8.4
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $870
- Average Mileage:
- 89,050 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 11 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (3 reports)
- replaced water pump (3 reports)
- replace head gasket and repair leak (2 reports)
- replaced radiator, water pump and intake gasket (2 reports)
- replace gasket manifold plus other small parts (1 reports)
I'm in the Marines and really don't have the time or money to fix this thing. About a year ago the radiator fans stopped working and I replaced the fuses and relays and now the fans come on whenever they want if at all. So I just turn the heat on 2 and roll down the windows. After driving back from visiting family 388 miles away I pull into the driveway put the car in park and noticed a river of fluid coming from under the car... Smelled like coolant and oil mixed... the next morning I decided to diagnose it. Put the car up on jacks and took off the passenger tire. Coolant was empty so i filled it. Started it back up and turned the ac on... bam started leaking. I'm about to take it to the Chevy dealership for an estimate.. I know this was covered under a lawsuit but has expired... Any help?
- Steve D., Concord, NC, US
I purchased this 2000 Chev Malibu in 2000 from Budget Auto Sales.
It had 21000 on it and has been pretty good up until a good 4 and
half years ago. The intake manifold gasket was needing changed
because of oil and coolant mixed. It was under an extended warranty at that time - but the cost was around $900. Then I
took it on a trip of about 6000 miles and they had to redo it again within a four month period. Then again last December 2006,
the same problem with 85000-I paid $1000. Where I had it done, they told me that it is a problem with this Malibu, but guaranteed me they used a different gasket than GM uses - they said would hold for at least 2 years or 26000 miles. I have 87900 miles at this time 5-05-07 and for the last several months have noticed a hesitation at times when pushing the accelerator, not severe but enough to put panic into you thinking it is going to conck out!! It went to the Borst Auto place that I trust where I service the Malibu and they told me about the problem that other customers have had with this 2000 Malibu and that now this hesitation problem is in the Transmission! They said it is where the drive gear thinks it might need to go to 3rd gear and so it is "confused" about which gear it should be in at times! Well, so am I! My mom always told me, you can't go wrong with a GM car!! Of course this was about 30-40 years ago. My how times have changed!! I would rather by American too - but it seems GM has lost it's pride doing the best as an American. While the CEO'S have their pockets lined, and "fat" why should they care whether a lady gets stranded or not. My next car by the way, will not be a GM, which if this Malibu hangs in there for about 2 more years - I will be shopping elsewhere; as they say, "there are other fish in the sea!"
- Cheryl C., Tucson, AZ, US
The water pump went out at the dealer while I was getting an oil change. Water Pumps only cost about $30.00 but the dealer's rates were enormous and I was out of $450.00
- Tammilla S., Morrow, GA, US
I bought my Malibu used in 2003, I never had any major problems, but did have several minor problems such as sensor problems. Recently I have had to refill the coolant resevior tank every couple months and then every few weeks. One night after driving for only 15 minutes I pulled into a parking structure and heard a boiling noise. After I parked and got out of the car I saw all of my coolant dump all over the ground. After I had it towed and checked out I had to replace the gas manifold, the water pump the resevoir tank the temp gage and basically everything that has to do with the coolant system. It cost over $1000 and was a major pain in the ass, especially after finding out that this is a very common problem but GM refused to fix the problem or help pay for the repair costs! I love my little malibu because it is a great city car, but having to shell out that kind of money is a major draw back, I will never buy a malibu again, instead I will invest in a hybrid.
- Capture L., Ann Arbor, MI, US
The list of problems with this car is absolutely unbelievable. . . I inherited this car
when I got married and have had to work on it practically every weekend since.
Most of the issues are the usual ones, such as engine gaskets, hazard switch,
hoses, radiator and so on. I've never had to put so much effort into a car to keep it running - and I've had some really old cars over the years. . . To change the radiator one has to remove the battery and rip apart the air conditioning system, which is absolutely ridiculous!! I have an old Ford truck with over 250000miles on it and I never touch it. This is the last Chevrolet I will ever allow in my garage. . .
- Damon D., Houston, TX, US
Sad state of American cars. For over 16 years I've been buying American vehicles, but after talking to my mechanic about this problem, i've realized that this was a dumb move on my part. My mechanic indicated that he fixes 6 to 8 Malibus with the same problem every year and he is surprised that no re-call has been done... no more GM
- jgiacometto, Miami, FL, US
an arrow ,under temperature control, pointing down, keeps coming on. radiator overflow was empty when this ocurred i filled the radiator light went off but keeps coming back on.
- gmorris, North Adams, MA, US
Same as heard before. Coolant leak caused major engine troubles. Not sure if Dex Cool is the source of the problem, but it appears to be the trend! Won't ever buy GM again.
- jayn, Kansas City, MO, US
This is one of many problems I have had with this vehicle. I have had the fuel pump replaced, then the water pump, then the head gasket. Finally I think nothing else could possibly go wrong with this piece of junk car and the AC head unit must be replaced. About six months later the turn signal quits working. I get that fixed and the check engine light starts coming on and the EGR valve needs to be replaced. Now I think I may be close to having almost everything working all at once.... but my rear defrost has just bit the dust. As soon as I can trade this car in and not lose more money I will be so happy to see it go... Oh yeah and I almost forgot it seems that the entire hood has little tiny dots of missing paint (maybe it will hold up a little longer).
- Heather T., Fort Mill, SC, US
The third month in a row now, another car problem!!! I had to have my water pump replaced due to a bad leak of my coolant. I had a coolant leak for a long time, and than it got worse and it was the water pump.
- Shelly H., Santa Rosa, CA, US
The coolant tank itself has cracked TWICE. I replaced it once in 2006 and once in 2008. The tanks cracked along the bottom, and the coolant leaked at an alarming rate. Then, come 2009, I began having issues with the coolant tank again. After finding water in the oil, we replaced the gaskets. Only to then learn that the radiator was leaking, as well. This entire cooling system is so messed up it's not even close to being funny. It's just a piece of crap.
- harrisa, Orlando, FL, US