2019 Malibu dealer recommendations - yay or nay?

[R18Civic]

I took the Malibu in to the dealer today for a complimentary state inspection and oil change. It passed but the service writer came back with $1600 worth of recommended work.

They claimed my rear shocks were leaking at 80k miles and needed to be replaced, that my spark plugs were past due for a change and that I needed a cooling system flush. Now I don't deny the coolant as it's been more than 5 years and we all know dexcool is nasty stuff if you don't flush it regularly.

However my car is running fine. Fires right up, runs smooth as can be and doesn't misfire at all. I'm wondering if the plugs were changed before I purchased the car. The recommended interval is 60-100k.

Lastly the shocks. I do have a clunking noise in the rear but it doesn't sound or feel like the rear end is bottoming out. From what I can figure it's coming from the famous defective rear knuckles which I have OEM replacements for in my trunk - just waiting on my mechanic to free up some time to put them on for me.

Thoughts? Are they trying to pull a fast one on me or should I get all the work done/do it myself?

 

[skyactiv]

I've seen multiple times where someone ask about dealer pricing on here and some members act like they're getting a bargain and I'm thinking, yes, if this was 2040. Use your trusted mechanic, not the dealer.

 

[Tdbo]

Find a good independent mechanic.
About the only thing that you should be taking to a dealer is warranty work or recall items.

 

[dishdude]

What does GM have as an interval for the plugs? It'll be in the manual. You can visibly verify the struts are leaking.

 

[AZjeff]

If your mechanic finds out you spent $1600 at the dealer instead of him you'll be looking for a new mechanic. Tell him what they said and trust his appraisal for work needed.

 

[dubber09]

There must be a reason you called your mechanic trusted, just go with that guy.

 

[Jmlo96]

GM turbo motors usually require plugs at 60k. This was the case with my 1.4 Cruze, my 2.0 Regal and my 2.7 Silverado. Those spark plugs are likely 25 bucks in parts from RockAuto and a 15 minute job to change. I bet you can get OEM rear shocks for less than 100 bucks each. Those shocks are extremely easy to change with about 3 bolts holding them on. Coolant is about 30 bucks at Walmart. I’d stick to your local mechanic because $1,600 sounds like far too much.

 

[FZ1]

I took the Malibu in to the dealer today for a complimentary state inspection and oil change. It passed but the service writer came back with $1600 worth of recommended work.

They claimed my rear shocks were leaking at 80k miles and needed to be replaced, that my spark plugs were past due for a change and that I needed a cooling system flush. Now I don't deny the coolant as it's been more than 5 years and we all know dexcool is nasty stuff if you don't flush it regularly.

However my car is running fine. Fires right up, runs smooth as can be and doesn't misfire at all. I'm wondering if the plugs were changed before I purchased the car. The recommended interval is 60-100k.

Lastly the shocks. I do have a clunking noise in the rear but it doesn't sound or feel like the rear end is bottoming out. From what I can figure it's coming from the famous defective rear knuckles which I have OEM replacements for in my trunk - just waiting on my mechanic to free up some time to put them on for me.

Thoughts? Are they trying to pull a fast one on me or should I get all the work done/do it myself?

You can do a drain and fill on the coolant. You can do the plugs with a torque wrench. Dunno re the shocks.

 

[clinebarger]

If your mechanic finds out you spent $1600 at the dealer instead of him you'll be looking for a new mechanic. Tell him what they said and trust his appraisal for work needed.

No need to be petty....Especially if you can't get to a vehicle right away.

 

[grasscutter]

I'm finding out that independent mechanics are more knowledgeable and better skilled than dealers.

I came to that conclusion watching Ivan on Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Not pulling a fast one just keeping the dealer doors open with charges as nothing wrong with him suggesting and quoting what it takes to keep your car "as new" but we live in the real world...

I suggest when one becomes the owner of older out of warranty car a positive first name basis relationship with a independent shop and that shop owner is a MUST!

However, I suggest find that shop via a referral ( not blind like I did before Google Reviews ) as I have a horror story of me and a independent shop, The police got involved and was a situation like Chevy Chase had in the movie Vacation with the mechanic hitting his palm with his wrench wanting to know how much money I had.

Bad stuff and people around but good ones too!

"Caveat Emptor"

 

[researcher]

This is exactly what I reading about a guy who took a 2007 Acura TL TYpe S into the dealer only to receive a $9645 quote for work! lol.. yes some things did need to be replaced (like a timing belt overdue for replacement) but the part that made me laugh so hard.. $380 for hood struts! hahaha.. and $1500 for fog lights.. um.. bulbs are more money lately? did I miss a meeting?

these dealers are lately trying to say to the firestones/midas chain business ((known for lying about needed repairs) "here hold my beer, watch this" type of response with these insane, desperate ploys of greed to just make more profit. No, I don't want to hear about how the dealer has to pay insurance and "keep the lights on".. those are very expensive lights, maybe they should switch to LED's!! lol

here's the link about the Acura
https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/2007-acura-owner-shocked-by-9600-service-quote/

 

[researcher]

Not pulling a fast one just keeping the dealer doors open with charges as nothing wrong with him suggesting and quoting what it takes to keep your car "as new" but we live in the real world...

I suggest when one becomes the owner of older out of warranty car a positive first name basis relationship with a independent shop and that shop owner is a MUST!

However, I suggest find that shop via a referral ( not blind like I did before Google Reviews ) as I have a horror story of me and a independent shop, The police got involved and was a situation like Chevy Chase had in the movie Vacation with the mechanic hitting his palm with his wrench wanting to know how much money I had.

Bad stuff and people around but good ones too!

"Caveat Emptor"

oh I can't agree with you more! Lately the greed and low-life losers out there is mind blowing! All businesses not just dealerships are fraudsters.. Have to be skeptical and cynical about everything, just to protect yourself lately!

 

[charbaby]

If you can do this work yourself(spark plugs, coolant flush/exchange, rear shocks), then you'll be way better off. Maybe not the rear shocks but certainly the other work.

 

[Donald]

Years or decades ago there was a place in the news (I am thinking on Merritt Pkwy in CT) where they had an oil squirter with oil and metal filings and would squirt it on the vehicle's shocks and then point out to the driver that the shocks were leaking and needed to be replaced. Until they did it a second time to someone who said "you replaced my shocks last month, what is going on?"

 

[Donald]

I took the Malibu in to the dealer today for a complimentary state inspection and oil change. It passed but the service writer came back with $1600 worth of recommended work.

They claimed my rear shocks were leaking at 80k miles and needed to be replaced, that my spark plugs were past due for a change and that I needed a cooling system flush. Now I don't deny the coolant as it's been more than 5 years and we all know dexcool is nasty stuff if you don't flush it regularly.

However my car is running fine. Fires right up, runs smooth as can be and doesn't misfire at all. I'm wondering if the plugs were changed before I purchased the car. The recommended interval is 60-100k.

Lastly the shocks. I do have a clunking noise in the rear but it doesn't sound or feel like the rear end is bottoming out. From what I can figure it's coming from the famous defective rear knuckles which I have OEM replacements for in my trunk - just waiting on my mechanic to free up some time to put them on for me.

Thoughts? Are they trying to pull a fast one on me or should I get all the work done/do it myself?

Well to take the dealers side he can only go by mileage and what the computer shows for the VIN. And it's not too far fetched the shocks are leaking at 80K.

Find an Indy shop and have them do the work, track it on a spreadsheet. Use Bilstein shocks.

 

[R18Civic]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll give the estimate to my mechanic and go from there.

Oh and did I mention the service writer was a jerk when I declined the the work?

"Ok sir, hold onto that estimate - we send out coupons this time of year."

Basically, calling me a cheapskate in front of everyone.

 

[researcher]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll give the estimate to my mechanic and go from there.

Oh and did I mention the service writer was a jerk when I declined the the work?

"Ok sir, hold onto that estimate - we send out coupons this time of year."

Basically, calling me a cheapskate in front of everyone.

oh poor commissioned service writer didn't get his bonus check this month.. boo hoo.. lol so they resorted to childish antics.. yup that shows the level of class you're dealing with! goodbye to them..

hey let us know what your mechanic finds..

 

[The Critic]

oh poor commissioned service writer didn't get his bonus check this month.. boo hoo.. lol so they resorted to childish antics.. yup that shows the level of class you're dealing with! goodbye to them..

hey let us know what your mechanic finds..

He just wanted to close the sale - nothing wrong with that.

 

[JTK]

This LFV 1.5 is basically the same engine as the LYX 1.5 in my 2021 Equinox. There's nothing wrong with doing a spark plug and coolant change at 80K miles. I would imagine an average shop would charge you about $300-400 for these two services. I don't know your level of DIY ability, but spark plugs are a super easy DIY task on these engines. Like said, the rear shocks are super easy as well, but if you're getting new rear knuckles, you may as well have them swapped out then.

IMO, the most important maintenance things at this point are doing CVT fluid and filter changes on the transmission and at ~80K I'd consider having the cam driven vacuum pump replaced. When these vac pumps let loose and it eventually will, they can break the end off the exhaust cam, which is a very expensive repair. Dealers typically only recommend replacing the entire engine when this happens. In most cases it can be salvaged, but you will need a new exhaust cam and timing chain job at a minimum.

I would not exceed 5K miles between oil changes on the LFV or LYX 1.5