Intake manifold on my 1997 Chevy Malibu has started to go bad I know its the lower gasket I called Chevy after seeing so many other people with the same problem I was told Chevy would not replace it due to it being over ten years old well it seems like with was a problem waiting to happen as soon as they sealed the manifold at the factory I think GM should replace this item once free of charge per car also my rack and pinion seems to stick on my left side I've replaced the power steering pump and checked the rack and pinion seems the ball bearing wanting to come out or is gone I told GM I don't think they replaced it when they recalled it and they told me the first owner did but wont send me paperwork on the repair or the dealership that did the work.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

I have a 1997 Chevy Malibu (54,000) miles that seized up in traffic due to antifreeze in the oil. I have recently learned that the antifreeze (dexa-cool) use by GM has a long history of causing premature engine failures by eating away the gaskets, water pumps and other associated engine cooling components. I?M not able to take advantage of the class action law suit since my problem happened long after the closing date. I feel a national recall should be initiated by NHTSA.

- Downingtown, PA, USA

I was driving my car on the byway and took the interstate merge lane while increasing my speed to merge into traffic I felt a snap in my steering wheel and gas pedal, I then lost the dash and the car immediately overheated, I had no real power to turn the wheel and the gas pedal was a loose push. Being that I had merged onto the interstate when this occurred I had to drive an additional 5 miles to the next exit. Not everyone has a cell phone. When I got to the next exit I was almost unable to turn the wheel enough to get it into the nearest parking lot, it was harder to turn than my first truck a 1959 Ford twin I beam pickup. I fortunately didn't hit any one or anything. Upon raising my hood after parking the car I am appalled to see that the tensioner pulley and one of the idler pulleys are gone and my serpentine belt is shredded. I have replaced the parts but since then I also found that within 5 miles the "dreaded" gaskets that so many people have complained about, and mine we already eating fluids in sipps before this, were gone. I have replaced the broken pulleys serpentine belt alternator waterpump and gaskets not a month later the other idler pulley that was unaffected in the first incident went. When the first two were replaced that dreaded squeaking stopped for about 3 days and started back up again. Something must not be straight for me to have to keep replacing the moving parts that run on the serpentine belt and everytime one of them goes you loose your power steering and the car is hard to turn. Not only that but the tail lights would be a better place for a gold fish than a light bulb. Everytime it rains, or snows I have to replace tail lights. This car is the bane of my existence. I have the first idler pulley part still the rest of them were lost to the highway the thing is melted.

- Mission, KS, USA

Suddenly brakes stopped working, and consumer's vehicle was involved in four collisions.. in the most recent collision consumer's vehicle struck the rear end of a truck at 30 mph. Also, vehicle stalled and cuts off in traffic.

- Menasha, WI, USA

Vehicle stalled while driving. When this occurred the vehicle was towed to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic test in which no failure code was found. Dealer was unable to find the cause of the problem.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

While driving at any speed intermittently vehicle stalled. Driver consumer had managed to get vehicle out of traffic. Had tried to restart vehicle, and some times had to wait an hour to restart vehicle. However, vehicle was inspected by two separate dealerships, but could not duplicate or correct the problem.

- Augusta, GA, USA

Engine check light and the ABS light illuminated while driving. Vehicle been to a repair shop on 3 separate occasions, and the problem had not been resolved. Vehicle had its gas tank cap replaced, and the brake system was overhauled. But problem recurred.

- Flint, MI, USA

Basically this is to complain about the GM 3.1L V6 engine in my 1997 Chevrolet Malibu. I understand that there are 1100 such complaints and would appreciate some help with my situation also. In the last couple of weeks my vehicle has begun to have a multitude of problems that had led up to my current fiasco. About 2 weeks ago after an oil change my 97 Malibu began to have problems with a lifter ticking. My mechanic suspects a collapsed lifter; this has not been repaired yet. My car also now runs very rough and does not have the power it used to have. Today 10/2/03 I had to drive into seattle and began to have a severe heating problem with the car. My wife and I were deathly afraid we were going to be stranded on the freeway somewhere or stuck in a part of seattle we did not feel very safe in. The temp gauge began to rise very quickly as we arrived at our destination just South of seattle, the needle was pegged and the temp light actually came on. I had dex-cool anti-freeze leaking all over the engine and all over the ground. We waiting approx 30 minutes before we started out again and yes were afraid the entire way home that we would get stranded on the road somewhere. I got the car to my mechanic and he has informed us that we probably need a new engine, on a car that only has 95,000 miles on it. I have read other complaints on the internet about the faulty gaskets which result in anti-freeze leaking into the engine causing bad camshafts, bad bearings and who knows what else. If I had the resources to dump the piece of junk I just might, however I do not have the recourses to do that, I must get it fixed. Right now a $4000 dollar repair will not be good for my family. Frankly I am tired of being sold junk, $20000 dollars might not be much too some people but it is to me. My car now is barely worth $4000 and the thought of putting $4000 into it just to get it running again makes me sick. I will think twice the next time about purchasing a GM product.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

Intake manifold gasket, 1997 Chevrolet Malibu (3.1 V6 engine). My understanding is that this is an extremely common problem with GM products, particularly this engine and car. I also searched the complaints dadabase and I found that it appears to be a common problem. Also, theft system light coming and excessive brake pad wear and rotor warping appears to be a very common problem. This was fixed once, the problem is reaccuring. $1200 in major repairs so far on a 1997 Chevrolet Malibu, not to mention the other small but frequent repairs. I am dissatisfied with both of my recent GM products because they both had similar problems that lead to costy repairs or engine failure at 120,000 miles on a 1994 Grand Am and 89,000 miles on a 1997 Malibu. I have had to fix the radio numerous times (cable comes unplugged quite often).

- Kansas City, MO, USA

Basically this is to complain about the GM 3.1L V6 engine in my 1997 Chevrolet Malibu. I understand that there are 1100 complaints and would appreciate some help with my situation also. In the last couple of weeks my vehicle has started to have a multitude of problems that had led up to my current fiasco. About 2 weeks ago after an oil change, my 97 Malibu began to have problems with a lifter 'ticking.' My mechanic suspects a collapsed lifter; this has not been repaired yet. My car also now runs very rough and does not have the power it used to have. Today, 10/2/03, I went to seattle and experienced a severe heating problem. The temp gauge began to rise very quickly as we arrived at our destination just South of seattle, the needle was pegged and the temp light actually came on. I had dex-cool anti-freeze leaking all over the engine and all over the ground. We waited for approximately 30 minutes before we started out again and yes were afraid the entire way home that we would get stranded on the road somewhere. I got the car to my mechanic and he has informed us that we probably need a new engine, on a car that only has 95,000 miles on it. I have read other complaints on the internet about the faulty gaskets which result in anti-freeze leaking into the engine causing bad camshafts, bad bearings and who knows what else. If I had the resources to dump the piece of junk I just might, however I do not have the recourses to do that, I must get it fixed.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

ABS light comes on after I lose brake. Chronic problems associated with this year vehicle are ABS sensor, belt tensioner breaks away, cooling system heat controls, wiring to the rear lights. These are problems that this year model has that should be recalled. Especially when the break sensor goes out and brakes are lost. Why has nothing been done to force Chevrolet to fix these problems? it is not just one car but all of 1997 Malibu that has the problem. It is a definite safety issue.

- Gurley, AL, USA