You can add my name to the list of individuals shelling out an excessive amount of money to replace what appear to be defective parts and/or manufacturing designs in the 2003 chevy malibu. We purchased the car new in feb 2003 and repair costs to date are in excess of $2,000 and the car only has 52,000 miles on it. First, the brakes and rotors needed placed after about 40,000 miles (most of which were interstate driving)...cost was over $300. Next, we were getting the car repaired after an incident with a deer and the mechanic informed us that coolant was starting to leak into the engine because of a faulty intake manifold gasket...repair cost almost $1,000. Finally, my wife was recently stranded because the fuel pump failed...repair cost $1,000. All of these incidents occurred within the past 6 months. By far the most frustration thing is that all these items appear to be very common failures with this make and model made by chevrolet and there has yet to be any recalls...very disappointing. My entire experience has continued to snowball ever since we had issues with getting the dealership to fix items that were still under warranty. General motors seems to be more focused on earning profits that compete with the foreign producers rather than taking care of their current customers. If things don't change, the company will have very limited repeat customers.
2003 Chevrolet Malibu engine complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 88 of 88, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have been informed that I need a new intake manifold gasket. I was told that gm went to a cheap cam shaft and intake gasket on most of the 3.1 to 3.8 litre v6 engines about 7 years ago and that over 90% of these engines have a leaking intake gasket which causes the cheap cam shaft to rust and then break destroying the engine. I was told that this happens between 50,000 and 90,000 miles on these engines, that there are no replacement engines available in the salvage yards and that gm continues to produce this defective product. Now im looking at approx. $600.00 to replace just the intake manifold gasket. I don't think that I should have to foot this bill to replace a problem that gm has known about for a long time and refuses to correct.
The car has died at night in not a very good side of town and would not start on 10/07. Had it towed and they found the intake manifold gasket damaged $1,000.00. Feb 08 car would not start after work. 10 miles away from home. Had the car towed back to firestone thinking it was the same thing instead the anti-theft system had caused the car not to start. 4/08 car again would not start after work. Please force gm to take responsibility for their vehicles malfunctions before some one gets hurt because of the anti theft system.
Intake manifold is leaking coolant.
Manifold intake gasket cracked and leaked into the engine. This caused the car not to start.
My 2003 chevy malibu had died on me 3 times while I was driving it and would not restart. Twice I had it towed to the dealership (jba in glen burnie, md) and they cannot find a problem with it. I can't drive it, because I have a 45 minute commute to work and cannot afford to keep having it towed.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet malibu. While driving 30 MPH for approximately ten minutes, the temperature gauge displayed hot. The coolant light illuminated, which indicated that the coolant level was low. The contact stopped the vehicle and checked the level. He then took the vehicle to carmax and they confirmed that the lower intake manifold gasket caused the failure. The failure was repaired. The current and failure mileages were 45,000. Updated 12/12/07
Coolant is leaking, mechanic said it is our lower intake manifold gasket that has failed. Also he says to flush out the dex cool because it is a horrible coolant.
I have a 2003 chevy malibu, the coolant started to slowly leak out, then proceeded to leak faster within a few weeks, we couldn't see where the coolant was going. I called my older brother every weekend, and his 2001 pontiac grand prix was in the shop getting a new engine installed, his grand prix, and my chevy malibu have the same engine, I asked what happened, and he said that his coolant started leaking, he couldn't see where it was going so he took it into the shop, and the mechanic told him that a common problem with these vehicles made by gm was that the lower intake manifold gasket is faulty. I have looked it up on line,and there is a class action law suit in canada against gm for this problem, as well many people say (including my mechanic) that the dex cool is very bad for you vehicle. Anyway, my brother got his car to the mechanic too late, and after shelling out 700 to fix the lower intake manifold gasket, he ended up having to pay 5900 to replace his 2001 grand prix engine. As it turns out my malibu had the same problem with the lower intake manifold gasket, we have yet to replace it, it is worthless, the mechanic who is chevy certified, said that the coolant has gotten into our oil, and the engine is worthless, we don't have the 5900 to shell out for a new engine. I have contacted gm twice, the first time I talked to a representative on the phone, and he said that he doesn't know why they are not recalling the gasket, it is a known problem, but they aren't going to recall it, the second time I talked to them they told me that they will not discuss the matter with me any further. I am a single mom with three kids, and a full time job, and full time school, I have a car that when I bought it the salesman talked me into, he told me "a malibu will last you a very long time," as it sits in my parking lot while I am left riding the bus, and making payments on a car that does not run, due to a problem that gm knows about.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle engine hesitated and lost all power at various speeds under normal road conditions. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who could not identify the problem.
Dt*: the contact stated at 75 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road and after a half an hour, it restarted. The dealership was unable to duplicate the problem and there are no codes on the computer.
Vehicle experienced sudden stalling at various speeds. Took vehicle to the dealer for checkup, but the cause was undetermined at this time.
There was a delay and or lack of power when passing. The delay was in between acceleration. *ak
While driving 40 MPH engine failed. As result, consumer engaged the vehicle in neutral and coasted to the side of the road.
When driving under normal conditions the idle sticks. Rpm first time stuck at approx 2000 RPM, 2nd time was 3,000 RPM. Only way to get idle to release is to turn engine off and re-start. Dangerous as it makes it hard to judge how much pressure to apply to brake pedal to stop vehicle.
Car has stalled numorus times in traffic. At city speeds and highway speeds, even in the fast lane at rush hour.have you ever seen a semi that is tailgating try to stop at sixty-five in your rearview mirror because your engine just stalled? I fear for my life every time the dealer calls and say's come pick it up I think we got it fixed? How can they send me out with a vehicle that they dont even know if its fixed? When they can't even find out what is causing it to happen? It's been in the shop eight times for stalling. They replace a part and send me out on the road like a test rat hoping the brand new car I bought keeps running so I don't die or worse cause someone else to. They have checked the wiring,computers, engine, even duplicated the problem.how do I ever feel like I can drive this car safley. I have no choice because the big car company dont care for me. It's sales they care about. It's been at the dealership for six days now, no problem I'll send my payment in even though it's been in the shop for about thirty days the last four months.
Brakes started to make a rubbing noise which progressed to a squeaking noise. Also, brake pedal would go down to the floor to stop the vehicle. Dealer has replaced brake pads/front rotors/ brake booster/calipers, and brake lines, but the problem still exists. *ak the front driver window failed to roll up, the engine light illuminated, the A/C control was inoperative and cooling properly, the vehicle pulled to the right while driving down the road, the vehicle overheated. *jb
Problems with pc valve on chevrolet malibu. *mr emission error-the computer had given incorrect readings/pcv valve smog valve. (ongoing problem) *scc
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