2000 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel System

ON SEPT. 29, 2010, I BOUGHT A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU IN NY FROM A NJ DEALER, THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE GAS EMISSIONS. I PAID HIM TO DO A SPECIAL EMISSIONS GAS TREATMENT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE SAME CAR ALSO HAS EXTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUES (THE TURN SIGNALS SPORADICALLY WORK AND SUDDENLY STOP WITHOUT WARNING AND THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS WON'T WORK EITHER), I SUBMITTED THIS ISSUE IN A COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE NHTSA.DOT.GOV ON YESTERDAY OCT. 22, 2010. HOWEVER I AM SUBMITTING THIS BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL GAS TANK ISSUES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR CAR. *TR

THIS IS A NICE CAR ,ONLY ONE COMPLAINT THIS CAR BURNS TOO MUCH FUEL . IT'S BEEN TUNED UP AND IT STILLS BURNS A LOT OF FUEL ! ! ! *TR

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAD A SUDDEN FAILURE OF SOME COMPONENT IN THE GASOLINE STORAGE OR DELIVERY SYSTEM. WE SMELLED GAS AND SAW IT BEING SPILLED ON THE ROAD BEHIND US. WE PULLED OVER, CUT OFF AND EXITED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF EXITING THE CAR, IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS BURNED OR HURT, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC INJURY WAS APPARENT. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S FUEL FILTER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MOST RECENT FUEL FILTER CHANGE WAS ON JUNE 20, 2007 AND IT NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ON JULY 17, 2007. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE FUEL FILTER, BUT SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT APPLIES TO HER VIN. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IF THE GAS TANK IS NOT KEPT ABOVE HALF FULL, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY, AND WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL AT LEAST 5 MORE GALLONS OF GAS IS PUT IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CHANGED THE AIR AND FUEL FILTERS. THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 10 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, AND USUALLY AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE GASOLINE SOLENOID WAS LEAKING GASOLINE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE GASOLINE SOLENOID. THE GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTION, AND POSSIBLY THE ENGINE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V302000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-295 SOUTH AT 65 MPH. APPARENTLY, GASOLINE WAS NOT GETTING TO THE FUEL PUMP. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT; I HAD TO COAST FROM THE FAST LANE TO THE SHOULDER (THREE LANES)...IT WAS SCARY! VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (BRANDOW CHEVROLET, FLORENCE, NJ). THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND SENDER WAS BAD. HAD TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 MALIBU WITH 16.000 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP JUST WENT. THE MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH FELT THIS TO BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL. HE FELT THAT THERE MOST LIKELY WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. A DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. *AK *M

GOING TO WORK CAR JUST DIES. WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. MY CAR IS A 2000 MAILBU WHICH ONLY HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT . CANNOT BELIVE THAT THIS PART WOULD FAIL THAT SOON. THIS REPAIR COST ME 500.00 THE PART ALONE WAS OF COURSE A DEALER ONLY PART. WAS 350.00 PLUS A FILTER. OUTRAGEOUS. ARE THESE THINGS MADE OUT OF GOLD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE STALLED THREE MORE TIMES. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDER ASSEMBLY, FUEL HARNESS AND FUEL FILTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *JB *LA

MY 2000 MALIBU/4DR SEDAN WOULD STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING IT WOULD JUST STOP. THIS CAUSE ALL THE POWER TO STOP WORKING(STEERING,BRAKES). TAKING THE CAR TO A GM DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIR, THEY CONNECTED THE TEST EQUIPMENT UP AND SAID THEY FOUND NO CODES. I INSTRUCTED THEM TO TAKE THE CAR ON A ROAD TEST, WHEN THEY DID THIS THE CAR STOPPED ON THEM ALSO. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THEY FOUND A TECH BULLETIN(REF:REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PICKUP SCREEN AND FILTER). AFTER THIS REPAIR THE CAR NOW RUNS FINE. IT HAS 45725 MILES AT THE TIME OF TROUBLE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE A WHILE TO RESTART AND WHEN IT DID RESTART IT NEEDED CONSTANT REFUELING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY A LOCAL MECHANIC HE INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. *AK *SCC *JB

NAR 04/10/2003 IT APPEARS TO THE CONSUMER THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE #5 FUEL INJECTOR, IT ALSO INSIGNIFICANT THAT A FUEL INJECTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 28,000 MILES. A FUEL INJECTOR IS NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO WHETHER IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND IF CHEVROLET WILL CORRECT PROBLEM. *CB

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING AND STARTING UP. *MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CONDITION IN WHICH IT WOULD EITHER NOT START OR ONCE STARTED IT WOULD HESITATE OR STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY FROM VANDALISM OR SOMETHING IN THE TANK. THESE CONDITIONS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICE ASSESSMENT. A GM BULLETIN WAS LOCATED WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT THE TECHNICIAN REPLACE THE EXISTING FUEL SENDER STRAINER AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE ENGINE SYMPTOMS. *NLM *JB

ENGINE STALLED 3 TIMES. DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK AND REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CONDITION IN WHICH IT WOULD EITHER NOT START OR ONCE STARTED IT WOULD HESITATE OR STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY FROM VANDALISM OR SOMETHING IN THE TANK. THESE CONDITIONS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICE ASSESSMENT. A GM BULLETIN WAS LOCATED WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT THE TECHNICIAN REPLACE THE EXISTING FUEL SENDER STRAINER AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE ENGINE SYMPTOMS. *NLM

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. BELIEVES PROBLEM IS DUE TO FUEL FILLER RECALL 99V302000, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

FUEL PUMP DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY/SUDDNELY. REPAIR SHOP ALSO INDICATED THAT FUEL GAUGE/SENSOR DEFECT CAUSING GAUGE TO INACCURATELY SHOW AMOUNT OF FUEL - GAUGE FAILED TO REGISTER WHEN FUEL IS LOW.*AK

MY CAR KEPT DYING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO CONSIDER 1/4 TANK EMPTY, BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR GOT DOWN TO EMPTY, ALL THE GAS WAS IN THE LINES AND IT RUINED THE FUEL PUMP. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE I GOT A NEW FUEL PUMP. 8JB

#5 FUEL INJECTOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 27,963 MILES AND AT 58,736 MILES. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT #5 FUEL INJECTOR IS LOCATED CLOSE TO THE EGR VALVE WHICH PUTS OFF A LOT OF HEAT AND MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING FOR 2 YEARS. THE WIRES POWERING THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR IN THE FUEL TANK MODULE WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TANK AND SO FAR NO STALLING HAD OCCURRED. *AK *CB THERE WERE 5 ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT AND EXPECTED GM TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND THE FUEL TANK MODULE DESIGN IMPROVEMENT. *SCC *JB

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR EVERY SINCE I GOT IT. IT STARTED WITH THE BRAKES I HAD TO HAVE NEW BRAKES AND A MONTH LATER I HAD TO HAVE NEW ROWTERS BECAUSE THAT HAD A DEFECT. AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW ROWTERS. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEY FINAL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY WENT OUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT NOW THE WARRANTY WENT OUT MY GAS GAGE WOULD GO TO EMPTY WHEN WE ARE SITTING STILL AND WOULD GO BACK UP WHEN WE TAKE OFF. IT SHUT DOWN ON ME GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY. DT

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,AND DEALER REPLACED INTAKE GASKET AND FUEL PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST COMPLETE POWER. IT TOOK 3 TIMES TO A DEALER TO REPLACE A PART IN MY FUEL SYSTEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT DID'NT DO IT AGAIN FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN IT DID IT AGAIN.*AK