My 2003 Malibu died for the 4th and last time

[dagdaenigma]

This is a copy of a note that I have sent to a number of Corporate Executives at GM about my 2003 Malibu:

I purchased a 2003 Malibu from Jim Smith Chevrolet in Walden, New York with only 15 miles on the odometer on July 2, 2003. On July 29, 2003 I was driving to work on the Palisades Interstate Parkway when for no apparent reason the car died. I was able to get the car over to the side of the road without being killed and after the car sat for a few minutes it restarted without a problem but would not go any faster than 40 mph. I drove it to the side of the road and waited another five minutes and started the car again and it ran fine the remainder of the trip to work. I called Jim Smith Chevrolet in Chestnut Ridge NY and they sent a tow truck over to take it to the dealership. After work that day I caught a ride to the dealership and they said that they could not find anything wrong with it. They said that they wanted to keep the car for a few days to check it out. They provided a loaner from Enterprise car rentals. The dealership in Chestnut Ridge could not find any problems over the two days that they had the car. I drove the Malibu for two more weeks and it happened once again. I notified Jim Smith Chevrolet in Walden the first and second time that this happened. I was able to drive the car to Walden and Jim Smith kept the car for two weeks. They said that they could not find any problem but they did replace the PCM apparently trying to eliminate suspects. On September 14th I was driving up the Northway toward Montreal with a passenger when the car died once again and fortunately we were not killed in the process of moving over two lanes of traffic on a very busy highway. Luckily we were driving up there with two other people and a second car. In fits and starts I was able to drive the car to Whitemans Chevrolet in Glens Falls, NY. They had the car from 9/14 to 9/17 and it did die on them on several occasions while test driving the car. They could not find any thing wrong either. The only suspect that they could not check was the anti-theft ignition sensor so they replaced that. I was able to drive the car from Glens Falls to Middletown, NY(160 mi) without incident. The Service manager told me that the car was roadworthy but he could not guarantee that it would not happen again. Today, 9/20/03 I drove the car over the Danbury CT(50 mi one way) with my wife, son and daughter in the car. My son drove the car back and just after we crossed the Newburgh-Beacon bridge (about half way home) the car died again and my son narrowly avoided a disaster as we tried to cross three lanes of traffic without power. Since the first time this problem occurred I have been in touch with GM through Customer assistance and Reggie Valins.

This problem is not just an inconvenience it is a very serious safety hazard that almost killed me, my family , and a close friend. This problem has occurred four times now in a little over a month. I have also lost over $350.00 in lost time at work having to take time off to take the car to dealerships and picking the loaner car up. I feel that GM should take this car back and give me a new car or a refund. I will be speaking to the General manager of the Jim Smith dealership on 9/22/03 for a decision about my request for a new car or refund. I have been buying Chevrolets for the past twenty years or more always believing them to be one of the most reliable cars on the road. I am very quickly losing that opinion as the result of driving the Malibu. Many of my friends and co-workers are aware of my problem and how serious a problem it is. I need action on this issue from both the dealership and GM because I have already spoken to a lawyer about the possibility of a law suit against both the dealership and GM. GM should take the car back and dissect it to find out what is going wrong and how to avoid this problem occurring on other Malibus.

2003 Malibu 4 door VIN #1G1NE52J33M717475

Patrick Mclaughlin
143 Commonwealth ave.
Middletown, New York 10940
Work phone (845-680-4951)
Home phone(845-343-2634)
Email address [email protected]
Work email address [email protected]

[annegia]

Hi, do you know if anyone checked out the fuel pump? I have a 2000 Malibu and experienced the same problem where my car would die while I was driving. Turns out it was the fuel pump. I replaced it and my car hasn't died since.

Good luck !!

annegia

[joejoeboom]

Have you received a reply on your request for a new car or a refund?
I have a 2000 Malibu that only wants to start up when it wants to. I can start it up for several weeks then out of the clear blue sky, it decides not to start up at all, gets towed to the dealership, only for them to tell me nothings wrong with it. I also notice some hesitation when driving up hills or the road is inclined. Luckily for me I have not had it die on me while driving.
I think a reply to your note states that you should try replacing the fuel pump. Did you have that done? And if you did, did it fix the problem.

Joe Luera
Stuck in Schertz,Tx