2005 Malibu Maxx LS Rotor Issue

[wjdreamin]

My lease is near expiration and after searching the new cars availalble on the market, I'm seriously considering financing my balloon payment and keeping my Maxx. Overall, it has been a very good and reliable car. No complaints with the mileage 25 city/35 hwy -- how often do you find that with a V6?

My main complaint is with the rotors and brakes. I had to have them replaced all around when the car was less than 18 months old ($700 cost) and I'm fairly certain that it needs to be done again. The Chevy dealership told me that this is normal for a car to go through rotors and brakes this often, but I'm no dummy, owned many cards in my lifetime and even had other mechanics tell me this was not normal.

I'm just wondering what else I should expect to go wrong now that the car has 44k miles on it. I have 3 months left to decide -- turn it back in and buy something new or keep it? The only real complaint has been that I have to change the back tail light about every 6 months. I usually know it has gone out because when it does, my auto door fob will not open or close the door.

Any insight from other users would be nice. Also - why hasn't GM issued any recalls for this rotor issue? It is obviously not a user defect -- IT IS NOT NORMAL TO GO THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES & ROTORS WITH A CAR UNDER 44,000 MILES.

Thanks for any input

[MrCritical]

It does not make good financial sense to buy a car at the end of the lease.

Multiply the number of payments by amount paid and add the balloon at the end.

That's a pretty expensive Malibu.

Never heard of a Malibu going through brakes like that, unless it had "dubs" installed.

[ChevyRules]

I am going to guess that the rotors warped? Common problem with the Epsilon's and as of today GM has yet to fix the issue.

[ao072]

I have a Pontiac G6 GTP, and have already had to replace my pads and machine my front rotors a few times due to warping. I just installed a set of Power Slot rotors and Akebono ProACT ceramic pads in front, and am looking forward to seeing if they also have the same problems as the OEM components. Good luck with the Malibu.

[73ChevelleSS]

Where do you live?I worked in Chicago my whole life untill 6 months ago.I am currently in Rochester Ny which is the rust belt of the country.In all honesty rust and corrosion are the main problems with warped rotors and premature wear etc..The climate you live in has a huge effect on rotor life etc..Driving habits etc have a large effect also.

[FenwickHockey65]

I had my rotors replaced as well on my '07 Malibu. I'm dreading the day the annoying squealing noise returns and I have to drive all the way back to get them replaced again.

[Canyonaro]

I have an '04 and the brakes are still nice and solid. Never had a pad or rotor problem. Granted I have only 31,xxx miles on it (bought it off the lot with 4 miles).

So they are smoking IMO when they say it happens all the times to this vehicle ('04+).