Problems · by component
2000 Chevrolet Malibu power train problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu cite power train, 3% of all 944 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
3% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SURGES AND SEEMS TO WANT TO UPSHIFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN ON AN INCLINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I STARTED NOTICING THIS 2002 AND HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THIS DEFECT FOR YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TRANSMISSION TCC SOLENOID, AS MANY OTHER CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR”
“WHILE GOING BETWEEN 45 TO 65 MPH THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT SHIFTING OR ENGAGING RIGHT. I HAD TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER SHIP WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE ENGAGING AND TO GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *NM”
“I REPEATED HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND/OR NOT GOING INTO GEAR COMPLETELY AND THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON A FEW OCCASIONS. I FIRST SUSPECTED SOMETHING WAS FAULTY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE - WHICH WAS A GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $2000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. ITEMS REPLACED INCLUDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND SOLENOIDS. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE COOLANT LEAKING AND ASSUME IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT DIAGNOSED YET.”
“AS READING OVER THE WEBSITE I NOTICE THE 2000 MALIBU IS PRETTY MUCH A LEMON. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO, PRETTY MUCH EVERY GASKET IN THE ENGINE, THE FUEL PUMP, BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, NOW MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK, JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL I HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF I QUALIFY, MY ENGINE KNOCKS ON COLD STARTS, AND IT PRACTICALLY LOSSES ALL POWER WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE . . AND TOP IT OFF MY TRANSMISION SLIPS. . THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO . . AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. *JB”
“WE UNFORTUNATELY OWN A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES FOR GOING OUT OF ROUND. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT LESS THEN 50,000 MILES AT THE COST OF $728.00. THE AIR CONDITIONER POPS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN NOT COOLING FOR THE MOST PART. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NONFUNCTIONAL AND OUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD BE. THEN THERE IS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE COOLANT LEAKING AND THE CAR OVERHEATING WE ARE TOLD THIS IS A MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET AND WILL COST AROUND 800.00 TO FIX. THE NEWEST PROBLEM IS THE FACTORY INSTALLED RADIO TUNER IS BURNED OUT AND NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIO COSTING YET ANOTHER $100.00 DOLLARS OR SO THIS CAR HAS NICKEL AND DIMED US TOO MUCH. AFTER LOOKING OVER YOUR SITE I FOUND THESE TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. I FEEL THIS CAR WAS A LEMON ACROSS THE BOARD NOT JUST OURS BUT, ALL 2000 MALIBU'S. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE CARS ON A WHOLE THEY WERE VERY BADLY MANUFACTURED AND WE ALL DESERVE SOME COMPENSATION FOR IT. *JB”
“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”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.