8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$290
Average Mileage:
44,350 miles
Total Complaints:
21 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. I will replace the parts myself (6 reports)
  2. have them fixed and rotors turned again (5 reports)
  3. replace rotors and brake pads (4 reports)
  4. turned rotors new pads (3 reports)
  5. not sure (2 reports)
  6. dealer turned rotors under warranty (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

problem #21

Jun 132007

Malibu 3.1L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I have had my brakes and my rotors replaced I cant begin to tell you how many times since I bought this car . Sad thing is if anything should go wrong its the damn gas pedal cuz i hardly use the frickn brake . I would never ever ever tell someone to buy a frickn malibu .

Update from Nov 10, 2014: they where replaced about 4-5 times a year and it all started before my car even got up to 100,000 miles

- Sarah C., Pearcy, AR, US

problem #20

Jan 202004

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

I bought car Nov., 2003. 13,000 miles later, had to have new brakes. Returned to dealer and had them replaced and they would not let me have the brake pads they removed. Since then, the brakes are a continuous problem. The problem is defective parts to begin with on the assembly line.

- donnacassidy, Tampa, FL, US

problem #19

Aug 012009

Malibu LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

Every year I have to replace the brake pads and rotors on my vehicle because it wears that fast. I know that under normal conditions you should only have to replace your brakes every 2 years. I know it cannot be the way that I drive because the day after I had the brakes replaced I heard grinding as if the brakes were rubbing against the rotor.

- malibudiva, Waldorf, MD, US

problem #18

Jul 232009

Malibu V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I have this car 5 years and needed to rplace the break pads 5 times and the rotors 4 times already!!!!!!!

- Lori M., Northampton, PA, US

problem #17

May 292007

Malibu LT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

Brake pads and rotors had to be replaced. Rotors could not be turned. There is still a grunting noise at times when you hold down on the brake pedal at a stop.

- Betty M., Jeffersonville, KY, US

problem #16

May 152004

Malibu

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Pricey! Very inconvenient... This car is a POS! Never again with Chevy...

- elgabachonaco, Orem, UT, US

problem #15

Sep 252007

(reported on)

Malibu LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Well GM has done it again, produced a car that has constant brake problems. This is nothing new with the Malibu but at 27,000 miles my first set of brakes went (metal on metal). Had the rotors and pads replace with ceramic brakes. At 57,000 had to have the brakes replaced again.

Will I buy another american car, no. I would love to buy a GM car but cannot afford the inconvenience and cost of this constant maintenance.

I have a friend who has bought GM cars for the last 30 years. His last two cars have been Toyotas and he would not buy anything else. If Toyota can build a descent car why can't GM, Ford and Chrysler?

- Ron T., Stoughton, MA, US

problem #14

Jun 262007

(reported on)

Malibu 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,325 miles

my car is a 2003. this is going to be the third set of rotors that have been put on this car alone. they have been turned twice. have to do something every 15-20 thousand km. this is not acceptable. a friend asked me if i had ever heard of Toyota and i'm beginning to think that a foreign made car might be the answer. her car is also a 2003 and she has had NO problems with it at all. GM might want to start thinking about making their costumers happy or they will be losing a bigger share in the market. my service rep. told me that they know there is a problem but GM has done nothing about it.

- Diane M., Greely, Ontario, Canada

problem #13

Jun 272006

(reported on)

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles

just got the rotors turned last year and already this car needs to go back in the shop for the same problem

- Ryan N., Umatilla, OR, US

problem #12

Jun 272006

(reported on)

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles

just had the rotors turned a year ago and already they need it again

- Ryan N., Umatilla, OR, US

problem #11

Nov 022006

(reported on)

Malibu 3.1 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

LESS THAN A YEAR LATER MY BRAKES WERE SQUEEKING AGAIN AND I TOOK THE TIRES OFF MYSELF AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW. THE PADS WERE SHOT AS WELL AS MY ROTORS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS AGAIN ON 35000 MILES.

I AM BY NO MEANS A LEAD FOOT RIDING MY BRAKES. MY OTHER CARS WOULD GET 60-70,000 MILES ON A SET OF BRAKES BUT THIS CHEVY BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GM IN DETROIT TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS TO THIS BRAKE ISSUE BUT WAS GIVEN THE BUM RUSH!

GM WONDERS WHY IT IS GOING BANKRUPT??? THE BOYS IN THE FRONT OFFICE EVIDENTLY ARE A DIM CLUELESS BUNCH!

- Ronald P., Medford, MA, US

problem #10

Nov 022006

(reported on)

Malibu 3.1 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

THE BRAKES ON THE 2003 CHEVY MALIBU SUCK. AT 22000 MILES MY BRAKES WERE SHOT. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW PADS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD REPLACE THE PADS AND TURN THE ROTORS FOR ONLY $400.00. AFTER I STOPPED LAUGHING I LEFT AND WENT TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AND PADS REPLACED BUT LESS THAN....

- Ronald P., Medford, MA, US

problem #9

Nov 012006

(reported on)

Malibu 3.1 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

I have had brakes replaced at 23 000, 38 000, 48 000, 60 000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!

- wildaboutjesus, Cleveland, TN, US

problem #8

Dec 112006

(reported on)

Malibu LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles

I am on brake set number 3. 20,000 and then again at 36,000. And the pedal itself makes noise. 45,000 miles now. Sweet.

- Thomas B., Tory, MI, US

problem #7

Nov 292006

(reported on)

Malibu 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

This car eats brakes pad like crazy. First time I have to replace the pads was at 12,000 miles. Then about every 10k - 20k miles after that. Have not had this problem with my 01 Chevy Cavalier.

This is getting really old....

- Joshua Y., Warren, MI, US

problem #6

May 072006

(reported on)

Malibu

  • 51,000 miles

second time for the brakes to be fixed.

- Deborah J., Wetummpka, AL, US

problem #5

May 072006

(reported on)

Malibu

  • 38,000 miles

Best thing you can do is replace the rotors & pads with aftermarket parts rather than going to the dealership. The aftermarket parts that are the same quality as the dealership parts are about $20 per rotor, usually the dealership charges $60-80 per rotor for the same thing.

I bought the car with 21000 miles on it from the dealer, 17000 miles later I had to get new pads, and the rotors turned. The pads also do not have the typical "squeal" so you know it is time to change them. At 51000, I had to do it again, and now with 62000 it is again time to change. I don't ride the blasted things, and in fact I am hesitant to even use them at all anymore.

- Deborah J., Wetummpka, AL, US

problem #4

May 072006

(reported on)

Malibu

  • 62,000 miles

this is third time in 3 years of ownership!

- Deborah J., Wetummpka, AL, US

problem #3

May 232005

(reported on)

Malibu LS

  • 46,000 miles

I had to replace the brake pads and turn rotors at 20k then same again at 36k. At 46k I had to replace the rotors and put pads all the way. This is out of control.

- nriggs, Houston, TX, US

problem #2

Apr 282005

(reported on)

Malibu LS

  • 11,000 miles

Rotors were turned by the dealer at 11,000 miles. Now it's happening again at 29,000 miles and dealer wants to turn rotors and replace pads at my expense.

- Ken S., Batavia, OH, US

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