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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,480 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2000 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

engine problem

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2000 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #56

Jun 012016

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2000 Chevrolet Impala. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle fire and engine oil may deposit on the exhaust manifold recall notice. The consumer stated the vehicle caught of fire.

- Dunn, NC, USA

problem #55

Apr 052007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 62,269 miles
4-2007 gas was pooling around engine, replaced intake gasket, next time I drove car, same problem, they had to do over ( their dime) because failed to replace O-ring. 9-06-07 would not start at gas station, 9-13-07 pass lock sys. Installed ignition switch lock cylinder. 11-13-09 turn signals, tail lights not working, between 11-13-09 @ 4-07-2010, I have been back several times, because signals failed off and on while driving. Told me, they could not do anything until they could see it fail, which it did on 4-07-2010 while I was close to shop. Flasher switch/relay bad, replaced. 6-10-10 harmonic balancer worn and serpentine belt & seal replaced. 2-23-12 water pump leaking, replaced. 6-14-12 replaced sparks plugs, wires, complete injection flush. 9-14-2012 strong fuel smell (fumes) inside car and under hood, performed fuel leak test, no visual signs of fuel leak. Checked vent canister, gas cap, no fuel codes. Have been fumes several times since but by the time I drove to shop could not smell fumes. 4-22-13 fumes very strong inside car and under hood, drove to shop and they could smell fumes, put it up on rack and checked all underneath, no sign of leak under car or under hood. No one can tell me what the problem is but say process of elimination is only way. Why on 6-10-2010 need to replace serpentine belt and seal and again on 2-08-2013 remove and replace serpentine belt and belt tensioner"? when this car reached 62,000 I have had nothing but trouble with it and now I am afraid of a fire, gas is leaking somewhere!!!! I only have 97,461 miles. Is not there some way or someone who can find origin of the fuel leak"

- Hermiston, OR, USA

problem #54

Aug 042004

Malibu

  • miles
Coolant in the oil. Has always over heated in stop & go traffic, no one knows how to fix but is aware of the problem & says GM could care less & won't fix it. How many complaints do you need before this very common complaint is recognized & is recalled"??????"

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #53

Jul 092011

Malibu

  • 200,010 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2000 Chevy Malibu. The contact was driving 90 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled over and called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed for the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and was advised that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was 200,010. The VIN was unavailable.

- Barstow, CA, USA

problem #52

Nov 022009

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. While the contact was driving approximately 60 mph, the engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician stated there was a leakage within the intake manifold gasket which could result to the engine overheating and potentially causing a fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,000. Updated 02/23/11 updated 02/28/11

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #51

Jun 032005

Malibu

  • miles
Had hazard lights replaced 5 years ago, problem continues. Water pump blew, intake manifold needs replaced. Dex cool problem car also refuses to start from time to time, takes about 10 minutes to decide to start.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #50

Sep 282008

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle began to overheat. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and they stated that the intake manifold failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic stated that the engine failure was common for this year, make, and model vehicle. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 63,000.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #49

Nov 022008

Malibu

  • 76,000 miles
Noticed coolant leaking for the 2nd time in 2 years. This is now the 2nd time to replace intake manifold gasket. The 1st replacement was done 2006 for ~$750. Now the estimate to replace gasket and flush cooling system is ~ $800. New radiator may be required if the service shop can not flush oil out of the radiator.

- Peachtree City, GA, USA

problem #48

Jun 122008

Malibu

  • 113,536 miles
I was driving to Texas from Missouri, doing the speed limit which is 70 and on a busy interstate and on a bridge with know shoulder, and my 2000 Chevy Malibu just shuts off, no warning and was nearly hit by a semi 18 wheeler on the bridge, I finally got off the bridge, and 15 minutes it starts back up again and I go another 20-30- miles again same problem, so a Chevy dealer in ark by the name of petus.works on my car, put a map sensor on car and charges me $158 and tells me it is fixed. And told me the problem was fixed, well 100 miles down the roads it happen again, well to make a long story short, and the last 60 miles I had to have car towed at $4 a mile. I read that there was a recall on my car. I need answer, I want to be able to go back to my home in Missouri, if need to my mother is sick and I am stuck and afraid to travel for fear of breaking down. I think it is a wide spread problem with Chevy with the Malibu.

- China Springs, TX, USA

problem #47

Oct 312007

(reported on)

Malibu 6-cyl

  • miles
2006 Chevrolet Malibu. Consumer complaint on lemon law. Consumer believes his vehicle falls under the lemon law specifications. The consumer stated the defective caliper design caused premature wear of the calipers and rotors. After replacing the factory supplied calipers, the premature rotor and brake pad wear ceased. The intake manifold was replaced several times. Once the new gasket material was implemented the intake gasket no longer leaked. The safety hazard light control assembly on the steering was replaced three times because the dealer replaced defective components with additional defective components it was finally determined the hazard light switch was covered under a special agreement with NHTSA, however, GM refused to honor the agreement.

- Pierpont, OH, USA

problem #46

Aug 262007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

From the time I got my car in 6/07, I have also had problems with the ac system having a mind of its own. 1 and 2 won't work and the ac power light flickers on and off while driving and resetting it to pull the air from outside instead of circulate. The previous owner also stated that she had problems with the car not starting in the morning and having to wait about 15 minutes. Haven't had any problems with it stalling, but have only had it 2 months. Occasionally while at a light or in park, I feel the car jolt slightly and the RPM gauge moving, and while in park pressed the gas to see what it would do, and while my foot was steady on gas, the RPM went up and down like crazy. Mechanic friend of mine looked at motor briefly and said I had a bad sensor.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #45

Feb 152007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2000 Chevy Malibu. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut off without warning when she attempted to accelerate. She was able to restart the vehicle after waiting approximately 40 minutes. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The warning indicator light illuminated when trying to restart the vehicle; however, details re: The warning indicator was not in the manual. The warning indicator was of someone sitting in the seat and the contact confirmed that it was not related to the seat belt. The left and right turn signals failed intermittently, unless the hazard button is used. There is a recall for the exterior lighting hazard flashing warning lights switch (NHTSA campaign #03V327000); however, the dealer stated that her VIN was not included. The current mileage was 144,778. Updated 02-01-08.

- Westminster, SC, USA

problem #44

May 192007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
I have had ongoing problems 3 years., approximately with frequent low coolant levels and low oil levels, in addition to noticing a strong odor of coolant after turning car off. I was informed recently, during a routine oil change in may, 2007, of a common problem often observed in GM 3.1 L and 3.4L V-6 engines. The intake manifold gasket leaked and allowed cross contamination of the coolant and oil systems. The oil system leaked into the coolant system, clogging the flow of engine coolant and damaging other systems, gaskets and fluids. The coolant leake D into the oil system as well, causing engine wear. Now I am told it will cost about $1000 to replace the intake manifold gasket, in addition to all the other gaskets affected by this leak. The main expense is for the labor to reach the intake manifold gasket in mid-engine. I was also informed that this problem affects all GM 3.1L and 3.4L V-6 engines since 1996, and that these engines have not been recalled, in spite of the frequency of this complaint. My vehicle is no longer under warranty, but since this engine's problem has been known since before I purchased the car, I believe I am justified in requesting that GM cover the cost of any necessary repairs to replace this leaking gasket before the engine is destroyed.

- Augusta, MI, USA

problem #43

Mar 102007

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,099 miles
2000 Chevy Malibu intake manifold gasket failure, $800 to fix. Replaced gasket at dealer, told car was a fixed and then the head gasket fails, within hours of leaving repair shop.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #42

Jul 302006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,654 miles
While driving my car along the freeway and without any notice the car went from having a normal temp to red lining on the temperature. I immediately slowed the vehicle down and turned on the heat. At this point no heat came out and soon afterwards the vehicle overheated and died. I cruised it off the freeway and onto a side road. I was in the middle of nowhere and a passerby was nice enough to stop. I ended up refilling the coolant and was able to drive to where I need to go and return home. I had refill the fluid level multiple times. I took it to a radiator shop that stated that the seals on my engine were leaking exhaust into the fluids which caused the vehicle to overheat. They stated that Chevy was having trouble with the dexacool coolant in the vehicles and that it was eating away the seal in the engine.

- Edwards, CA, USA

problem #41

Sep 152006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 46,369 miles
2000 Malibu engine gaskets had to be replaced. The air condition control head was replaced.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #40

Oct 062006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
: the contact stated while parked in the driveway, a leak was noticed under the vehicle. It was driven to the dealer who determined the intake gasket needed to be replaced.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #39

Jul 132006

Malibu

  • miles
I first noticed that the coolant was leaking from below my car. It has 76,000 miles. The intake manifold gaskets are defective. This is a problem that I have researched and discovered that many, many others have experienced this. This is a $1000 problem that I feel Chevy has refused to recall because at $1000 a pop, who would?

- Racine, WV, USA

problem #38

Apr 042006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles
: the contact stated while traveling 60 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was pushed off the road each time and it restarted after waiting a few minutes. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop where a computer diagnostic showed no problem. The repair shop replaced the map sensor and a fuel relay, in an attempt to remedy the problem, however the problem still occurred. Updated 05/10/06

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #37

Apr 212006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles
: the contact stated while driving the heat indicator light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled off the road without incident, coolant and water was added to the radiator. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, upon inspection the intake manifold gasket had been leaking. The gasket allowed the coolant to leak onto the exhaust, causing the vehicle to over heat. The manufacturer was alerted.

- Sun City, AZ, USA

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