2001 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Log

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.

MY TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT. I CALL CHEVROLET AND I WAS TOLD THIS PART HAD BEEN CHANGED JULY OF 2001. THIS WAS A RECALLED PART AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE ONE PUT IN IN JULY 2001 WAS A NEW PART OR STILL ONE THAT WAS ON RECALL. BUT I WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO FIX IT. *NM

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.

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILLIGHTS LAMPS CONTAINED MOISTURE WHICH CAUSED THE BULBS TO BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THIS MAY SHORT OUT THE PANEL AND CAUSE A FIRE.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION/STARTER FAILED. THE CONTACT PAID A REPAIR SHOP TO FIX THE IGNITION, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TOWING MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS BLINK ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR 20 MINUTES, IT WILL RESTART. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STARTER SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE, AND THE DRIVER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER THE IGNITION REPAIR THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE AIR CONDITIONING AND STATED A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A COMPRESSOR DEFECT, A POSSIBLE LEAK WHICH CAUSED AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DISPUTING THE LEMON LAW, REIMBURSEMENT, AND THE FAILURES FOR QUITE SOMETIMES. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ASSIST HER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 61,512.*AK THE CONTACT HAS PROVIDED THE REPAIR ORDER, THE BUYER'S GUIDE INFORMATION AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND A LIST OF MAJOR DEFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR IN USED CARS. UPDATE 5/3/07*TR

FIRST MY INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I GOT CHEVY TO PAY HALF. I HAD TO PAY AROUND 400 TO GET IT FIXED. NOW MY CAR WON'T START. I GOT IT TOWED AND IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS, SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK. TWO DAYS LATER IT WON'T START AGAIN. THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY BROTHER ALSO HAS THE SAME CAR AND HIS IS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE MONTHS NOW. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR THIS CAR. CHEVY REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL THE CHEVY IT SELF. THE CAR IS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND WILL HURT SOMEONE ONE DAY. *NM

MY CAR WILL NOT START. THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THINKS I AM STEALING MY OWN CAR. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINUTES TO RESET THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM SO IT WILL ALLOW MY CAR TO START. *TR

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED THE HORN WILL NOT WORK.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT NOTICE. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PASS LOCK SENSOR, THE HOUSING AND THE KEY CYLINDER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD PASSLOCK SENSOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, IN 2006, THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPAIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU. I THINK THE GOVT. SHOULD HAVE GM REPLACE THESE SENSORS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, AS THE SENSORS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND OVER ENGINEERED. *NM

NO INJURIES - NO CRASH - UNSAFE CONDITIONS - I OWN A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU - SIX TIMES IN THE PAST 25 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED IT, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT PROBLEM - SAFETY PROBLEM - SINCE MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR MY FEAR IS THAT THE CAR MAY STALL AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THEN MAY NOT START DUE TO THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEM ON THE 2001 MALIBU - WHICH IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION - SINCE IT APPEARS THERE IS MANY, MANY 2001 MALIBU WITH THIS PROBLEM IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE - I'M SURE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE - I HAVE HAD MY 2001 MALIBU TOWED TO GATES CHEVROLET 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 25 MONTHS FOR THIS PROBLEM COUNTING TODAY I CONSIDER THE 2001 MALIBU TO NOT ONLY BE A UNRELIABLE CAR BUT AN UNSAFE CAR DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THREE TIMES CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN KEY WAS PUT IN IGNITION. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER EACH TIME. WHEN DEALER TRIED TO START CAR EACH OF THE THREE TIMES, IT STARTED EVERY TIME EXCEPT THE LAST TIME. 1ST TIME (OCT 2005) DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALING NOTHING AND REPLACED NO PARTS. 2ND TIME (JAN 2006) DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND SENSOR FOR $450. 3RD TIME (JUNE 2006) DEALER COULDN'T START CAR, BUT WAITED 1-1/2 DAYS TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SO WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT TO LOOKING AT THE CAR IT STARTED UP AGAIN. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH AGAIN REVEALED NOTHING SINCE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AGAIN. DEALER WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REPLACING MORE PARTS (FUEL PUMP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN) BUT I SAID NO AND TOOK MY CAR BACK. DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN SINCE 1ST TIME WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS NOW A VERY UNRELIABLE CAR SINCE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. *NM

WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO ITS MAXIMUM SPEED. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT AROUND THE CORNER AND OFF THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY BESIDES THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE ENGINE WAS TURNING IT OFF. WHEN HE CHECKED HE FOUND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAD COME OUT OF THE CLIP ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. (THERE ARE TWO WIRES SIDE BY SIDE. THE FRONT ONE--ACCELERATOR--WAS THE ONE THAT CAME OUT) SINCE HE PUSHED IT BACK IN PLACE IT HAS BEEN FINE, BUT IT CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN. HE HAS TAPED THE WIRE IN PLACE JUST IN CASE. *JB

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. STARTED LOSING ANTIFREEZE - LEAK ON DRIVEWAY. MECHANIC TRACED THE LEAK WITH DYE TABLETS AND SEALANT TABLETS -- AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS I TOOK IT CHEV. DEALER AND THEY TESTED EVERYTHING AND REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WAS TOLD THIS MODEL CAR HAD MANIFOLD PROBLEMS. IT COST ME $990. I HAD THIS WORK DONE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THOUGHT MAYBE WITH THE OTHER MALIBU'S HAVING PROBLEMS THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL -- I'M WAITING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN INSPECTION, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/03/06*JB

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

ENGINE LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE, TURN SIGNALS GO IN & OUT, FUEL GAUGE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND NOW DEAD WON'T EVEN START. 2001 CHEVY MALIBU 3.1L V6 $22,000 & ONLY 67,000 MILES. *JB

THE ANTI- THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAUSED MY ENGINE TO STOP WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A TRAFFIC JAM AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTING THE ENGINE WHILE STILL MOVING FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE LAST MONTH ALSO. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTS AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. *AK

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.

TURN SIGNALS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO ALL THE TIME. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT 670740 OTHER 2001 MALIBUS HAVE AND THEY CAN BE FIXED WITH A RECALL. MINE IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL WHEN MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. WHY? NO CRASH YET...BUT SOON. *JB

2001 MALIBU, AUTO THEFT THAT WAS INSTALLED BY CHEVY KEEPS PREVENTING MY CAR FROM STARTING AND IT HAS TO BE TOWED THIS HAS HAPPEN 5 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. THIS CAR HAS HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACE, IGNITION REPLACE, IT WEAR MY TIRES DOWN UNEVENLY. 2 DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR I RETURNED FOR 2 WEEKS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE REAR END GO OPPOSITE OF FRONT AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER $2000.00 IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY LIKE MY BARETTA DID. *NM

2001 CHEVY MALIBU 70000 MILES.. BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY 06 WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF 2006 THEFT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING THEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF THAT CAR WOULDN'T START TOOK TO A CHEVY DEALER AND REPLACED PASSLOCK SENSOR FEW MONTHS LATER 07/06/06 PROBLEM RESTARTED AGAIN DEALER PUT CAR ON COMPUTER CANT FIND PROBLEM NO CODE STORED NOW LESS THEN A YEAR 03/03/07 CAR IS NOW FLASHING THEFT LIGHT AND CAR WONT START UNTIL I LEAVE IN THE ON POSITION AND WAIT 10 MINS THEN CAR RESETS AGAIN. DEALER WANTS MORE MONEY TO FIND PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 500 DOLLARS FOR PART I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN I ALREADY DID THAT LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ISN'T CHEVY GOING TO FIND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND RECALL IT ..I WONT BUY A CHEVY EVERY AGAIN. *JB

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 THIS PROBLEM? OR IS THIS HOW MR. GOODWRENCH CAN MAKE SO MANY REPAIRS AND ADVERTISE ABOUT HOW MANY CARS THEY FIX AND MAN HOURS THEY WORK? I LOVED THIS CAR! I BOUGHT IT WITH 5 MILES ON IT(4 OF WHICH I PUT ON DURING THE TEST DRIVE.) A 2001 WITH ONLY 45K MILES? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THAT GM SHOULD STOP ISSUING "PRIVATE" NOTICES AND RECALL THE CARS FOR PROPER PARTS & SERVICING?*JB

I NEED TO KNOW WHO CAN I SPEAK WITH IN REGARDS TO GM HAVING A RECALL ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FOR ALL 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MANAGER AT ADVANCED AUTO PARTS THAT SEVERAL 2001 MALIBU OWNERS COME IN TO PURCHASE COOLANT, AS WELL AS MYSELF, AS OUR GASKET IS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSES US TO HAVE TO REFILL AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH OR SOONER. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, TO THE POINT THAT I FELL A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE. SOME INDIVIDUALS NOTED THAT THEY CONTACTED THEIR CAR DEALER AND THE GASKET WAS CHANGED TO A NEWER ONE THAT THEY ARE USING IN THE NEWER CARS. HOWEVER, I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AN WAS TOLD THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I NEED SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME ASAP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IT'S NOT FAIR TO MYSELF, THE CONSUMER, TO HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS MANUFACTURER DEFAULT CORRECTED. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR IT NOT BE RECALLED. PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 410/917-7327. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO MY CONCERN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ABOVE THE NORMAL RANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS SPEWING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEALS WERE NO LONGER THERE, CAUSING FUEL TO GET INTO THE OIL. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET, THERMOSTAT, TIMING BELT, COOLING FAN, FUEL REGULATOR, AND RADIATOR CAP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I NOTICED ON MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU THAT THE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. HE RAISED THE HOOD AND SAID I WAS LOW ON COOLANT WITHOUT EVEN TAKING THE LID OFF. HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WOULD BE AN HOUR OR MORE SO I STAYED SINCE I HAD NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. TWO HOURS LATER HE CAME OUT AND SAID I HAD A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, A WATER PUMP THAT LEAKED AT ONE TIME BUT WASN'T LEAKING NOW BUT NEEDED REPLACED AND HANDED ME A BILL FOR 1200.00. MIND YOU THIS CAR ONLY HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN PURCHASED IT ALREADY HAD 25,000 ON IT AND I HAVE ONLY PUT A LITTLE OVER 14,000 ON IT MYSELF AND IT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED MY CAR OVERHEATING AND ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGE WHEN REQUIRED. I FELT THAT THIS MAJOR OF A PROBLEM SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING SO I CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID IT WASN'T UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS MY ENGINE WILL BLOW UP IF I DRIVE IT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, THAT CHEVY MALUBU'S FROM 1997 HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND GM HAS IGNORED IT. I FEEL THAT GM MOTORS SHOULD PAY TO FIX MY CAR AS I CAN NOT DRIVE IT FOR SAFETY REASONS AT ALL. IF I DRIVE IT I COULD BLOW MY ENGINE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS THE CAR WILL STOP. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING UP A VERY STEEP INCLINE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER PLACED COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE AND CALLED HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPAIRED. ON JUNE 9, 2008, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. SHED ADDED COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE, DROVE HOME, AND CALLED HER LOCAL MECHANIC. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,599 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

MY ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AND MY BRAKES GIVE OUT WHEN I AM TRYING TO STOP.

DT: WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED TURN SIGNAL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. HAZARD SWITCH RECALL. NOT TAKEN. *AK

ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, INSTRUMENTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, BOTH GAS AND TEMP GAUGE NEEDLES FALL BACK TO OFF POSITION. CAR CAN BE RESTARTED BY MOVING GEAR SELECTOR LEVER AND TWISTING IGNITION KEY TO ENGAGE STARTER. CAR ALSO IS AT TIMES HARD TO START. IF THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED AND TWISTED TO ON, SOMETIMES ICONS DO NOT LIGHT UP, NOR WILL THE GAUGES REGISTER,THE ENGINE WILL CRANK BUT NOT START. IF THE KEY IS TWISTED BACK TO THE OFF POSITION,THEN TWISTED BACK TO THE ON POSITION AND THE NEEDLES OF THE GAS AND TEMP GAUGES MOVE, THE ENGINE WILL START. THIS CAR IS 5 YEARS. OLD AND HAS 45,000 MI. ON THE SPEEDOMETER HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES,BUT SINCE THE ENGINE RESTARTS,IT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. THE PCV VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE STATE MANDATED TESTING,WHICH REQUIRES USE OF THE OBD PORT. THIS WAS LAST FALL. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY ALL DASH LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR. ALSO THE RADIO/ CLOCK DOES NOT COME ON FOR APPROX. 60 SEC'S. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH AND PASSLOCK SENSOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. *NM

2001 MALIBU HAS HAD FRONT BRAKE DISC AND BATTERY REPLACED, 16804 MILES ON VEHICLE.. MECHANIC HAS NOW INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TS *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A RECALL, #03V327000, CONCERNING THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE COMPONENT HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL ANY LONGER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVE GASKET DEFECTIVE. *TR

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND EVERYONE TELLS ME THAT THIS IS COMMON IN MALIBUS,AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I HAVE HAD MY RADIATOR REPLACED,MY THERMOSTAT CHANGED, MY COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED. NOW CHEVROLET IS SAYING IT MIGHT BE MY WATER PUMP THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THAT WILL COST 586 AND IF THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM THEY WILL CHECK OTHER THINGS WHILE IM GOING TO BE THE ONE TAKING THE LOST. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED THE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I BOUGHT MY CAR WHEN IT WAS A YEAR OLD, SINCE BUYING THE CAR, I HAVE HAD TO PAY 800 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH CHANGED, WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE ONLY CHARGED 400. I HAVE ALSO RESPONDED TO THE TURN SIGNAL RECALL TO HAVE THE HAZARD SWITCH FIXED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME SWITCH GO OUT AGAIN, NOT EVEN 2 YEARS LATER. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT WILL COST AT LEAST 200.00 TO FIX. INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING NOW THERE IS A CONSTANT CLICKING IN THE DASH, WHICH THEY SAID IS CAUSED BY THE HAZARD SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE...IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN WHY WOULD THEY REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A DEFECTIVE ONE AND NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE? *NM

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

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY 2001 CHEVY MALIBU'S MANIFOLD TWICE, AND I HAVE NOTICE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *JB

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AGAIN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED BACK IN APRIL OF 2005 AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS $300.00. THEY ARE HAVING TO REPLACING THE WHOLE SYSTEM AGAIN FOR $500.00. *NM

(1) COOLANT LEAKING IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUTTING IT INTO MY VEHICLE. (2) MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED THREE TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, STARTS VIOLENTLY VIBRATING, THEN SMOKE BELLOWS OUT OF MY HOOD WHEN I FINALLY STOP. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY THREE TIMES WITH MY TWO-YEAR-OLD IN THE CAR, AS WELL AS MY UNBORN CHILD. (3) I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET REPAIR MAN WHO FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM ISSUED BY CHEVROLET. HE EXPLAINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MANUFACTURED CROOKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO MY ENGINE AND DILUTE MY OIL WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BURN MY MOTOR AND RUIN IT COMPLETELY. WHEN I CONTACTED CHEVROLET, THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL BOTH TIMES STATING I HAD TO PAY A CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY MIGHT HELP ME WITH A LITTLE COST ASSISTANCE BUT NOT MUCH. IT IS ABOUT $600 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT IS NOT NORMAL MAINTENANCE OR WEAR-AND-TEAR. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE E-MAIL ME ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER POSTING A COMMENT ABOUT IT ON A WEBSITE. *NM

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

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

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO LEAKING OF COOLANT. THE COOLANT HAD TO BE ADDED WEEKLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH WAS REPLACED. *AK