS IT WAS NOT COOLING AT ALL, AND WHEN CHECKED THE FREON. GAS LEAKED OUT ,AND YET TO FIND WHERE THE LEAKING IS FROM. MECHANIC MENTIONED THE COOLANT PROBLEM WAS THERE IN ALL MALIBU MODELS STARTING 1998. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OVER. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED KNEE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE ANTI-THEFT ON THE CAR HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE TO WORK MANY TIME SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN JANUARY 2001. ALSO, IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED ALONE IN SHOPPING CENTERS UNTIL I COULD GET A TOW TRUCK TO COME. MANY TIMES! INCIDENT DATE WAS THE LAST DATE IT HAPPENED.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH ON MARCH 4, 2007 THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON ITS OWN AND A FRACTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE CONTACT STRUCK A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE AND CONTACT WERE UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 87,000.*AK

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

PURCHASED CAR IN 2002 AND RAN FINE UNTIL ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND CAR RAN FINE FOR ANOTHER 3 MONTHS. SINCE, HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY ROADS. REPLACED IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. RAN FOR ANOTHER MONTH. SAME PROBLEM AROSE. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND ENGINE SENSOR. RAN FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS. STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WILL KILL WHILE DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY WON'T START AT ALL. WILL TURN OVER BUT WON'T FIRE.*AK

CHEVROLET MALIBU, YEAR 2001. REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH PASS LOCK / ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. TWO SEPARATE CONDITIONS OCCURRED 1. SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION SO THAT VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED , CANNOT BYPASS/RESET THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. 2. SYSTEM WILL NOT ARM ITSELF, AND THEFT SYSTEM DOES NOT PROVIDE INTENDED PURPOSE. ADDRESSED THIS WITH CHEVROLET , AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD ONLY RECOMMEND THAT I CONTACT MY DEALER. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED SEVEN TIMES SINCE OCTOBER, 2006. SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO RESET PROBLEM (1) BY KEEPING THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES, AND "PROBLEM ; (2) BY TURNING THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK 3 TIMES TO THE RIGHT, THEN ONCE TO THE LEFT, THEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. (THESE MEASURES WERE OBTAINED FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH WHICH REVEALED WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE. *AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WERE THE 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU WON'T START AFTER THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER ONCE ,AND I REFUSED TO PAY TO GET THE SAME ITEM FIXED WITHIN A YEAR. GM NEEDED TO DO A RECALL AND HAVE THIS FIXED. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.*AK

NOTICED A HOWLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. DETERMINED TO BE RF WHEEL HUB/BEARING. REPLACE THE HUB/BEARING.*AK

VEHICLE WAS FAIRLY COOL HAVING ONLY TRAVELED ABOUT A MILE FROM HOME. AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY CAR DIED WHILE ACCELERATING INTO THE INTERSECTION. AFTER I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SWITCHED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. HAD THIS BEEN A TIME WHEN MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START FOR 10 MINUTES, THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A MAJOR TRAFFIC PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE LATER THE SAME DAY AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT I REPORTED. CAR WAS FAIRLY COOL. AS I APPROACHED A TURN, THE VEHICLE DIED LEAVING ME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. *JB

VEHICLE WAS FAIRLY COLD AS IT HAD ONLY BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. AS VEHICLE WAS LEAVING THE I64 EASTBOUND AT THE OAKLAND EXIT IN ST. LOUIS IT DIED. CAR LOST POWER STEERING. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN PARK, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. UNFORTUNATELY, SEVERAL CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO WAIT AS I FIXED THE PROBLEM. HAD THE CAR NOT RESTARTED, AS IT DOES REGULARLY, THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THE INTERSTATE.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 05/19/14 MA

MY WIFE WENT SHOPPING AFTER A LONG TRIP, SO THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY WARM. AFTER SHE FINISHED HER SHOPPING, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND THE THEFT LIGHT WAS ON. BECAUSE SHE HAS SEEN ME FIX THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES, SHE KNEW TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION, WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE THEFT LIGHT TO GO OUT, TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, WAIT A FEW SECONDS, AND RESTART THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JB

MY 2001 MALIBU SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT OKAY, ETC. IT DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER AT ALL. MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE BATTERY CABLES. UPON REPLACING THEM THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. UPON RESETTING THE SYSTEM, THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE CAR IS RUNNING AGAIN. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL STOP AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY INFANT IN THE CAR.*JB

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY TURN SIGNALS PERIODICALLY NOT WORKING. SOME DAYS THE SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK ONE TIME AND THEN THE VERY NEXT TIME IT WORKS. OTHER DAYS THE SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL'BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT. I TURN THEM "ON" AND THEY JUST DON'T WORK. SOMETIMES IT WILL CLICK A FEW TIMES AND THEN TURN OFF. THIS WILL LAST FOR ABOUT A DAY OR SO AND THEN THEY WORK OK FOR ABOUT A MONTH SOMETIMES LONGER. I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A CORRELATION BETWEEN ANYTHING SUCH AS RAIN, USING IT A LOT, ETC. IT CAN'T BE THE BULB OR THE FUSE BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO WORK THEY BLINK AT THE NORMAL SPEED. ALSO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT THE BLINKER STARTED WORKING AGAIN, SO I CANCELED. I STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR CARS MANUFACTURED IN 2001 WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, THE RECALL NOTICE SAID THE HAZARD SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS SUGGESTED IN ONE ARTICLE WHEN THE SIGNALS STOP WORKING TO PUSH THE HAZARDS AND THE SIGNAL WILL START WORKING AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED FOR ME. I CAN FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD AND GET THEM TO START WORKING. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM WITH MY BLINKERS ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY VIN NUMBER FALLS OUTSIDE THAT RANGE. THIS IS A TRAVESTY. WHY IS IT ONLY SOME ARE BEING RECALLED AND REPAIRED WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT ALL? HOW IS THIS DECIDED WHICH WILL BE RECALLED AND WHICH WILL NOT? I AM NOT SURE OF THE ACTUAL DATE THIS STARTED.

LOADED UP THE FAMILY FOR A TRIP AND THE CAR WON'T START. THEFT LIGHT IS ON AND I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE, SO I KNEW WHAT TO DO. TURN THE KEY INTO THE ON POSITION, WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE THEFT LIGHT TO TURN OFF, TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTART. NO ONE WAS INJURED THIS TIME. *JB

A FEW MILES AFTER THE CAR WOULDN'T START, THE CAR DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION DURING ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I GOT THE CAR IN PARK. *JB

DEFECTIVE GASKETS CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE AND MIX WITH ENGINE OIL. COMMON PROBLEM FOR YEARS ON CHEVROLET MALIBU'S AND GM HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. OR CONTACTED CONSUMERS TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS ISSUE? I HAVE ALWAYS WELL MAINTAINED MY CAR AND DONE SO TO MANUFACTURERS SPECS. THIS IS OBVIOUS DISREGARD FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *NM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY IN MY CAR AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYED ON THEN STARTED BLINKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN ONE DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THE THEFT LIGHT JUST STAYED ON IN I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN THEY SAID IT WAS A THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND THAT MANY 2001 MALIBU'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST $300.00 TO 400.00 TO BE FIXED. *JB

I HAVE A MALIBU 2001. FIRST I WASN'T ABLE TO START MY CAR. I WENT TO THE SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. I DIDN'T REALIZE THEN THAT PROBLEM WAS THE THEFT SYSTEM. SAME THING HAPPENED 20 DAYS AFTER I CHANGED FUEL PUMP. I WENT TO SAME STORE AND MECHANICS STARTED CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. NOW TWICE A WEEK THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT TURNS ON AND I CANT TO START CAR WITHOUT RESETTING IT. A FEW DAYS AGO THEFT LIGHT TURNED ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING A CAR AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED. AFTER I PULLED OVER CAR I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT ON AGAIN . *JB

2001 CHEVY MALIBU WON'T START OR WHEN STARTED WILL SWITCH OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAVE HAD MANY REPAIRS (E.G. NEW IGNITION SWITCH) THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT. TO THIS POINT THE CAR HAS REFUSED TO START ON THREE OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER'S THEFT SYSTEM AND HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. FORTUNATELY, EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE HAS DIED, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY IN THE FUTURE. ALTHOUGH THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH MY COMPLAINTS, THE PEOPLE WHO TOWED MY CAR THIS LAST TIME INDICATED THAT ALMOST EVERY CHEVY THEY TOW IS FOR THE SAME REASON. *NM

ELECTRICAL: IT ALL STARTED 2/2007... THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2001 CHEVY MALIBU FOR TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD LIGHT DEFECT. I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU AND I HAD EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY INDICATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL AND THEREFORE WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF HAVING MY TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LIGHTS REPAIRED. THERE IS A TICKING NOISE THAT IS OFF AND ON, SOMETIMES LASTING 3 MINUTES. THEN IN 5/2008... THE FOLLOWING HAPPENS AT THE SAME TIME: THE CAR DOES START THE FUEL GAUGE SAYS I AM EMPTY, RADIO WILL NOT WORK, A/C AND HEATER WILL NOT WORK. MY DAYTIME LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON, ALONG WITH MY WINDOWS, AND CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS SPORADIC, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY; SOMETIMES MORE. *TR

FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 TANK REMAINING AND RAN OUT OF GAS ON HIGHWAY. FILLED UP WITH GAS AND GAUGE WOULD READ FULL, THEN EMPTY, THEN FULL AGAIN. GAUGE HAS BEEN INACCURATE AND NEED TO USE TRIP METER TO DETERMINE WHEN TO FILL TANK. *JB

I HAVE PURCHASED TWO (2001) CHEVROLET MALIBU'S THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSES ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH MY FIRST MALIBU BACK IN 2005. BASED ON DOCUMENTATION OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE REPAIR WAS COVERED OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY AND I ONLY PAID THE WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE. MY SECOND MALIBU WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A NON-GM DEALERSHIP IN THE FALL OF 2005. I PURCHASED THE SECOND CAR DUE TO THE FIRST ONE BEING A TOTAL LOSS IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME LEAKING GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE SECOND CAR. I CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY TO INQUIRE ABOUT HAVING THE CAR FIXED. THE CAR HAS 103,341 MILES ON IT. REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE, THE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAY THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT BECAUSE THE GASKET(S) ARE CHEAP PLASTIC. AS OF DATE, GM IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR WHICH COSTS $700+. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I USE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE WILL ONLY OFFER A DISCOUNT ON PARTS AND LABOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT AT FAULT. IT IS GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE 61 PAGES OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REFERRING TO THE SAME LEAKING GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU. *NM

THE CAR WILL NOT START NO WARNING SIGNS. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU, WITH 51000 MILES MY COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC FILLED THE COOLANT. TWO MONTHS PASSED AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC FILLED THE COOLANT AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT. IT TURNED OUT, THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. I WAS INFORMED MY CAR HAD A FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET. IT COST ME $600.00 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. I HOPE THERE IS A RECALL SOON. I HERE THAT MANY GM VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. AFTER WAITING FOR ONE HOUR, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM WAS RESET AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME PROPER OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

OWN 2001 MALIBU. BEGAN SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 2 YRS AGO. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED 2 MOS AGO. ALSO, HORN BEEPS, LOCKS GO OFF AND ON AND HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON CLICKS AS IF THE CAR IS POSSESSED. *TR

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU VIN 1G1NE52J516159XXX. I ALWAYS DRIVE WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. I'VE NOTICED THAT FREQUENTLY THE SEAT BELT COMPLETELY LOCKS UP SO TIGHTLY AGAINST MY CHEST THAT I AM UNABLE TO LEAN FORWARD IN MY SEAT. THIS HAS CAUSED ME SOME NEAR ACCIDENTS SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO EASILY TURN AROUND AND LOOK BEHIND ME AS I AM MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS. AT TIMES, I WAS FORCED TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELT WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE IT BECOMES SO TIGHT ACROSS MY CHEST AND SHOULDER. THIS HAPPENS DURING ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, NORMAL DRIVING, AT ANY TIME, SO I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO LOCK UP. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINT/CONCERN FROM ANOTHER OWNER. I AM GOING TO PUT TODAY'S DATE IN THE INCIDENT DATE SINCE THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES ALREADY. I AM NOT REALLY AT ALL PLEASED WITH THIS CAR'S PERFORMANCE. MY LAST CAR WAS A CHEVY LUMINA AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT CAR. I AM SO SORRY I TRADED IT IN AGAINST THIS PIECE OF CRAP I HAVE NOW. THE MALIBU IS HORRENDOUS IN RAIN/AND SNOW AS IT SKIDS AT THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF MOISTURE. *NM

AFTER HAVING TO REFILL MY ENGINE COOLANT ON A REGULAR BASIS I FINALLY TOOK MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I EXPECTED A LEAKY HOSE BUT FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING THE COOLANT TO DRAIN INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER GUARANTEED ME THAT IF I DIDN'T PERFORM THE $900 REPAIR THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT, AND THAT THE ODDS OF SAVING THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR WERE ONLY 50/50. THE OTHER OPTIONS I WAS GIVEN WERE TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE ENGINE ($3000+) OR "CUT MY LOSES AND TRADE IT IN NOW." AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM, RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE GASKETS, THAT CHEVROLET HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE LEAK. SHE HAD TO PLACE ANTIFREEZE IN HER VEHICLE EVERY MONTH BECAUSE IT WOULD LEAK OUT CONSTANTLY. SHE NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO HER VIA EMAIL. THE SECOND TIME, SHE SPOKE WITH THEM AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. FROM THERE, THEY WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A DEFECT. GENERAL MOTORS FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,00 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB

TL* - THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS ON THE LIGHTS, THEY WON'T WORK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT COULD BE SOME TYPE OF WIRING PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN TO GET A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTING ANY WHERE FROM$ 800-$1000.00 . ON MY SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT GM CARS ARE HAVING OVER 70,000 MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS CAN LEAD TO ANY NUMBER OF VERY SERIOUS, AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS. WHILE THE PART ITSELF ISN'T COSTLY, THE LABOR TO REPAIR IS COSTLY. *NM

THE LIGHTWEIGHT LOCKING LATCH PLATE OF AN OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELT BROKE, DURING OR FOLLOWING THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. (I AM A NHTSA CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, SO I CAN SAY WITH ALL CERTAINTY THAT THE INSTALLATION WAS CORRECT, BASED ON THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE CAR SEAT MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS.) THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE LATCH PLATE BROKE, AND THE CAR SEAT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED IF THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOLLOWED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCK ABILITY PROVISION OF FMVSS 208 (TITLE 49 CFR, SECTION 571.208), WHEN THE SEAT BELT LOSES ITS LOCKABILITY THOUGH REGULAR USE. *NM

THE HORN WILL BEEP ON ITS OWN, USUALLY WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED OR TURNED OFF, BUT WILL ALSO BEEP (BY ITSELF) WHILE DRIVING. ALSO THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LOCK ALL DOORS WHEN DEPRESSED WHEN I AM LEAVING THE VEHICLE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN "FIXED" SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 12 - 18 MONTHS BY THE DEALER, BUT THEY KEEP RECURRING. ANOTHER PROBLEM, WHICH THE DEALER HAD "FIXED" A COUPLE OF TIMES IS THAT I WOULD GO OUT TO START THE CAR, IT JUST WOULDN'T START. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM/IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER IN THAT IF YOU TRY THREE DIFFERENT KEYS OR MAKE THREE ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, THEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD LOCK THE CAR OUT. TWO TIMES OVER THE LAST 12-18 I'VE GONE OUT TO THE CAR, PUT MY CAR KEY IN THE IGNITION (ONCE EACH TIME) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START, WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. I'M WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN IT AGAIN, BECAUSE ONCE THE HORN AND LOCKS START MALFUNCTIONING, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM USUALLY STARTS MALFUNCTIONING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHEN IN USE AND, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, TURNED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V327000, REGARDING THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.