6.5
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $360
- Average Mileage:
- 111,100 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- mechanic replaced it (3 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
- repair manifold (1 reports)
- replaced manifold, catalytic converter (1 reports)
Took it to Chevy dealer for diagnosis and to see if covered under warranty. Dealer said no warranty coverage and wanted $130.00 for one hour labor to look at it! Had to make an appointment for next week. On way home I stopped at a neighborhood garage and the mechanic diagnosed it as a cracked manifold for FREE! He said he sees these all the time in Malibu's! Said cost would be $300. to $400. to fix. Needless to say I didn't keep the appt. at the Chevy dealer!
There is a GM document #10134C: Special Coverage Adjustment that covers up to 2008 Malibu. GM should be forced to extend that to subsequent years as it is the same part and the same problem!!
- 09malibu, Greenville, ME, US
click to see larger images
I just noticed it one day, the exhaust was louder than usual, and i smelled exhaust smoke in the interior. I took it to a private guy he didn't find anything (perhaps i wasn't clear enough) but i eventually did the troubleshooting (i do some of my own wrenching), removed the exhaust heat shield and there it was, a HUGE crack on the manifold. I had the cylinder head replaced about 2 years ago (about 88k miles) now it just hit 132k but that was covered under warranty. I ordered a junkyard manifold so that's on the way and will replace it with that but the work has not been done yet. Emailed the dealer, no response as of yet, I'm doubtful they'll react favorably being the car is way out of warranty. But I see there are other drivers experiencing the same thing. I think its GM using cheap Chinese parts.
- rreidinger, Dover, NJ, US
The car sounds like it does not have a muffler at all.
- Danielle D., Bossier City, LA, US
The exhaust manifold has cracked for three years in a row. I have fixed it 2x at the cost of about $275. It continues to crack and I'm not sure what to do to fix this problem. My motor head was replaced by the dealership at no cost due to an apparent defect by the manufacturer, but my exhaust manifold continues to crack year after year. Very annoying and expensive to repair. It puts gas fumes to the interior of the car and it sounds terrible. Also my temp gauge stops working intermitently which causes my AC to not work as well.
- JENNIFER D., Navasota, TX, US
The FIRST cracked manifold occurred in September 2012. The dealer said it was not covered under warranty. So, I sourced one from a used parts dealer, paid $150 for it, and paid my local mechanic $100 to install. Wouldn't be too upset EXCEPT, now just a little more than a year later-- SAME THING. I see on searches that others have had this same issue.
IT IS DANGEROUS-- LEAKS GAS FUMES INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE DEALER--HE'S GOING TO SAY, 'TOO BAD,' AND THEN I'M GOING TO THE NC ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LODGE A FORMAL COMPLAINT.
THANKS,
CHARLES DIXON
- mitchellmill03, N. Wilkesboro, NC, US
I know I exceeded manufactures warranty. But to have an exhaust manifold crack. This is something of a fluke.I have owned many makes of vehicles and this is a first. My question is did the manifold crack because of the blockages in the Catalytic converter. Or is this two different problems? Anyway I repaired the car with the help of a friend. Paid for the parts and since we installed the parts no labor cost was involved. A savings of about Two Hundred Dollars.
- Kenneth B., East Stroudsburg, PA, US
First vehicle ever with a cracked exhaust manifold in my life. Where is the quality in American cars???
- George D., Easton, PA, US
Here we go again! There were hints back in August, but now its really bad. Another cracked exhaust manifold as before with exhaust gases leaking into the cabin. It is especially bad in the morning when my wife starts it and heads to work. This will be the FOURTH manifold when replaced.
I was hoping that by now, Chevy would own-up and have a safety recall.
- mitchellmill03, N. Wilkesboro, NC, US