Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1997)

443 consumer complaints on file.

#10063355March 17, 2004
STEERING
CONSUMER WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TURN TO AVOID SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AHEAD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPINNED AROUND 3 TIMES BEFORE LANDING IN A DITCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055925March 11, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING THE VEHICLE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE RACK AND PINION, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060887March 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. MISSED WORK!!! BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060668March 7, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
UPON ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. I HAD TROUBLE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND THE CAR WOULD STEER TO THE RIGHT. FORCEFULLY, I HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD JUST TO MAKE SURE MY TIRES WERE INTACT. I MADE IT HOME CAREFULLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT COULD BE RELATED TO MY RACK & PINION AND DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE HOSES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061485March 5, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 4 DAYS DEALERSHIP FAILED TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT INDICATED THEY PERFORMED STEERING GEAR BEARINGS RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061335March 4, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVED ROAD DRIVER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED COMPLETELY OVER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WITNESSES STATED VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10060437March 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED FAILURES WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM OFTEN LOCKS UP THE IGNITION, THE HEADLAMP AND TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN THEM, CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN MOTOR SHUTS OFF, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT IS LOOSE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR THEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060128March 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK FAILED! WE CAN'T TURN THE KEY TO START CAR! TUMBLERS MUST HAVE FROZEN!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059840February 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059537February 20, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN CRASH OCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057926February 11, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITIONS BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057895February 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES PEDAL IT TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, RESULTING INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A POLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057896February 11, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 20 CONSUMER CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056784February 8, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
ALL OF THE ABOVE LISTED IN THE COMPLAINTS. NO COMPONENTS LISTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054926January 26, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT WILL FLASH ON DASH BOARD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, CAR CAN BE STARTED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. DEALERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070992January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BASICALLY THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GM 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 1100 SUCH COMPLAINTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH MY SITUATION ALSO. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO HAVE A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS THAT HAD LED UP TO MY CURRENT FIASCO. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AFTER AN OIL CHANGE MY 97 MALIBU BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A LIFTER TICKING. MY MECHANIC SUSPECTS A COLLAPSED LIFTER; THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY CAR ALSO NOW RUNS VERY ROUGH AND DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER IT USED TO HAVE. TODAY 10/2/03 I HAD TO DRIVE INTO SEATTLE AND BEGAN TO HAVE A SEVERE HEATING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. MY WIFE AND I WERE DEATHLY AFRAID WE WERE GOING TO BE STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY SOMEWHERE OR STUCK IN A PART OF SEATTLE WE DID NOT FEEL VERY SAFE IN. THE TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE VERY QUICKLY AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION JUST SOUTH OF SEATTLE, THE NEEDLE WAS PEGGED AND THE TEMP LIGHT ACTUALLY CAME ON. I HAD DEX-COOL ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. WE WAITING APPROX 30 MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED OUT AGAIN AND YES WERE AFRAID THE ENTIRE WAY HOME THAT WE WOULD GET STRANDED ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE. I GOT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS INFORMED US THAT WE PROBABLY NEED A NEW ENGINE, ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FAULTY GASKETS WHICH RESULT IN ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING BAD CAMSHAFTS, BAD BEARINGS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. IF I HAD THE RESOURCES TO DUMP THE PIECE OF JUNK I JUST MIGHT, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE RECOURSES TO DO THAT, I MUST GET IT FIXED. RIGHT NOW A $4000.00 DOLLAR REPAIR WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR MY FAMILY. FRANKLY I AM TIRED OF BEING SOLD JUNK, 20000.00 DOLLARS MIGHT NOT BE MUCH TOO SOME PEOPLE BUT IT IS TO ME. MY CAR NOW IS BARELY WORTH $4000.00 AND THE THOUGHT OF PUTTING $4000.00 INTO IT JUST TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN MAKES ME SICK. I WILL THINK TWICE THE NEXT TIME ABOUT PURCHASING A GM PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069826January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION
BOUGHT CAR NEW 4-14-1997----PROBLEM CAR 32750 MI NOW CHEVROLET RAN AWAY FROM THIS CAR AND SO DID DEALERS---KEPT CUSTOMER IN THE DARK----WAITING FOR 3 YRS OR 36000MI SUSPENSION NOISE ON GOING---RATTLE---CREAKING---GLUNKING WATER PUMP LEAK AT 23000 MILES--FIX EST.$835.00--29295 MI SUSPENSION NOISY YET 32655 MI ON CAR. RELACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER $532.42---32600 MI REPLACE 4 TIRES $314.00---32525 MI TOOK 3 YEARS TO GET BRAKES UP TP PAR. SUSPENSION STILL A PROBLEM.OVER ALL THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. BATTERY---WINDSHIELD---POORLY BUILT AUTO. THAT'S WHY I HAVE LOW MILES DON'T USE IT MUCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052310January 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY CAR HAS ALWAYS USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ANTI-FREEZE. APPARENTLY, MY CHEVY MALIBU IS NOT THE ONLY, AND FROM THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO TODAY, HE SAYS THAT IT IS THE ENGINE. I NOW HAVE TO GET A NEW MANIFOLD, WHICH TO ME COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE SAME CARS ALL OVER ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTER DEFECT AND THE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052314January 3, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 CHEVY MALIBU, I TURNED LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. WHEN I TRIED GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE AGAIN, IT WOULDNT BUDGE RIGHT BUT WHEN TRYING LEFT IT WOULD MAKE A "HISSING" SOUND, LIKE AIR PRESSURE BEING RELEASED. THIS HAPPENED AT 10PM AND I HAD PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I AM GOING BACK TO THE DEALER ASAP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051457January 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSIVE THEFT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY IF SET OFF, NOT ALLOWING ENGINE TO RUN. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FROM BEING LATE TO WORK, TO SIMPLY MISSING A MOVIE. IN PAST INSTANCES THE ENGINE WOULD START AFTER THE SYSTEM RESET IN TEN MINUTES, THIS TIME IT JUST WILL NOT START AND NOW WE ARE LATE TO CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE WITH OUR FAMILY.I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC, I HAVE LOOKED IN CHEVROLET REPAIR MANUALS, AND I HAVE EVEN ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS, BUT I CAN NOT FIND AN ANSWER ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RANDOM MULTIPLE MISFIRE THAT CAN NOT SEEM TO BE FIXED AS WELL. FROM TALKING TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE INTAKE PENELEM GASKET. WHEN IQUIRING AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE ABOUT THIS GASKET I CAME TO FIND AN IMPROVED DESIGN HAS BEEN MADE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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