Ten problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Intake manifold on my 1997 chevy Malibu has started to go bad I know its the lower gasket I called chevy after seeing so many other people with the same problem I was told chevy would not replace it due to it being over ten years old well it seems like with was a problem waiting to happen as soon as they sealed the manifold at the factory I think gm should replace this item once free of charge per car also my rack and pinion seems to stick on my left side I've replaced the power steering pump and checked the rack and pinion seems the ball bearing wanting to come out or is gone I told gm I don't think they replaced it when they recalled it and they told me the first owner did but wont send me paperwork on the repair or the dealership that did the work.
: the contact stated there was antifreeze on the ground under the engine. An independent repair shop determined the intake gasket needed to be replaced.
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.
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.
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).
Excessive brake pad useage with this car. The intake manifold had to be replaced at 88,000 miles. I am very very dissatisfied with this car and do not plan on purchasing another gm at this time.
Coolant poured out of vehicle. Manifold gasket was a lemon. Repair place informed us, this was a common problem with Chevrolet vehicle's.
Coolant-oil leak problem with the lower intake manifold.
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.
The oil pan on the car has defective gaskets the engine manifold has defective gaskets the emergency brake light does not work the brakes have had to be replaced twice in less than 36,000 miles.