Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
SUBFRAME RUSTING AWAY ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. CAN'T REPLACE DUE TO THEY DISCONTINUED MAKING THE PART. EVEN IF THE PART WAS FOUND IT WOULD COAST ABOUT $900.00 THEN THE TIRODS WOULD NEED REPLACING. IN ALL AFTER NEW TIRES AND ALL IT WOULD COAST $2000.00 TO FIX.
WHEN MAKING A TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT CONTROL MY CAR I HAD TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THAT THE SUBFRAME TO RACK BRACKET WAS RUSTED OUT AND THAT THE SUBFRAME AND THE RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REPAIR COST WILL START AT ABOUT $2000.
WHILE PARKING I HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND UPON TURNING THE WHEEL HARDER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. LATER IN THE DAY PUT IN MORE POWER STEERING FLUID THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT AS I WAS HEARING A GRINDING TYPE NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE NEXT DAY I COULD FEEL SOMETHING UNDER THE DRIVER FLOOR BOARD AND LOUDER NOISES WHEN TURNING HARD. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD SUB-FRAME IS RUSTED AND NEEDS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE RACK AND PINION; THIS WILL START OUT AS A $2000.00 REPAIR AND COULD GO UP TO $4000.00 DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE THEY FIND WHEN THEY WORK ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY GM AS THEY USED SHODDY MATERIALS BUILDING THIS VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC SAID I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT AS I MAY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR WAS KEPT IN A GARAGE FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT AND HAS ONLY BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS. AT ONLY 89,000 MILES I AM DISGUSTED AT THE WAY THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE! *TR
THE CAR WILL NOT TURN LEFT. IT MAKES A METAL ON METAL SOUND. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE CRADLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, AND THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDS REPLACING.HE SAID THE RUST IS CAUSED BY THE HOSE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING DRIPPING ON THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT HE SEES THE ENGINE CRADLES RUSTED OUT ALL THE TIME ON CHEVY MALIBUS. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR AND NEVER KNEW ABOUT THIS RUST UNTIL NOW. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR ITS AGE. THE BODY OF THE CAR IS PERFECT. I WOULD LIKE CHEVY TO REPAIR THIS. IT WOULD BE ABOUT $2000 OR SO TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED WITH A USED ENGINE CRADLE AND A USED RACK AND PINION. I SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
UPON MAKING A HARD TURN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETLY RUSTED IN TWO, CAUSING THE RACK TO DROP AND MAKE CONTACT. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED.
1) NOTHING ABNORMAL 2) LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE, BROKEN SPRING CUT THROUGH SIDE WALL OF TIRE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LITERALLY DROP ONTO FRAME, LOOSING COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AT THE TIME THE SPRING BROKE! I HAVE WORKED IN AUTO DEALERSHIPS FOR 30 YEARS, AND ALTHOUGH A BROKEN SPRING ISN'T ALL THAT UNUSUAL, THIS IS THE THIRD SPRING THAT HAS BROKEN ON THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PASSENGER SIDE SPRINGS LAST YEAR. 3) I REPLACED ALL FOUR SPRINGS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND FOUND THE EPOXY COATING (ON THE SPRINGS) IN VERY POOR CONDITION. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE OLD SPRINGS. I HAVE ALSO READ ON CHEVY MALIBU MESSAGE BOARDS THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK; BALL JOINT & FUEL PUMP; BRAKE PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YRS. *NM
I BOUGHT MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU FROM ROD AND TY'S ALL STAR AUTO IN PUYALLUP, WA ON 7/5/05. I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY/REPAIR INSURANCE. I HAVE PUT OVER $600 OF REPAIRS INTO MY CAR, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS ANOTHER $756.26 AND THE WARRANTY PEOPLE WILL ONLY PAY $425 FOR A SUBSTANDARD PART. I ALSO HAVE SOME WIRES I NEED TO HAVE REPLACED, THE A/C HAS NEVER WORKED, EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD ME IT DID, THE CD PLAYER DESTROYS MY CDS AND SOMETIMES JUST WON'T PLAY THEM AT ALL, AND I HAVE A SQUEAKY SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. I PAID OVER $13,000 FOR THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD 74K MILES ON IT (I GOT SCREWED) AND NOW ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMING UP ON IT. THE EVEN CR*PPIER PART IS, I STILL OWE $9000 ON IT AND IT'S ONLY WORTH $2500 ON TRADE IN. WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS LEMON PIECE OF CR*P CAR? I'M SUPER ANGRY AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN CAR EVER! BY THE WAY, I CHECKED CARFAX AND 11 RECORDS CAME UP FOR THIS CAR! SHOULD I PAY THE $19.99 TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY CAR, OR IS 11 RECORDS PRETTY NORMAL? SHOULD I WORRY?! *NM
WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES GRABBED SO HARD THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. ON ONE OCCASION THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOST OF CONTROL, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER ALMOST CRASHED INTO AN 18 WHEELER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE MEDIUM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND WAS NOW REFUSING TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A RATTLE UNDER THE HOOD AT THE FIREWALL AREA WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOSE ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND RUBBING UNDER THE VEHICLE, BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAD WORE THIN, THE FUEL PUMP SENDER DID NOT HOLD THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL PRESSURE, THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE 24X CRANK SENSOR, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO WEAK FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH WERE NOISY (THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED), THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR SHORTED, THE WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKED COOLANT, THERE WAS A VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HARDWARE WAS BAD AND WAS LOOSE IN THE CALIPER, ROTOR PULSATION WHICH WAS REPLACED PER BULLETIN, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE A/C HAD INTERNAL DAMAGE AND WOULD CUT ON AND OFF. *SC
I HAD THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YEARS AND IT HAS GIVEN ME SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MISFIRE SENSORS, CLICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR HOLE, THIS IS BESIDES OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE WATER PUMP, FUEL PUMP, TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND MUCH MORE. *JB
CONSUMER HEARD WHILE TRAVELING A CLICKING SOUND FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL. *AK
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS: BRAKES MADE NOISE WHEN APPLIED, VEHICLE JERKED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP,THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON THE CONSUMER THREE TIMES, IT STARTED LOUD AND HARD, BOUNCED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND A BOLT FELL OFF FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE BOLT DID NOT BELONG TO THE VEHICLE. *PH ALSO THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE BATTERY WAS WEAK. *JB
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS IN THE YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE: -SIGNAL &/OR HAZARD LIGHTS WORK PERIODICALLY -RADIO & LIGHTER SHORT OUT/BLOW FUSES -A/C NOT WORKING -A/C CUTS ON AUTOMATICALLY W/ RECIRCULATION BUTTON -VENT ONLY WORKS ON LEVEL 3 OR HIGHER -WATER PRESENT IN TRUNK -UNEVEN TIRE WEAR -ERRATIC GAS GAUGE READINGS -COOLANT RAN COMPLETELY OUT W/OUT REASON. *JB
THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED ARE AS FOLLOWED: DEFECTIVE/SHORTED TURN SIGNAL(REPLACED, CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP, 5 ATTEMPTED REPAIRS OF NOISES/KNOCKING IN THE FRONT END/SUSPENSION/STEERING (WHICH HAVE TSB'S), BRAKES/ROTORS, FAULTY IGNITION WIRES, POOR PERFORMANCE/STALLING, UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE READINGS, AND NO CRUISE CONTROL OR HORN. THE DEALER COULD NEVER DUPLICATE ANY OF THE PROBLEMS. REFER TO ODI#10013971 MR SCC
FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION-SQUAWKING NOISE -GM WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAZARD LIGHTS - HAVE GONE OUT TWICE. FUEL INTEGRITY - ERRATIC FUEL READING - SHOWS 1/4 TANK - WHEN IN REALITY THERE IS NO GAS. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES - SEVERAL TIMES LATE AT NIGHT. NO CRUISE CONTROL - GM WOULD NOT REPAIR. BRAKES PADS/ROTORS - HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES. MY LOCAL DEALER ROTOLO CHEVROLET AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD DO NOTHING. IT WAS EXPENSIVE. PREMATURE TIRE WEAR - TWO SETS OF TIRES. CARS RUNS HOT - WOULD NEVER GO ON A TRIP - BECAUSE IT WOULD GET TOO NEAR OVERHEATING. I WAS AFRAID OF GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ENGINE TICKING NOISE - LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. NOW, I FIND NONE OF THESE THINGS WERE NORMAL AND MANY, MANY MORE CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. ALSO, I HAD A BATTERY THAT EXPLODED WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS MY PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE BATTERY. I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH AND TURNED THIS AUTOMOBILE BACK TO GMAC. IS IT GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE GETTING KILLED TO MAKE GM RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES WITH THE 2000 MALIBU. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT SINCE NOTHING COULD BE DUPLICATED, EVEN THOUGH GM WAS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE DECEPTION.....GM IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD THEN ACCOUNTABLE. *JB
DEALER HAS REPLACED SOME PARTS, PAID SOME LABOR, AND BLAMED OWNER OR/AND NORMAL WEAR FOR SOME DEFECTS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT DEALERSHIP.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
DURING ROUTINE SERVICE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RIGHT SPINDLE AND STRUT WERE BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT TIRES EXPERIENCE ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR AND ARE NOISY, FIRESTONE AFFINITY. DEALER REPLACED LEFT FRONT BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY. THEY ALSO TIGHTENED FRONT CONTROL ARM. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED, HOWEVER NOISE CONTINUES AND TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR, POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *SLC *NM
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK JG
I HAVE ALSO HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, REPLACED EMERGENCY LIGHTS, SUSPENSION FIXED, ALL IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES ARE STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45-50MPH AND GOING AROUND BEND WHEEL BEARING ON RIGHT SIDE BROKE IN HALF. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH FRONT STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC
FRONT END IS MAKING A LOUD TICKING NOISE. WHEN VEHICLE MAKES A RIGHT TURN ONLY THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. ALL TOGETHER VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES, ONCE FOR WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THREE TIMES FOR ROTORS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK
BOUGHT MY CAR NEW OFF SHOW ROOM FLOOR AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE HAD IT IN FOR STARTING PROBLEMS BATTERY PROBLEMS FUEL PROBLEMS WINDOW PROBLEMS DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS ENGINE NOISE ENGINE OIL LEAKS VIBRATION PROBLEMS BRAKE PROBLEMS DYING PROBLEMS POPPING NOISES IN FRONT END STRUTS BOTTOMING OUT ROUGH RIDE AND STEERING PROBLEMS AND SO ON TOO MANY TO LIST ALL HAVE HAD FRONT END REALIGNED STUTS CHECKED AND REPALCED BRAKES CHECKED AND REPLACED WHEEL STUDS REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND FLOAT REPLACED PISTONS REPLACED BATTERY REPLACED REMOTE START SYSTEM REPLACED ALARM SYSTEM REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED FRONT CRANK SEAL REPLACED ALT CHECKED AND TESTED STARTED CHECKED STILL HAVING FUEL PROBLEMS BRAKE PROBLEMS VIBRATION ECT HAD IN THIS LAST WEEK FO 6 DAYS AND WHEN RETURNED STILL HAVING ENGINE NOISE STEERING PROBLEMS RADIO PROBLEMS FUEL PROBLEMS AND FOUND IMPACT MARK ON L/FRONT OF BUMPER ONE OF DEALERS TECH'S HIT SOMETHING AND NOW WANDERS TO LEFT LEFT HEAD LIGHT OUT OF LINE AND PUSHED BACK UNDER FENDER HOOD OUT OF LINE FENDERS BUMPERS DRIVING LIGHTS AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS AND DAMAGE POSSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DETECT AT THIS TIME HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY AND COMPLAINED HAVE TALKED WITH DEALER AND STILL NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN AND STATEMENTS OF WE MIGHT HAVE BRUISED IT IT HAS BEEN WRECKED NOW I AMD PAYING GOOD MONEY FOR JUNK AND WANT REFUND OF ALL COSTS TO ME AND THE CAR TAKEN BACK ENGINES SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE OVERHAULED AT 14000 MILES THE CAR IS 2 YAERS OLD AND ACTS LIKE ITS 20 NEED RESPONESE AND INFO TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO HAVE RETURNED UNDER LEMON LAW UNIFORM CONFORMITY ACT AND MAGNUSON-MOSS ACT CAR HAS BECOME INSTRUMENT THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRED AND WHOSE OPPERATION IS FROUGHT WITH APPREHENSION SINCERLY UNHAPPY AND HURT CONSUMER IS THE HIGHWAY SAFTY DEVISION INTERESTED AND GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR ARE WE OUT OF LUCK ????????? RESPONSE REQUESTED
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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