Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1997)

443 consumer complaints on file.

#10205348October 10, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE OWNED MY MALIBU SINCE IT WAS NEW IN 1997. IN ITS LIFETIME IT HAS HAD 4 OR 5 SETS OF ROTORS AND AT LEAST 7 SETS OF BRAKE PADS. IT IS NOW READY FOR A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKES. THE LAST TIME THESE WERE REPLACED ON THE CAR WAS 2 YEARS AGO. GM KNEW ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. THE 1997 AND 1998 MODELS HAVE HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS GOTTEN KILLED FROM THE PROBLEM. DO I HAVE TO DIE IN A WRECK BEFORE SOMEONE LISTENS?? 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD IT FIXED I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME, BUT NO, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS STILL DON'T FIT MY CAR RIGHT OR THEY WOULDN'T WEAR LIKE THEY DO. GM NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON MY CAR. THEY SEEM TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE 2000 MODELS JUST FINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188581April 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED SOME ON THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. THIRTY DAYS LATER THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. ONCE AGAIN, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186089March 25, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
NOTICED A HOWLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT WHEEL. NOISE GREW LOUDER AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DETERMINED IT TO BE THE WHEEL HUB/BEARING. THE HUB/BEARING WAS REPLACED. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE 3 ON LF AND 1 ON RF WHEEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185005March 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
MY FIANCE AND I HAVE HAD A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT SYSTEM THAT WOULD LEAVE US STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK. GRADUALLY IT STARTED DOING IT MORE AND MORE. WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES BUT WHEN TRYING TO START IT AGAIN; IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD TIMES OF BEING STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS BECAUSE IT WOULD KEEP DOING IT! RIGHT NOW OUR CAR IS AT MY FIANCE'S WORK BECAUSE IT WON'T CRANK AND WE GOT TIRED OF TRYING AFTER 3 HOURS. THIS IS SO ANNOYING! CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM(NOT COUNTING ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THE BRAKES AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS). WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM..THAT MEANS THEY SHOULD RECALL IT AND FIX IT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY LIKE THEY DO AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON. I'M CURRENTLY A COLLEGE PELL GRANT RECIPIENT THAT IS GOING TO LOSE MY GRANTS BECAUSE OF THIS LEMON CAR! I WAS ADOPTED BY MY GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE ON SSI AND DISABILITY AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND ME TO SCHOOL. I HOPE THE PEOPLE AT CHEVROLET ARE HAPPY WITH RUINING MY FUTURE! PLEASE HELP ME!!!I NEED MY CAR FIXED BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184080March 3, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM CENTENNIAL CHEVROLET, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AT TIMES. TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG. EVEN AFTER A MECHANIC HAD IT PERSONALLY AFTER A FEW DAYS. TO THIS DATE IT IS SLIPPING DRAMATICALLY, AND SINCE THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY IT HAS TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET TWICE! KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2400. DOESN'T SEEM QUITE RIGHT TO ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180895January 27, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:REAR, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT RELIABLE THEY MIGHT WORK ONE TIME AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WONT WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A WEIRD SOUND WHEN BEING TURNED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179121January 19, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND TOWN, IT WAS RAINING, AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF OF THE CAR. I LOOKED UP RECALLS ON YOUR SITE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I HAVE. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL FOR MY CAR. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # IS 01V068000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175556December 8, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STEER FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WERE LEAKING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #03V527000, REGARDING THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION. THE SERVICE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. UPDATD 01/30/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163431July 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED, KEEPING THE VEHICLE FROM RESTARTING UNTIL THE DEVICE WAS RESETS WHICH USUALLY TAKES 10 MINUTES OR MORE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASS LOCK CYLINDER, TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REIMBURSE, OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PART BECAUSE AN UNAUTHORIZED SERVICE MECHANIC HAD PERFORMED WORK ON THE DEVICE. THE CONSUMER WANTS THE DEVICE DISCONNECTED. UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160139June 19, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR WARNING PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157755May 17, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE PASS LOCK SENSOR, WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 06/16/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151337February 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148529January 25, 2006
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
I OWN A CHEVROLET MALIBU,1997 MODEL AND EVERY TIME I GO OUT TO START IT, I VEHICLE WILL START AND THEN DIE. I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO START IT AT LEAST 6 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START AND STAY RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MECHANICS AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. THE LAST MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO CALLED A GM GARAGE AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM. I KINDLY SUGGEST THAT THIS PART BE RECALLED, BECAUSE IN TALKING WITH THE GM GARAGE THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE SEEING A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146678January 2, 2006
STEERING
WE BOUGHT THIS 1997 MALIBU FROM MY DAD LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FOR MY SON TO DRIVE TO COLLEGE. MY DAD IS METICULOUS IN CARING FOR HIS VEHICLES SO ALL THE SCHEDULED AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND IT STILL ONLY HAS 70XXX MILES ON IT. MY COMPLAINT IS THIS : LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS PARKING THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE FINISHED PARKING, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER AS HE STARTED TO DRIVE HOME, HE REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT THERE WAS FINALLY A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED IN 2004. THE PAPERWORK I HAVE STATES THAT THE DEALER "REPLACED STEERING GEAR PINION BEARING AND RESET TOEIN". OBVIOUSLY,THAT REMEDY FAILED SINCE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ANYWAY. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING TO OR FROM SCHOOL, AND THAT HE WAS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE'LL BE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE '97 MALIBU (AND OTHER '97 GM MODELS) THAT THEY HAD TO ISSUE THE RECALL, I EXPECT THEM TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131099September 6, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: ON 07/19/2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH CAUSED IT TO NOSE DIVE INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH BENT THE VEHICLE'S DOORS AND BUSTED HE WINDSHIELD. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130649July 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THEFT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, THEN NEXT TIME I TRY TO START CAR IT FLASHES AND I CAN START CAR FROM 10 MINS LIKE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO TRY AFTER 10 MINS AFTER LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. I DO THIS AND THE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE NOT BEING ABLE TO START A CAR LEAVING A MOTORIST STRANDED WHERE EVER THEY TURN THERE CAR OFF FOR HOURS AND IN MY CASE 1 1\2 DAYS WITH NO CELL SERVICE TO CALL FOR REPAIR I HAD TO SLEEP IN MY CAR UNTIL ANOTHER MOTORIST PASSED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT NORMAL EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS AN ISSUE OF ITS OWN THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM BUT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED EVERTIME TO THE SHOP TO BE REPROGRAMMED WHICH HAPPENS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124241June 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY REPORT OF THE FAILURE OF THE FLASHING OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (OID#10121781). I REPLACED THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IN THE DASH ON JUNE 4, 2005, AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000). AS SUGGESTED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MODELS, SINCE IT IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121781May 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD SIGNALS SUDDENLY STOPPED FLASHING. INTERMITTENTLY, THEY FLASH RAPIDLY WHEN ACTIVATED, BUT THEY TYPICALLY JUST STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED TO A RECALL ON THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000): "EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH". I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MALIBU MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117415May 16, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
STEERING WHEEL MADE AN IRRITATING SOUND WHEN TURNED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. UPON INSPECTION THEY INDICATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR HAD AN INTERNAL FAULT, AND REPLACED IT. CAUSE OF THE INTERNAL FAULT WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN# 03V527000. THE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NOISES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED LEFT DUE TO THE STEERING GEARS INTERNAL FAULT AND THE GEAR WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A STEEL BELT SHOWING ON THE INSIDE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120524May 10, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
DT: THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING RACK AND PINION STEERING. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS DATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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