1997 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

Your car's theft alarm light keeps turning on, causing the engine to stop while you're driving and preventing the car from restarting. This problem continues even though you had the recall service performed years ago that was supposed to fix it. The issue likely involves the vehicle's anti-theft system or ignition control module that needs further diagnosis and repair.

CAR ENGINE OVERHEATING NOT DUE TO THERMOSTAT OR WATER PUMP. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU (54,000) MILES THAT SEIZED UP IN TRAFFIC DUE TO ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE (DEXA-COOL) USE BY GM HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CAUSING PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURES BY EATING AWAY THE GASKETS, WATER PUMPS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ENGINE COOLING COMPONENTS. I?M NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT SINCE MY PROBLEM HAPPENED LONG AFTER THE CLOSING DATE. I FEEL A NATIONAL RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED BY NHTSA. *TR

AUTOMOTIVE COOLING SYSTEM> VEHICLE BEGAN LOOSING COOLANT ON DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLES ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS CORRODED. AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE USE OF THE COOLANT DEX-COOL THIS WAS REQUIRED BY GENERAL MOTORS TO KEEP UP WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. NOW I FIND THAT THIS WAS THE WRONG THING TO USE AND I WILL BE OUT $1800 IN REPAIR WORK. I BELIEVE G.M. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LARGEST PART OF THIS EXPENSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED SOME ON THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. THIRTY DAYS LATER THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. ONCE AGAIN, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN WHICH NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER CONSUMER HAD MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC. HAD TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND SOME TIMES HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR TO RESTART VEHICLE. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TWICE ON THE CAR ALREADY. THE LAST REPAIR WAS IN MARCH OF 2004. IT IS ONLY THREE MONTHS FROM THE LAST REPLACEMENT, AND IT IS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE AGAIN. I WOULD REPAIR THE CAR, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS NOT GOING TO DO ANY GOOD. EACH REPAIR WAS OVER FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS PART. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT, AND YET THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE GASKET HAS FAILED.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER VERIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND RECOMMENDED GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $585. MILEAGE IS ONLY 46,000. I MUST CONTINUE TO ADD COOLANT AT REGULAR INTERVALS OTHERWISE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT.*AK

BASICALLY THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GM 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 1100 SUCH COMPLAINTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH MY SITUATION ALSO. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO HAVE A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT HAD LED UP TO MY CURRENT FIASCO. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AFTER AN OIL CHANGE MY 97 MALIBU BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A LIFTER TICKING. MY MECHANIC SUSPECTS A COLLAPSED LIFTER; THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY CAR ALSO NOW RUNS VERY ROUGH AND DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER IT USED TO HAVE. TODAY 10/2/03 I HAD TO DRIVE INTO SEATTLE AND BEGAN TO HAVE A SEVERE HEATING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. MY WIFE AND I WERE DEATHLY AFRAID WE WERE GOING TO BE STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY SOMEWHERE OR STUCK IN A PART OF SEATTLE WE DID NOT FEEL VERY SAFE IN. THE TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE VERY QUICKLY AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION JUST SOUTH OF SEATTLE, THE NEEDLE WAS PEGGED AND THE TEMP LIGHT ACTUALLY CAME ON. I HAD DEX-COOL ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. WE WAITING APPROX 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED OUT AGAIN AND YES WERE AFRAID THE ENTIRE WAY HOME THAT WE WOULD GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE. I GOT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS INFORMED US THAT WE PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE, ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FAULTY GASKETS WHICH RESULT IN ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING BAD CAMSHAFTS, BAD BEARINGS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. IF I HAD THE RESOURCES TO DUMP THE PIECE OF JUNK I JUST MIGHT, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE RECOURSES TO DO THAT, I MUST GET IT FIXED. RIGHT NOW A $4000.00 DOLLAR REPAIR WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR MY FAMILY. FRANKLY I AM TIRED OF BEING SOLD JUNK, 20000.00 DOLLARS MIGHT NOT BE MUCH TOO SOME PEOPLE BUT IT IS TO ME. MY CAR NOW IS BARELY WORTH $4000.00 AND THE THOUGHT OF PUTTING $4000.00 INTO IT JUST TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN MAKES ME SICK. I WILL THINK TWICE THE NEXT TIME ABOUT PURCHASING A GM PRODUCT.

MY CAR HAS ALWAYS USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ANTI-FREEZE. APPARENTLY, MY CHEVY MALIBU IS NOT THE ONLY, AND FROM THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO TODAY, HE SAYS THAT IT IS THE ENGINE. I NOW HAVE TO GET A NEW MANIFOLD, WHICH TO ME COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE SAME CARS ALL OVER ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTER DEFECT AND THE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU (3.1 V6 ENGINE). MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THIS ENGINE AND CAR. I ALSO SEARCHED THE COMPLAINTS DADABASE AND I FOUND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ALSO, THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMING AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR AND ROTOR WARPING APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS WAS FIXED ONCE, THE PROBLEM IS REACCURING. $1200 IN MAJOR REPAIRS SO FAR ON A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU, NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER SMALL BUT FREQUENT REPAIRS. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH BOTH OF MY RECENT GM PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO COSTY REPAIRS OR ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,000 MILES ON A 1994 GRAND AM AND 89,000 MILES ON A 1997 MALIBU. I HAVE HAD TO FIX THE RADIO NUMEROUS TIMES (CABLE COMES UNPLUGGED QUITE OFTEN). *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

BASICALLY THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GM 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 1100 COMPLAINTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH MY SITUATION ALSO. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO HAVE A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT HAD LED UP TO MY CURRENT FIASCO. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, MY 97 MALIBU BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A LIFTER 'TICKING.' MY MECHANIC SUSPECTS A COLLAPSED LIFTER; THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY CAR ALSO NOW RUNS VERY ROUGH AND DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER IT USED TO HAVE. TODAY, 10/2/03, I WENT TO SEATTLE AND EXPERIENCED A SEVERE HEATING PROBLEM. THE TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE VERY QUICKLY AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION JUST SOUTH OF SEATTLE, THE NEEDLE WAS PEGGED AND THE TEMP LIGHT ACTUALLY CAME ON. I HAD DEX-COOL ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. WE WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED OUT AGAIN AND YES WERE AFRAID THE ENTIRE WAY HOME THAT WE WOULD GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE. I GOT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS INFORMED US THAT WE PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE, ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FAULTY GASKETS WHICH RESULT IN ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING BAD CAMSHAFTS, BAD BEARINGS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. IF I HAD THE RESOURCES TO DUMP THE PIECE OF JUNK I JUST MIGHT, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE RECOURSES TO DO THAT, I MUST GET IT FIXED. *LA

LOSING WATER FROM RADIATOR RESERVOIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON 97 CHEVY MALIBU.

POOR MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS. *NLM

COOLANT POURED OUT OF VEHICLE. MANIFOLD GASKET WAS A LEMON. REPAIR PLACE INFORMED US, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLE'S. *JB

COOLANT-OIL LEAK PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NLM

THE TENSIONER PULLEY FOR THE ACCESSORY BELT COMPLETELY BROKE OFF FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE ENGINE TO DRILL OUT THE OLD BOLT AND TO GET THE NEW ASSEMBLY IN. THIS IS A PIECE THAT SHOULD NEVER JUST BREAK. DT

CARS ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, NO OBVIOUS LEAKS; TAKEN TO AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN INTAKE LEAK; THEN INFORMED BY ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP THERE WAS WATER IN MY OIL ; POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH GASKET; BASICALLY SAME SITUATION AS ODI-ID758781. *AK

RENEE BORSTAD, DIRECTOR/SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS WRITES ON BEHALF OF PARKER FLORES, " ALSO, 2 OF THE 3 ENGINE MOUNTS ON VEHICLE FAILED, INCURRING DAMAGES WHERE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED. *JG

RENEE BORSTAD, DIRECTOR/SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS WRITES ON BEHALF OF PARKER FLORES, ALSO, 2 OF THE 3 ENGINE MOUNTS ON VEHICLE FAILED, INCURRING DAMAGES WHERE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED. *JG

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COOLANT HOSE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT 2 OF THE 3 ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE CONVERTER.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A FLUID LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COOLANT HOSE, CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT 2 OF THE 3 ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE CONVERTER.*JB

MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE. IF CONSUMER WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEN MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION COULD FALL OUT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE.*AK

WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON, FUSES IN VEHICLE SHORT OUT, CAUSING ALL GAUGES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL INCLUDING THE LIGHTS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED COMPRESSOR IN VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT.*AK VEHICLE ALSO HAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. ONCE AGAIN HAD TO BE REPAIRED, AND DEALER SAID THAT ENGINE HAD BEEN WORN OUT.*AK

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO GASKET LEAKS. YH

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE DRIVE BELT SNAPPED DUE TO BROKEN PULLEY ASSEMBLY. YH

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO GASKET LEAKS. YH

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE DRIVE BELT SNAPPED DUE TO BROKEN PULLEY ASSEMBLY. YH

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO GASKET LEAKS. YH

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE DRIVE BELT SNAPPED DUE TO BROKEN PULLEY ASSEMBLY. YH

THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT HAS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO HAVE NO SUPPORT ON THAT SIDE, IT WAS HANGING. *AK

COOLANT SEEPS OUT. *AK

UPON INITIAL START UP WITH COLD ENGINE, ENGINE RUNS FINE UNTIL DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH, HAS NO POWER, AND WILL STALL AS SOON AS PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. ONCE RESTARTED ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH, ETC UNTIL NEAR NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE ATTAINED DUE TO STALLING AND LACK OF POWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER'S SHOP AT LEAST TWICE. ON THE LAST SERVICING ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1999, DEALER REP LACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED IGNITION COMPUTER WITH NEWER VERSION OF MANUFACTURER'S SOFTWARE. DEALER CHARGED $64 FOR NEW SOFTWARE WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

UPON INITIAL START UP WITH COLD ENGINE, ENGINE RUNS FINE UNTIL DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH, HAS NO POWER, AND WILL STALL AS SOON AS PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. ONCE RESTARTED ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH, ETC UNTIL NEAR NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE ATTAINED DUE TO STALLING AND LACK OF POWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER'S SHOP AT LEAST TWICE. ON THE LAST SERVICING ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1999, DEALER REP LACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED IGNITION COMPUTER WITH NEWER VERSION OF MANUFACTURER'S SOFTWARE. DEALER CHARGED $64 FOR NEW SOFTWARE WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT IDLE , SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS

OIL LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION IS PULLING .CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I HAVE MADE SEVEARL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE LOOKED AT REGARDING THE SOUNDS I HEAR UPON STARTUP. THE CLICKING AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE TAPPETS OR VALVES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS A 75000 MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER CLOSEST TO ME AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE A 3.1 L WERE NOTORIOUS FOR "WRIST PIN TOLERANCE DEFECTS" HE TOLD ME IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT SHOULD CLEAR UP AFTER THE METALS HAVE EXPANDED INSIDE THE ENGINE. I GUESS YOU CAN CALL ME CONSCIECIOUS BUT THE WORD "DEFECT" HAS A TENDENCY TO UNNERVE A PERSON AFTER PAYING FOR A "NEW" CAR. AND HAVING HAD MECHANICAL TRAINING I KNOW ANY TOLERANCES WHERE PARTS ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE FREELY EVEN WHEN "WARMING UP" ARE PARTS THAT ARE USUALLY WEARING. WEARING PARTS MEAN A UNPREDICIBLE SITUATION AND I WORRY FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND. THIS TOLERANCE THING IS UNSAFE SINCE WRIST PINS ARE WHAT HOLD THE PISTONS ON THE CONNECTING RODS. THERE CAN BE NO TOLERANCE GAP ON A PART AS IMPORTANT EVEN IF IT STOPS AFTER A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND IT. MY WARRANTY IS UP IN ANOTHER 8000 MILES. I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL GIVE AWAY AFTER OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND AS USUAL THEN IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL TO THE MECHANICS AND DEALER WHEN THEY CAN TAKE MY MONEY TO FIX A "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT".

NO SUMMARY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING WATER PUMP LEAKAGE, DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

CONSUMER EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN REMOVING OIL FILTER.

DRIVING AT APPROX 10-25 VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO STALL WHEN TRYING TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP OR STARTING UP VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY A LEMON. CHANGED/REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS/CLEANED FUEL PLUGS/REPLACED THE COMPUTER, REPROGRAMMED IT. *AK