2001 Chevrolet Malibu review from North America

After the first 2 days the car check engine light went on, it was a sensor in the exhaust that needed to be re-calibrated.

The back door on the driver's side keeps squeaking when we open or close it.

My check engine light went on again, this time it was because of a cracked head gasket at 25000 Kilometres.

I had to get new front brake pads for my car at 30000 Kilometres, and had to get the disks machined because they were very warped. The service rep at the dealer agreed with me that there was premature break ware on the Malibu. He also explained to me that when conceiving the Malibu, GM essentially took the same breaks as on the Cavalier and put them on the Malibu. They took small car breaks and put them on a bigger car.

We leased this car hoping GM had fixed the problems we had read about the previous model years on this site. They didn't. I have another 2 1/2 years of leasing with this car, not really knowing what will be the next thing to break of malfunction on the car.

In general, I'm satisfied of the way the car drives and also the performance. Also I find that it's a nice looking car, with a nice interior and well equipped base model.

It has plenty of leg and head space, that's why we went with the Malibu. Because I'm a big guy, I always hit my head on the roof as I was getting into all the other cars we test drove, and the Malibu didn't give me that problem.

I wonder if it was worth the headaches it has or hasn't given me!!!

GM sent me a survey to fill out after I had the brakes redone. I wasn't shy about what I had to say. I told them that I would never buy another GM, because of the crap they try to sell us.