Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1997)

443 consumer complaints on file.

#10080895July 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, WHEELS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I BOUGHT A 1997-MALIBU LS BRAND NEW. BEFORE IT TURNED 14,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE WORK DONE ON BRAKES. BEFORE EVEN TURNING 30,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB, (2ND SET) TIRES, WATER PUMP, WHEEL CYLINDERS, MY HEAD LIGHTS POP ON, AND I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 33,000 MILES.THE DEALER WERE I BOUGHT THE CAR SAID UNLESS THEY SEE THE LIGHTS POP ON.THEY COULD DO NOTHING. GM SENT OUT A RECALL. WHICH I DID TAKE MY CAR INTO DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM A FEW TIMES.I MOVED BACK TO INDIANA AND TOOK IT TO COYLE CHEVROLET IN NEW ALBANY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.BOTH DEALERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS A CONSUMER..I AM MAD AS HELL-AND FEEL I WAS RIPPED OFF, AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND TO NO ONE TO EVER BUY A MALIBU. I HAD ONE IN 1969. AND, IT WAS THE BEST CAR. WHEN YOU PAY AROUND $25,000.00 FOR A NEW CAR-YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ALL THE BRAKE TROUBLE. I TO THIS DAY DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE BRAKES. I AM A SINGLE WOMEN AND THOUGHT BY BUYING A NEW CAR I WOULD FEEL SAFER. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD TO GET RID OF THIS CAR I PLAN TOO. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ON OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS. BATTERY-2 BRAKE JOBS-ABS BRAKES-WHEEL CYLINDERS-ROARIES-WATER PUMP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081649July 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VEHICLE HAD ITS GAS TANK CAP REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080546July 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TWICE ON THE CAR ALREADY. THE LAST REPAIR WAS IN MARCH OF 2004. IT IS ONLY THREE MONTHS FROM THE LAST REPLACEMENT, AND IT IS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE AGAIN. I WOULD REPAIR THE CAR, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS NOT GOING TO DO ANY GOOD. EACH REPAIR WAS OVER FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS PART. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT, AND YET THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE GASKET HAS FAILED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080248June 30, 2004
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARING. THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE LOWER PINION BEARING FAILED WHILE TURNING LEFT AND CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072046June 14, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL #03V527000 CONCERNING THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067422June 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074629June 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
APRIL 2000, THE PASS LOCK THEFT SYSTEM STRANDED ME THE FIRST TIME WITHIN 30-DAYS OF PAYING CASH FOR MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THE FIRST 30-DAYS THE CAR SPENT MORE TIME IN THE DEALER SHOP THAN IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT THAT THEY HAD PUT TOO MUCH MONEY IN CAR ALREADY, NOT GOING TO FIX THEFT SYSTEM AND BRAKES, WHICH WERE COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE 30-DAY WARRANTY. TWO YEARS WITH THEFT SYSTEM DISABLING CAR NUMEROUS TIMES, FINALLY WOULDN'T START AT ALL, I TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER IN ONTARIO OREGON, THEY REPLACED IGNITION ASSEMBLY. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER I AM STRANDED ONCE AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START FOR 3-DAYS, WENT TO DEALER IN PAYETTE IDAHO WHERE I PAID CASH FOR THE CAR, THEY AGAIN DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THE CAR. ON 5/30/2004 CAR SPENT THE NIGHT IN PARKING LOT, WOULDN'T START. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS 2-COMPLETE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES (ROTORS, PADS, CALLIPERS, ETC.), 6-SETS OF BRAKE PADS, ALL LES SCHWAB WORK. I'VE POURED ALMOST AS MUCH MONEY INTO THE CAR SINCE OWNERSHIP, THAN I PAID FOR THE CAR. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN, WE'VE BEEN STRANDED, LATE FOR SCHOOL, MISSING SCHOOL, LATE FOR WORK, LOST JOBS BECAUSE OF LOST HOURS. I LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING NOW, BECAUSE I'M SCARED THAT MY FAMILY WILL BE STRANDED. I'M SOOO FRUSTRATED WITH CHEVROLET, NO ONE CAN ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS, CHEVROLET OF BOISE, SAID THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A THEFT SYSTEM, WOW THIS HAS ALL BEEN MY IMAGINATION! I HAVE 3-CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN LATE FOR SCHOOL, MISSED SCHOOL, I HAVE LOST JOBS BECAUSE OF MISSING HOURS, EVERYTIME I GET IN IT I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL START. I HAVE RUN OUT OF MONEY TO CONTINUE TO FIX THE SAME THINGS EVERY FEW MONTHS, LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AT $2.09 PER GALLON, MY CHILDREN ARE SCARED OF GOING ANYWHERE AS AM I. PLEASE HELP!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073144May 25, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, WHEELS:HUB, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE MALIBU. MY LIGHT DEVELOPED CONDENSATION IN THEM WHICH IN THE REAR CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GLOW DIM, AND CAUSED E TO GET PULLED OVER ON A NUMBER OF TIMES. IN THE FRONT IT HAS CAUSED THE GLASS SHIELD TO FOG CAUSING ME TO FAIL VEHICLE INSPECTION. THERE HAVE ARE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON MY CAR SUCH AS THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM, THE POWER MOON ROOF, THE MANUFACTURER'S CD PLAYER, THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THEN IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH EMISSIONS. THE HEADLINER IS FALLING OFF THE CEILING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068669April 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES BECAUSE THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068542April 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068609April 21, 2004
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER. COASTED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTARTED IT. THEN, DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN IT WAS HARD TO STEER, AND THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071440April 20, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE. *PH THE STEERING WAS HARD WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED LEFT. *SC RECALL #03V527000 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068561April 20, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *PH ALSO, AS CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIR SINCE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED RECENTLY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063324April 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION,AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK THE WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065934April 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONTROL ARMS, R & R ARM, CONTROL LOWER-ONE SIDE . BOTH WENT OUT, BOTH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064996March 26, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN A CRASH WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALL. *PH AS STATED ON THE RECALL THAT THERE'S AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEED. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, SINCE CONSUMER'S GRANDMOTHER (THE DRIVER) SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN HEMORRHAGE AND PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS DUE TO ACCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT IS THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10064840March 24, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
THE VEHICLE'S STEERING RACK MALFUNCTIONED AT 64,000 MILES. THE PART WAS REPAIRED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064647March 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSORS, AND AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CHARGING $425.00 TO REPAIR THE AIR BAGS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062633March 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER VERIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND RECOMMENDED GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $585. MILEAGE IS ONLY 46,000. I MUST CONTINUE TO ADD COOLANT AT REGULAR INTERVALS OTHERWISE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062439March 17, 2004
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN VERY HEAVY RAINS AND RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN MY WIPERS WERE STOPPED & CRISS-CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME. I FELT EXTREMELY LUCKY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT CAUSING A WRECK. LATER, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A KNOW DEFECT ON THE WIPER PIVOTS FOR MY MODEL CAR. BUT REGARDLESS, THE RECALL WASN'T ANY GOOD FOR MY STATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS... IF A PART IS DEFECTIVE- IT IS DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE FOR CERTAIN 'SALT-BELT' STATES, OF WHICH MY STATE ISN'T INCLUDED. I DID HOWEVER LIVE IN ONE OF THESE SALT-BELT STATES FOR SEVERAL YEARS (WITH THIS CAR). BUT WHETHER YOUR CAR IS REGISTERED IN ONE OF THOSE STATES OR NOT YOU COULD HAVE A LOT OF USE OF THE WIPERS. BETWEEN HURRICANE SEASON AND THE RAINY SEASON IN FLORIDA, WIPERS GET A WHOLE LOT OF USE DOWN HERE TOO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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