1997 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

COOLANT-OIL LEAK PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NLM

THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN FIXED A FEW TIMES AND NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. NOW, THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE MALIBU IS A LEMON OF A CAR.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DISC BRAKE WEARS FASTER THAN OTHERS AND RUIN THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR, AND NOISE. ABS LIGHT ON AND OFF. MECHANIC QUESTIONED WIRING PROBLEM COMING FROM WHEEL BEARING TO ABS LIGHT WHICH COULD NOT BE FOUND. WHEN ABS LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE HAS NO ANTILOCK BRAKES.

THE TENSIONER PULLEY FOR THE ACCESSORY BELT COMPLETELY BROKE OFF FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER HAD TO REMOVE THE ENGINE TO DRILL OUT THE OLD BOLT AND TO GET THE NEW ASSEMBLY IN. THIS IS A PIECE THAT SHOULD NEVER JUST BREAK. DT

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. *PH *JG *NLM

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE FAIL TO TURN. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE KEPT STRAIT HE WAS ABLE TO THE VEHICLE BY HIS BRAKES TS

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL, AND THERE A LOT OF PLAY IN WHEEL. CONSUMER FEELS MAY LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT. THE ABS LIGHT AND SQUEAKING BRAKES WERE A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE 2 TIMES A YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IN OCTOBER, 2000 THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR SAID THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED. I DO NOT DO MY OWN REPAIRS AND THE SHOPS DENY THEY CONTAMINATED THE BRAKE SYS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A LEAK INTO THE ABS SYSTEM FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE ENGINE? AFTER MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN 2000 I DID NOT HAVE THE ABS FAILURE UNTIL MIDAS DID AN OIL CHANGE IN JAN 2001. MR

WHILE TRAVELING ON A SIDE ROAD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE STEERING BOLT ARE LOSE AND IT IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

DURING RAINSTORM AT NIGHT TRAVELING ON LIGHT ROAD WITH LIGHTS OUT ON POLES DUE TO LIGHTNING STRIKE, CARS WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH A DOWN POUR OF RAIN THAT WAS HARD TO SEE IN ANYWAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER TO NOT WORK EITHER SINCE THE PASSENGER SIDE IS DESIGNED TO RUN BOTH. THE PART WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SEEM TO BE DESIGNED FOR FAILURE AS ANYONE KNOWS PLASTIC ONCE HEATE4D AND COOLED THRU SEASONS WILL BREAK. THE POTENTIAL HAZARD COULD HAVE BEEN MANY DEATHS AS THE DRIVING WAS IN A LARGE CITY WITH HIGH TRAFFIC HAD NOT I BEEN ABLE TO GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN DUE TO A CURB BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT ALLOWED ME TO FEEL MY WAY DRIVING.. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CABLE NEARLY SEVERED. HAD REPORTED ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS IN PAST TO DEALER. WAS DISMISSED AS FLOOR MAT CATCHING THE PEDAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING, WHILE MAKING A TURN, CAN HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THIS WAS A RESULT OF A LEAK IN POWER STEERING FUEL HOSE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO OVERHEAT, SHORT OUT CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE TAIL LIGHT. OWNER HAS HAD TO REPLACE 5 BULBS FROM THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, ALONG WITH ONE LIGHT RECEPTICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR DUE TO FRONT END SUSPENSION NOISES (CREAKING/POPPING) WHILE CORNERING. SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION GEAR NEEDED REPLACING EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE WARNING SIGNALS OF A FAILURE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CARS ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, NO OBVIOUS LEAKS; TAKEN TO AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN INTAKE LEAK; THEN INFORMED BY ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP THERE WAS WATER IN MY OIL ; POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH GASKET; BASICALLY SAME SITUATION AS ODI-ID758781. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT TO DEPLOY AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR BODY INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINEDE MAJOR BODY INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE, IT SPUN AROUND AND WENT ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC. TOWED TO DEALER, LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD SNAPPED DUE TO AXLE BREAKING. CONSUMERS DAUGHTER CAN BE REACHED AT 860-276-8617; GAYLE ROSSI. JLG

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH I HAD TO STOP FOR A CAR, THE BRAKES FAILED,( BRAKE CLEAR TO THE FLOOR) I HAD TO DRIVE INTO THE BAR PIT TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A GM AUTHORIIZED SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIXED BECAUSE OF HOW SLOW IT STOPS. BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, CALIPERS REPLACED, EVERYTHING WAS DONE TO THE BRAKES THAT THEY COULD. THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE BRAKES ON THE WHEEL WERE IN WORKING ORDER. I THINK THE ABS SYSTEM IS GOING OUT.!*AK

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED MECHANIC STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A SLIGHT LEAK. ADVISED CONSUMER TO HAVE MANIFOLD REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY 35000 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK

GMC REPLACES DEFECTIVE PART IN "SALT BELT" AREA ONLY (RECALL 01V068000); SHOULD REPLACE IN ALL AREAS. *AK CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE DEFECT APPEARS IN ALL LOCALES AND WHEN THE HOUSING SNAPS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THIS OCCUR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES CHARGED TO HER BY GENERAL MOTORS. *JG

THE CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE 01V-068 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE RECALL LISTED STATES WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THE CONSUMERS STATE WAS NOT LISTED THEREFORE THE CONSUMER TOOK NO IMMEDIATE ACTION, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY SNOWSTORM THE VEHICLES WIPERS SUDDENLY CEASED TO FUNCTION, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE STATE IN WHICH HE LIVES. NLM

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE FRONT DISC BRAKES AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND THE ROTORS TWICE IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAS NOT BEEN FUNCTIONAL SINCE 1 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO WEAR SO FAST. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER OWNERS AND MOST OF THEM HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS I DO.*AK

THESE CARS ARE A CONSTANT REPAIR BILL AND DANGEROUS TO OPERATE BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHTS WILL BLOW BULBS AND WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS YOU ARE DUE FOR A REAR COLLISION.THE BRAKES ARE AWFUL AND THE RACK AND PINION DIDN'T GIVE ANY WARNING BEFORE IT FAILED(LOCKED UP) GM WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THESE AND NUMEROUS OTHER DEFECTS IN THE CAR PLEASE HELP!*AK

RENEE BORSTAD, DIRECTOR/SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS WRITES ON BEHALF OF PARKER FLORES, " WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HOME, SERIOUS VIBRATIONS BEGAN NECESSITATING IT BE BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS. *JG

THE VIN NUMBER OF CAR FELL INTO RECALL BUT SINCE CAR IS IN MISSOURI GM SAYS IT DOESNT QUALIFY FOR RECALL. THE CAR WAS FROM ST. LOUIS MISSOURI WHICH BORDERS ILLINOIS . ILLINOIS BY THE WAY IS IN RECALL. WE FEEL GM KNOWS ABOUT DEFECT AND IS AVOIDING FIXING IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD START TO FLICKER ON/OFF, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED FUSE, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, DOME LAMP WIRING, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, POWER STEERING HOSE, FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNT, HEATER, LEFT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH, RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT, LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE COVER, AND LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK SWITCH.*YD

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS THREE TIMES SINCE FEB. 11 2000. THE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES AS OF TODAY APRIL 30, 2002. WITH THE RECEIPTS WE KEPT THE COMBINED TOTAL FOR BRAKE WORK IN THE PAST TWO YEARS EQUALS $800. OUR MACHANIC DID SOME OF HIS OWN INVESTIGATING AND CAME UP WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ROTORS ARE TOO THIN, AND THE CALIPERS WERE TOO LIGHT FOR THE HEAT DISPERSMENT CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. THE DEALER HAS RULED OUT THE FUSE OR BULB. WHEN BULB IS WIGGLED LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE DEALER HAS NO REMEDY. NLM

BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT UNKNOWN TIME TO DRIVER RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISON BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK AND EMITTED A BLACK SMOKE RESULTING IN UNOPERATIVE USE OF ANY FAN/HEAT/DEFROST..MAIN INSTRUMENT OF POWER WINDOWS ON DRIVER SIDE OPERATED ENOUGH TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS BUT NOT ROLL UP DRIVERS SIDE RESULTING IN ICE/SNOW/RAIN BUILDUP. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT 4 TIMES RESULTING IN POWER FAILURE ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN CRASH INTO GUARD RAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND PREVENT ANY FUTURE ACCIDENTS..THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NLM

I AM STATIONED OVERSEAS IN THE MILITARY. WHILE DRIVING ON BASE, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY OUT OF MY HANDS AND I STARTED INTO THE DITCH, LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A POLE. I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. UPON EXAMINATION BY THE GARAGE ON BASE, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND PINION HAD FAILED AND THAT IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH GENERAL MOTORS FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT 2 SEPERATE MECHANICS HAVE TOLD THEM, THAT THE STEERING GEAR IS BAD AND THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED. THEY BOTH SAID THAT HAD THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, THE CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AT THE EXPENSE OF ME AND MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN. GM OVERSEAS KEEPS TRYING TO SAY THAT THE MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH AND THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I GUESS TO THEM IT IS NORMAL TO CRASH YOUR CAR. THEIR TECHNICAL DEPT ALSO SAYS THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED A GRADUAL LOOSEING OF THE STEERING. I DID NOT, IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND AS THE MECHANICS TOLD GM, THIS IS NO FAULT OF THE CUSTOMER! I CANNOT GET GM TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH I GUESS IS WHY IT IS STILL SITTING AT THE GM DEALERSHIP(SCHWARZKOPF) IN AMBERG GERMANY. IT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR OVER A MONTH AND BEFORE THAT A MONTH AT THE GARAGE ON BASE, 2 MONTHS WITHOUT MY CAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL DO ANY GOOD TO WRITE THIS, BUT I GUESS THAT WHAT IT WILL TAKE IS FOR SOMEONE TO CRASH THEIR CAR BEFORE CHEVROL

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I FINANCED IT. I UNDERSTAND BUYING A USED CAR IS RISKY BUT NOT LIKE THIS. I HAVE HAD MY COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AND STILL HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE FROM FOLSOM LAKE USED CAR OUTLET AND ALL THEY CAN DO IS POINT THE BLAME TOWARDS ME. THEY TELL ME IT IS THE WAY THAT I DRIVE, I RIDE THE BRAKES, I DRIVE WITH TWO FEET. EXCUSES MAINLY. INSTEAD OF SAYING WE DON'T HONESTLY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG FINGERS ARE BEING POINTED. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 6 SETS OF PADS, 4 SETS OF ROTORS DUE TO HOT SPOTS, A SET OF CALIPERS, AND NOW EVERYTHING NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR 1 YEAR YET. PRETTY MUCH MY BRAKES FAIL EVERY MONTH TO MONTH & 1/2. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP FIRST PUT MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP IT WENT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER 2 WEEKS AFTER HAVING IT, FOR BLOWN HEADGASKETS & COOLIANT PROBLEMS. THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS THERE BUT WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WANTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD SON, AND I LOOK AT IT AS WHAT IF THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAIL. I GUESS IT IS NO ONES PROBLEM UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT AND A MAJOR LAW SUIT IS BRUNG AGAINST THE DEALER. THAT MAKES PEOPLE THEN OPEN THEIR EYES AND THINK HOW THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. I DO NOT BRING ALL THE BLAME AGAINST CHEVY BECAUSE WHEN A DEALERSHIP SELLS A VEHICLE NEW OR USED SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. AND I DON'T HAVE THAT SAFETY IN MY VEHICLE. PLEASE SOMEONE CAN YOU HELP ME IN MY SITUATION. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BAD SQUEAK NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR STABILIZER INSULATOR BUSHINGS.*JB

AT 65 MPH IDLER PULLY FAILED LOST BELT THAT DRIVES WATER PUMP ,GEN ,P/S. *AK

I BOUGHT THIS 1997 MALIBU WITH 20,000 MILES ON ODOMETER IN 1998. IN ONE MONTH I NOTICED COOLANT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I ADDED ANTI FREEZE AND WATER TO SYSTEM. THIS WOULD LAST ABOUT A MONTH AND I WOULD HAVE TO ADD MORE COOLANT. ON 2/ 26/2002 THE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ADDED MORE COOLANT. I DROVE ABOUT 4 MILES AND COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CHECKED OIL DIP STICK AND IT REGISTERED ABOUT TWO INCHES ABOVE FULL. I KNEW THEN THAT WATER WAS IN MY OIL. THE COOLANT HAD NEVER LEAKED OUT WHERE I COULD SEE IT ON THE GROUND. I HAD TO PAY $430.00 TO HAVE GASKETS REPLACED FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD . MY OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRONT DISK BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT MUCH FASTER THAN ANY CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE REPLACED TWO SET OF FRONT DISC PADS AND HAVE HAD ROTORS TURNED AND REPLACED. I AM VERY LIGHT ON BRAKES AND HAVE HAD EXTREMELY GOOD WARE ON OTHER AUTOS. AFTER 2000 MILES THEY ARE MAKING A NOISE AGAIN. THE PADS ARE GUARANTIED FOR LIFE BY THE MANUFACTURER .*AK

TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE GONE OUT/BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK

SEAT BELT NOT WORKING, ALL FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING ALL AROUND THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED AND HOOD CABLE DEFECTIVE.

NO SUMMARY

MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE. IF CONSUMER WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEN MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION COULD FALL OUT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE.*AK

CAR WOULD NOT START. ANTI-THEFT LIGHT KEPT FLASHING. 1ST OCCURRENCE HAPPENDED ON 10/20/00 AND THEN AGAIN ON 11/11/01. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE HOUSING AND TUMBLER AND REPLACED BOTH AT THE COST OF $396.39 EACH TIME.*AK