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.
Engine leaks anti-freeze, turn signals go in & out, fuel gauge not always right, making a loud banging noise, and now dead won't even start. 2001 Chevy Malibu 3.1L V6 $22,000 & only 67,000 miles.
Fuel gauge reading 1/4 tank remaining and ran out of gas on highway. Filled up with gas and gauge would read full, then empty, then full again. Gauge has been inaccurate and need to use trip meter to determine when to fill tank.
Filled gas tank, drove 100 yards, gauge drops to read empty. Happens occasionally in the same manner. Erratic. Requires utilization of the trip meter to track fuel usage. On one occasion gauge read tank was about 1/8 full, car stopped running and was out of fuel. Second issue: "theft security" light has begun to come on erratically. Driving along, light will suddenly come on. After departure of car, and return, driver must then follow 10 min. Procedure to alleviate the problem. Third issue: Without installation of high quality tires on this vehicle, the noise level and wear pattern is absurd. The cupping and wearing has occured on 2 different sets of good quality tires. Upon installation of Michelin high quality tires, the problem stopped.
The consumer was unable to wear the seat belt properly because the driver's seat belt would not retract back and forth. The rack and pinion had a bad leak. The gas gauge did not work properly.
We are paying on a 2001 Malibu. The fuel sensor went out showing gasoline when there wasn't. the car stalled in rush hour traffic. The sensor was replaced but I had to pay for the fuel filter plus a deductible on my extended warranty. Next the blinkers decided to only work occassionally same week the starter started dragging then the car started to run hot. Took it to the dealer, replaced blinker switch (no mention made of the recall) replaced the starter and replaced the gasket that was leaking. When I had added coolant to get myself home the coolant that was N the car was green, the coolant I put in the car green..was supposed to be orange when I told the dealer there was green coolant in the car he said oh someones booboo unfortunately you have to pay for it...almost $300. Yesterday, long memorial day weekend left work again rush hour, car begins to make a horrible noise I pull off notice the alternator belt is coming apart but the noise that I heard had nothing to do with the alternator belt sounds like metal on metal. $1400 worth of work done in April, $800 a few months before that and now this...the car is well maintained by my husband. Now I read what I have to look forward to, the car was bought Chevy certified from a Chevy dealer.
- Fountain, CO, USA
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The fuel guage reports incorrect fuel level. You can go the the gas station and fill the car up and the gas hand will show it as being empty and before you put fuel in the tank the guage was at a 1/4 tank. You may have to turn the car off and on several times before it will show that it is full. Also, while driving all of a sudden the car will cut off in heavy traffic. One time the car showed 3/4 tank of fuel while it was empty. Luckly, I was on a downgrade and was able to get it into the emergency lane on the interstate. The dealer has told me that there is not a problem with the fuel system. Furthermore, the check engine light has come on because the oxygen sensor has been damaged by the car running out of gas.
False fuel gauge reading; NHTSA tsb #031103, 3/11/2003. My 2001 Malibu ran out of gas with fuel gauge showing 1/2 full. The engine stopped, power steering & power brakes were lost when my daughter was driving at 55mph. Light traffic volumes prevented this from being a potentially fatal situation. The fuel gauge continues to give false readings, Chevrolet has declined to correct the failed fuel gauge because the car is over the mileage warranty limitations. I have reported this fuel gauge failure to GM/Chevrolet (case #1-151341797). GM/Chevrolet has issued a tsb #01-06-04-008D titled "fuel system - inaccurate fuel gauge readings" on April 2003 due to the high failure rate of their fuel gauges. I feel that a recall may be warranted due to false fuel gauge readings when you consider that the net result of running out of fuel causes the severe reduction of steering and braking capabilities. Thank you raymond E keaton keatonr@yahoo.com
The fuel gauge on my 2000 Chevrolet cavalier and 2001 Chevrolet Malibu both register fuel when the gas tank is empty causing breakdown on interstate highway. The manufacturer states the gauges should warn driver when tank is low on gas. This was and is a dangerous situation and I have found out is a frequent occurrence among owners. Chevrolet tsb 01-06-045-008C
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Phoenix, AZ, USA