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Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord

804 messages,  Last post on Mar 07, 2011 at 4:52 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 71 of 81

#695 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [malibu08] by smarty666

Jan 20, 2010 (11:01 am)

Replying to: malibu08 (Jan 20, 2010 10:15 am)
this is exactly the reason I stopped buying GM vehicles after doing so for almost 40 years! my very last GM, a 2004 Malibu had major engine components fail, such as catalytic converter, power steering pump, alternator, and several other things when the car was just passed out of factory warranty and was only about 3.5-4 years old
 
that malibu was the final straw with me and GM; that was about the 4th or 5th GM product in a row that I was putting between 2-4k dollars in when the car was about 3-5 years old to replace things that broke or wore out under the hood
 
your situation has just reassured me that I made the right decision in not buying GM anymore; at the age of your malibu and the age my malibu was, you should not be having these kind of problems with a car that is still relatively young; these types of problems should not occur until the car is maybe 7-8 years old, at the earliest
 
I switched to Japanese vehicles and couldn't be happier and have had no problems like I did with the pontiacs, buicks, and chevys I had over the years
 
being that your car is an 08 and having this problems just proves to me that GM is still in the crapper and all they have done thus far is put a new face on their product but still continue with the same old crap problems under the hood
 
best of luck with getting your malibu fixed! in all the years I had my GM vehicles in the dealerships for service, three separate dealers in fact, I never once got a loaner car! only a shuttle service, even when it was still under warranty!

#696 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [smarty666] by vanman1

Jan 20, 2010 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: smarty666 (Jan 20, 2010 11:01 am)
smarty:
 
While I am sorry about the problems with your 2004 GM vehicle, the 2008+ Malibu is a very reliable car and the catalytic converter is not a common issue.
 
Making broad statements that Japanese vehicles have no problems is complete and utter nonsense and untrue.

#697 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [malibu08] by bvdj84

Jan 21, 2010 (8:46 am)

Replying to: malibu08 (Jan 20, 2010 10:15 am)
I own an 08 Pontiac G6 and I also had to have my catylic converter replaced. The engine was acting very weird and sluggish. Took dealer a long time to figure it out. The part also had to be special ordered. I chose not to drive the car while having this issue and waiting for the part. I was given a loaner. The Malibu and G6 share the same engine and parts. Also, it seems as though other GM cars have had this issue. I did describe my story in the G6 forum.
 
At this time, it is better, but now have the issue with the transmission being jerky and slipping in 1 gear. At this time, I have chosen to be quiet about the issue, its already been brought up, but if I state it again. It could hurt my trade in value with my dealer in which sells other NON GM cars. Not my problem. I now have 26,000 miles on it. I will trade in the Spring.
 
believe my car is about 60% lemon, according to the issues had thus far.

#698 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [vanman1] by smarty666

Jan 22, 2010 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: vanman1 (Jan 20, 2010 5:40 pm)
your absolutely right, I did tend to make a broad statement about Japanese cars, but the data still shows that the Japanese cars have best reliability and hold their value the best of all the car manufactures
 
I never once said in my post that Japanese vehicles do not have any problems; I said that the ones I have had since switching away from GM have not given me any troubles like the GM vehicles I had over the years; you need to start listening and reading more carefully to what people said; I'm not saying that there aren't problems with Japanese cars, even the more efficient and reliable automakers have at least 1 or 2 cars per 100 they produce that are easier put together wrong or have problems
 
I only commented because the guy with the 08 malibu having problems with the catalytic converter just brought back many memories to me of the stuff I went through for over 20 years with the GM cars I had; you might be one of the lucky ones that has a malibu that has had no problems, consider yourself lucky and enjoy your car!

#699 of 804 Future of GM and Ford by smarty666

Jan 22, 2010 (1:30 pm)

I will say this, their has been some improvement in GM since I stopped getting GM vehicles but I have been really impressed with direction, progress, and quality that FORD is heading in; I would say right now that Ford is about 5-8 years ahead of GM
 
You can understand that after having GM vehicles for almost 30 years, each one having major problems that costs me a fortune to maintain and keep up, it is going to take me awhile to ever even consider going back to GM or Ford
 
I am going to give Ford and GM another 10 years before I would even consider looking at getting a vehicle from anyone of them because I think it is going to take that long to really see if things have changed for the better! I am optimistic, at least with Ford, that they will make a comeback!!

#700 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [smarty666] by dmathews3

Jan 22, 2010 (4:58 pm)

Replying to: smarty666 (Jan 22, 2010 1:24 pm)
I have a question for you. Wife had a 07 Caddy STS with Nav. In the 39 months that she drove it outside of a recall on a rear seal that was prone to leak (hers didn't) she only had 2 issues with the car. Both were with the Nav Unit. First one was the display was very dim when it was in the 20's or colder, the other was the Nav. couldn't find the sats which gave a red circle with the dia. line through it as in NO SMOKING signs have. Now do I blame G.M. for this or do I chalk it up to the German Company who made the Nav Unit and its 1/2 partner Toyota? I guess I just have to wonder who made the cad. Converters on the car you are refering to.

#701 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [dmathews3] by elroy5

Jan 22, 2010 (11:18 pm)

Replying to: dmathews3 (Jan 22, 2010 4:58 pm)
Now do I blame G.M. for this or do I chalk it up to the German Company who made the Nav Unit and its 1/2 partner Toyota?
 
I'm sure that German company is not the only company that makes Nav units. GM had choices. Cars are made mostly of parts bought from suppliers, so they have to choose wisely. If my Delphi alternator goes out, do I blame Delphi, or the car company who bought the inferior part, and installed it in my car? If my headlight is poorly designed, and lets water enter it, do I blame Stanley (the maker of the headlight), or the car company, for buying the inferior part? GM is responsible for the entire car, not just the parts they manufactured themselves (which are very few).

#702 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [elroy5] by dmathews3

Jan 23, 2010 (7:44 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jan 22, 2010 11:18 pm)
You just said that Toyota is a inferior company. So I sure hope you didn't buy a Toyota SUV.

#703 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [elroy5] by bvdj84

Jan 23, 2010 (8:44 am)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jan 22, 2010 11:18 pm)
I think your statement nailed the point exactly!! A company has the right to pick and choose the best parts for its products. The issue with GM, is that it seems to be picked sub par parts that do not last as long.
 
  Then again, the New Accord seems to be having brake wear issues and VCM issues. Perfect? No! Not at all! The Camry has cheap interior parts? Good choice for Toyota? No!
 
GM to start picking better, quality part, than you could perhaps see a much better product that lasts longer. Holds better value!

#704 of 804 Re: 08 malibu catalytic converter issues [bvdj84] by imidazol97

Jan 23, 2010 (9:09 am)

Replying to: bvdj84 (Jan 23, 2010 8:44 am)
I disagree that GM picked subpar parts. I doubt that Honda says to a supplier that they want the subpar parts for their brakes on Accord. I doubt that Toyo says they want subpar parts for the electronic drive-by-wire system on their Camry and others that give them unintended acceleration.
 
Catalytic converters may have a failure rate that is low and occasionally one fails early, much like automatic transmissions. But as most auto mechanics taking calls on radio auto repair shows here say, "Catalytic converters don't commit suicide, they usually are murdered."

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