Have had several problems with this vehicle; radiator replaced, water getting in right front head light, starter replaced, tensioner pulley and crank shaft pulley replaced, intake manifold replaced, coolant reservoir replaced 3 times due to constant leaking, told that the head gasket may need to be replaced, air conditioner light goes on and off blowing warm air when light goes out, rear speakers has a short in them comes on and off (more off than on), in 2 days spent over a 1000.00 in repairs due to pulley replacement, water pump, oil pressure switch, spark plugs, reservoir and wires. There needs to be a class action suit filed due to same problems with intake manifold gasket and coolant problems with this vehicle. A recall on the head gaskets and coolant issues need to be addressed as well. If we buy another vehicle it WILL NOT be american, only foreign; Toyota or Honda

I bought my car in June 2009. But I started having coolant problems the week after I got the car. The place where I got the car, within the past year. They call themselves replacing the thermostat, changing the intake gasket, putting on water pump and who knows what else. And I'm still having coolant problems.

I'm tired of this car and if I can get rid of, I will never buy another Malibu. I owe too much money on the car and I think I would just come out cheaper, and go and try to find me something else much cheaper. I really can't afford a new car.

Car has knocking sound when starting. Knock diminishes after driving awhile but remains some. Noticed coolant levels slowly decreasing at about 85,000 miles but has become more prominent today at 105k. Now added a little coolant since topping it 1 month ago. Recently noticed a bit more smoke from the exhaust. I'm Likely forced to take action now. I suspect a head gasket failure from forum posts and talks with Malibu owners. Once noticed sweet smelling steam coming somewhere in front of engine (perhaps?) but hasn't happened again in 3 months. Wife drives car, I don't. Wish I would have known earlier about issues others are having with head gasket; I expect some damage to engine if blown head gasket. Though, I'm still not sure what the knocking sound suggests. Your thoughts on coolant leak, more exhaust smoke or knocking? Anyone?

Update from Dec 7, 2009: It's 1 week after having flushed my coolant system at 107K miles and, alas, I'm suddenly 1/2 quart low of coolant. I see the leak when the car is running, coolant slowly dripping from my lower intake manifold (LIM) gasket. A small pool of coolant sits on the drivers side of the engine block beneath my throttle body. A few drops of coolant were noticed on the passenger side of the engine on the block in about same but opposite-side location. The dealer is going to do a coolant pressure test tomorrow. But what's the use, I already know my fate and so does the dealer's technician. We both agreed it was the LIM gasket. Will cost me $26 for the pressure test and $785 for the LIM gasket replacement.

Oh and the engine knocking sound? For 1 time only last week, it got very loud like someone was banging a tin can. The rate of the knocking is dependent on engine speed (RPMs), not vehicle speed. It lasted from cold startup in a parking lot until 4 miles later when I got off of a freeway exit (what could that be? Keep in mind I did the full tune up maintenance 1 week earlier: pcv valve, plugs & wires, coolant flush, oil & trans fluid change).

Then the heavier knocking quit altogether, and now I'm just back to the regular engine knocking sound that diminishes several miles down the road after the car warms up after a cold startup. Dealer technician says the knocking results from the expansion of the aluminum piston in a steel bore (? something like that)...different metal expansion rates which eventuallly fill voids when the engine warms up.

I purchased my car from a previous owner a couple of years ago. The coolant level light appeared on the dashboard last year and I took it into a mechanic to see why it was leaking. They filled the car with anti-freeze, however, the coolant light came on soon after. Over the course of a year, I have battled with the light coming on an off. Finally, on June 4, 2008, I was traveling on the highway when I noticed my temperature gauge climbing to the hottest setting and the car began to decrease in speed. I stopped the car on the shoulder and filled it with more coolant, however, after a few miles the light came on again.

A mechanic told me to see if there was a milky substance forming on the inside of the oil cap and there was. He then told me that based on the events I described to him and the evidence that the coolant was not leaking outwardly, my intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced.

Also, I spoke with a GM Certified Technician who told me that this has been an ongoing problem with all of models of cars that use the same type of engine as the Malibu. The cheapest price I've been quoted in order to have the repairs completed is $900. Has this been recalled by GM or is there an existing class action suit filed?

I would appreciate any information you all can provide.

i bought a 2000 chevy malibu ls off a friend on my job it had 97,000 miles on it at the time of purchase about a month and a half ago i noticed a coolant leak brought it to a mechanic and was told it was the intake manifold it cost me 800.00 you see chevy uses a sealant instead of a gasket so after so many miles it starts to crack and leak way to go chevy now its leaking again all around the water pump and top of engine i recently had the water pump replaced who knows what it will cost to fix this problem. now i know why american made cars are junk and they want to know why they're losing money how about trying to build a durable car that isn't in the garage more then on the road to anyone that reads this do yourself a favor go out and buy a toyota, nissan, or a honda stay away from american made.

OMG!! I am so angry! This is the second time in the past 2 1/2 years I've had to replace the Intake Manifold Gasket on my 2000 Chevy Malibu! It has been losing fluids for about a year so I took it to a mechanic who tried to rip me off, so I took it elsewhere and had the hoses fixed. That worked okay for a while, then it started doing the same thing AGAIN, so I took it to another mechanic who took $200 of my dollars and said it was something else. That worked for a little while, then it started happening AGAIN! Finally I took it to the mechanics and when they told me it was the Intake Manifold Gasket I about fell to the floor because I just HAD that replaced 26 months ago. But both mechanics told me that this is a common problem for GM cars. WHY IN THE HECK IS IT, THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND BETWEEN $400 - $600 EVERY TWO YEARS TO HAVE THIS THING REPLACED AND GM, KNOWING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, DOESN'T RECALL IT?!?!?!?!?! I HATE GM products. I will never again buy a GM product.

My question for anybody who might know, is this. One mechanic told me that there is a class action suit against GM for this problem. Does anybody know anything about it and if they do, how do I get on board with it?