Faults:

Brake pads need annual replacement.

Leaking intake manifold gasket.

Alternator had to be replaced at 24,000 miles.

Battery needed replaced at 25,000 miles.

Tires (Firestone Affinity) all had to be replaced before 30,000 miles.

Rotors had to be replaced at 26,000 miles.

General Comments:

My family leased this car for me to drive for three years while I was in graduate school. During this time, I greatly enjoyed how well it drove, as well as the interior design of the car. It handled extremely well, especially when I needed to accelerate quickly into interstate traffic.

Before the lease (and three year warranty) expired, the only maintenance issue I had was an alternator that went out and had to be replaced. I chalked this up too bad luck, and decided to buy the car at the end of the lease.

Soon the litany of Chevy Malibu problems began occuring to my car as well. The brake pads practically melted off, the intake manifold began leaking, and my tires had worn to the point of replacement, all below 30,000 miles.

One mechanic thought my mileage was off, because she could not believe a car would have as many problems as mine had, given its mileage.

While I have no complaints about how the car drives, maintenance has cost me about $1200 per year for the two years I have owned the vehicle outside of warranty. I cannot recommend this model to anybody, as it is a maintenance disaster.

Faults:

Front Hub Bearings changed twice already!

AC turns on/Off whenever it feels like it!

Oxygen sensors changed, BOTH of them!

ABS light comes on!

Theft System light comes on!

Brakes 2x every year!

Tires wear out too much!

General Comments:

This is the VERY last GM owned vehicle I will ever purchase. I'm sure the letter from my Lawyers will do the trick!

This car is a LEMON!

Faults:

What has gone right?

So far, I've had 3 alternators, 5 various hoses, brakes twice a year, 2 water pumps, and the best part, a new engine. GM covered NOTHING!!!

I'd like to push this car off a cliff. I can't wait to trade it in. I'll probably get $100 for it.

General Comments:

Worst car I ever owned.

Faults:

I used to enjoy my Malibu. I should have seen the foreshadowing the day the ABS light flashed for the first time.

I am the original car owner of my 98 Malibu. The current mileage is a little more than 44,000. I have had this rattling sound for about the last 20,000 miles. Each time I bring it to the dealership, they tell me that there is nothing wrong with the car. "It must just be you. We don't hear anything." If my car just rattled, I could live with it.

Getting back to the ABS light. I went to the ever-popular dealership & they gladly changed my brake pads, shoes, and rotors. Did the ABS light stop? No.

Now I have a check engine light & ABS light that randomly flash. After having the brakes, tires, battery, & a few other parts changed, I thought the car was in working condition. I was wrong.

The car will go to the shop again this week. You know, what bugs me the most isn't just that the car isn't running properly, it's that the rattling sound reminds you that the car isn't running properly.

Seriously, I've paid a little over 20,000US dollars for this car. My family & I have routinely purchased GM and/or Chevrolet vehicles for the last 30 years. This will be my last Chevy for a while. I think it's time to try another manufacturer.

Any suggestions?

General Comments:

The car was great for the first 2 years. Then the problems began & have continued for the last 3 years.

Any suggestions on a different manufacturer & model around the 20,000US dollar range?