Intake gaskets at 40,000.
Complete front struts at 50,000.
Brakes every 30,000 miles.
Alternator at 55,000.
Tie rods at 65,000.
CV axles at 65,000.
Lots of electrical problems.
Serpentine belt every 30,000.
I've been through all the usual nonsense with this pile. I've owned 30 cars over the years, many of them real beaters, but I've never had such trouble with a car. The CV axles were bad at 65,000, I started to work on them when I noticed a loose tie rod end. A slight twist and it came apart. What if this had happened to my wife at 65 MPH?
The car is very uncomfortable for anyone over about 5'10", even with power seats. The back seat is almost useless, any adults will find their heads jammed against the roof and rear window.
My mother gave me this car with only 33,000 miles on it at 4 years old. The dealer she bought it from, and wanted to trade in into, basically wouldn't take it. They offered 1750 for a car she paid over 18,000 for new. Even for free, I overpaid.
I agree 100%. I am the unfortunate owner of a 1998 Chevy
Malibu LS which I bought in a hurry after my creampuff Buick Regal was T-boned by a housefrau in a Mercedes AMG-SUV who was talking on her cell pone.
After making the dealer change the front brakes and rotors, and fix the "wet engine" (all the intake manifold gaskets), I took the car.
The speed control on the heater/AC fan only worked on one speed. I've had to replace this rheostat on a printed circuit card on two of my last three cars- a Focus and a Nissan Sentra, but getting this out and putting it back was incredibly difficult. There's that engineering again.
The body has areas where rust is coming through.
The headlights are glazed over as if it has cataracts.
Just this month, at 67,000 miles, I had to replace the
100,000 mile platinum spark plugs and wires.
I had the sealed cooling system flushed- tons a gunk came out. I replaced the starter this past Friday. It left me stranded and I needed a tow, of course.
All in all, this car is the reason GM's business is in the toilet. They are making crap cars. Your first statement echoes my own thoughts- a terrific combination of crap engineering and crap manufacturing. I will have to suffer brain damage before I willingly buy another GM car.
I'm shopping for a Nissan starting next week.
HB.
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