2000 Chevrolet Malibu Engine

I HAVE A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 38000 MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I WAS TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GASKET FAILURES ON THE MALIBU BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $645.00 BY THE DEALER. I AM NOW UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR OR SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS NOW IN STORAGE. *JB

(1) THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. (2) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS RADIATOR FLUID DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS. FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED OR CAUGHT FIRE, BUT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF COOLANT CONTAMINATING THE ENGINE OIL: FURTHER CONSEQUENCES WILL LIKELY OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. (3) THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED. A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM BUT REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTRACTED. A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER (BILL HEARD) GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $1000 FOR THE REPAIR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAULT IN CHEVY MALIBUS AND OTHER GM CARS WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. THE SERVICE REP AT FIRESTONE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM SEEN IN THIS CAR, AND THE SERVICE REP AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IN MALIBUS, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAIL "MORE OFTEN THAN NOT." *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 49000 MILES. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE ACTION ON IT. THE MOST DISCOURAGING THING ABOUT THE PROBLEM IS THE CONTEMPT THAT GM SEEMS TO HAVE FOR THEIR CONSUMERS. THEY RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS REGARDING THE PROBLEM, YET THEY DO NOTHING FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY AN OBVIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT. MY REQUEST FOR COST ASSISTANCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS WAS MET WITH A FLIPPANT ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LOSS OF MY LOYALTY AS A CUSTOMER.*AK

AT 55000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. LOOKS LIKE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU.GM MUST DO SOMETHING.*AK

MANUFACTURER USED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO LEAK COOLANT AND OVERHEAT. WHY USE PLASTIC? WHAT HAPPENS TO PLASTIC WHEN IT CONTINUOUSLY HEATS AND COOLS, IT FAILS. A RELATIVE HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN A DIFFERENT MODEL CAR FROM THIS MANUFACTURER AND HAS THE SAME ISSUE. NOT MODEL SPECIFIC, BUT ENGINE SPECIFIC. CHEVROLET 2000 MALIBU.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 03V327000. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BECAME BECAME INOPERABLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE WAS REGISTERING AS HOT ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK *TS

HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET ON MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. *AK

OIL LEAKED INTO COOLANT SYSTEM OF OUR 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND FLUSHING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS ENGINE ONLY HAD 40,900 MILES ON IT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS PARTICULAR GM ENGINE (3.1 LITER).

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 61K MILES. DISCOVERED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AS OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED AND COVERED UNDER RECALLS, BUT SOME WHICH ARE NOT. WORST PROBLEM IS INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK AND COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL. GM DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO CAMPAINS OR RECALLS ON THIS ITEM, ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON DOZENS OF WEBSITES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

LIGHT FOR LOW WATER WOULD COME ON. ABOUT 3-4 TIMES EVERY 6 MONTHS STARTING 2002. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, EVEN JUST A FEW BLOCKS. AT THAT POINT, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME WHEN THE MAJOR TROUBLE STARTED. THE REPAIR REPORT READS "LOW COOLANT LIGHT IS ON AND THE OIL APPEARS TO HAVE WATER MIXED... ADVISE... LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING -REPLACED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. ALL RELATED GASKET/SEALS. 6 HOURS OF LABOR IN CARY, NC. TOTAL BILL $768. + $50 FOR TOWING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS A LOT FOR A RELATIVELY "YOUNG" CAR. THANK GOODNESS THE LOW WATER LIGHT WORKED -- BUT NO EXCUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

INTAKE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN DEC 1999. THE CAR HAD 6 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING A LITTLE, AND I AM HAVING TO FILL THE COOLANT UP ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS(WITH NO NOTICABLE LEAKS). *AK AT THIS POINT I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SHOPS TELLING ME THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDS REPLACED (COST 5-700 DOLLARS!!)--I STILL OWE 11000 ON THE CAR. I HAVE READ AND SEEN MANY OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND AM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUT. OF COURSE NOW THE CAR IS AT 66000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY--SO I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIR--SINGLE MOTHER/GOING TO SCHOOL/WORKING FULL TIME THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT OUT OF A NEW CHEVY....

INTAKE MANIFOLD BEGAN LEAKING AT 45000 MILES (500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE), HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 4 TIMES IN 65,000 MILES. THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE JUST DIES. IF I LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE IT WILL CRANK BACK UP. ASE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE, SO I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING FORUMS ON-LINE AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD AND SEVERE PROBLEM, I UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FAN SWITCH HAS QUIT WORKING ON POSITONS (SPEEDS) 1 AND 2...THAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 37,000 MILES ON (NOT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY) ....I ONCE WAS A DIE HARD CHEVY MAN..THANKS TO THIS CAR I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE : 2000 MALIBU VIN : [XXX] I'VE READ THAT THERE ARE TECHNICIAN NOTES, SENT BY GM CORP., ABOUT A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE 2000/2001 MALIBU V6 3.1 ENGINE FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING AND FOR PISTONS,VALVE GUIDES AND LIFTERS WITH VALVES 1,2,3,4 AND GM'S REMEDY WITH UPDATED PARTS LIST TO REMEDY THE DESIGN PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THESE WITH THE APPROPRIATE VIN #. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ASSISTANCE BUT HAVE ONLY RECEIVED A PERSON THAT TRANSMITS BUT DOES NOT RECEIVE IN THE CONVERSATION. I HAVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR OIL CHANGES, AIR & FUEL FILTERS ETC. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF GM CORPORATE BULLETINS TO THE TECHNICIANS ACKNOWLEDGING THE DESIGN FLAWS AND THE CORRECTIONS AND PARTS LIST TO REMEDY THE DESIGN FLAWS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, ONE YEAR OLD WITH 26,879 MILES. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS WHO HAVE STATED THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I PRESENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT DON'S BROOKLYN CHEVROLET WHERE THEY ARE REPAIRING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND DIAGNOSING FURTHER PROBLEM WITH THE PISTONS AND LIFTERS. ROBBY STATES THE PISTONS NEED REPLACING TO ELIMNATE THE PROBLEM. I AM A LOYAL CHEVROLET CUSTOMER FOR OVER 30YRS AND CURRENTLY OWN A 1993 CHEVY LUMINA EUROSPORT, PURCHASED NEW, 2000 CHEVY MALIBU, PURCHASED USED 1 YR OLD, AND A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA LS, PURCHASED NEW, BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND NEVER HAD A NEED BEFORE, I NEED ASSISTANCE AS THIS HAS BEEN A DESIGN FLAW THAT GM KNEW ABOUT, I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR GM'S PROBLEM. GM SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEMS NOW BEFORE AND ENGINE BLOWS ON THE FREEWAY OR ANYWHERE ELSE AND SOMEONE IS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED. PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL AT [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ANTIFREEZE USED IN OUR 2000 MALIBU HAS BEEN FOUND TO FREQUENTLY CAUSE DETERIORATION AND FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE HVE BEEN MANY CASES SITED ON THE INTERNET WITH NAMES AND SPECIFICS AND CHEVY/GMC REFUSES TO ADMIT IT IS THE ANTIFREEZE. THEY TOLD ME LAST NIGHT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PLANT WHERE THE CAR WAS MADE.*AK

VEHICLE OVER-HEATED, TAKEN TO DEALER WHICH HAD BEEN SERVICING THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW. DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND WATER PUMP CHARGING $1400.00 THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24000 MILES ON IT AND WAS LESS THEN SIX MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. *CB

THE LOWER INTAKE IS LEAKING COOLANT, CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WOULD NOT COVER IT UNLESS THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED A HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OR ANOTHER TYPE OF MAJOR DAMAGE. I WORK WITH 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE MALIBU'S AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

AFTER STOPPING FOR AN ERRAND AND SEEING A PUDDLE OF COOLANT ON THE GROUND, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE LEAK CHECKED ON. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND A LEAK IN THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET. THE SHOP ADVISED THAT THIS REPAIR WAS COMMON AND POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE TYPE OF COOLANT USED AND POSSIBLY DEFECTS WITH THE GASKETS OR INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEY PROVIDED AND ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS BETWEEN $600.00 AND $800.00 DEPENDING IF ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED (POLAR CHEV IN WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN) WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE REPAIR AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THEY DO A LOT OF THESE REPAIRS ON THE MALIBU AND IMPALA BUT THE REPAIR IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED ALSO. THEY SAID NO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OR BULLETINS ISSUED ABOUT COOLANT LEAKS ON THE 200 CHEV MALIBU. FROM RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE IT APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES AND CHEV REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB

LEAKING COOLANT FROM AROUND ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER DIAGNOSIS: LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. MILEAGE 30,000. PREVIOUS REPAIR COMPLETED ON WATER PUMP FOR BAD BEARINGS AT 28,800 MILES. MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT USED IN THE BUILDING OF THESE MOTORS.*AK

THE ENGINE COOLANT CONSTANLY RUNS LOW OR EMPTY. I HAVE TO REFILL IT ALL THE TIME. NOW I FIND OUT I MIGHT HAVE A LEAK FROM THE COOLANT THAT IS RUNNING IN MY OIL. CAR ALSO HARD TO START SOMETIMES. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO FILL UP THE ENGINE COOLANT CONSTANLY. SHE HAS A 2002 MODEL. HAVING TO FILL IT UP THAT OFTEN IS NOT NORMAL. *AK

MY 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU (36,000 MILES) RECENTLY STALLED 4 TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. ON FRIDAY 10/7 I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO CUT THE CAR BACK ON. AT WHICH TIME IT RESUMED DRIVING NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 10 MILES. THEN IT STALLED AGAIN. I TOWED THE CAR INTO TOWN AND DROVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. (YES, THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY AROUND TOWN). THE REPAIR SHOP TESTED IT AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP I DROVE ABOUT 40 MILES (AGAIN AT GREATER THAN 75 MPH) AND THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. IT STARTED BACK UP IN 2-3 MINUTES. THEN 30 MILES LATER STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME ON A PART OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER! I COASTED THE CAR UNTIL THE SHOULDER REAPPEARED, PULLED ON TO IT AND RE-STARTED THE CAR. THE CAR DOES NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM IN MY DAY-TO-DAY DRIVING AROUND TOWN. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT SUITABLE TO DRIVE FOR LONG DISTANCES OR AT HIGH SPEEDS DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *LA