2000 Chevrolet Malibu LS review from North America

Front brake rotors at 2000 miles.

Vent selector turn switch in dash HVAC control unit at 1000 miles.

Front main bearing seal and manifold gaskets at 60,000 miles.

Resister pack (part of HVAC - no interior blower speeds on positions 1, 2 of fan switch) at 61,000 miles.

Noise coming from front struts at 25,000 miles. Dealer could not find the source. Replaced struts at National Tire & Battery. Noise returned later. My independent mechanic diagnosed the source as the upper strut mounts (which are not replaced when installing new struts). I sprayed the upper strut mounts with a lubricant (like WD-40). The noise has not returned.

To correct the front brake rotor warping problem (dealer refused to turn the rotors), I bought a pair of Stewart Warner rotors at an auto supply parts store for $150; then had my independent mechanic install them and also new pads. No problem with brakes since.

The dealer told me that the fan blower problem was in the dash control unit which had to be replaced in total. When I mentioned the resister pack, I was told that this was an integral part of the blower unit and was not user replaceable. After consulting my Haynes repair manual, the resister pack is a separate unit next to the blower motor, and was the problem. I was able to replace it myself.

I commute 300 miles per week; the car is very comfortable. It has the smoothest auto transmission of any car I have ever driven, including my wife's 2001 Camry.

But the car seems to have these four repair points as it ages that GM has decided not to do anything about. When I took the car to the dealer for the leaking oil/gasket problem, the service advisor said that "this is a common problem in this engine." At a repair bill of $900, this is a "common" problem?

I will keep the car until it is paid for, then buy a Toyota or Honda! And I have owned GM cars all of my life.