Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-66
I have a 1998 Malibu. It has many electrical problems, including dash lights flashing on their own. Also, the car will not start from time to time without disconnecting the battery.
Does anyone have a good fix on this problem?
I have read many of the problems and have experienced some of them. I have the fan problems, not working on 1 and 2, the turn signal problems (covered by recall) and that is about it. I bought a 2000 Malibu in September 2007, worked fine then, but six months now and there seem to be some big problems. One, my cruise control does not work at all, and possibly related is that the tachometer does not work either. I had it at a dealer for diagnostics, their best guess now is the body control module, but they need a specialist to check it out first. Also, my windshield wipers only work on high and do not reset when I shut them off (return to the lowered position). This may be unique to me, and it could easily be cause by a blown wiper motor. Any suggestions for the cruise and tach?
2000 Chevy Malibu. Don't buy one! To date I've had to do the following:
-2 Fuel pumps (and after the first one I religiously check and replace the fuel filter which doesn't seem to help)
-Intake manifold gasket replacement
-02 sensor
-MAP sensor
-Idle control sensor
-plugs and wires
-electric window switch
-electric window motor
-serpentine belt
-struts
-complete brake assemblies (that's to be expected with my wife driving it though)
-fuel cap
-about 20 other things I've blocked out of memory.
And now I'm getting 10 mpg and it cuts out at 3500 rpm's. I don't think I even need to talk about the interior. What a joke. Besides a couple of comments by folks on here. I've yet to meet anyone who has 1 good thing to say about these cars. Kill me if I ever buy another GM car.
I stupidly purchased an 03 malibu back in dec. of 03. To date, I have replaced...
Lower intake manifold gasket.
Brakes 6 times.
Rotors twice.
A/C switch turns off and on, and in Arizona in the summer time with three kids in the back seat, isn't good.
Water pump.
Belts.
Thermostats.
Paid for lots of bottles of coolant before we realized the gasket was out.
I will never buy another GM again, I have contacted them twice with no resolve.
The sad thing is that I traded in a perfectly fantastic 99 eclipse with no problems because I needed more room for a new addition to our family.
WOW, I should of read this site before buying my son a 2000 Malibu. I owned the car for 7 days, and it's been in the shop for 3 of them. It keeps telling me it's out of gas, then the gauge is reading wrong. It's not either of those things, so now they're changing the fuel pump; one big headache. The car just stops when my son is driving it. I have a feeling my headache just started.
2000 Malibu owner.
1-2 resistor out on switch yes.
Manifold gasket replaced yup. $900?
Brakes 3 times $$$$ (rotors warp after every time, warped now)
Surging problem is annoying cannot find problem (Vacuum? fuel pump?)
Countless front suspension parts (struts are CRAP!)
Cannot make alignment perfect
Chevy dealer selling me stuff I don't need like my
2nd lower control arm and fuel pressure regulator.
I keep saying OK, fix this last thing and we will be like new NOT! Shame on you Chevy!!!
Malibu resolves: Wagner "Edge" or "Thermoquite" brake pads (lifetime Warr.). Turn original rotors for about $15.00 each at the time of pad replacement if you can.
Take apart A/C controls and clean with a non-conductive electronic parts cleaner from Radioshack or O'Reilly Auto Parts.
Replace blower motor resistor (card) with Borge Warner part#RU872 ($20.00 lifetime warr.).
Replace routine maintenence parts on time. i.e... fuel filter (wix#33311), transmission filter (pioneer is a good brand). You might want to replace that now if you are experiencing acceleration problems. The original G.M. trans. filter might be restricting fluid flow causing erratic and intermittent shift patterns.
AC Delco platinum spark plugs (#41-101),Borge warner wire set #CH76150. Flush cooling system yearly and refill with Dexcool fluid only... Don't buy cheap parts.
A Haynes or Chiltons repair manual would be handy. Expect problems from most modern "American" built cars. You did not buy a german tank. Most non-domestic car repairs are more expensive. There are a hand full of repeatedly mentioned problems. It could be worse. HAVE A NICE DAY! (:
There is a proposed class action settlement involving GM vehicles, including the Malibu. These vehicles were factory-equipped with Dex-Cool. Dex-Cool is an engine coolant designed to protect vehicles’ engine and cooling systems. A number of lawsuits were filed as class actions against GM in state and federal courts across the United States involving “Dex Cool” extended-life engine coolant. Among other things, the lawsuits allege that
(i) Dex-Cool in the vehicles listed in the Notice caused problems with the vehicles’ engines or cooling systems, and
(ii) that certain engine components, such as the nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gaskets installed in certain vehicles, were defective.
You are included in this proposed settlement if you own or lease or previously owned or leased any of the specified vehicles and made repairs related to the use of Dex-Cool. For more information on whether you may be included in the class, please consult this site.
http://www.dexcoolsettlement.com/
I would just like to add that I have a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu and after reading all of the comments, I think I have experienced all of the problems listed. It has been one problem after another. Now my car is flashing the dash lights for problems that the auto shop says is not wrong with the car. I thought I had a lemon, but I see it goes far beyond just my car.
We have a 1999 (similar to 2000 - 200+) or so and air conditioning control head in the dash would work only when you thump near it every half hour or few minutes. Research showed me how to take the head out and use a graphite #2 pencil to use around the a/c switches behind the knobs. (round area for contact.) Don't go outside the copper areas and just a little. Also SLIGHTLY bent the tabs a tiny bit. Very little as possible or not at all. It totally cured the 3 year air conditioner problem and works very well now for 4 years.
Cruise control problem is said to be a deactivate switch right next to the brake pedal stop light switch which needs its tangs bent a bit for good contact. I'm trying this weekend to fix that. It shuts off after hitting vibration or bumps in the road.
Just easy fixes which took me a long time to research but works. Self diagnosis and process of elimination. Malibu is a v6 and gets 30 - 34 mpg at 74 mph or less with 40% city driving time. Almost 130,000 miles now and running great. Serpentine belt 1 time; water pump 1 time; alternator 1 time; battery 1 time; topped off ac refrigerant.
2000 Malibu, 99,800 miles, 1 water pump, 1 battery, 2 sets of front brake pads and rotors, 2 sets of tires, 2 blower resistors, 1 major tune up, 1 set of lower intake gaskets, oil change every 3000 miles with synthetic 5w-30, and 1 serpentine belt.
If all this seems like a lot for an 8 year automobile, then take a ride by your local German automobile dealership service bays and ask them if all they are doing is changing oil on all of those brand new cars. I will bet you all you would feel a lot better about your GM product after that.
I repair mostly foreign cars and some domestics, but I can tell you first hand, if you really want to run your credit cards through the roof, buy a german car. The parts cost a lot more and take twice as long to replace.
I have a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu and the list of problems I have read about are like hitting rewind on a DVD.
* Brakes wear out about every 6 months
* Intake Manifold went bad at 60000 miles
* Right Tie Rod End gone at 80000 miles
* Cigarette lighter inoperable
* Flasher and Turn signals sick at 100000 miles gone at 12000
* Surging on hills when in Cruise Control
* A/C does not work at settings 1 & 2
* Must jiggle key to crank
* Front suspension very squeak and poppy.
Other than the body style and size my car is probably the most defective vehicle I have ever owned.
WishIcouldaffordanewcar.
I purchased a 1998 Malibu few years ago. I think I am the third owner.
Considering mileage was about 89000 miles, and I do not drive a lot, I have thought not too bad a deal.
Needed new tires when I got it, the brakes make a racket when wet, but had them checked a couple of times and said nothing needed as yet.
I had a problem last year, where it had always started up immediately, it died out and had to be restarted a couple of times, and then had trouble starting on regular basis, had diagnostic check, and the mechanic told me he replaced a sensor? (I am 77 and a woman so he did not offer me the old sensor?? He may have just cleaned it for all I know). I would have asked for it, but he threw me by FIXING, WITHOUT advising me what problem was or how much it would cost in advance. About 200.00.
Toward end of last winter, the gearstick would not move in freezing weather!!! I had to WARM UP THE CAR, AND then it would go into gear. I recently called a Chevy dealer and asked if it was a common problem, and did he have any idea what I am looking at cost wise (on minimum social security), and he said he'd never heard of it, and would have to bring it when it is frozen??? In other words leave car with him and wait to see if the weather gets to freezing.
I have what seems like a really slow leak in tire, and checked the manual and it seems not too uncommon, and may have to replace the rim since there's nothing wrong with the tire. Tire DEALER TOOK OFF AND CHECKED AND CLEANED rim.
If ANYONE HAS HEARD OF A GEARSTICK THAT FREEZES IN WINTER, BUT WORKS GREAT THE REST OF THE YEAR, PLEASE ADVISE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT IT WILL INVOLVE TO GET REPAIRED. THE ONE THING I CANNOT FIGURE OUT IS WHERE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID???
Thanks Lalee
I own a 1999 Malibu with about 125000 miles on it. Compared too many people here, I have a great car. My problems have been the A/C (I will try the control head cleaning solution found here), the driver's door window control stopped working for about 2-3 years and then started again and works fine except for auto-down, and leaking tail-lights (I had to replace one whole set as the water shorted it out). I saw somewhere one other time that Malibus this age have documented electrical problems. Don't know what Chevy has done but with the new Malibus being the best selling car in it's class, they must have fixed something. Any help for us previous owners?
I now have had surging and low idling when stopped. When I asked a counter person at O'Reilly, he suggested that I get the Catalytic Converter checked. My wife was driving it tonight and it stalled on her at a stop. My experience says that he was right. Taking it to the shop in the next day or so.
Reading what some of you have gone through, I do have a good car.
I have a 1999 Chevy Malibu. It has about 191,695 miles on it. The only problem that I have with it is the A/C does not work at all. The rear brake light works and then does not work, but the running light and turn signal works??? Wow, figure that out.
And last but not least, I smell the oil leaking, but there is no oil spot at all under the car, and I can't seem to really locate the leak. I have decided to change the valve cover gasket, so I will let the rest of the bloggers know how that turns out. Tulsa, OK.