Transmission fluid leak

Not discounting the issues you're having, but if all you get is 22mpg on long highway trips then you have a real issue! The I4 is rated at 33 and the V6 at 26. I have the V6 and get over 30mpg on trips, and I use the AC liberally. Your town mileage sounds about right. Are you using the DIC's readout of Avg MPG as a source for your highway mileage or doing the fill-up and calculate method? If you're doing the math then there's definitely something wrong!

08chevymalibultz said:

I am using the DIC READ OUT on the dash. Never really did the math on fill-ups. What does your car show on the read-out on trips for MPG? Believe me this car has had its issues. I say this over and over Really like the Malibu inside and out but just a disappointment with reliability. My dealership really knows me now. PS. I know we have talked about this before on the site. Some were saying the same thing for MPG as mine. I also don't have the K&N Air filter, just stock Air Cleaner.

Click to expand...

I have a stock air filter. My DIC generally rewards me with accurate numbers, but I reset it every fill-up. If you don't reset it, or do but not often, then it reflects all of your driving combined. It's probably quite accurate if that's the case, since most of your driving will be local if you're like most folks. The occasional trip will help it rise, but overall at 22 should be considered pretty good for what ya got. My overall would likely be less but I expect that with a V6 and lead foot.

Before you take it back to have them reassemble the steering column cover, poke around and see if anything else appears loose.

I had my center console replaced once. I took the car to the carwash and then home. While I was vacuuming I noticed that the rear cover (with 12V outlet and drink holder) was not attached properly. A little investigation revealed that they had broken it! I called my service writer and he invited me to come back in. They ordered and replaced the part. (Free, of course!)

It pays to look. Not that you're trying to find a reason to distrust them, but to ensure that your car was serviced well. When I find that I have had my vehicle treated like it should have (only 2 of the 20+ visits!) I remember that and tell people.

That drop could be leaking from a previous spill that they didn't clean up. Might be worth pulling off the inspection covers (plastic pans) to see if they're clean or dirty.