2001 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

2001 CHEVY MALIBU DIED WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE DIDN'T SPUTTER OR ANYTHING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST SWITCHED THE CAR OFF CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS FAIRLY COLD AS IT HAD ONLY BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. SPECIFICALLY IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION DURING ACCELERATION AFTER A STOP. *NM

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 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

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

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

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

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 CAR WILL NOT START NO WARNING SIGNS. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGESDFOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALE R 4 TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE CRANKSHAFT, RESET SENSORS AND REPROGRAMMED THE PASS LOCK SYSTETHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND ALSO THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WILL FLASH AS AN INDICATION THAT THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEMWAS NOT GOING TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE CONTACT STATED SOMEONE HAS TOLD HER HOW TO BYPASS THE FAILURE, BUT SHE FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

MYSELF AND MANY OTHER 2001 CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE MAJOR ENGINE GASKETS IN THEIR CARS. I AM DISABLED AN THE CAR WOULD STALL EVERYWHERE PUTTING MY SAFETY IN JEPORDY. THE ENGINE CAN'T MAINTAIN COMPRESSION BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS. GM REFUSES TO EVEN RESOND TO MY EMAILS. I URGE YOU TO CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. I EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONER. IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER TO LET GM GET AWAY WITH THIS. IT HAS COST A LOT OF MONEY NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY FACTOR. PLEASE CHECK THE MYCARSTATS.COM TO SEE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS.EGR VALVE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN THE PROCESS OF FILING MY COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND THE DOJ THE DEALER INADVERTLY PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THAT THA ENGINE HAD BEEN LEAKING BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT. *NM

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

I NEED TO KNOW WHO I CAN SPEAK WITH IN REGARDS TO GM HAVING A RECALL ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FOR 2000/2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MANAGER AT ADVANCED AUTO PARTS THAT SEVERAL 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 EVERY OTHER MONTH OR SOONER. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, TO THE POINT THAT I FELT 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 AND 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 DEFECT CORRECTED. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR IT NOT BE RECALLED. PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO MY CONCERN. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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 REPEATEDLY, I FEEL PUTTING MY SAFETY AT RISK. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK THIS OUT WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT'S CLEAR TO ME WHAT THEIR PRIORITY IS AND IT'S NOT ME OR MY CAR. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE GASKET MATERIAL THEY USED IN THIS MODEL WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN GM IS READY TO ADMIT. *JB

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

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

THE AC CONTROL PANEL ON MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU IS FAILING. IT IS CAUSING THE AC LIGHT AND COMPRESSOR TO TURN OFF. A INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM AMONGST MALIBU OWNERS. THE PANEL REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AND WILL COST $200 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 THE AIR CONDITIONER. BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE REPAIRS I HAVE OVER $1000 IN RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. THIS IS A MATTER OF SAFETY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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