Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1997)

443 consumer complaints on file.

#842963July 22, 1999
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
A MALFUNCTION OCCURS WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND LOSE CONTROL CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#708242July 5, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, INDICATING NON-FUNCTIONING OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, HAS BEEN COMING ON. AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR IS RESTARTED THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON MORE FREQUENTLY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN MAKING FAIRLY SHARP LEFT TURNS, AND IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY A METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER FIRST OCCURRENCE AND SAID TO COME IN IF IT STARTS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I INTEND TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER THIS WEEK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#839803June 15, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH ASB SENOR LIGHT AND BRAKE SYSYTEM; SOMETIME WHEN ABS SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE, IT APPEAR TO AFFECT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE/ VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON 15 OCCASION AND CONDITION STILL OCCUR. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#707005May 30, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME FRAME I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCURRING 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST A 4TH. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP, THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AND THE CAR STARTS UP BUT SHUTS RIGHT BACK OFF. THIS CONTINUES, WITH THE RESULTS BEING THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" AND FIXED BY REPLACING THE INGNITION CYLINDER. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN JULY, 1998 AND AFTER SEVERAL UNPRODUCTIVE DAYS IN THE TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECT/SHORT IN THE WIRING, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS THIS ONE REPORTED - 5/15/99, WHICH WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" WITH THE FIX BEING REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS SAME SCENARIO ALMOST OCCURRED AGAIN YESTERDAY EVENING 5/29/99, BUT THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AFTER HAVING SAT THERE FOR 10-15 MINUTES (THIS WAITING PERIOD WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EFFECTIVE). THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TRIGGERED THIS EVENT NOR HOW TO PREVENT IT. IN FACT, THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE EXCEPT IN MY CAR. IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ISSUE OF VEHICLE RELIABILITY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#838294May 21, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
RIGHT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT/GRINDED, AND LEFT ROTOR WAS WARPED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#838106May 18, 1999
SUSPENSION
WHEN VEHICLE STOPS AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#545481May 10, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705086March 30, 1999
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THESE WERE ORIG. 80,000MI. TIRES THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 35,560MI DUE TO EARLY TREAD WEAR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836231March 29, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, THEY MAKE SQUEALING NOISES. THEY WOULD ALSO LURCH & JERK. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. THE NOISE IN THE BRAKES STILL EXISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704551March 17, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE MADE SEVEARL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE LOOKED AT REGARDING THE SOUNDS I HEAR UPON STARTUP. THE CLICKING AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE TAPPETS OR VALVES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS A 75000 MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER CLOSEST TO ME AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE A 3.1 L WERE NOTORIOUS FOR "WRIST PIN TOLERANCE DEFECTS" HE TOLD ME IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT SHOULD CLEAR UP AFTER THE METALS HAVE EXPANDED INSIDE THE ENGINE. I GUESS YOU CAN CALL ME CONSCIECIOUS BUT THE WORD "DEFECT" HAS A TENDENCY TO UNNERVE A PERSON AFTER PAYING FOR A "NEW" CAR. AND HAVING HAD MECHANICAL TRAINING I KNOW ANY TOLERANCES WHERE PARTS ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE FREELY EVEN WHEN "WARMING UP" ARE PARTS THAT ARE USUALLY WEARING. WEARING PARTS MEAN A UNPREDICIBLE SITUATION AND I WORRY FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND. THIS TOLERANCE THING IS UNSAFE SINCE WRIST PINS ARE WHAT HOLD THE PISTONS ON THE CONNECTING RODS. THERE CAN BE NO TOLERANCE GAP ON A PART AS IMPORTANT EVEN IF IT STOPS AFTER A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND IT. MY WARRANTY IS UP IN ANOTHER 8000 MILES. I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL GIVE AWAY AFTER OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND AS USUAL THEN IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL TO THE MECHANICS AND DEALER WHEN THEY CAN TAKE MY MONEY TO FIX A "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704585March 17, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#544242March 3, 1999
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS FAILED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER DETACHING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703919March 1, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT LENS' HAVE CONSTANT MOISTURE IN BOTH LENS, THEY FREEZE AT NIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE BULBS WILL MELT THE ICE, BUT LIGHTING IS DISTORTED. I'VE REPORTED THIS 4 TIMES TO DEALER. THE 1ST TIME, THEY REPLACED ONE LENS AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS, THEIR COMMENTS WERE "CHEVROLET WON'T AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT ANY MORE REPLACEMENTS" SO THEY TAKE OFF THE LENS AND WIPING THEM DRY. THAT LASTS UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN FREEZING RAIN AND FOG. THEY NEVER SEEM TO DRY OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703230February 12, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
AFTER WASHING MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS WERE CONDENSATED COVERING 75% OF BOTH LENSES. VECHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHEN I PICKED UP THE VECHILE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND I WAS TO DRIVE THE VECHILE FOR 2 TO 6 HRS WITH THE LIGHTS ON TO CORRECT IT. I PRIMARILY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR VACATIONS AND I ALWAYS HAVE THE CAR WASHED WHEN I REACH MY DESTINATION. AFTER DRIVING MANY HOURS, IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO DRIVE FOR EVEN ONE MORE HOUR. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS NOT TO OPERATE AT 100% CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS 1-800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. I FEEL THAT THE EXPLANATION IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BOTH G M AND THE DEALER REFERED TO THEIR BULLETIN NUMBER 638206A. II WAS ALSO GIVEN A NUMBER FROM G M (990079295).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834639February 9, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WATER GOES INTO THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834435February 3, 1999
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS TURNED FROM DELAYED TO LOW, AND LEFT WIPER WENT OVER TO RIGHT SIDE, AND RIGHT WIPER JUST STOPPED WORKING. WIPERS BROKE, SMOKE FROM MOTOR THAT BURNED OUT, CAME FROM UNDERHOOD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WARRANTY WILL REMEDY PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834400February 2, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE CONSUMR REPLACED BRAKES ONCE ALREADY, AND NEEDS TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY MAKE A HIGH SQUEAKY SOUND. MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#609317February 1, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#609095February 1, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE COMPARTMENT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND WOULD NOT LOCK SINCE NEW. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#606122February 1, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RESISTOR FAILED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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