1997 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

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

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

IGNITION FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. MISSED WORK!!! BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER.*AK

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

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

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

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

IGNITION LOCK FAILED! WE CAN'T TURN THE KEY TO START CAR! TUMBLERS MUST HAVE FROZEN!*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK *SC *JB

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

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

WHILE DRIVING 20 CONSUMER CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

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

ALL OF THE ABOVE LISTED IN THE COMPLAINTS. NO COMPONENTS LISTED. *AK

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

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.

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

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

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

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

BRAKES GONE (AGAIN). BEEN REPLACING ABOUT EVERY 10000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE THING WRONG AFTER ANOTHER. ALREADY REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARMS AT 7500 MILES, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE GASKET, A/C CONTROL HEAD (TWICE), AND THE BRAKES ARE ONGOING. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU (3.1 V6 ENGINE). MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY THIS ENGINE AND CAR. I ALSO SEARCHED THE COMPLAINTS DADABASE AND I FOUND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ALSO, THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMING AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR AND ROTOR WARPING APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THIS WAS FIXED ONCE, THE PROBLEM IS REACCURING. $1200 IN MAJOR REPAIRS SO FAR ON A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU, NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER SMALL BUT FREQUENT REPAIRS. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH BOTH OF MY RECENT GM PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO COSTY REPAIRS OR ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,000 MILES ON A 1994 GRAND AM AND 89,000 MILES ON A 1997 MALIBU. I HAVE HAD TO FIX THE RADIO NUMEROUS TIMES (CABLE COMES UNPLUGGED QUITE OFTEN). *AK

EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD USEAGE WITH THIS CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 88,000 MILES. I AM VERY VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT PLAN ON PURCHASING ANOTHER GM AT THIS TIME. *AK

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE FULLY ROTATED TWICE BEFORE THE VEHICLE GOES INTO THAT DIRECTION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN ONE WAY WHILE REMAINING EASY TO STEER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE RACK WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER HIT A POT HOLE AND THEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IMPACTED A DITCH AND THEN THE VEHICLE BOUNCED ONTO A FIELD. NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. CONSUMER FRACTURED HER BACK. *AK *SCC

BASICALLY THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GM 3.1L V6 ENGINE IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 1100 COMPLAINTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH MY SITUATION ALSO. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED 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 WENT TO SEATTLE AND EXPERIENCED A SEVERE HEATING PROBLEM. 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 WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 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. *LA

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I LOSE BRAKE. CHRONIC PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE ARE ABS SENSOR, BELT TENSIONER BREAKS AWAY, COOLING SYSTEM HEAT CONTROLS, WIRING TO THE REAR LIGHTS. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT THIS YEAR MODEL HAS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BREAK SENSOR GOES OUT AND BRAKES ARE LOST. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE TO FORCE CHEVROLET TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS? IT IS NOT JUST ONE CAR BUT ALL OF 1997 MALIBU THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

LOSING WATER FROM RADIATOR RESERVOIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON 97 CHEVY MALIBU.

SEP.6 2001 &JULY 22, 2003 RECALL WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING---DEALER SAID I DIDN,T NEED THE RECALL REPLACED AND MERCY FROM G.M. SAID TAKE THE CAR IN ON THAT RECALL STILL NO WORK ON WIPER PIVOT HOUSING----LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS LOW MILELAGE CAR---32610.*AK

MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 MALIBU, SUSPENSION NOISE/LEAKY WATER PUMP/KEY AGNITION, AND LOCK COLLAR. 32600 MILES ON THE CAR MANY REPAIRS. *AK

THE PLASTIC LOCKING LATCHPLATE ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSANGER SEAT HAVE BROKEN. THE DEALER FIXED THE FIRST PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WILL COST OVER $100 TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH.

THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE IN USE.*AK

VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THE PIVOT HOUSING. PLEASE REFER TO RECALL #01V068000 *SCC *JB

GRINDING SOUND WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT-HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR-THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN I TOOK IT BACK A WEEK LATER- I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THE TIME THAT I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR WITHOUT A CHARGE!*AK

PASSLOCK* (THEFT SYSTEM) ENGAGES NOT ENABLING THE CAR TO START (GAS IS CUT OFF TO THE ENGINE). CHEVORLET IS REPLACING IGNITION LOCK (BELIEVED TO BE THE FIX). *NLM

DEALER HAD REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL # 01 V 068 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK INCIDENT DATED TO BE CORRECTED WHEN THE EVOQ IS RETURNED. PER AAJ. 7/7/04.

THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RUBBED A HOLE INTO BRAKE LINE. *MR WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR. SCC

POOR MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS. *NLM

LETTER FROM PHYLLIS GIFFORD (FL) OWNER OF A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHO WASA INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN. CONTACTED GMC TO REPAIR/REPLACE BROKEN SEAT BELT. REPLY TO ORLANDO FL. DISTRICT OFC ATTEN: JON MILLER STAFF ASSISTANT. *AK *NLM. *AK

COOLANT LEAKING, ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. BRAKES AND ROTORS FAIL CONSISTENTLY WITHIN 15000 MILES OF REPLACEMENT. *NLM

THE VEHICLE SWERVED LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE TOO SHORT. *JB

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH TWICE. *JB

THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS BRAKES AND ANTI THEFT WOULD COME ON FREQUENTLY. FINALLY THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE. *DT

COOLANT POURED OUT OF VEHICLE. MANIFOLD GASKET WAS A LEMON. REPAIR PLACE INFORMED US, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLE'S. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL #01 V 068 000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE, CAR OVER HEATED AND ANTI FREEZE BOILED OVER.*JB