1997 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE FRONT END WHEN APPLYING BRAKE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. YH

SIDE TRIM ON THE INSIDE (TOP AND BOTTOM) ARE DEFECTIVE. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

SPARE TIRE RUBS BRAKE CALIPER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

HEADLIGHTS GET WATER CAUGHT IN THEM AND FOG UP, MAKING VISIBILITY POOR FOR THE DRIVER AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LENSES, AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

BRAKE PADS FAILED WITH OUT AUDIBLE WARNING DAMAGING ROTORS. BULB BASES IN REAR LIGHT BOTH MELTED FOR 2ND TIME. PWR WINDOW FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NOISE IN SUSPENSION, DEALER COULDN'T FIND IT.BRAKES ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. MODEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED.

I CANNOT START THE CAR. THE KEY LOCK LOOSE. FRIEND HAD SAME PROBLEM. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE LOCK TO START THE CAR AND THE KEY DOES NOT TURN. THIS MAKES THE MILEAGE A GUESS, AS IT IS ELECTRONIC AND ONLY DISPLAYED WHEN THE KEY TURNS OVER. FRIEND SAID HIS WIFE FOUND THIS PROBLEM DOCUMENTED SOMEWHERE ON THE INTERNET BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IT. THANK YOU. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAS STATION. UPON APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE TO GAS STATION, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED AND RUNNING TO WARM UP, VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS OUT OF GARAGE RUNNING INTO TREE ETC. *MJS

THE CAR HAS BRAKES THAT NEED REPLACEMENT AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES THEN AT 51000 MILES AND NOW NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT IT COULD HAPPEN. THE BRAKES PULSE WHICH CAUSE A SHIMMY AT HIGH SPEED AND THUS INSTABILITY. I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FORBRAKE REPAIR BUT FEEL THAT CHEVEROLET HAS A DESIGN FAULT WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOTED ON THE INTERNET OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND KNOW PERSONALLY OF TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT MY REPAIR RECORDS INDICATE SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER. THEY CLAIMED I WAS RIDING THE BRAKES, THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND IN ONE INSTANCE I HAD TWO TIRES REPLACED AND THEY BLAMED THE TIRE DEALER FOR NOT TORQUEING THE BOLTS CORRECTLY. I REALIZE THAT BRAKES WEAR OUT BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM BEYOND FAIR WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER CUTS OFF, ENGINE FAILS TO START (SECURITY SYSTEM), CARPET HAS DISENTEGRATED, FRONT END PROBLEMS, BRAKE PAD REPLACED AND BELT. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. SUSPENSION WAS BAD IN THE FRONT. ALSO, BATTERY DID NOT WORK & NEEDED CHARGING/ WINDSHIELD NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WIND SINGING/ VEHICLE WOULD STALL/ BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED, AND TIRES WERE WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE POOR SUSPENSION. VEHICLE AT DEALER. *AK

CAR MADE A LOT OF FRONT END NOISE. DEALER STATES A LOT OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING ON THE 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THIS PART SHOULD NOT GO BAD, AT LEAST NOT UNDER 100,000 MILES . GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS THIS COMPONENT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. I SPENT $1200.00 IN REPAIRS WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. *AK

THROTTLE BODY WAS CLOGGED, CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS EXPOERIENCED PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. *AK

SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS. YH

THIS CAR IS A LEMON (WIFE'S CAR). IN MANY INSTANCES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, DESPITE IT BEING BRAND NEW. WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENTS WOULD GO HAYWIRE (PINNING AND MOVING VIOLENTLY), AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE'S BRAKES FAILED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THE FRONT END MAKES A STRANGE NOISE, AND THE RIDE IS VERY HARSH. BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM, BUT THEY DID NOT 'FIND ANYTHING WRONG'! AT THIS POINT, THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A NEW CAR! THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE ARE BUYING AN AMERICAN CAR. IT'S JAPANESE AND GERMAN FROM NOW ON!!

12 SERVICE VISITS, SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS, RACK AND PINION, STEERING GEAR BAD, BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TO 3 TIMES AND SEVERAL REAPIR ATTEMPTS WITH TAPE AND BUSHINGS. OTHER ITEMS AS WELL. *AK

BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE/ MILEAGE ON CAR LESS THAN 32,000 MILES (CALIPERS AND ROTORS REPLACED ONCE)

BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR AND ROTOR DAMAGE

NO SUMMARY

THE FRONT OF MY CAR VIBRATES STILL AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AT THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AT 21000 MILES HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES DUE TO THE FRONT OF CAR BEING DEFECTIVE, STEERING WENT OUT ALONG WITH SOME TYPE OF ARMS AND A GEAR BOX , WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER AND ITS DONE NOTHING BUT COST US MONEY ALONG WITH THE ORIGNAL PAYMENT ,THE DEALER SAYS HE DOSENT NO WHY HE CANT STOP THE VIBRATION I CANT AFFORD NEW TIRES EVERY 21000 MILES OR A NEW CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER I WANT MY MONEY BACK, AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DO THAT, WOULD YOU LET YOUR CHILD DRIVE THIS CAR ?:(

THE CAR HAS HAD AIR CONDITION PROBLEMS, POWER STEERING WAS CHANGED, THE DRIVERS SEAT PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD BROKE, THE TWO LEFT DOORS HAD TO PAINTED A WEEK AFTER PURCHASED, I WANTED ANOTHER CAR SINCE I HAD GIVEN 10,000.00 DOLLARS AS DOWN PAYMENT BUT THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE, PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME?

UPON INITIAL START UP WITH COLD ENGINE, ENGINE RUNS FINE UNTIL DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. UPON ACCELERATION ENGINE RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH, HAS NO POWER, AND WILL STALL AS SOON AS PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. ONCE RESTARTED ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN ROUGH, ETC UNTIL NEAR NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES ARE ATTAINED DUE TO STALLING AND LACK OF POWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER'S SHOP AT LEAST TWICE. ON THE LAST SERVICING ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1999, DEALER REP LACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED IGNITION COMPUTER WITH NEWER VERSION OF MANUFACTURER'S SOFTWARE. DEALER CHARGED $64 FOR NEW SOFTWARE WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

HEADLIGHTS ARE STEAMING UP DUE TO WATER ENTERING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LEAVE HIGHBEAMS ON FOR 1 HOUR TO DRY OUT THE WATER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH AND THEN LIGHTLY PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SHAKES IN THE FRONT END, ALMOST LIKE A CONVULSION. WE DO NOT FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A PROBLEM WHEN A CAR IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM.

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ON THIS CAR. EVERYTHING FROM THE CARPET TO THE RADIO TO WARPED ROTORS. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO "GET OUT OF" OUR LEASE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. IT'S BECOME QUITE A NUISANCE TO HAVE AND WE ARE DISSAPPOINTED AND EVEN ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT THESE MANY PROBLEMS HAVE GONE UNINVESTIGATED BY THE DEALER THAT WE TAKE IT TO FOR REPAIRS. FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE CAR CAUSING ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR STARTING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED FOR REPAIRS ON AVERAGE, ONCE EVERY SIX WEEKS.

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT IDLE , SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS

THE TIRES ARE 80,000 MILE TIRES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 35000 DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR ON THE CENTER RIB. THE CENTER RIB IS BALD, BUT THE OUTER RIBS HAVE WELL OVER HALF OF THE ORIGINAL TREAD LEFT. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AT ABOUT 12000 MILES, SO WE RAN THE TIRES AT 25PSI TO TRY TO CORRECT CENTER WEAR. THE INFLATION SPECS ON THE CAR DOOR CALL FOR 29PSI FRONT, 26PSI REAR. WE HAVE KEPT THE TIRES ROTATED AND AIR PRESSURE CHECK AT REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIMES. THE TIRES ARE BECOMING UNSAFE, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES, AND FIRESTONE CLAIMS THAT THE TIRE IS ONLY A 40,000 MILE RATED TIRE. THE FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED THAT THE OEM AFFINITY TIRES WERE ONLY 40,000 MILE TIRES, BUT IF I WERE TO BUY NEW AFFINITY TIRES FROM A FIRESTONE DEALER, I WOULD GET AN 80,000 MILE RATED TIRE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR FOR PROPER FRONT AND REAR ADJUSTMENT, AND CLAIMS THAT THE CAR IS NOT AT FAULT. WE WERE GIVEN A 98 MODEL MALIBU TO DRIVE WHILE THEY CHECKED OUR CAR THAT HAD 17,600 MILES, AND WE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES ON THIS CAR WERE WORSE THAN ON OUR CAR, BUT THE BACK TIRES WERE NOT QUITE AS BAD. IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE TIRES HAD NEVER BEEN ROTATED ON THIS CAR. OF COURSE, THE DEALER STATES THAT IF WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN 20,000 MILES SOONER, HE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR ME.OF COURSE HE COULD SAY THAT NOW THAT IT IS ALREADY PAST. GM AND FIRESTONE BOTH THINK IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OTHER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES. FURTHERMORE, THE D

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY MADE A POPPING NOISE. ALSO FRONT END SHOOK LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS, AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THEIR REPLACEMENT. *AK *ML

REAR AXLES--OIL SEALS LEAKING INTO WHEEL BRAKE DRUMS.

FAILED AGAIN 28,800;INDPNDT SHOP SAYS ORIGINAL ROTORS 2THIN 2TURN AFTER "MIKED";ROTORS HAVE NEVER BEEN TURNED;NO GROOVES. *AK

THE SAME ELECTRICAL FAILURE HAS NOW HAPPENED 4X. NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHY IT HAPPENS OR HOW TO FIX IT.

WHEN PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH THE CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER THREE TIMES WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK *YC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING OTHER COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION. *YC

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND FOR NO REASON DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE SENSOR REPLACED. ALSO, LEAVES ARE GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED & UNEVEN. HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AT LEAST TWICE. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

OIL LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION IS PULLING .CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DOES NOT TURN OFF ONCE A TURN IS COMPLETED. NLM

A MALFUNCTION OCCURS WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND LOSE CONTROL CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, INDICATING NON-FUNCTIONING OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, HAS BEEN COMING ON. AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR IS RESTARTED THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON MORE FREQUENTLY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN MAKING FAIRLY SHARP LEFT TURNS, AND IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY A METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER FIRST OCCURRENCE AND SAID TO COME IN IF IT STARTS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I INTEND TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER THIS WEEK. *AK

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH ASB SENOR LIGHT AND BRAKE SYSYTEM; SOMETIME WHEN ABS SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE, IT APPEAR TO AFFECT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE/ VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON 15 OCCASION AND CONDITION STILL OCCUR. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME FRAME I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCURRING 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST A 4TH. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP, THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AND THE CAR STARTS UP BUT SHUTS RIGHT BACK OFF. THIS CONTINUES, WITH THE RESULTS BEING THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" AND FIXED BY REPLACING THE INGNITION CYLINDER. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN JULY, 1998 AND AFTER SEVERAL UNPRODUCTIVE DAYS IN THE TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECT/SHORT IN THE WIRING, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS THIS ONE REPORTED - 5/15/99, WHICH WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" WITH THE FIX BEING REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS SAME SCENARIO ALMOST OCCURRED AGAIN YESTERDAY EVENING 5/29/99, BUT THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AFTER HAVING SAT THERE FOR 10-15 MINUTES (THIS WAITING PERIOD WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EFFECTIVE). THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TRIGGERED THIS EVENT NOR HOW TO PREVENT IT. IN FACT, THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE EXCEPT IN MY CAR. IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ISSUE OF VEHICLE RELIABILITY. *AK

RIGHT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT/GRINDED, AND LEFT ROTOR WAS WARPED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE STOPS AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN IT VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. MJS

THESE WERE ORIG. 80,000MI. TIRES THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 35,560MI DUE TO EARLY TREAD WEAR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, THEY MAKE SQUEALING NOISES. THEY WOULD ALSO LURCH & JERK. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. THE NOISE IN THE BRAKES STILL EXISTS. *AK

I HAVE MADE SEVEARL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE LOOKED AT REGARDING THE SOUNDS I HEAR UPON STARTUP. THE CLICKING AT FIRST SOUNDED LIKE TAPPETS OR VALVES OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS A 75000 MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER CLOSEST TO ME AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE A 3.1 L WERE NOTORIOUS FOR "WRIST PIN TOLERANCE DEFECTS" HE TOLD ME IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT SHOULD CLEAR UP AFTER THE METALS HAVE EXPANDED INSIDE THE ENGINE. I GUESS YOU CAN CALL ME CONSCIECIOUS BUT THE WORD "DEFECT" HAS A TENDENCY TO UNNERVE A PERSON AFTER PAYING FOR A "NEW" CAR. AND HAVING HAD MECHANICAL TRAINING I KNOW ANY TOLERANCES WHERE PARTS ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE FREELY EVEN WHEN "WARMING UP" ARE PARTS THAT ARE USUALLY WEARING. WEARING PARTS MEAN A UNPREDICIBLE SITUATION AND I WORRY FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND. THIS TOLERANCE THING IS UNSAFE SINCE WRIST PINS ARE WHAT HOLD THE PISTONS ON THE CONNECTING RODS. THERE CAN BE NO TOLERANCE GAP ON A PART AS IMPORTANT EVEN IF IT STOPS AFTER A WHILE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND IT. MY WARRANTY IS UP IN ANOTHER 8000 MILES. I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL GIVE AWAY AFTER OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND AS USUAL THEN IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL TO THE MECHANICS AND DEALER WHEN THEY CAN TAKE MY MONEY TO FIX A "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT".