1997 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

STEERING BECAME NOISY WHEN MAKING A TURN AND DIFFICULT/HARD TO MANAGE. WITH LESS THAN 11000 MILES RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW TO HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE VIBRATING, DEALER DROPPED SURAME AND TIGHTENED RACK MOUNTS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS RATTLE AT LOW SPEED AND VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEED. ENGINE TORQUES BACK UNDER POWER, DEALER STATED THIS WAS BECAUSE OF FAULTY LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *SLC

BROKEN BRAKE LIGHT - CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF BAD CIRCUIT BEHIND THE LIGHT PANEL. *AK

DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME WHIPLASH THAT HURT REAL BADLY. *AK

WE WERE TOWING OUR MALIBU BEHIND A MOTORHOME, HAD JUST PULLED ON TO I75 AFTER AN HOUR STOP AT A TRUCK STOP. WE WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE BEFORE LEAVING THE TRUCK STOP AND ALL TIRES APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. FORTUNATELY TWO PASSING VEHICLES MOTIIONED US TO PULL OVER. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE RIM. WE TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH. (TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

FRONT END SHIMMY AT 50-60 MPH WHEN BRAKES APPLIED;ROTORS&PADS REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED ROTORS DUE TO THE NOISES THEY MADE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE USED AND THEY DID NOT FIT PROPERLY, THEY WERE TOO LOOSE AND THEY SHIFTED. *SLC

BRAKE FAILURE/NOISY. *AK

HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY. BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO REPLACE BRAKE LINING AND FRONT PADS, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED EVERY 3-4,000 MILES. *AK THE MANUFACTURE KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER. *YH

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PULSATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. AT 21,000 MILES/AT LOW SPEED IT APPEAR MODERATE, AND SEVERE AT HIGH SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HAD FRONT ROTORS TURNED. AT 30,000 MILES PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED AGAIN, AND RETURNED FRONT ROTORS, AND REPLACED PADS AT CONSUMER'S COST. AT 33,000 MILES, AGAIN PROBLEM REOCCURRED WHILE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT 60 MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES, IT CAUSED SEVERE VIBRATION / PULSATION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

SEVERE SHAKING OF FRONT WHEELS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF 55 TO 70 MPH. TRAVELING OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MARYLAND, I COULD NOT KEEP MY FOOT ON BRAKES. HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO AVOID THE SEVERE SHAKING OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ANNOYING, IT IS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET OFF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE SHAKING WHEN DESCENDING LONG GRADES. HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. FIRST TIME AT 21,368 (DEALER MACHINED ROTORS) AND THE SECOND TIME AT 30,467 (DEALER MACHINED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS). EACH TIME, PROBLEM ONLY STOPPED TEMPORARILY. AT 54,400 I HAD TO PURCHASE 2 ROTORS ($240.00) AND WAS TOLD THAT GM HAD REDESIGNED THE ROTORS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE I WAS BEYOND 3YR/36,000 MILE WARANTY GM WOULD NOT COVER THIS COST. THE ORIGINAL ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS UNDER HIGH SPEED DOWNHILL CONDITIONS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF A GM BULLETIN TO DEALERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ROTORS ARE A PROBLEM. MY NEIGHBOR ADVISED ME OF A 1999 MALIBU THAT EXHIBITED THE SAME SEVERE FRONT END SHAKING UNDER BRAKING. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL ROTORS AND THE PADS THAT I REPLACED ON 10/27/2000 AT A COST OF $357.30 (PARTS ONLY). THIS PROBLEM DESERVES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.*AK

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES (P215 60 R15) EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT OF THE SIDEWALLS AND TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE IDLE PULLEY. HAD THAT PART REPLACED WITH NEW PART. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME NOISE WAS BACK. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO MECHANIC THIS MORNING. HE IS CHECKING TO SEE IF NEW PART WAS DEFECTED OR IF BELT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE MALIBU'S PERFORMANCE. IN THE 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE THE CAR, I HAVE REPLACED FRONT AND BACK BRAKES, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, ETC. ETC. AND NOW THE IDLE PULLEY (HOPEFULLY NOTHING ELSE MAJOR).

UNANTICIPATED BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE ACCESS RAMP. TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND HAD THE APPEARANCE OF THOSE SHOWN ON TV RELATED TO THE SUV TIRE PROBLEM.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

CAR SHAKES AT 60MPH LEAK ON DRIV. SIDE WIND. STEERING COLUMN NOISES

DATE OF INCIDENT- HEAVY RAINS, DRIVING ON 1-95 NORTH IN STRATFORD, CT- THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER SYSTEM FAIL- BREAKS OFF ITS MOUNTING BRACKET- LEADS TO FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE WIPER IN A POURING RAIN ON HIGHWAY- VISIBILTY BECOMES ZERO- WAS LUCKY TO GET OFF THE ROAD FROM MIDDLE LANE WITHOUT INCIDENT. FOUND A GARAGE WHO HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE- PUT RIN-X ON MY WINDSHIELD WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. SHOWED DEALER- NEXT DAY THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE REPAIRED, DONE AND CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND DESCRIBED THIS AS AMANUFACTURER DEFECT. CAR OUT OF WARRANTEE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER. HOW MANY DEMOLISHED VEHICLES AND FATALITIES HAVE HAPPENED ON A RAINSLICK ROAD AND THE CULPRIT HAS BEEN THE WEATHER WHEN ACTUALLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT, BUT THE DEAD PERSON WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE CAR WOULD HAVE SEVERE DAMAGE AND THIS DEFECT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED. I THOROUGHLY BELIEVE BY MY EXPERIENCE, AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERING DEFECT AND CAUSE FOR SEVERAL DEATHS. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, OR THOSE THAT WHERE GIVEN ME BY THE DEALER AFTER THE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT AS I BELIEVE I AM ONE ONF THE LUCKY FEW WHO SURVIVED.

ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING. NLM

MOISTURE BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBY OF BOTH SIDES. ALSO, DURING RAIN OR CAR WASH, WATER POURS INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. UNKNOWN ORIGIN POINT OF THE WATER.

LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTED OUT DUE TO WATER IN TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY

I WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR, WHEN MY CAR,STARTED GOING OUT OF CONTROL, I MANAGED TO GET OVER TOP THE RIGHT LANE AND ON TO THE SHOULDER,WHEN I ,GOT OUT TO CHECK OUT WHAT WAS WRONG . I NOTICED ,T HERE WAS'NT ANY RUBBER ON THE RIM ACCEPT, ON SIDE AND PIECES OF STEEL WAS STICKING OUT ALL OVER. A CAR ACROSS THE 4-LANE INTERSTATE ,HAD TO STOP & PICK UP THE HUNK OF TIRE, TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE DAMNAGED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR FENDER, WHEN IT CAME APART. THE DEALER WHERE ,I BOUGHT MY CAR ,REPLACED THAT TIRE AND REPAIRED THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR,AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215160R15 )

FRONT 2 TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, ONLY HAD 25, 756 MILES AND WAS ROTATED 5-6000 MILES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P215/6015 )

POWER STEERING SEEMED ROUGH BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BOX $689.00, I BROUGHT CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED RACK AND PINION AND NEW LOWER CONTROL ARMS $2000.00 APPROX. I WAS DRIVING AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON BROUGHT TO A SHOP OPEN AT NIGHT NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY.I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING.I GUESS THEY LIED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND.

THROTTLE CABLE FROM PEDAL TO ENGINE BROKE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE AT THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL NOT TO WORK. NLM

THE WAY HORN IS ASSEMBLED IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN APPLIED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION REAR BRAKES ARE INOPERATIVE, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO RUST OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE CALIPERS STICK AND WEAR THE ROTORS DOWN TO THE METAL. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE .*AK

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO GASKET LEAKS. YH

BRAKES CAUSE FRONT END TO SHAKE. DEALER STATES THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TURN THE ROTORS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IN A PROPER AMOUNT OF DISTANCE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE HAD THREE NEW FRONT CONTROL ARMS PUT ON. NOW THE REAR SUSPENSION IS BAD. THE BRAKES WEAR OUT FAST BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE JUNK, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15K TO 20K MILES. THE CAR HAS 47K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 20K OF THOSE MILES AND HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED ONCE AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN NOW. THE BRAKES NEED REPLACED OFTEN AS A RESULT OF THE ROTORS WEARING DOWN SO QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS BUT I URGE CHEVY/GM TO OFFER A SOLUTION SHORTLY OR THEY WILL LOSE A LOT OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF MALIBU OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE IN A RAIN STORM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT HAS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO HAVE NO SUPPORT ON THAT SIDE, IT WAS HANGING. *AK

COOLANT SEEPS OUT. *AK

RATTLE, CLUNK COMING FROM LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. NLM

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE COMPLETING LEFT TURN. *AK

FRONT END SQUEAK AND THUMP. DEALER REPORTS NO REPAIR/REMEDY AT THIS TIME. *AK

FRONT END SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS,BRAKE ROTORS FAILED,TIRES WORN AT 30000 MILES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P21560R15 )

WHILE TURNING LEFT VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, BRAKES MAKE A NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE PADS EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES. ONLY THE OUTER BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING, NEITHER DEALER NOR GM CAN PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION. *AK *ML

PREMATURE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SLIGHT IMPACT TO FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION LOOSE AND BANGING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. DEALER REPLACED LOWER CONTROL UNITS 8/16/99. STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE STEERING VIBRATION AT 60-70 MPH, AGAIN. THIS IS HOW THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STARTED.

STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AT TIMES IN PARK NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO TURN IN THE INGITION. DEALER CANNOT RECREATE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX. OCCURRED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND HAS HAPPEN APPRX 8 TIMES SINCE. *AK

CONTROL ARMS AND STEERING GEAR REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW AT 38,000 MILES, THE FRONT END SHAKES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY DURING SLIGHT TURNS AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH.

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

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHOP FOR COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING IN "TIRES" AND T2222HE UNDERCARRIAGE FELT LOSE OVER SMALL BUMPS. I GOT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR $1,200 AND DECLINED THE OTHER REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. WITH THE CAR ONLY BEING 3 YEARS OLD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS! I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE. WITH THE NEW STEERING ASSEMBLY, THE UNDERCARRIAGE STILL FEELS LOOSE. I CAN FEEL IT UNDER MY FEET. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE 1 AND 2 BLOWERS DON'T WORK! THEY WORKED FINE WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR IN! WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOP, THEY DIDN'T WORK. I WILL CONTINUE TO GET THESE PROBLEMS SOLVED.2 *AK

THE OIL PAN ON THE CAR HAS DEFECTIVE GASKETS THE ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS DEFECTIVE GASKETS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK THE BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AND WHENEVER APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES AND GRINDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED ROTORS TWICE AND PADS FOUR TIMES. *AK