8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$940
Average Mileage:
87,700 miles
Total Complaints:
97 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. gasket replacement (32 reports)
  2. not sure (25 reports)
  3. replace gasket (19 reports)
  4. have it repaired with an aftermarket gasket (14 reports)
  5. waiting for a recall! using "stop leak" until then (7 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #77

Apr 142009

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 226,000 miles

Okay Enough is Enough. My mechanic told me the FIRST time this happened that this is a common problem... Now...here I was again... My mechanic told me now thay have a permanant gasket..... What the hell??? MONEY PIT!!

- jamiega, Rossville, GA, US

problem #76

Mar 012003

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I am just pissed that this issue is not a RECALL!!! Good Grief...look at all the folks it has happened to.

- jamiega, Rossville, GA, US

problem #75

Jan 012004

Malibu LS 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

First, I must say that I really like this car, always have. I have only owned American cars and finally convinced my wife we should buy her the Malibu. She had only owned Japanese. Now this problem is a real pain. I have been going around to repair shops and when I describe the problem and the car every mechanic knows exactly what I am talking about. They have seen it done it. (piss me off) GM will send out a recall on the lights for this model but will not offer to fix the intake manifold gasket. I've learned this problem is also on the 3.4L. Wonder why GM is in trouble.

- Chris L., Sacramento, CA, US

problem #74

Sep 162009

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

I bought this car in early 2004. Honestly, after reading all of the other complaints about these types of cars, I really cannot complain too much about mine. I bought this car with almost 40,000 miles on it and this is the first thing that has ever went wrong with it. I have never even had to tune it up! Shocking, I know, but true. It has been the best running car I have ever owned.

Last week, my low coolant light came on, on my way home from work. Come to find out, my thermostat was sticking, and it needed to be replaced. After my mechanic looked at it, he realized my intake gasket was leaking. He replaced both for 725 bucks. This week, the same thing happened to me on the way home from work. When I got home, I called the garage and he said to bring it back in and let him look at it. UGH!!!! now, my gasket around my timing belt is leaking antifreeze !! Another 450 dollars to replace it. I have made up my mind, that if it happens again, I am getting rid of it.

One thing he did say. Only use GREEN antifreeze in your vehicles. Any other color will eat your gaskets up. I just wonder if GM used a different or cheaper grade of antifreeze in their Malibu's?? Maybe that could be the problem. He said I had a yellow color in it, and I had never done anything to it since I had bought it in 2004. Just a thought.

- Barb G., Wapakoneta, OH, US

problem #73

Jul 012009

Malibu LS 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

After browsing this forum as well as looking at some "quality" aftermarket gaskets, I can only conclude that GM has yet again F&*^ the consumer. This is a known flaw(Why in God's name would you impregnate an intake manifold gasket with plastic? )The engineer that came up with this as well as the mgmt that approved it should be drawn and quartered. I found an honest mechanic that diagnosed it quickly and he wants $700(which seems commensurate with the other prices I've seen in this forum) My concern is if most mechanics are using aftermarket gaskets or the piece of sh^& GM gaskets. Even their new and improved gasket is impregnated with plastic. I'm going to ask my mechanic as this is the likely reason why theses continue to fail. Please feel free to contact me if you want to add me to a class action suit. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM!!!!!!!!!

- cactus1229, Las Vegas, NV, US

problem #72

Jun 262008

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,888 miles

It is really really annoying how everytime the car is put into park, the car revs up all the way to 2 or 2.5 thousands rpm

- zizilia03, Kingsland, TX, US

problem #71

May 202009

Malibu 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I bought this car used in 2004..3 days after the 90 day lemon law I was told my LIG was bad and had to be replaced..told me it would be 800.00..I then told the dealership where I purchased it frrom to shove the car and the payments where the sun doesnt shine..they then agreed to pay for it..for the past few yrs I have smelled antifreeze and thought that maybe it was just from where it had leaked before..in the mean time I swear my car is possessed..the locks go off and on..the horn beeps when I start or stop my car..now I have all this white smoke coming out of the exhaust and my car sputters..I drove it home with my foot on the break and gas..my engine light was on but my temperture gauge was in the middle..it didnt go into the red..

Im keeping my fingers crossed that it wont cost alot as I just lost my job,have no money,single Mom..cant find a job if I dont have a car..and I cant buy a car being on unemployment..if I ever get a chance to buy a car it will never be a GM..guess Im going to have to bus it for a long time...GM SUCKS..they should reimburse everyone who has had the same problems..any news on a recall?

- go4itbabygirl, Fairport, NY, US

problem #70

Mar 172009

Malibu LS 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,250 miles

I like so many other was suckered into buying the Leaky Intake Manifold option when I got my 2001 Malibu. The repair would have only been $800 (ya, only!) but the intake manifold was warped and it cracked when the mechanic tried to replace it. Another $550 dollars later and I thought I was back on the road. Which I was for just one month. The leaking manifold had already done deeper damage and the main bearing let go on the interstate. Now I am looking at $3400.00 to replace it. This is more repair than I have put in my previous 8 cars combined. I tried to buy American but I can't afford it. Back to Mitsubishi built cars for me

- nomas, Revere, MA, US

problem #69

Dec 242008

Malibu LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I cant believe that GM would let these problems continue like this. I told my wife that i was going to by a chevy truck this year but F*CK that i am sticking with dodge. car had no problems until 130000 miles then it started to overheat slightly. No big worries right, what a dumbass i am i refuse to pay 800 dollars of my taxed money to fix a f*ucking defect that Gm is responsible for. And as for GM Kiss my Dodge Rams ass 780K factory engine, transmission. Just 4 batteries(i am a firefighter have a lot of emergency lights) and 3 sets of plugs. I refuse to buy one more GM product this is such F*UCKING BULLSH*T.

- Joe J., Splendora, TX, US

problem #68

Mar 192008

Malibu LS 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,293 miles

No symptoms just was leakin when i brought it in. Apparently its very common and has been known to repeat.

- jrama, Calgary, AB, Canada

problem #67

Aug 242008

Malibu 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

I got this car in early 2003 with about 30,000 miles on it, and unlike many other people I never had a single issue other than a hazard switch that was replaced on a recall. Now, it's 2009 and only almost 79,000 miles on it and the 5yr extended warranty is expired and coolant is leaking from the intake gasket. Also, the coolant reservoir is caked with oil inside. Now I'm told that had I gotten this repaired before May of 2008, I may have qualified for a reimbursement. It's going to cost me $800.00 for a manufacturing defect.

- Mark P., Clearfield, UT, US

problem #66

Jun 012008

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,421 miles

In May of 08 I started having problems with my car after having it for 2yrs. They drained the anti freeze first.Then it starting overheating.The replaced water pump.Same problem.I decided to have the engine replaced after breaking down 6x. that was June $2100. Guess what, 3 mths later same exact problems again.I had the intke manifold gasket replaced at the cost of $700.00 Sept. So now I start to overheat again. I go to a different mechanic in Dec. because I think I'm being taken advantage of. I was so wrong. The intake manifold gasket needs to be repaired. F** this car and Chevy too. I spent so much money on anti freeze tow trucks and engine checks. I could have got another car Kim J. Philly

- Kim J., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #65

Jan 012009

Malibu V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,200 miles

Our Chevy Malibu had a little over 32,000 miles on the vehicle when we had to replace the Intake Manifold. How much did we have to pay to bail the auto makers out?

- sdeleon, Westminster, CO, US

problem #64

Sep 142000

Malibu 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

This car is a piece of crap called GM several times.Can't do nothing about it.All they are doing is beating around the bush. NO WONDER THEY ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.Never will i buy a GM car again and none of my friends are just keep passing it on.If there is something wrong with your product stand behind it and fix it.This is a no brainier there is obviously something wrong with the Malibu engine and more.

- Lisa C., Yardley, PA, US

problem #63

Nov 112008

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I've had four cars die in four years. Riding to work on a camel never looked more appealing.

- Stuart L., Gaithersburg, MD, US

problem #62

Oct 162008

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,058 miles

I bought this car in 2004 with over 100,000 miles on it. It was my husbands company fleet car & his coworkers laughed when we told them we were purchasing it from Lease Plan. All the guys he worked with had nothing but trouble with their Malibu's

I paid 2500.00 bucks for it.

Thank god I paid so little for this car because I have definitely needed the money for all the repairs .

Im not going to repair the leaking Intake Manifold Gasket. Im buying a Honda or Toyota next time/

- Leah A., Youngsville, NC, US

problem #61

Jun 252007

Malibu 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

So the whole deal with Chevy is that they have actually had an intake manifold gasket problem for about the last 25 years. And i actually heard that it is because they don't even use gaskets from factory so after 70 or 80 thousand miles after things have heated and cooled enough things warp and blam there's you leak. Chevy should take responsibility for this and make it right. This is the 1st Chevy Ive owned and I won't own another. Im going back to Ford

- m.kelso, Pullman, WA, US

problem #60

Oct 112008

Malibu LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,059 miles

I've had the intake gasket replaced twice in 3 years and have less than 88,000 miles! This is f*cking ridiculous!

- kglover, Myrtle Beach, SC, US

problem #59

Jan 012007

Malibu 3.1L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I've read all the complaints posted here and can't believe that nothing has been done by GM to rectify the problem (recall/reimbursement).

I have the same issues with my Malibu (leaking intake manifold gasket,engine knocking,blower fan not working on all settings,brakes making noise,etc.).....nothing new to add. I just wanted to officially include myself to this long list of happy "American Auto"

owners.Thanks GM !!

I can't wait to purchase my next car...........from the Japanese.

- daveny, Rochester, NY, US

problem #58

Jul 052008

Malibu LS 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,000 miles

I didn't know that this was a common problem. I had got quotes from different mechanics and they told me it was common so I googled the make and model of my car and low and behold, I found this website. I was on the verge of trading in my car prior to the fourth of July weekend but my car breaks down. I see that if every mechanic across the country knows that this a common problem, then why doesn't GM take responsibility and at least cover some portion of it.

- madnaz, Parker, AZ, US

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