Considering 200 Malibu

I'm shopping for a used car and have come across a 2000 Malibu w/55000 mi. While researching this car, I have read all the posts about what seem to be the numerous problems with these cars, especially the brakes.
My question is if these cars have so many problems, why does JD Power rate them above average for mechanical reliabilty??
Any input would help, thanks.

It's because some of the people on here have bought lemons and are pissed about it, and like to rag on the car's good value for whatever reason. I myself have a 99' ls, and I love it, and I think the reliablity is above avearge. The only problem i have been having, is the rotor wearing that seems to go through them fast. Currently as I posted I'm in the stage of looking for new tires. Also, I would suggest that you look at the 98-99 model years instead of the 2000-2004, because although it's the same car, gm, has made better interior plastics from 97-99 than in 00-04. The interior platics in the 00-04 is more all one color and way, way cheaper despite that they are the same dash board design. Now I think once the malibu earned what it can in awardfs (97 motortrend car of the year, and numerious quilty awards) gm decided to cut back on the car nad that's why there's so many quality complaints from 00-04. The ls alloys from 97-99 are a hell alot better too.

Don't you mean 00-03? :eek7: 04's are 100% different then the 97-03's.

well their is a 04' version of the old car renamed classic for fleet sales, but the malibu has been the same through 97-03. In 2000, when chevy launched the impala as the co. flagship, chevy redisigned just the grill, and wheel covers/rims and stoped painting the mirrors, and cut down the interior quality. The 97-99 bu' was it's flagship ,so more $ was put into the car during thhose early years.