1998 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPLACED MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT CHEVY WILL NOT FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU IS LEAKING FOR A SECOND TIME. THE FIRST OCCURRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIME IS NOW AT 120,000 MILES. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS GASKET LEAKING BUT NO RECALL BY GM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO MIX WITH THE OIL, CAUSING FAILURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO INTERNAL MOTOR PARTS. *TR

1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE. RESULTED IN ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET CHANGED AT $2000 CANADIAN. TWO MONTHS LATER,AND LESS TAN 5,000 KMS LATER, FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 30 DAYS LATER, UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE CHANGED AT COST OF $1500 CANADIAN. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 51,133 MILES ON IT. IT STARTED TO LEAK ANTI FREEZE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (73,753 MILES). IT ENDED UP BEING A REPLACEMENT OF THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, REPLACE WATER PUMP, REPLACE RT.C.V SHAFT AND REPLACE SEAL SLEEVE. THE EGR GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS 874.52 LABOR AND PARTS INCLUDED. *JB

MY CAR HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT, PLENINUM GASKET, INTAKE GASKET, EGR GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKETS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT IS USED IN THESE CARS WARPS THE GASKETS AND SEALS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPLACING THESE GASKETS TWICE. I WOULD LIKE GM TO REIMBURSE ME SOME OF MY FINANCES THAT HAVE COST TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME IT COST ME $222.00 FOR A RENTAL CAR AND $976.00 FOR REPAIRS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ADD COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED COOLANT TO THE RESEVOIR. A WEEK LATER MORE COOLANT WAS ADDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED AND THE LEAKING BECAME WORSE AS ANOTHER LEAK WAS NOTICED FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE THAT ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK. WATER CAN MIX WITH OIL OR CAN GENERATE OVERHEAT OF THE ENGINE. *JB

1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK, GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 100,000 MILES (MAY BE RELATED TO MANDATED USAGE OF DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE IN VEHICLE PER MANUFACTURER). *NM

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON ONE MINUTE THE NEXT MINUTE THE CAR CUT OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CURTIS CHEVROLET IN WASHINGTON, DC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO THE OIL REGULATOR AND FILTER EXPLODED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57500 ORIGINAL MILES, SERVICED MAINLY BY CURTIS CHEVROLET...OIL RECENTLY CHANGED BY CURTIS YET I WAS TOLD THAT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WOULD BE $6,000. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERED TOTALED. *JB

1. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS NEEDED. I PUT WATER INTO THE RESERVOIR (CAR WAS ON) AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 10 MILES. I STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND NOTICED WATER/COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I REPLACED THE WATER AND DROVE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HE SHOWED ME THE LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE ALSO STATED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. SIMILAR COMMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO ME IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO THE INTAKE GASKET; MECHANICS, AUTO PART SALES MEN AND THE DEALER WHERE I GET MY CAR SERVICED HAD ALL BEEN CONCERNED IN THE PAST FOR THIS AREA OF MY CAR, BUT UNTIL NOW EVERYTHING HAD BEEN FINE; 2. FAILURE OF THE INTAKE GASKET PREVENTED THE ENGINE COOLANT FROM MAINTAINING THE PROPER COOLANT LEVEL, THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE TIME OUT OF MY DAY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS MATTER AND SEEK ADVICE IN PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE; 3. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON TUESDAY (9/6/05). I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR FOR A FULL DAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THE CAR WAS 550.00 TO 600.00 DOLLARS. *JB

THE ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT AND OIL FROM THE BLOCK, WHICH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. MY CAR THEN OVERHEATED ON THE ROAD WHICH LED TO MY COOLANT BURSTING OUT OF THE OVERFILL TANK. THE ENGINE THEN STARTED TO STEAM, AND ALL THE COOLANT LAID THERE ON THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST ME $1000 IN PARTS AND LABOR.

IN MARCH OF '05 TOOK CAR IN FOR SEVICE ENGINE WAS TICKING WHILE IDLE AT ONE POINT ONCE CAR WAS WARMED UP THE TICKING STOPED BUT NOW THE TICKING IS STILL HEARD WHILE DRIVING AND AT ACCELEARTION. TOOK CAR IN THE BOB MCGUIRE CHEVROLET IN BORDENTOWN, NJ WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK THAT HAD ALREADY MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. HAD EVERYTHING FIXED AND THEY EVEN PUT IN HEAVY DUTY LIFTER CLEANER TO CLEAN THE LIFTERS ACCORDING TO MECANIC THAT WAS WERE THE TICK WAS COMING FROM BUT WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS STILL TICKING WHEN IDLE AND THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX THE TICKING I WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE JOB THAT WAS JUST PERFORMED ON THE CAR HAD TO BE PERFORMED AGAIN IN ORDER TO FIX THE LIFTERS THAT IS CAUSING THE TICKING.

FUEL PUMP, DISCONTINUED, BUT NOT RECALLED. *AK

1. VEHICLE LOSING COOLANT. 2. PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. 3. INTAKE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED(70MPH) DUE TO FAILED INTAKE GASKET ON 1998 MALIBU 3.1 . ONE FLICKER OF OIL LIGHT (OIL HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED THAT MORNING BY MYSELF (EXPERIENCED AUTO TECHNICIAN) .ENGINE HAD 52,000 MILES, WAS 600 MILES FROM HOME(APPR), COST $750 TO TOW HOME, UPON DISASEMBLY FOUND FAILED INTAKE GASKET, PURCHASED USED ENGINE,$600, $800 TO HAVE INSTALLED. GM CONTACTED IN EVERY FORUM AVAIL. REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. INSTALLED NEW GASKET ON USED ENGINE BEFORE INSTALLING, GM PARTS, NOW 37,000 MILES LATER HAVE INTAKE GASKET LEAK AGAIN.*AK

COOLANT LEAK .. AGAIN IN MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU! I HAD MY INTAKE GASKET REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO DUE TO CAR OVER HEATING AND A COOLANT LEAK. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED IT AT THAT TIME BUT NOT WITHOUT A STRUGGLE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST MONTH THAT THIS SAME REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN AND THAT I'M LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM $600.00 - $1000.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND THIS WILL COME OUT OF MY POCKET. FROM THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET AND THE SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM, GM OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS IN ISSUE. WHY AREN'T THEY FORCED TO PUT OUT A RECALL? THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

RADIATOR FLUID LEEKS BECAUSE OF BAD MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. IT WAS TO THE POINT WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS PLACING ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE EVERYDAY THEN IT EVENTUALLY DIDN'T HOLD ANYMORE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ENGINE WITH THE MANIFOLD. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED TEMPORARILY AND THAT IN ANOTHER 50K MILES THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD INCUR. *SC *JB

ON 3 OCCASIONS IN ALMOST 70000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO GET THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED ON MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY.THE OTHER TWO WERE NOT. ALL 3 RESULTED IN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE FIRST TIME WAS INTERNAL. ALL THREE TIMES WERE REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIPS. *AK

1998 CEVROLET MALIBU WITH 3.1 V6 ENGINE.CAR HAD SPORADIC STALLING.FINALLY TRACED TO A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH WAS ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE.THE COOLANT LEAKING ALSO CAUSED THE O2 SENSOR TO BE COATED AND NEED REPLACING.VEHICLE HAS APPROX MILEAGE IN THE 74K RANGE.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS TO REPORT, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE COULD OCCUR, IF NOT TO ME, TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM STATED OR COMPONENT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, WITH A 3.1L V6 ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE, IN THE 50K TO 80K MILE RANGE. I HAVE 89,500 MILES ON MY MALIBU. REPAIR COST IS $600-800. I DID SOME CHECKING AROUND, AND 2 OTHER MECHANICS I SPOKE TO ALSO SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO LOOKED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS. GM CONTINUES TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER I ALSO BECAME AWARE THAT GM CANADA IS PROVIDING 50/50 DEALS FOR THE CORRECTION OF THIS VERY PROBLEM. CAN'T GM HERE IN THE U.S. ADMIT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PLASTIC GASKETS THEY USED, AND OFFER A RECALL? THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON FOR IT TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR...ESPECIALLY WHEN GM CANADA IS OFFERING TO FIX IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

MY CAR WAS LEAKING A CLEAR FLUID I TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT HE GETS SEVERAL GM CARS A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RECOMMENDING I FILED A COMPLAINT SO THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL. THERE IS DEFINITELY A GASKET PROBLEM ON GM VEHICLES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SOON AFTER VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK *NM

ANTI-FREEZE (DEX-COOL) LEAKED OUT, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO RELPACE MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CAR IS LEAKING COOLANT. AFTER HAVING IT CHECKED, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED IT IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOT ONLY ON MALIBUS BUT ON MANY GM/GMC CARS. *LA

COOLANT LEAKING FROM 3.1 LITER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, NEEDS REPAIR.

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE 3.4L ENGINE. REPLACED INTAKE GASKET.

MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU'S 3.1L ENGINE REQUIRED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT AROUND 30000 MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN USING MORE FLUID LATELY AND I AM THINKING THAT THE GASKET WILL ONCE AGAIN REQUIRE REPLACING. SECONDLY, MY CAR RUSTED AROUND THE DOORS AND THE HOOD SEAMS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE REPAIRS AND THE SEAMS LOOK WORSE THAN EVER.

AIR COMPRESSER AND WIRE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED FAN DID NOT WORK ON SETTING 1 AND 2 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2000. AIRCONDITIONING PROBLEM CAUSED THE FUSES THAT CONTROL GAS TANK, TEMP GAGE AND LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD TO GO OUT ALL FUSSES REPLACED

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASGET LEAKING AT 43,661 MILES. REPAIR COSTS ENCOUNTERED TOTALED $589.90. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. THIS CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE IN OIL AND IT MADE THE CAR TO DIE OUT. ONCE THE OIL WAS CHANGED THE USED OIL WAS THICK AND HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. ALSO THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING.*AK

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 61,000 MILES NEEDED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED, WATER PUMP REPLACED AND ENGINE OIL FLUSH BECAME A $1146.22 PROBLEM AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH WARRANTY GOLD COVERED NOTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER LIQUIDATION/CHAPTER 11. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED SPOTS OF COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *AK

COOLANT WAS LEAKING DUE TO CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

98 MALIBU LS DEVELOPED COOLANT LEAK AT 19,000 MILES. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 98. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING AS WELL AS WATER PUMP BAD. $880.00 TO REPAIR. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP COVER COST EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SIUT AGAINST GM OVER THIS ISSUE!?!?*AK

AIR CONDITIONING AND FAN FAILURES. *AK

I WAS TOLD I HAD A COOLANT LEAK WHICH CAUSED MY CAM TO BREAK IN MY ENGINE. I HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE WITH A USED ONE. I CONTACTED GM FOR SOME HELP AND THEY GAVE ME NONE. THEY WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURED DEFECT ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I AM OUT OF POCKET NEARLY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A CAR THAT SHOULD BE STILL GOING STRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND STILL, UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS USED ENGINE AS I MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH GM BECAUSE I PUT A LOT OF TRUST IN THEM AND THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY LET ME DOWN. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I HAVE HAD CONSISTENT BRAKE PROBLEMS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND IT WOULD BE A SAD THING TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE FATALITIES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING. *JB BAD AXLES IN FRONT DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TT *JB

ENGINE GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 1998, CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 66,000 MILES. INFORMED BY MECHANIC 3RD MALIBU HE HAS SEEN IN A MONTH FOR SAME PROBLEM, COST $1500.00 FOR REPAIRS, WHY NO RECALL OR REPLACEMENT. RESEARCHED THIS SIGHT AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY CARES THIS LITTLE FOR ITS CONSUMERS. CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DISCUSS IT OPENLY. CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION.*AK

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.*AK

COMPLAINT LETTER FROM IL STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFC WANTING TO KNOW WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1998, CHEVROLET, MALIBU. *AK

3.1 L INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JUNE 1998 AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT MONTH. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SHAVER MOTORS HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING IN CHICAGO ON 80 90 TOLL ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE STOPPED FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DOING 55 MILES PER HOUR. I LISTED ONE INCIDENT DATE BUT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AFTER LESS THAN 3000 MILES, THEY WERE ALSO BAD.

THE ODOMETER READ INCORRECTLY. THE WATER PUMP AND BELT FAILED. THE WIPER REGULATOR FAILED. THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED. THE VEHICLES ROTORS WARPED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *NLM *NLM

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO OIL. 46000 MILES

INTAKE GASKET FAILED IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. I KNOW THIS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE GASKETS, SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL IT. *JB

I HAVE REPLACED A BATTERY TWICE. I BOUGHT MY 1998 MALIBU USED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP JUMPING IT, TO GET IT WERE I NEEDED TO GO. FOUND OUT THE POSITIVE CHARGE WAS BROKEN FROM BATTERY. SIX MONTH'S LATER ON JANUARY 19. MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOSE ALL POWER ON SNOW AND ICE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY CAR AND GET IT STOPPED. IF THERE WOULD BE A BEEN ANOTHER CAR COMING TOWARDS ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM HEAD ON. I HAD IT TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID AND MY TIMING BELT WAS BREAKING. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR A YEAR AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. WHAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO LEAK ACID? I AM SCARED TO DEATH IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO LUCKY.*JB

INTAKE GASKET FAILED IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, KNOW THIS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE GASKETS, 500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS.*JB

VEHICLE LEAKING COOLANT FLUIDS FROM LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE ADVISOR AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

CAR DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I'VE SEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. SOME SORT OF FAULT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. GM INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. ALSO THE AC CYCLES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, ANOTHER PROBLEM COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES

COOLANT LEAK IN MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU - 3.1 LITER ENGINE. 55,800 MILES. THIS DEFECT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. $800 REPAIR. LOST ONE WEEK'S WORK

ON MY 1998 MAILBU (3100 ENGINE) WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM OR THE DEALER.

OUR 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A 3.1 LITER V-6 ENGINE HAS STARTED LOSING ENGINE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. WE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE AT LEAST 1996. OTHERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT MECHANICS ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM IN CARS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE FLUIDS ARE LOST THOUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND DO NOT LEAVE A TELLTALE STAIN OR RESIDUE UNDER A PARKED CAR. A REPAIR AT A CHEVROLET DEALER WAS QUOTED TO US AT $900. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR RECALL. IS THIS PROBLEM BEING RESEARCHED? IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS?

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET / COOLANT REACTION. ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING ON BUSY TWO LANE ROAD LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A TRAFFIC LANE. I HAD TO WALK A HALF A MILE AND BACK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO USE A TELEPHONE TO SUMMON HELP. DIAGNOSIS BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS FOUND COOLANT WATER HAD INFILTRATED THE ENGINE, TWO VALVES WERE BENT WHEN THE PISTONS HIT THEM. SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1L GM ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. TS

MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU DEVELOPED A INTAKE MANIFOULD COOLENT LEAK AT 33,XXX MILES. IT COST ME & MY EXTENDED WARRANTEE COMPANY OVER $400.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT CONTINUES TO SELL VEHICLES ANYWAY. THIS IS FRAUD!

REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, MOLDED COOLANT TUBE $572.00. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED GM IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS BEING DEFECTIVE. WE MAINTAIN OUR CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS, IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING LARGE EXPENDITURES FOR NEGLECT. THIS IS NOT A NEGLECT ISSUE ON THE CUSTOMER'S PART. BUT SOLELY ON THE PART OF GM. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****768314

I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I TRIED TO GET OVER IN ANOTHER LANE. I COULD NOT BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. SO, WHEN I COULD GET OVER I HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER MY HOOD. ALL MY LIGHTS LIT UP AND I COULD NOT STOP MY CAR. I TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME AND MY CAR STARTED SMOKING. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BELT HAD POPPED OFF ALONG WITH THE PULLEY THAT WAS BURNED BADLY. MY ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING ALSO, I WENT ALONE W/MY MECHANIC TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED BY AUTOZONE THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT ANY TIME BUY THE COMPANY. I CALLED AND REPORTED IT THIS MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THAT IS NOT TRUE. I HAVE THE PART TO SHOW THAT THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE THE PART IS A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC. THE CORPORATE OFFICE WAS AL SO RUDE AND STATED MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ALSO, I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT GONE TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT VIBRATED SEVERELY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON/OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD START AND SOMETIMES HAS TO PUMP THE PEDAL. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IT FELT SLUGGISH AND FAIL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ONE OF THE MOUNTS HAD CRACKED & THE OTHER WAS BROKE. THE MOUNTS SUPPORTED THE ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED.

CONSUMER STATES COOLANT IS LEAKING AROUND THE WATER PUMP AREA, DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM

WE HAVE TWO MALIBUS AND BOTH HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. SERVICE REPLACED GASKET, WHICH TOOK OVERNIGHT. I HAVE READ ON MALIBU WEBSITES ON THE NET THAT THIS IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER INCREASING NOISE NOTED OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT. THE SERVICE PERSON INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS AS NEW AS 1998 WITHOUT SEVERE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH MINE HAS NEVER RECEIVED AND THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.*AK

ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

ENGINE IS MAKING NOISE AT COLD START UP. *YD

ENGINE IS MAKING NOISE AT COLD START UP. *YD

ENGINE COOLING FLUID IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS GAVE ESTIMATES ON INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT. ALL STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1 LITRE GM ENGINES AND THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. ONE MECHANIC SUSPECTS IT MAY BE THE DEXTRON ANTI-FREEZE THAT GMC REQUIRES IN THERE VEHICLES THAT IS EATING AWAY AT THE GASKETS AND CAUSING THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. HE HAD A CHEVROLET LUMINA IN THE GARAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I GOT THE ESTIMATE. GM WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COST UNLESS WE PAID A GM DEALER TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM WHICH OTHER GARAGES PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE A FORD AND HAVE RECEIVED EXCELLANT CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WENT INTO THE STORE. CAME BACK OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE A ESTIMATE BASED ON MY COMPLAINT OF $78.00. I WAS CONTACTED THE NEXT DAY WITH A $700.00 ESTIMATE. THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE UPDATED, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE RE-KEYED, AND THE FUEL INJECTOR HAS TO BE CLEANED. AND THAT IS JUST TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN! *AK

ENGINE STALLS AND FROM TIME TO TIME IT WILL LOSE ITS POWER WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANY MORE THEN THEY HAVE DONE ALREADY. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE CONSUMER WANTS THE DEALER TO FIX IT OR GET HIM ANOTHER VEHICLE. *YH

THE COOLANT CAP WAS LEAKING CAUSING THE COOLANT LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

ANTIFREEZE BEGAN LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD ONTO ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE WOULD STALL, AND WAS LEFT WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. *AK THE ENGINE STALL SUDDENLY ON HIGHWAY. *YH

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE IN A 3 YEAR OLD, 52000 MILE CAR---SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS--APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. WHY NO RECALL?*AK

FOUND COOLANT LEAKING FROM CAR CHECKED OUT AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT. DEALER TO PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

ENGINE TICKS AT COLD STARTS THEN ENDS ONCE WARMED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, HAS NO EXPLANATION, NO IDEA WHAT REPAIRS WILL COST IF EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. *AK

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED DEALER COUDN'T REMAKE PROBLEM, ROUGH ENGINE VIBRATIONS WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON NUMERUSE OCCASIONS. *AK

BURNT OIL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAID THE REAR MAIN SEAL GREASE WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL FROM RECENT OIL CHANGE AND CREATING SMELL. DEALER SAID SMELL SHOULD GO AWAY AFTER 1,000 MILES.*AK

MOTOR MOUNTS/ BOLTS SHEARED OFF RIGHT FRONT, CAUSING ENGINE TO TILT AND TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK AFTER CONTACTING GM, THEY DECIDED TO PAT FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS, CONSUMER PAID FOR THE LABOR CHARGES AND RENTAL CAR CHARGES. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSTANTLY STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER, BUT STALLING CONTINUED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS NEARLY REARENDED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE STALLING PROBLEMS.*AK *ML

ENGINE IDLING ROUGHLY DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE MOUNT. NLM

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, IT WAS LEAKING FLUID OVER THE ENGINE.. DEALER ORDERED GASKET KIT AND WILL FIX WHEN PARTS COME IN, COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *MJS

MOTOR GASKET SEALS FAILED.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. *YC

THE MOTOR MAKES A HIGH PITCHED WHINE SOUND ON STARTING. YH

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. YH

ENGINE COOLANT BYPASS TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FITTINGS FAILED. YH

ENGINE FAILED. YH

ALTERNATOR, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, MAIN COMPUTER, GROUNDING WIRTES, ENGINE, AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS FAILED.

EXHAUST FAILURE/HEADLIGHTS FAILED/CONTROL PANEL MALFUNCTIONED/FLOOR BOARD/RAIN INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND TICKING UNDERNEATH HOOD.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH DID NOT REMEDEY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY RESTART. ON THE FIFTH OCCURENCE IT WOULD NOT RESTART (TRAVELING 55MPH IN MIDDLE OF S-CURVE.) THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS WHEN IT WAS REALIZED THAT POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THEFT SYSTEM AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS WERE ON.

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVNG. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED ECU UNIT AND IGNITION SYSTEM AND RESET ALL CODES TO FACTORY SPECS, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS

WHILE MAKEING A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH ALL INDICATIONS. LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DEALER HAS BENN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 4-10-98 FROM ROGER DEAN CHEVROLET INC.---561-683-8100. SERVICE # IS 561-640-1835. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 4-20-98 DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS THE COOLING FAN. SINCE THEN THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON 4-27-98 FOR SAME NOISES, SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE GAS TANK, AND THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL. BUT IF CONSUMER DOES NOT HEAR NOISE SHE SHOULD BE WORRIED. CONSUMER IS WORRIED BECAUSE THE NOISE GETS LOUDER EVERYDAY. *AK

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK ENGINE DIED 7-8 TIMES.