1997 Chevrolet Malibu review from North America
"Hah, I can do it in one word, unreliable"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I was in need of a car, and after searching extensively I found a Malibu for about a thousand bucks, with 176,000 miles on it. It started off terrific, the driver assured me the car was working, and it was running great for the initial week. I drove my car around for a month, and it's suddenly giving me problems.
The head gasket has cracked and I must replace it. My glove box is broken, the keys are non responsive on the passenger side door, so there is only one way to get in, and that's driver side. Need to replace door handles on both sides. Driver door handle sticks, so I need to pull and push at the same time. Open door indicator is flashing, even though I am SURE that all doors were securely closed.
Oh, don't even let me mention the overheating on this vehicle!
Now I know, some of those are nick knack problems, but the head gaskets and overheating is what does it for me.
My dad has a foreign marked car with close to 200,000 miles on it, and has yet had to make any major repair or maintenance.
No more American cars for me. Imports only.
General comments?
The only thing good about the car is that the power steering is superb. Everything else, is a headache.
Recommended reviews
| I love my car; it is comfortable, reliable, easy to handle, and small |
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| Reliable and rugged |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 176000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 16th July, 2008 |