I bought my 2016 Malibu from an individual two years ago with only 62,000 miles. It’s now at 102,000 miles, and since May 2023, I’ve spent over $7,200 on repairs.
I have replaced the head gasket, water pump, timing chains, catalytic converter, O2 sensors, tires, brakes, and exhaust flex pipe. Now it needs front control arms and rear shocks/struts, which will cost another $2,000.
I am pretty careful with maintenance, and the car was in great condition when I bought it. It was garage-kept before I started using it daily.
Do you think switching from garage storage to daily driving could be causing all these issues?
Has anyone else with a 2016 Malibu had similar problems?
I have worked on several Malibus from that year, and encountering issues as they age is not unusual. It’s frustrating but transitioning a car from being garage-kept. The list of repairs you have mentioned does seem a bit high for the mileage, though. Have you looked into whether there might be any common issues with that model that could be causing these problems?
I guess that makes sense. I had not thought about the transition from garage-kept to daily driver being a factor. I am planning to get a comprehensive inspection from a different mechanic to ensure there are not any hidden issues.
Did you buy the car from a dealership or a private seller? Sometimes, how the car was maintained and driven before you got it can impact its performance later on.