2000 Chevrolet Malibu Engine

DT*: 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

DT*: 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.

WHEN I WENT TO THE STORE I NOTICED A SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM MY CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE SINCE I ASSUMED IT MIGHT HAVE OVERHEATED OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT AND IT WAS ONLY THE RUN OFF. I ADDED MORE FLUID (EVERYTHING WAS FINE) AND NOTICED THE NEXT MORNING IT LEAKED AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC (TO GET MY HAZARDS MODULE REPLACED SINCE THEY BEGAN TO START A FRITZ) AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND WOULD BE $850, NOT TO MENTION HE REFUSED TO OFFER THE RECALL CLAIM BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAPERS. *JB

I WENT IN TO FIND OUT WHY I HAVE NO HEAT AND THE REPAIR GUY SAID THERE WAS ANTI FREEZE LEAKING ON TO ENGINE BLOCK. HE SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKETS AND THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED REPLACING AND IT WOULD COST $1500. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN ODOR WAS DETECTED AND THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BY RAISING THE HOOD, THERE WAS FLUID ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

THE INCIDENT IS THE FAILURE OF THE WATER PUMP, A SLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AT ONE POINT THE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT, AND ALSO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED BY THEIR MECHANIC EXCEPT THE OXYGEN SENSOR. HOWEVER, THE CAR STILL HAD A PROBLEM WITH IDLING AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE MECHANIC. MY HUSBAND HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES, ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY A POLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WERE JUST MASKED ONLY FOR US TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THEM FOR THEM TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF US. *NM

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK..LOSS OF COOLANT..OVERHEATING ENGINE..HEATER MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES BUT ABATED SOMEWHAT AFTER SERVICE AT A RADIATOR REPAIR FACILITY RODDED THE RADIATOR TWICE ,FLUSHED AND REFILLED THE SYSTEM WITH NEW COOLANT AND INSTALLED NEW THERMOSTAT. MILEAGE WAS 39,500. *NM

THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CAR HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING AFTER THE CAR WAS WARM. WOULD USUALLY HAVE TO GIVE THE CAR GAS TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS THE LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS SINCE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR THE LEAKING GASKET WAS OVER $650 AND TOLD WAS QUITE COMMON IN 2000 MALIBUS AND IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE OR DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE WIRES, PLUGS, IGNITION COIL AND FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS AN ADDITIONAL $475. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WIRES, PLUGS, COIL AND FUEL FILTER AS USUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS, HOWEVER, THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH IS QUITE COMMON FROM BOTH YOUR WEBSITE AND CHEVY WEBSITE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED A POTENTIAL RECALL. OR INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME FUNDING BY CHEVY TO OFFSET THE HIGH REPAIR COSTS TO MANY OWNERS OF THE MALIBU WHO HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU LS IN DECEMBER OF 2002. AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE SOMEONE WORKING IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A GM DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD MADE A BIG MISTAKE. HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE ONLY WAY OF FIXING THE PROBLEM ALSO INVOLVES REMOVING THE ENTIRE ENGINE FROM THE CAR. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED A MECHANIC TO FIND HOW COMMON A PROBLEM THIS IS FOR THE ENGINE. HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT HAPPENED TO ALL GM V6 ENGINES. THIS FAILURE IS A MAJOR MECHANICAL EXPENSE WHICH I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO FIX. WITH LESS THAN 65,000 MILES I DO NOT FEEL A CAR SHOULD DEVELOP MAJOR MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *NM

DEX-COOL COOLANT LEAKED INTO ENGINE OF MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MANY GM OWNERS, AND IT IS WELL KNOWN BY EVERYONE EXPECT GM. BOTH THE DEALER AND CHEVROLET SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THAT I MUST PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED, ABOUT $1500.00. CHEVY MUST ADDRESS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM .*JB

I PURCHASED MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 8,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY. EVEN THOUGH I FAITHFULLY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES I AM NOW EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH I AM STILL PAYING OFF. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT GMC HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE THAT IS IN MY VEHICLE. IT NOW HAS AN INTAKE VALUE FAILURE AND PISTON PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER VECHILES AND AS LONG AS I MAINTAINED THEM THEY RAN GREAT UNTIL 100,000 PLUS MILES. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE? NOT IMPRESSED. I THOUGHT GOING GMC WOULD GIVE ME A RELIABLE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE TO PUT IN OVER $1,000 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,000 TO $4,000. WHEN I GO TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHILE I WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND!!!!!

3.1 ENGINE LEAKING COLLANT AT HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM 3.1 V6 ENGINES. ABOUT $600.00 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR.

INTAKE GASKET COOLANT LEAKING PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTS TO OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURES.

DT: THE RESERVOIR FOR THE COOLANT HAD A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSED IT TO LEAK. IT CAUSED AN O-RING TO PULL AWAY AND LET COOLANT SPLASH ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 750 TO 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN HOT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY TO HAVE PROBLEM REMEDIED. *JB

TOOK MY 2000 MALIBU IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WAS TOLD THE INTAKE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING. COULD REPAIR IT FOR $825. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. WAS QUOTED $765. HAD DEALER FIX IT. BUT HAD TO USE THE "UPDATED" GASKETS. WHICH NEEDED "UPDATED" BOLTS.(APPROX. $40 EXTRA) WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING FROM WEEP HOLE. REPLACED. TOTAL COST $966.56. MY CAR HAD 51,XXX MILES ON IT. I FEEL THAT GM HAS HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING AND THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AS THERE IS NOW AN UPDATED GASKET TO BE USED. WAS TOLD BY ONE SHOP THAT IS THE DEX-COOL EATS AWAY AT THE GASKETS. IF THE COOLANT IS GOOD FOR 100,000 OR 150,000 MILES. GM SHOULD COVER ANY DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED BY IT WITHIN THAT MILAGE.

FUEL PUMP WENT BAD ON 06/01/05 ($583). WHEN SERVICE WAS DONE TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. TO REPAIR IT WILL COST $1300.

VEHICLE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE OUT THE INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY THE DEALER OF THE PROBLEM FOR REPAIR. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE COMPONENT SHOULD BE RECALLED TO THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS IT EXHIBITS. *NM

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE "INTAKE IS LEAKING COOLANT" ON MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU AND THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $825.00. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ARTICLES OF OTHER MALIBU OWNERS ON THE INTERNET THAT EITHER CURRENTLY HAVE OR HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT WOULD SEEM APPARENT THAT THE INTAKE IS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THAT UNLESS REPAIRED, THE ENGINE WILL BE DESTROYED. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING ON A FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR? THE LOSS OF LIFE WOULD BE TERRIBLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY 17-YEAR-OLD SON THINKING THAT I WAS PURCHASING A CAR THAT WOULD PROVIDE HIM SOME ADDED PROTECTION AND NOW I FIND OUT HE IS DRIVING A TIME BOMB. IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS REPORTS, I WOULD LIKE CHEVROLET TO REPAIR MY CAR AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE ON ALL 3.1 L GM ENGINES LIKE THE ONE IN MY 2000 MALIBU. GM DEALERS KNOW THAT IT ALWAYS LEAKS AROUND 70 K MILES, AND JUST KEEP TRYING TO REPLACE IT. EVERY MECHANIC IN THE COUNTRY SEEMS TO KNOW THIS FACT, AND MAKE ABOUT A THOUSAND FOR IT FROM EACH OWNER.

COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM MY 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MY COOLANT PUMP. THE CAR HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND COOLANT PUMP. THE COST WAS $1250. I WORK AT A COMPANY WHERE I KNOW ALL THE OTHER CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER: ONE OWNS A 1999 AND THE OTHER OWNS A 2000 MALIBU, BOTH WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THE 2000 OWNER HAS HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED FOR $950. THE 1999 OWNER HAS HAD THE COOLANT PUMP REPLACED AND WILL PROBABLY NEED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. I FEEL THAT CHEVROLET HAD INITIALLY INSTALLED DEFECTIVE CHEAP PARTS IN THIS MODEL AND WILL NOT OWN UP TO IT. *AK

CAR HAS HAD A LEAK FOR A MONTH AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT TO A CAR MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD AN INTAKE GASKET LEAK AND THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON AMONG CHEVROLETS. THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAD DESIGNED A POOR GASKET AND THAT ONCE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THEY CAME OUT WITH A MORE DURABLE GASKET. THIS REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $700. WHY IS IT THAT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE MAKERS RECOGNIZE THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHY IT IS THAT THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX A FAULTY OR DEFECTED ITEM? *NM

MY WIFE'S 3.1 GENERAL MOTORS V6 NEEDED A MANIFOLD GASKET AND RELATED ITEMS REPLACED ON HER 2000 MALIBU WHICH ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. MY 1995 LUMINA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING WITH MANY SHOPS AND GM DEALERS (AND A CO-WORKER WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY)...IT IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT @ EVERY 40,000 MILES. IT COULD TURN OUT TO BE A VERY BAD DEAL FOR MANY CONSUMERS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW OF DEFECT FOR YEARS. JUST A HEADS UP FOR YOU. *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, FAN DOES NOT OPERATE ON SPEEDS 1 & 2, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEED REPLACED EVERY YEAR, HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE COOLANT IS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AS NOT NEEDING SERVICE FOR 150,000 MILES BUT IT TURNED VERY ACIDIC IN LESS THAN HALF THAT TIME AND ATE THE GASKET CAUSING THE NEED FOR COSTLY REPAIRS OR ELSE RISK PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. TURN SIGNAL ISSUE RECALLED BUT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SIGNAL INTENTION TO TURN OR SWITCH LANES AND WAS UNSAFE ON HIGHWAYS. HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE COMMON FUEL PUMP FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. NOT RECALLED IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM OF THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAN BECOME SAFETY ISSUE IF ENGINES CATCH FIRE OR FAIL ON HIGHWAY DUE TO COOLANT LEAK INTO MOTOR OIL. COST TO REPAIR LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET QUOTED AT $743. CURRENTLY DISCUSSING WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED IN TSB 03-06-01-010B (10/24/2003) AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. TSB DESCRIBES REPLACING FAULTY GASKET WITH A NEW GASKET THAT HAS IMPROVED SEALING QUALITIES. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY TSB FOR 2000 MALIBU OTHER THAN TURN SIGNAL RECALL. GM IS BEING INTENTIONALLY DISHONEST WHEN OWNERS INQUIRE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA TAKES NOTICE OF THE MULTITUDE OF SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE AND CAN OBTAIN A SATISFIABLE RESOLUTION FROM GM TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE SAFE FOR OWNERS OR JUSTLY COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE.*AK

THE MALIBU ENGINE SMELLED HOT AND FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WE HAVE ADDED FLUID A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE GASKET WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD REPLACE THIS SINCE IT IS A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. *NM

THE INTAKE GASKET ON MY 2000 MALIBU IS LEAKING AND IT'S GOING TO COST 550.00 TO REPAIR IT. CALLED JACKSON CHEVROLET AND SERVICE MGR. STATED HE PURCHASED MALIBU FOR WIFE AND HE ALSO REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET. THE SERVICE MGR ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE MALIBUS WITH THAT MOTOR ARE BAD ABOUT THE INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID CAN'T PAY FOR REPAIRS. WILL NOT BUY A GM AUTOMOBILE AGAIN. STILL NOT FIXED. PUTTING WATER AND ANTIFREEZE IN IT EVERYDAY. *NM