engine problem
8.3
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$1,124.00
Average Mileage:
67,602 miles
Number of complaints:
14 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replaced head gasket (11 reports)
- new engine (3 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2000 Chevrolet Malibu leaking coolant, head gasket failure
2007Sep 27
(reported on)Malibu 3.1L
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
Just had to have a new head gasket installed. Coolant was leaking on ground and mechanic said he didn't find water in the oil yet, but changed oil to be safe. Cost $697. Have always been a Chevy man, but will not buy another. Here I come Toyota.
2007Jul 06
(reported on)Malibu 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
Bought a 2000 Chevy Malibu for my step daughter, mechanic said it looked good for the price. 3 months later the temp started running hot, added coolant and found it was leaking through head gasket into oil. Coolant contaminated oil and engine was trashed.
After googling the problem I found head gasket failure was a common problem, apparently they don't use good materials for the gaskets but GM says its not a common problem. I'd like to Thank GM for making disposable cars for America that don't make it to 100,000 mles, Good Job GM. I'll never buy another GM product again.
Toyota can provide some pointers to GM.
2007Jul 09
(reported on)Malibu 3.1L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
if gm would've let owner know, the mass damage could've been fixed. had to have engine replaced because of anti-freeze in the oil because of a bad intake gasket.
2007Apr 23
(reported on)Malibu V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,000 miles
CHECK OUT AUTO BEEF BEFORE YOU BUY THE CAR. I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS MALIBU, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT, AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I FOUND SOMEONE CAPABLE OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, THE LOSS I SUFFERED WAS RIDICULOUS. GM SHOULD DEFINATELY RECALL THE HEAD GASKET. WHERE ARE THE REAL MECHANICS AT!!!!
2007Jan 28
(reported on)Malibu
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
My car started losing a bit of coolant. I noticed that the radiator cap's seal looked a bit oil-soaked and was not sealing. There was brown junk in the coolant, but this supposedly happens with Dex-Cool. Not long later, it became apparent that oil is getting in the coolant and the head gaskets are leaking coolant. (Thankfully no coolant in the oil yet.) The problem is from Dex-Cool. It can destroy gaskets, yet you have to use it or your warranty becomes invalid!
About a year ago, I replaced the head gasket on an '87 Saab. It only went out because a radiator hose broke, lost all it's coolant, and overheated the engine. Yet, it still only needed a head gasket. Here I am with a fairly new car which I have maintained carefully, and the head gasket is out because the manufacturer is too stupid to use a material that is resistant to their own coolant!
2006Apr 28
(reported on)Malibu
- 56,100 miles
Coolant leak, fortunately I had extended warranty, and still paid $200 out of pocket for Thermostat co-payment etc. Total repair was over $750.
2007Jan 01
(reported on)Malibu White V6
- Automatic transmission
- 3,000 miles
The car started running hot, and wasn't holding water. We replaced the water pump and found out that the head busted, most annoying thing ever!
2006Nov 04
(reported on)Malibu 3.1 V6
- Automatic transmission
- 48,300 miles
The car was dealer serviced always. It was driven by my 83 year old mother, and then I bought from her at 35000mi. IT WAS NEVER ABUSED. It began losing coolant, and the real problem, the head gasket was only looked at as a last resort. In the meantime, it was diagnosed as needing a new water pump to fix it running hot. The subsequent overheating cracked the heater core, and the oil in the water cause such gunk, it ruined the radiator and thermostat. As of now, I have spent $3,541 on repairs on this one problem. GM will have nothing to do with it, even though the car had an extended GM warranty of 5 years - 50000mi. Since the car is now 6 years old, it's out of warranty and it's my "tough luck".
2006Nov 25
(reported on)Malibu LS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,030 miles
The car is 6 years old but has only 30,300 miles on it when I found out from my mechanic when I went to get my 3000 mile oil change and he told me the anti freeze was going into my oil I was like so what does that mean. He said it was a head gasket and it would cost me about 1000 dollars I said how could that be there is only 30,000 miles on the car. I kept an eye on the anti freeze and the oil to see if the anti freeze went down and the oil went up well sure enough thats what happened so I will get in touch with chevy and see if they have a recall on the head gasket before I spend that kind of money for a repair.
2006Aug 28
(reported on)Malibu
- 160,000 miles
Coolant leaked into engine resulting in needing engine replaced which I couldn't afford. Malibu on 6 yrs old and I still owed car finance company.
2006Apr 17
(reported on)Malibu
- 68,000 miles
lost anti freeze twice dealer made repairs in a few hours & got it back
2005Aug 23
(reported on)Malibu
- 29,000 miles
I would never buy a Chevy car again. The problems with the gaskets are only the start. The wiring inside sucks (had to have speakers replaced, air blower fails on the first two settings ect) also the sensor in the gas tank will go AT LEAST ONCE. What is worst is that Chevy does not stand by its product, anyone who has a Malibu from will attest these same issues yet there is no recall????? Of course most of these problems should pop up about 100 miles over the warrenty. When my first gasket had to be replaced they covered it even though I was over the warranty since I had just had the car in the week before for a tune up while it was still covered and they didn't catch the problem. But when it went again two years later, I had to pay. I spoke with two different mechanics and they both said they saw the same problems whenever a Malibu came in. Stick with Toyota or Honda folks.
2005May 09
(reported on)Malibu
- 69,000 miles
This is a common problem with the GM 3.1 V6 engine. Pitiful GM refuses to stand behind it's product and repair them under warranty. This happens regularly with GM and it's terrible engines.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Oct 31
(reported on)Malibu LS 3.1L V6
Wow! I fixed this problem my self. Now I know why they said it would cost $650-$800.
To replace the leaking manifold gasket, you need to remove EVERYTHING on the top end.
Remove the drive belt, that was hard for a drive belt. Remove the power steering pump.Remove the coil pack (for the spark plugs).Remove the alternator and mounting brackets. Remove the plenum, the top part of the manifold. Remove the fuel rail Carefully, the fuel injectors cost about $100 EACH. Remove any hoses in the way. Once you get down to the bad gasket, you have to remove all the push rods just to replace the gaskets.A job like this is very hard to do it yourself, pay the money if you have it.I am a mechanic and work on many cars, this 2000 Chevy Malibu gasket replacement is the top worst ever repair. I will not buy this car or a car that has this same engine. This engine needs to go back to Chevy. Hey Chevrolet if you read this, we the people that fix your mistakes would like you to know. Remember that People repair the cars. Put that into you formula when you make cars.
Rick B.
Glendale Hts., ILL, USA
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