10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 1
Average Mileage:
21,025 miles

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problem #21

Oct 101997

Malibu

  • 0 miles
I was a automotive manufacturers rep and understand the importance of getting these recalls completed. I have had my 2 keys retrofitted with the inserts by my local chev dealer years ago and tried 6 times unsuccessfully to have this recall shown as completed. I was assured that they made a mistake and used a VIN with 1 # wrong and that it had been corrected. This is my last request. I give up. I am not willing to return to the dealer again. Please see that this is resolved.

- Daville, CA, USA

problem #20

Sep 012009

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
My granddaughter was 18 years old and had recently graduated high school. She was driving to work on a Tuesday morning, the weather was clear and the road was dry. As she rounded a small curve, her steering went out. The car's right front wheel went off the road, sending the car out of control. When my granddaughter tried to steer back onto the road, the car slid on the pavement, spun around, was thrown over a ditch, hit a tree and landed back on the road. The airbag did not deploy, and my granddaughter's small body (98 pounds) was thrown across the seat and into the floorboard on the passenger side. When police and ambulances arrived, there was nothing they could do. My granddaughter died at the scene from head trauma and internal injuries. Her identical twin sister lost half of her identity that day; the two of them were as one. Emergency teams had to use the jaws of life to retrieve her body from the car. This accident happened within one mile from my home. I could hear the sirens in the distance but had no idea that they were sounding for my granddaughter. The memory of those sirens still haunts me.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #19

Dec 152002

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
My 1998 Chevy Malibu's 3.1L engine required an intake manifold gasket at around 30000 miles. My car has been using more fluid lately and I am thinking that the gasket will once again require replacing. Secondly, my car rusted around the doors and the hood seams. I took the car to the dealer where they fixed the problem under warranty. It has been four months since the repairs and the seams look worse than ever.

- Big Rapids, MI, USA

problem #18

Feb 152003

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles
Harsh winter of 2003 with unusual buildup of snow/ice in North Carolina has resulted in failure of the passenger side windshield wiper pivot housing and/or related parts of my daughter's 98 chev. Malibu. Chevy dealers refuse to help repair as a recall, because the recall is limited to geographic regions, and closest state is our nearby neighbor West Virginia (where, of course, our nc residents naturally travel regularly during the winter for the sport of winter skiing). Part cost has been quoted as $137, though I haven't yet determined if I have the tools/capability to repair myself. Unfortunately, this causes the vehicle to be currently not drivable in inclement weather.

- Eden, NC, USA

problem #17

Jan 152003

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Intake manifold gasket on 3.1L V6, and head gasket failed. Severe engine damage resulted from coolant entering engine, freezing two exhaust valves and rendering the car inoperable in heavy traffic. Complete damage esimate unknown at this time. Can update later. Contact with GM customer service indicates they are not aware of the problem. Not true! a serious problem and they know it well! they apparently refuse to take any action to make right this major engine design error. This car failed in a very dangerous place.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #16

Nov 122002

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 173,527 miles
The odometer read incorrectly. The water pump and belt failed. The wiper regulator failed. The tensioner pulley failed. The vehicles rotors warped and the master cylinder failed.

- Holiday, FL, USA

problem #15

Jan 012002

Malibu

  • miles
Brake pads are warped on left front side of vehicle. Also, engine check light comes on and off. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Waianae, HI, USA

problem #14

May 012001

Malibu

  • miles
I bought the extended warranty and I feel my car is a lemon. Every single person with a Malibu has had problems and we really need help since Chevrolet wants to ignore the problems. With all the problems I will have paid for this car twice after all of the repais I have incorred.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #13

Sep 122000

Malibu

  • miles
Vehicle would overheat and engine check light would stay on while driving at low speed. Vehicle would not overheat while driving at high speed. Dealer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #12

May 162001

Malibu

  • miles
Returned to james Chevrolet for repair, problem keeps occurring. No safety defect mentioned.

- Rachel, WV, USA

problem #11

Feb 132001

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
Vehicle has stalled numerous of times especially when I am at a complete stop and engine light will go on. Slow crank and battery has been replaced twice. The headlights and interior lights dim whenever you slow down to come to a complete stop. The car is currently in the shop due to the stalling issue, mechanic states it is a problem in the computer system and will and to be replaced at my expense. Motor mounts are also corroded which is highly unusually due to car only being 3 years. I was unable to give the VIN # due to not having access to vehicle at the moment. The vehicle is currently in the shop undergoing repairs.

- Fort Stockton, TX, USA

problem #10

Sep 082000

Malibu

  • miles
Please see comments from previous entry (forgot to add stop/tail lights) to list. No safety defect mentioned.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #9

Aug 051998

Malibu

  • miles
Moulding underneath glove compartment became loose. Nlm

- League Cit, TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 132000

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
I have had nothing but problems with my car. At 3,000 miles I had to have the engine replaced. The front headlight, control panel for the windows, the phone jack, the brakes reserviced because they wouldn't replace them at 14,000, then again at 28,000 the brakes are acting up again. Please help thank you patricia robinson.

- Cottonwood, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 151999

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Left cup holder unstable. As the result it toppled over and spilled the coffee on the driver.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #6

Oct 151999

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Left cup holder unstable. As the result it toppled over and spilled the coffee on the driver.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #5

Mar 281999

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
Previously reported defect received a reply that someone would contact me. Authorization to convey to manufacturer. Also a waste of time for me. The bureacracy apparently is more concerned about "effect of auto emission safety" rather than the impact of juvenile engineering on the safety to occupants of moving vehicles.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

problem #4

Sep 011998

Malibu

  • miles
Dealer blames driving habits (expressway driving) and amount of miles on vehicle. No mention that car is less than a year old and has continued to have these problems. No fault mentioned in the summary.

- Brighton, MI, USA

problem #3

Nov 051998

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
Alternator, engine cooling system, main computer, grounding wirtes, engine, and the glove compartment has failed.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #2

Sep 301998

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
Owner described numerous problems and believes she owns a lemon. However no details or incidents were provided.

- Dunaire, GA, USA

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