ROOMY,FAST AND LOOKS GOOD.

BRAKES,DASH LIGHTS GOING HAYWIRE,EXTENDED WARRANTY LEAVES A LOT FOR OWNER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND KNOCKING NOISE ON START UP.

A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO GET THE BRAKES SERVICED DUE TO A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE. FOUR MONTHS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. THEY SAY THERE IS ANTIFREEZE AND OIL LEAKING ON THE SENSOR SO THEY FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH COSTS $691.00. I PICK THE CAR UP AND NOW MY BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND THE CAR REFUSES TO START UNTIL ATLEAST FOUR OR MORE TRIES. I AM SO DIGUSTED AT THE RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE CHEVY MANUFACTURERS AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE. WHEN I CALLED THE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR CHEVY CONCERNING WHY MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE SWITCH I WAS TOLD TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK TO SPRAY WD40 INTO THE IGNITION. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOGICAL ANSWER, HUH? I AM GIVING THE 1997 CHEVY MALIBU A 4 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE CAR AND BECAUSE CHEVY DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS WE COSUMERS ARE FACING. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANONE.

Similar Products Used:

1991 FORD TEMPO IS MORE DEPENDABLE. ATLEAST IT STARTS EVERYDAY.

ROOMY. Handling, comfortable ride. sound system, Exterior looks. It's pretty quite.

Radio reception, I have had electrical problems. I think i will have to have my rotors replaced.

I have really loved my malibu up until around 50,000 miles. It seems a lot of things started going wrong at that point. I'm at 72,000 now and I have been plagued with Electrical problems and leaks. I get it serviced regularly and even bought the extended warranty, but that still doesn't take away from the hassle of having to get off work early to take it to the shop. Another problem that I have noticed on mine and one other Malibu is the paint above the door on the driver side is starting to flake off. I took it to the dealer and looked at other malibus of the same year and the only other black one was doing the exact same thing in the same place. My brakes have been replaced once about 10'000 miles ago and have to be replaced again. It used to be a wonderful car, why has chevy robbed me? I have never ever owned anything but a Chevy and now I find myself looking at Hondas and Nissans. Maybe I was just one of the unlucky ones, If you don't mind a few problems and your looking for a car to drive 40-50,000 miles then this one is for you. If your looking to put 200,000 miles on a car.......walk away.

Similar Products Used:

None

All of it especially the safety features.

Suspension could be improved a little bit.

I got involved in an accident 4 months ago with my Malibu 1998. Another car was thrown in front of me by another car and with no time to respond, I just hit him with my front. Nobody was hurt and my front right fender got smashed. With Malibu's safety features, my dual airbags activated preventing my head to hit the steering wheel and the automatic hazard light went on giving warning to the car behind me. I was so thankful I got a Malibu. Our insurance declared my car total loss (repair cost exceeds 50% of the value) so I got another Malibu 2000 model at USD 14,893 and this one has a smoother ride.

Similar Products Used:

Malibu 1998

-Its quiet and the acceleration is blazing. Its got crazy torque which makes it fly off the mark.
-The sound system is great; sounds like it has a sub when there isn't
-Handling is nice and tight

-Pistons do some knocking but thats it

I have found that even thought the Malibu is a family car with lots of room, it preforms great! I've beat Integra's and civics at red lights thatnks to the torque at low RPM. I just wish I had a manual. An excellent buy. Good for families.

Similar Products Used:

-Way better value than camry,accord and probably faster too

I love this car. It has all kinds of power for getting the hole shot out of a light and merging on the interstate. The tranny is really smooth shifting and it has a really good ride quality. The enterior is very roomy, I have no problems being 6'4". It has a kickin stereo system. I really like the layout of the interior, everything feel like it's right where it's supposed to be. I've read some articles saying that it has a KitchenAid appliance feel to the interior, however I do not agree with that. The car is very easy to service, everything is "right there" where it's within easy reach (you don't have to do a Houdini act to change the oil filter) I love the fact that I can pull up to a light next to a Prelude, or Civic with the VTEC engines and blow the doors clean off of them. If I had to buy another car, it would most likly be another Malibu...but I would add a spoiler next time.

What's up with the brakes?? It seems like that is the only place that this car has problems. Rotors, light circuits burning out....what gives? I've had the right taillight replaced and havn't had a problem since (knocks on wood) but I see tons of Malibus around with various brake lights out. The other thing is the rotors, it's seems as soon as you touch the brakes on new rotors....they warp. I think that I'm going to have to just go out and buy some aftermarket rotors and put them on when I replace the brake pads at 50,000 mi. I wish GM would put a larger gas tank on the car...it doesn't seem like a tank gets you very far even though gas milage is ok.

Overall, an excellent buy in my book. The car has been extrememly reliable and I have no fears of taking it anywhere. Other than a few minor bugs to work out, an excellent job was done in designing this car. Everything is where it should be and it is easy to perfore routine maintenance on....and this is at 49,000 miles on the car. My hat goes off to GM in finding an excellent replacement for the hunk-o-junk Corsica and in designing an import fighter.

Similar Products Used:

I think that GM did an excellent job in designing this car as an import fighter. I would buy this car over any import any day of the week. In my mind there is no comparison. If you want to leave the rice grinders in the dust off a light, buy this car!

Decent looking ride.
Great acceleration for a family sedan.

Brakes,constantly burning out brake lights, cheap quality.

I've never owned a car with so many problems.
Its been in for brake service at least six times, water pump,alternator,etc.
The last GM product I'll ever buy!!

Similar Products Used:

similar to a tempo.

Still Brand New. 1,700 miles. Everything just as advertised. Good power & performance with the V-6 engine. Smooth shifting transmission. I don't use passing gear any more than necessary (my own driving preferance). Good suspension, excellent steering and handling, corners real good. Brakes are excellent. I try not to do any panic stops to overheat them. About 25.5 MPG right now with combined city & highway. My last new Malibu lasted 20 years with moderate good care.

Preparing to take 3,000 mile trip across mountains and desert in mid summer. This should be the ultimate test. Will evaluate again then.

None yet.

Later.

Similar Products Used:

80 Malibu; 92 Olds Cutlass. All were good cars.

good gas mileage, comfortable seats and ride, generally well equipped for price

original equip tires very poor quality, brakes needed replacing very early
inlife of car ( currently has 55,000 miles) engine very sensitive to quality /cleanliness of gas used. Poor A/C

generally like the car my complaints have nothing to do with the car I had to pourcahse a vehicle quickly after losing my truck to an accident. And now in hind site I would have and should have purchased another truck..( at the time I could not see having to pay nearly 10,000 more to get the same truck I had purchased in 92)

Only major / annoying problems are the engine light keeps coming on.. no can say why andthe A/C is notvery cold.

Similar Products Used:

much much better that ford tempo--thatcar was the real pits.. but not near as good as my 92 GMC truck which had 180,000 at 5yrs and was still doing well..only problem it go totaled in wreck.

I love this car! It a true America import fighter! The power is great, nice stero system, good handling, and solid drive train!

None yet, I have 112K miles on my 97 Malibu with out one problem normal maintance is done, but i guess u can say sometimes the brake make a werid noice, but no big deal!

Over all the Malibu is a great car with alot to offer American from them JAP cars! One thing i will say is that I do alot of traving between Mexico City and San Antonio, TX which is about a 2K mile round trip, this car acts perfect even at the speeds of 80 mph +. My Camry would over heat on the trip plus in one road in which you go up mountain the Transmission went out , and it only had 63K miles. The Malibu eats up the mountains like nothing!

Similar Products Used:

1995 Toyota Camry, well that was a great car but poor safty frame unlike Mailbu's where is is alot more aggresive and solid! Iam glad I bought the Malibu and got out of that dam JAP car!.....since my Malibu does have 112K miles i plan to trade it for a 2002 Malibu soon! She perfect!

Very Sharp!! White,tinted windows,4-door,spoiler,rims

everything

I bought this car used. It was an off lease vehicle. BIG MISTAKE! As I was test driving & ready to buy, had a starting problem. They said nothing was wrong. That should have been our first sign not to buy the car, but like idiots, we did. It still had about 6000 miles of warrenty left so we figured we would just take it in after boughten to get the starting problem fixed. They finally did fix it. Then driving 55-60 MPH there was a shaking in the motor. Took it in, and they had to pull apart the whole trany and fix some chain in the motor. Low coolant light kept coming on, took it in numerous time, no leak. Last time I took it in, still no leak and now the light doesn't come on anymore. Did they disarm the light? I was offered an extended warrenty, making payments on it for 1 year. Now my Chevy warrenty was over. There was a clunking noise in the steering, so I took it in. A bolt was loose, so they tightened it. Cost me $40 this is considered maintenance. $40 isn't much but I was under an extended warrenty. While washing my car, I noticed rust looking spots all over the back end, took it in. Only covered under warrenty for 12000 miles. So I paid $200 to buff it all out. After all this I said srew the warrenty, it's not paying for anything anyway. Now no warrenty, going down the HWY terrible wind noise. Took it to an auto glass place-no leak anywhere! Also, has a terrible clunking & squeaking noise in the front end. Like my tires are going to fall off. Road noise is awful. Can't here anything driving down the road. I do need new brakes & rotors, but can't afford to get them. This car is a real lemon. I would not recommend it to anyone. Everyone I come in contact with, I have told about my probs. So therefore if I am ever killed in a one car accident, fingers can be pointed at Chevy!! Oh yeah, resale also sucks!!

Similar Products Used:

Had a 96 Grand Am, bought new, should have never gotten rid of it. Never had probs like I do now.