1997 Chevrolet Malibu LS 3.1

Summary:

A waisted piece of steel

Faults:

40,000 miles rotors/brakes, front, back.

117,000 miles engine replaced.

50,000 miles alternator & water pump.

100,000 miles rotors again.

100,000 miles passenger seat does not adjust.

30,000 miles engine light, theft light, ABS light.

General Comments:

The car overall performance is great, but when you take it to get checked out no one knows what is the matter.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd August, 2003

1997 Chevrolet Malibu LS 3.1

Summary:

Cheap car, but you get what you pay for

Faults:

2 Alternators.

3 Sets of tires (expected with the miles though)

Water Pump.

Exhaust "flex" coupling.

5 sets of brakes.

3 batteries.

3 front wheel bearings.

Idler pulley bearing.

A/C-Heater control panel (2nd one is broke now as well)

Idle-air solenoid.

Windshield washer fluid pump.

General Comments:

This car is OK, I guess. That is, I spent $16,000 for it and put about $2700.00 over its current 180,000 life. Things started to "fall apart" around 45,000mi. In the last 50,000 miles, I have replaced the brakes once, the tires once and the exhaust coupling.

The car does still get 30mpg on the highway which is good to me.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 21st July, 2003

1997 Chevrolet Malibu LS 3.1

Summary:

If you can keep it together, not too bad

Faults:

Squeaking in front end when going over bumps. Had control arms replaced very early on, then I didn't care about the noise.

Rotors replaced at 65,000 wore too thin to turn. Ok thus far.

A/C has always cut off a few times and especially if tryin to turn fan to higher speed.

Rear tail lamp housing leaks.

Front Left head beam gets moisture in it.

Think (know) I have antifreeze leak around intake manifold. I'll keep adding fluid as neeeded.

General Comments:

As long as it doesn't cost me too much, I'll go until the tires are square.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th July, 2003

18th Feb 2004, 18:15

Dump this car as soon as possible. I had a 97 and thought it would go forever as long as I kept piecing it together. Boy was I wrong!I took it to the dealer with a tapping noise and they said they would have to take the engine apart to find the problem. My next surprise wasn't pleasant, a $4,000 estimate for a new engine. They said the pistons and bearings were all scored. I took extremely good care of this car especially the 3000 mile oil changes. This came without any warning and I could not afford this amount so the trunk is full of engine parts and I had to have it towed from the dealer. I still can't prove if the dealer lied to me about what was wrong. It's pretty bad when you drive it into a dealer and have to have it towed out. Again, dump it now.

15th Jun 2004, 08:57

Rear lamp leaks - had a similar problem in my 97 standard (w/ the LS engine). GM apparently stopped making Malibu tailights so when mine became damaged, the dealership attempted to give me an old Lumina light that did not fit, I think, and it leaked and destroyed my trunk and spare tire. Free replacement of the lamp or refurbishing of the trunk? Of course not!

1997 Chevrolet Malibu LS V6

Summary:

The Malibu is perhaps the worst car ever made

Faults:

Three front tire blowouts under 50,000 miles. (2 Firestone, 1 Goodyear)

The ignition would freeze. I could not turn the key. Chevy's solution what to "take off your shoe and hit it with the key in several times". This is not a joke. This happened often.

The original battery lasted less than 1 year.

The wipers broke when there was too much snow on them. There was a recall for this. I paid to fix it before the recall. I have since sold the car and Chevy will not reimburse me for the repairs.

The electrical system would sometimes just stop like there was a short. If I waited it would eventually come back. The dealer would not fix it as they could not reproduce it.

After 50,000 miles the font end became very sloppy. The control was very bad, almost dangerous. I traded it in instead of fixing it.

At 50,000 miles both front wheel bearings went bad.

The drivers side door lock quit working at about 50,000 miles.

At 50,000 miles it started using quite a bit of oil. Some leaking some burning. Oil changes were performed every 3000.

The check engine light would come on when it rained.

At 50,000 miles it overheated in normal driving conditions on a normal day. The thermostat needed replaced.

General Comments:

This was the wort car that I had ever owned. It replaced a Pontiac that I thought was the worst car ever made until I purchased the Malibu. I was looking for a reliable car and did not get it.

The Malibu left me stranded often. It left my wife stranded several times also.

Chevy did nothing to fix any of the problem. Chevy did nothing to compensate me when I had to get rid of it. It was just costing me too much money and it was only two years old with under 60,000 miles on it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th June, 2003

30th Jun 2014, 06:37

The Chevy Malibu is the worst car ever made? It would take two years to list all the cars worse than the Malibu.