Brakes are not covered by the warranty.  They are considered normal
"serviceable" wear items.  You may want to pull your warranty infomation and
read it.  Sounds like the new 04 Malibu has the same brake wear problems as
the last version did!  What a surprise!

Sounds to me like you got jipped by the dealer service dept.

The Original Warranty booklet clearly states that Brake/Pads and Linings
are excluded, but nothing about the rotors or replacement pads voiding
anything.

The Certified Used Vehicle warranty has similar exclusions for pads and
linings, but no voids for replacement parts.

The new car bumper to bumper warranty booklet does outline a Customer
Satisfaction procedure. Page 26 in my booklet, should be the same for
you. In a nutshell it says....

1. Discuss concern with dealer Management.
2. No joy? Contact customer assistance at 1-800-222-1020
3. Still no joy? They give the name and address of the Better Business
Bureau.

I suppose they could say you didn't follow the procedure by fixing it
yourself straight away. However I would be inclined to impress upon the
customer service staff that brakes are a primary safety feature of the
vehicle and you were uncomfortable leaving it another minute before
getting the vehicle serviced while you resolved the warranty issues with GM.

As long as you keep your cool and are very reasonable, but firm, I
expect you'll do OK with the Satisfaction Program Procedure. If they
won't give you your money back on the pads and rotors ask for free lube
coupons to the same value etc etc, or even an extension to the warranty
period or both. Everything is negotiable. Remember rule number one,
don't loose your cool.

Good luck.

JP

GM has been replacing rotors and pads on Chevrolet Malibu's 1997 and up
within warranty and out of warranty. It all depends on you GM dealer.
I had the pads and rotors replaced under  "customer satisfaction" with heavy
duty pads and rotors.  My dealer contacted the GM rep and he agreed for GM
to absorb the cost. This is a know problem with these cars, this problem
does not occur with aftermarket pads and rotors.

I have an 04 Classic covered by the 3/36k warranty and it only has 32k
miles, I had the dealer machine the rotors back in October but went in
yesterday to have it done again, they told me that since the pads looked
replaced it voided my warranty and that I would have to pay 100 bucks to get
the rotors turned even though I hadnt replaced the pads since I bought the
car, I told them to shove it and went to autozone and just bought new rotors
AND pads for less than 100 bucks and put them on myself, no more shaking ;p,
but they should have covered it right?  Or can they really say that since
the pads LOOKED replaced they weren't going to turn the rotors?  Is there
any way I can get some kind of partial reimbursement for having to go buy
the stuff myself?  I still have the old pads and rotors and receipt from
autozone.

I had a similar thing happen to me, but the dealer/GM replaced the pads
and turned the rotors at no charge.

It's a common problem with GM passengar car brakes.