Chevrolet Malibu Midsize | Compact
Chevrolet Malibu Midsize | Compact
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[Jun 24, 2001]
Pete Szerszen
Strength:
Makes for a good lawn ornament.
Weakness:
Where do I start? Power Windows (buttons don't work), Power Locks (fail to open), Headlights (seals broken, loose), Wheel Bearings (both of them went, unavailable), Brakes (every 15,000 miles), Tires (every 25,000 miles), Struts (absolutely terrible, cheap), Glovebox (rattles, loose), PAINT (bubbles, chips, rust), Engine Maintanence (you have to rotate the engine to change the plugs), All Parts (DEALER ONLY, FOR ABOUT 5X THE COST), Gear Selector (knob fell off), Interior Illumination (soldered incandescent bulbs burned out), INTERIOR (THERE IS NO ROOM FOR MY LEGS!)etc. etc. etc. This car has been the biggest HEADACHE ever since they day I got it. The Chevy Dealership was the most unprofessional and outright rudest business I have ever dealt with! This car has already cost me upwards of $30000 by the time I include all of the parts costs. EVERYTHING on this car has gone bad! This is the cheapest vehicle I have ever seen. I will never purchase another General Motors product again. This vehicle is a disgrace to our country, and is a death trap on wheels. Similar Products Used: I've driven many cars in my days, and I can surely say that this is the very WORST I have ever driven! |
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[Jun 26, 2001]
Jennifer Surface
Strength:
Sporty appearance inside and out.
Weakness:
Rotors (third set, which I paid for), excessive tire wear (third set), brakes, glove box (just pull the bulb...it's easier), anti-theft (had to have removed), and the latest....dead battery which caused the gas gauge to point straight down. Do I have gas? Your guess is as good as mine. Very comforting for my upcoming vacation to the beach. Yes, I can pay the $233.00 to have it replaced...but isn't it a design flaw? When do Malibu customers say they've had enough? I purchased this car for the appearance. Sadly, that's all it has going for it now. It's one design flaw after another. Similar Products Used: I have had 8 GM products, 4 of them new vehicles. If the Malibu and other GM vehicles are the best America can build....buy foreign cars! |
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[Jun 25, 2001]
Terrance Léger
Model Reviewed:
Malibu
Strength:
Nice to drive, comfortable and brings me from point A to point B most of the time.
Weakness:
ABS light,upper strut mount,front caliper bracket design, passenger side axle seal and axle sleeve, Affinity tires,piston slap and on and on. When you get the brakes done retorque the wheel nuts to specs to avoid rotor warping. Most mechanics are trigger happy with their Air-rachets. I think this woulb be a good car for someone who is mechanically inclined.The worst one is the ABS light, while on warranty they replaced every component from wheel speed sensors to harness to retorquing the bearing nuts. Now that their is no warranty the ABS light is still on intermittently but I choose to ignore it. My noisy lifter turn into a piston slap after warranty was over,what a coincidence! Oh I forgot one problem the cathelytic converter broke and left my Malibu powerless. When my Malibu has no problems I feel that this is probably the best overall vehicle to own. Wish my Malibu would stay healthy but no such luck! Similar Products Used: Compares about as bad as My 93 S10. This is definitely my last GM after 14. My 84 Corvette being the best,71 Chev BelAir next,85 olds Cutlass Cierra LS a close third.Worst would have to be 93 S10,79 Monza,79½ Citation,98 Malibu,83 S15,63 Corvette,75 Corvette, 90 Lumina Van in declining order. |
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[Jun 28, 2001]
Tanya
Strength:
stereo
Weakness:
everything under the shell I test drove 3 Malibu's...all the same year 1 of which was an LS and the others plain janes. I fell in love with them. They had guts, power and they purred. You know what....I loved them so much I bought one. BIG MISTAKE!!! The one I have now has no guts. On the highway I can go 110 to 120 kph and the freaking thing jerks. It seems to do it more when it's raining but I bring it in and they test drive it then look at me like I'm an idiot. I know when I feel the engine miss firing and this guy says "Can't be....it only have 1400 clicks on it" So they check it out and low and behold a sensor is screwed on it. Now the braking system it clunking and the doors aren't level. I'm SOOOOO not impressed. You think you're getting a great deal when you've already tried others and you just never know what you're getting until it's too late. This car SUCKS!!!!!! Similar Products Used: Taurus Rocks!!! |
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[Jul 02, 2001]
Paula Cuevas
Model Reviewed:
Malibu
Strength:
none
Weakness:
everything The worst car we have ever owned!We have put in over $6000.00 in repairs.3 sets of brakes,rotors,Transmission,cooling system,head gasket,Altinator, 4 snsors, a modual, I'm sure theres more but you get the idea.The dealership does'nt care and neither does Chevrolet. I will never purchase another Chevy! Similar Products Used: None |
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[Jun 30, 2001]
Rod
Strength:
Fuel economy is exellent(averaged 34.2 MPG on 5000 mile trip at 70 MPH), automatic transmission is easy to use and shifts smoothly, all controls are easy to see and use, standard radio system which includes CD and Casette players is great,cup holders are great in front and rear,ride and handling is very good, brakes work great, power drivers seat controls are easy to use and provide exellent comfort, road visibility is very good from both front seats, heater and A/C perform well, moon roof is nice.
Weakness:
The 3100 V6 engine experiences 6 to 10 seconds of "dealer defined"piston slap noise, but only on cold startups. On a startup where the engine has not run for over an hour, there is occasionaly 4 to 8 seconds of mild valve lash noise "owner defined" . I do not really consider this a problem, but a minor nuisance. This 2001 Malibu LS, purchased new by me, is a very comfortable,easily operated, and economical vehicle. The value and options received for the purchase price is exellent. This vehicle has experienced no problems in the first 9200 miles. I would recommend the Malibu to anyone who feels that this size vehicle would fit their needs. Similar Products Used: Compared Maiibu to Saturn L series, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus when buying. The Malibu offered more for less, much less in several instances. |
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[Jul 15, 2001]
John
Model Reviewed:
malibu
Strength:
Im in the process of getting Gm to buy the car back. There are no strengths
Weakness:
Brakes,Brakes,Brakes, The absolute worst car I have ever owned, and I owned a Hyundai excel. The brakes are a safety hazard and need to be worked on every 3 months. The car is an engineering nightmare. Chevy/Gm should be ashamed. At 3000,7000,12000,13000 the rotors needed to be replaced and are going again at 14k. The intake manifold leaked coolant,The infamous piston slap exists, the headlights take on water, the a/c is terrible, the car idles at 1500 rpm,just a bad car. Iam in the process of the final repair attempt in hopes the car will be repurchased.I have contacted the BBB auto line the attorney general and my own lawyer.I have had enough my 2 small kids are in this car all the time and I keep getting told there is no safety issue until somebody gets hurt well i will be damed if its my kids that hurt. If anyone is serious about starting a class action suit or if a lawyer who sees this would like to start one I will be the first on the bandwagon. Chevy/gm are disgusting because they are well aware of all these problems, you would figure they would learn from Firestone/Fords mistakes. Similar Products Used: Taurus, sentra, the malibu is inferior. |
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[Jul 01, 2001]
James Bruno
Model Reviewed:
Malibu LS
Strength:
Lots of Room
Weakness:
ROTORS - Infinite accounts on review Prior to reading the other reviews, I was considering buying this car out at the end of my lease. Let's face it, any car will have a few bugs here and there. However, there are common problems shared among a large population of Malibu owners that Chevy does not want to acknowledge. For example, the Rotor issue (constant warping and low heat threshold). This apparently has been going on since '97 costing many owners an additional $300-500 dollars as soon as they drive the car off the lot....not to mention the inconvenience. Why has it taken Chevy 3 1/2 years to fix/admitt there is a problem with premature rotor wear? $$$$$ There short sightedness will harm them in the long run. They will lose customers like myself to other products due to lack of acknowledgemnt and poor customer satisfaction. When I test drove my car and the steering wheel vibrated while brake application, I was told that was the ABS.....Fortunately, I wasn't born yesterday and I know a little about cars. Finally after turning the rotors down once and replacing them twice, they have fixed the problem with both "new pads to match the new rotors." Now I have a bigger problem that I know most likely will never be fixed/solved. I have noticed that there are 3 other reviews that mention this problem. At speeds above 60 mph, there is a whistle/"highway noise" that screems from inside the air vents. I have tried turning the vent switch from outside air to recycled regardless if the A/C is on or off. The only switch that fixes the problem is the radio (cranked up!) Do you think they will ever find the solution to this problem? I definitely can no longer buy this car out. Now I am noticing that my A/C light turns off automatically and my blower motor is making noise. This is a small problem that Chevy will most likely fix. In the mean time, they have lost me as a customer...not because of the problems, but because of avoiding adequate solution management to keep a customer happy. Why not just fix common problems and recapture customers to buy a car with potential for being the best car in its class. Similar Products Used: None |
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[Jul 18, 2001]
todd roderick
Strength:
-It gets good gas mileage
Weakness:
-everything else about the car After driving a 2000 Malibu for only two months I firmly suggest not buying this car. My girlfriend purchased this car because she was on a very tight budget. BIG MISTAKE ! In two months, we have discovered these problems: Similar Products Used: Buick Lesabre, Ford Contour. No Comparison. |
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[Jul 17, 2001]
Gerald
Strength:
decent pick-up
Weakness:
most of the car I am a GM employee and I have to say that this is the worst car I have ever owned. In 25000 mi. I have replaced the rotors and pads 3 times 7 she is ready for another one. I have a clunk in the steering, a seat that shifts & valve chatter on cold start-ups. These are all normal to the malibu according to the dealer. I had my right rear tail light fill up w/ water. The a/c controls stopped working. The steering gear had to be replaced. Similar Products Used: it does not |


