This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving up a very steep incline at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to overheat. The contact managed to pull over and called a tow truck. Once the tow truck arrived, the driver placed coolant into the vehicle. The contact drove to her residence and called her local mechanic. The intake manifold gasket was repaired. On June 9, 2008, the vehicle began to overheat again on the highway. The contact pulled to the side of the road and drove to the nearest service station. Shed added coolant into the vehicle, drove home, and called her local mechanic. She took the vehicle to the shop and the intake manifold gasket was repaired again. The failure mileage was 102,599 and current mileage was 133,000.
I am a single mom of two, and am frustrated that all of my savings have gone into this money pit. I have replaced the intake manifold twice, and its going out again! I have replaced the water pump, heater core which are dying, and the theft system twice. I have had a fuel leak by my engine and had it enter inside my car and its doing it again, my ABS brakes only work when they want, and these are just a few of my complaints!
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was an antifreeze leak in the intake manifold gasket. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they confirmed the leak. She had to place antifreeze in her vehicle every month because it would leak out constantly. She notified General Motors twice. The first time, they did not respond to her via email. The second time, she spoke with them and they stated that she would need to bring the vehicle to an authorized dealer. From there, they will determine whether or not there is a defect. General Motors further stated that the contact would be responsible for the repairs. The dealer acknowledged the defect. The failure mileage was 50,00 and current mileage is 60,000. Updated 01-29-08.
I have Malibu 2001 with 56000 mls on it. Today I had to change lower intake manifold gasket.$950 total...beside this a had problems with my theft system, brakes, light hazard switch. Air conditioner..etc. This is the my last GM car..period.
Lower intake manifold replacement. Started losing antifreeze - leak on driveway. Mechanic traced the leak with dye tablets and sealant tablets -- after several months I took it chev. Dealer and they tested everything and replaced the lower intake manifold and was told this model car had manifold problems. It cost me $990. I had this work done about a year ago and thought maybe with the other Malibu's having problems there might be a recall -- I'm waiting.
- Fort Washington, MD, USA
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- the contact stated that the front brakes on his 2001 Chevrolet Malibu (50000 failure mileage) had to be replaced every six months for the last two years. The contact also stated that antifreeze leaks into the oil. This will be the third time that the intake manifold gasket has had to be replaced. The vehicle has been taken to a mechanic six times concerning these issues. The brake and manifold problems still exists. The current mileage was 130,000.
I had taken my vehicle in to get a simple oil change and was informed my vehicle has a faulty intake manifold gasket which is a very expensive repair costing any where from$ 800-$1000. On my searching the internet I have found that this is one of the problems that GM cars are having over 70,000 miles. Intake manifold leaks can lead to any number of very serious, and expensive problems. While the part itself isn't costly, the labor to repair is costly.
After having to refill my engine coolant on a regular basis I finally took my 2001 Chevy Malibu into the dealer to have it looked at. I expected a leaky hose but found out the problem was a failed intake manifold gasket causing the coolant to drain into the engine. The dealer guaranteed me that if I didn't perform the $900 repair that the engine was shot, and that the odds of saving the engine even after the repair were only 50/50. The other options I was given were to completely rebuild the engine ($3000+) or "cut my loses and trade it in now." After doing some research, I discovered that this is an extremely common problem, resulting from defective gaskets, that Chevrolet has done nothing to remedy.
I noticed on my 2001 Chevy Malibu that the coolant light was coming on so I took it to the dealership where I purchased it. He raised the hood and said I was low on coolant without even taking the lid off. He said he would have it checked out and it would be an hour or more so I stayed since I had no way of getting home. Two hours later he came out and said I had a intake manifold gasket leak, a water pump that leaked at one time but wasn't leaking now but needed replaced and handed me a bill for $1200. Mind you this car only has 39,000 miles on it and when purchased it already had 25,000 on it and I have only put a little over 14,000 on it myself and it is only 5 years old. I have never encountered my car overheating and always had the oil change when required. I felt that this major of a problem shouldn't be happening so I called GM motors and they called back and said it wasn't under factory warranty and that I would have to pay to have it fixed. I have found out that it is unsafe to drive as my engine will blow up if I drive it. I also found out that it is not an isolated problem, that Chevy malubu's from 1997 have had this problem and GM has ignored it. I feel that GM motors should pay to fix my car as I can not drive it for safety reasons at all. If I drive it I could blow my engine and cause a major accident as the car will stop.
: the contact stated while traveling 45 mph, the temperature gauge went above the normal range. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, where it was determined the fuel regulator was spewing fuel onto the engine. The intake manifold seals were no longer there, causing fuel to get into the oil. The repair shop replaced the intake gasket, thermostat, timing belt, cooling fan, fuel regulator, and radiator cap. The manufacturer was alerted.
I took my 2001 Chevy Malibu ls in to get the oil changed. The mechanic told me that a common problem for the GM engines of my year and others was the intake manifold gasket leaking coolant, and that if left un-fixed, the engine would eventually seize up. I was told that the material that the gaskets were made out of has since been changed, which would imply that they know it to be faulty. I contacted GM and took it into the dealer where they confirmed the problem. I don't know if this issue makes the car unsafe to drive, but I had heard that there was a recall in place for faulty alternators and figured this problem was about equal to that in potential danger. Out of curiosity, I looked on the internet and there are plenty of websites with people that have the same issue.
I have had to replace my 2001 Chevy Malibu's manifold twice, and I have notice that I am not the only one. This is not normal wear and tear this is a manufacturer defect.
The contact stated the engine overheated due to leaking of coolant. The coolant had to be added weekly. She took the vehicle to a dealer, who determined this was a problem with the intake manifold gasket, which was replaced.
The contact had the egr valve, thermostat, water pump, intake gasket, and head gasket replaced. Additionally, she had the block inspected for cracks. It has been 18 months since the replacement of the aforementioned defects, and the check engine light came on again, and there was a decrease in the amount of gas mileage. The dealer reprogrammed the computer, and informed the contact that the vehicle was running properly. The manufacturer has only offered a discount on a new vehicle.
I had to repair a manifold intake gasket, leaking water.. I have talked to several auto repair shops and they said this is a common problem on these Chevy Malibu. The Chevy co. Should have to do a recall on this problem. Unfair that the consumer has to pay the bill to have this fixed. Please check into forcing a recall on this please.
While driving home from work in 90+ degree heat my car overheated to the point where I had to have it towed in and was told by the mechanics that my coolant had been leaking and causing the car to over heat there blowing the head gasket and causing me to have to pay $1200+ to have another engine put it. I have heard this is a commom with the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. I don't know what the repair shop done with the old motor, but it was fried.
I have recently had to take my car to the mechanic to get fixed. It was leaking the engine coolant and the manifold gasket had to be replaced which cost over $800 to fix. Now, the check engine light is on and that will be another expense that I will have to make on a 4 year old 26,000 mile car.
Vehicle would not start. Consumer had the intake gasket and intake sensor replaced. Vehilcle was in the repair shop once again. Consumer triedto contact the manufacturer.
I notice that my coolant had to be refilled because the "low coolant" light was staying on in the dash. The repair shop told me they had to replace the intake manafold and I now have coolant in my engine and in my oil. This is a potential dangerous problem with the Malibu. The engine could blow creating other problems. The same problem has been noted with many other Malibu owners.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Clovis, CA, USA