Future buyers beware, don’t invest your money into a Malibu that’s over 140k miles. It’s just not worth it. This problem starts as a simple misfire. You’d think you’d just change the spark plugs and the coils right? NOPE! Seems like there’s a bigger issue with the engine itself. Misfire won’t go away like a clingy ex. It’s just there at your front doorstep waiting for you day and night. It’s also just as annoying when you have guests riding with you. The car shakes/rattles and “esc/traction” lights and bells go ringing like crazy! Kind of like a naggy in-law. Bottom line, this mechanical issue sucks! Even the mechanics will tell you to get a new car since the repairs will cost more than the value of the car.

This is the third time this happened. The dealer fixed it the second time last week and less than 100 miles later here we are again. First time they replaced injector for cylinder number 1. The second time a wire going to the same cylinder. Now who knows. It only happens in the afternoon ride home. Morning it does not have a problem so it has to be a heat related issue. All of a sudden the message board will flash on ESC Traction, then if you push the info button it will say something about traction disabled, and then the engine light come on. At this point if you let the RPM drop below about 2000-2200 it will run rough and misfire. Stutters from a stop until you get the RPMs up. Looking up Lemon Laws now.