2001 Chevrolet Malibu LS from North America - Comments

I own a 2001 Chevy Malibu LS and didn't have any problems with it until recently. All of the sudden it's one problem after another. The blow does not work on setting 1 & 2. I don't think it's fair that there are so many people with this problem and yet Chevy refuses to recall this. My check engine light has been on for about a month now. My temperature gauge has now just stopped working. The mechanics say they haven't really seen a problem like this. I like my car, but it's now becoming a headache more than anything. Looking to trade off.

Well uh my Malibu LS 2001 has some problems with the battery; not sure if is the alternator or battery itself, but the ignition was replaced and I HAVE NO REVERSE! My transmisson is crap.

Today I went to gas up, and went in and came out and my car did not start, so I called for a boost. Yeah, this car causes a lot of trouble, and also I have the engine light on and park light.

I don't know if I should even fix it any more. I was thinking of putting gas on it and blowing it up (joke). No, but it was a idea.

My cousin bought a used 2001 Chevy Malibu, 3.1 V6.

He has had the intake manifold gasket replaced, he has had trouble with the coolant temperature, and he has had a new computer installed and programmed.

After installing a new battery, the keyless entry no longer works, and the latest problem - while driving down the road 55-60 mph, the rpm (randomly) sticks between 1800 to 2300, and does not return to normal idle. I disconnected the cruise control cable from the throttle, but the problem still remained.

The rpm stuck again at 2300rpm, we pulled off the road and pop the hood, and to my amazement, the throttle was fully closed and slack in the accelerator cable, with engine still running at 2300rpm. Computer or Electronic Advanced Timing??? The only way we could get the rpm to drop back to normal idle, each time after rpm would stick, was to switch car off and restart the engine. I told him I believe he had purchased a LEMON!

Basically I have owned numerous amounts of cars ie, american and japanese, and european.

My 2000 Malibu LS 3.1L v6 is a lemon; everything was fine until 120 000, besides the fact that I was constantly replacing brakes ore breaks; either one, I just don't know anymore.

So I just replaced a tie rod, 2 shocks and 2 struts with the mounts, rotors, pads, shoes, rear brake drums.

The squeak you hear is the rear stabilizer bar bushing needing to be replaced and or just lubricated every damn year, lemon.

What else, ohh yeah, intake manifold head gasket for radiator needs replacing, lemon, tune-up again, lemon, also replaced both front wheel hub assembly which includes the bearings, lemon.

Don't buy Chevy anymore; it's uneconomical and buying a car is a liability not an asset, but if your car is costing more to fix than bringing in money, get rid of this Chevrolet Malibu because it's a piece of LEMON people.

And that's my rant, thank you for listening.

Ohh yes, and all this work came to a little over $2000. The intake manifold gasket will run me another 600 - 700 $$$$$$$.

Seriously, if my credit was better I would have saved a bundle... GETTING A HONDA.

I own a 2001 Chevy Malibu LS that I have had for only 2 years.

Apparently, I got it at the wrong time in its' mechanical life cycle, because it has had one problem after another, and I mean literally.

I got it with 50k on it, and soon had to have the recall fixed on the blinkers. They just worked when they wanted too.

Next came the theft system, which included the light always staying on and never knowing if the car was going to start or not... had that reset twice, now the light still comes on, but not as frequently.

Then ABS light telling me, supposedly that the brakes were ready for replacement or whatever, got them fixed, light stayed on. Had to pay to have the computer reset.

Have had the brakes and rotors changed twice in 2 years (once a year) and was told that this model is notorious for uneven wear... even though since getting new tires on car when I first got it, I have had them rotated EVERY 10k, or about every 3rd oil change.

Fuel pump then went out and so did catalytic converter. Maybe those two were just normal vehicle wear.

Then the head gasket problem that is so often mentioned.

In all, I have had this car for 2 years and have spent about $5,000 on it. The blue book on it is only around $3k. Unless you have the $$ to put into this car to make it a good car, STAY AWAY from it! I'm still having problems and I shouldn't have spent half the money on it so far that I have already! God knows I couldn't afford it, I just thought that if I got this problem fixed, it would be fine for awhile. Guess not! If you have a complaint or just want to check it out, go to www.carcomplaints.com

People, if you want to get a Malibu, you guys should have gotten the 2004 Chevy Classic. Read all the reviews about this car; it's PERFECT, it is verrryyy reliable and for all you saying you will never buy a american car again, IT'S 2008, American car companies have improved A lot, especially GM.

I have a 2001 Malibu LS. This Car is the best car I have ever owned. I bought it new and now have 180,000 and all I had to replace on it is a few sets of brakes. I drive this car like a rental and it takes all I put it through. I'm feel bad for all the Malibu owners that have had bad luck with theirs.

I have a 2001 LS that I purchased new. I've had the usual problems with the intake gasket... but I don't know anyone with a 3.1L V-6 who hasn't had that problem. I had a '98 Buick century with a 3.1L that had the same problem. My son has an '00 Malibu, same thing. The dealer even admitted it was a problem and GM should've had a recall.

Other than that the car has only had a few quirks here and there. I also had the blower stop working on 1 & 2 but that was a simple replacement of the switch. There's a resistor in there that burns out. No big deal. Only other problem I've had was a faulty fuel gauge sensor. I've got 90,000 miles on the car and for the most part it's been a good vehicle. I'm looking forward to getting a 2009 Malibu next year.

I purchased a 2001 Malibu two years ago used. We have replaced just about everything. The latest problem is about two weeks ago, the car would stall when sitting at red lights. That lasted about a week, now it will stall when slowing down and starting up. Took it to Autozone and had them run the scan came up as EGR valve and MAF sensor. Not even sure if this is exactly what it is. I replaced the air filter and it stopped some of the stuttering. I am tired of putting money into a car that just won't run. I agree with the lawsuit someone wrote about. Something is definitely wrong when this many people have the same problem with the same car.

I have a 2007 Chevy Malibu, only a year old, with so many problems with it. Only has 19000 miles on it.

I was coming down a mountain and my rotors start shaking, and my brakes locked up. I had to turn it off to get the brakes to unlock with it in drive.

I am so disappointed with my Malibu. I never had a problem with my Chevy that I used to own; a 1992 Corsica. It ran mountains all the time with no problems with brakes.

The dealership told me they can really get hot, that other people have been calling asking why their rotors shake like this.

And that was the first time I ran it on a mountain. I don't run my car, but around to appointments. I take it in for oil changes and check ups. I take very good care of my car.

It's in the shop this week to see why the engine light is on.

Window shield wipers on low are, acting like they are on delay.

The key rings need new batteries already; they should last 10 years.

I am so upset with my car; these problems should not happen just being a year old.

If i wanted a car I had to fix all the time I would have bought a used car. I needed a reliable car to take my two disabled children to their appointments.

We bought a 2001 Chevy Malibu. When we bought it from our uncle he had already had the transmission replaced.

3 days after putting it on the road, the engine blew because of the gaskets. We replaced that.

We've replaced the brake system several times.

We've also had to replace the fuel pump.

After all the work we put into it, it was involved in a front end collision hard enough to break off the back seat and the airbags never deployed.

I know Canada has a class action suit against GM to reimburse for some of the expenses. I want to know if anyone in the US does. We have put over 3000.00 in this car for problems that GM knew about.

I've have a 2001 Malibu since new. I stopped putting ceramic pads on the brakes and get 40K out of them. At 60k I replaced the intake manifolds and at 104 k the catalytic converter (this was due to the intake manifolds I suspect). To me that's not too bad. Oh, and the starter grinds, but it starts every time.