1999 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT FAILING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP,WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR FROM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES PULL AND SHAKE WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BY CHEVROLET AND IT STILL OCCURRS. EVERYONE ELSE WE HAVE TALKED TO THAT ALSO OWNS A CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AROUND ME, BUT ALSO THAT THIS CAR WILL COST ME A FORTUNE ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY (TO ME AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO) A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MARY "CAROLYN" KLING. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BRAKE COMPONENT FAILURES AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED CAUSING PULSATION AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO GRINDING NOISE. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING BRAKES LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH. ALSO, BRAKES PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A FIRE STARTED IN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT RADIO. FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED IT CAME FROM RADIO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHT TO BE INOPERATIVE/ AIR CONDITIONER TO TURN OFF/ ABS LIGHT TO COME ON AND OFF, AND VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY/ ALTERNATOR, AND ETC. TOOK TO DEALER FOR THESE PROBLEMS 13 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK ALL LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE A/C WAS SHORTING. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY ON THE DAY IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AND A TRUCK IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED. REAR ENDED TRUCK BECAUSE BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING OR HOLDING. SURFACE OF BRAKES WAS WARPED AND PULSATED. VEHICLE SUSTAINED $8500.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE FROM MAUFACTURER. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATING EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURRED WHICH CAUSED ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND BALANCED TIRES, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER DID A TESTING ON OTHER MALIBU VEHICLES OF THAT SAME YEAR THAT WAS ON LOT. TESTING PROVED THAT ALL VEHICLES HAD SAME DEFECT.*AK

AT 19,000 MILES VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHEN BRAKE WERE APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER HAD BRAKES/ PADS AND SHOES, AND ROTORS REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME BRAKE NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN NO HELP AT ALL. *AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS 3 TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OK THAT IT HAPPENED, AND TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR FIXING. (DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED CAR FROM IS NOT A CHEVY DEALER). WHEN I PHONED TRECEK CHEV. IN PORTAGE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING WED. (ALL THIS WAS DONE FROM CAR PHONE). I ALSO ASKED TRECEK AUTO IN PORTAGE ABOUT THE LIGHT, THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. AS I WAS DRIVING I WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH. MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. AS THE DRIVING CONDITIONS GOT WORSE I SLOWED UP EVEN MORE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEN CONTINUED ON. WHEN THE REAR END OF THE CAR SWERVED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AT 20 MPH I THEN PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. A LADY WAS FOLLOWING ME AND STOPPED. SHE THEN TOLD ME THAT MY BACK REAR PASSENGER TIRE/WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING. WHEN THE WRECKER CAME TO TOW ME THE WHEEL STILL WAS NOT TURNING. WHEN IT WAS UNLOADED OFF THE FLAT BED AT TRECEK CHEV. IN PORTAGE, WI IT STILL WAS NOT TURNING ALTHOUGH THE ABS LIGHT HAD GONE OFF. I THEN PROCEEDED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO IN TURN WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE FRONT DOOR AND TOLD ME THAT I COULD TAKE IT HOME, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. HE WAS NOT VERY POLITE AND DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. I'M AFRAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK

THE PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *SLC

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT TO STOWWED POSITION AFTER USE, AND OFTEN DO NOT RETRACT AFTER LEANING FORWARD. SEATBELT REPEATEDLY GETS WEDGED BETWEEN DOOR AND B-PILLAR WHEN CLOSING DOOR WHEN EXITING VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO SEATBELT HARDWARE. WHEN SEATBELT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO RETRACT AFTER LEANING FORWARD, IT CREATES SLACK IN RESTRAINT SYSTEM THAT PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE FRONT SEAT DRIVER/PASSENGER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE PURCHASING DEALER AND THEY DO NOT SHOW ANY SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF ROTORS CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS PROBLEM REPEATED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE CUSTOMER FEELS IT WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS. *YH

VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 SETS OF ROTORS. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE AND COOLANT PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER FAULTY AND WAS REPAIRED. *SLC

I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES SERVICED THREE TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF THAT I'VE HAD MY CAR. THEY WARPED, SO MY DEALER TURNED THEM DOWN; THEY WARPED AGAIN, SO THEY REPLACED THEM; THEN THEY WARPED AGAIN, SO THEY TURNED THEM AGAIN. *AKI

LOUD GRINDING/ PULSATION SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.CURRENTLY, BOTH ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE BRAKES ONLY FAILED ONCE, HOWEVER I HAVE HAD IT IN ATLEAST 6 TIMES SINCE LEASE FOR COMPLAINTS ON THE BRAKES TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. I WAS TOLD BY ONE THAT THE MALIBU'S ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PADS, WHY HAS NO ONE BEEN TOLD THIS? MY ABS IS AGIN COMING ON AND NOW GETTING READY FOR IT'S 7TH TRIP TO SERVICE.

LIGHT HAS FAILED TWICE. RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION. NO OTHER LAMPS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. *AK

THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE ON SLICK PAVEMENT, ICE, OR SNOW COVERED ROADS, THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DESIGNED FOR DRY PAVEMENT ONLY, HE REPLACED THE TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAD LOOKED AT SAID NOTHING WRONG. HAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. HAVE TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST ALL WAY DOWN TO GET CAR TO STOP. DO NOT GET PULSATING FEELING ON BRAKE WHEN HIT HARD INDICATING ABS IS WORKING. HAVING IT LOOKED AT AGAIN, NOW THAT CAR HAS BEEN WRECKED THEY SEEM TO BE MORE INTERESTED.

BRAKES PULSATING DUE TO WARPED ROTOR, THE WARPED ROTOR CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR DOWN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE ROTOR, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

ROTORS, AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHUTTER. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS PREMATURELY WARP. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES, ROTORS ONLY LAST ABOUT 5000-8000 MILES .*AK THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT ISSUE RECALL NOTICE. THE CUSTOMER DRIVES A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. *YH

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN RESURFACED ONCE. THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR THE FINAL REPAIR ATTEMPT ON THE BRAKES. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THIS, THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WENT OUT. THREE PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE DEPT. TRIED TO GET IT TO WORK. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR ANOTHER DAY. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WINDOW AND IT IS NOW WORKING. THE POWER LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY. I HEAR AIR COMING IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE CD PLAYER FACE GETS TO HOT TO TOUCH AND I SMELL BURNING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULDN'T TILT DOWN BECAUSE OF PLASTIC DEBRIS ON THE ASSEMBLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD MELTED. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL HEAD SHORTED OUT. THE EVAP SYSTEM VAPOR PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR DOORS STUCK AND HAD TO BE LUBRICATED. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH HAD TO BE ADJUSTED TO STOP RATTLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AT 7000MLS STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER AND ROTORS WERE RECUT AND PADS RESURFACED. AT 17000MLS ROTORS WERE REPLACED. AT 27000MLS CAR IS BEING TAKEN IN FOR FRONT BRAKES SQUEEKING AND GRIND OF FRONT ROTORS. *AK

CENTER OF TIRES WORN OUT AT 30,000 MILES. RIM PROBLEMS, GM SAID NO!!FIRESTONE SAID IT HAPPENS TOO OFTEN!!! (TIRESIZE: 214/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 214/60R15 )

SLID ON ICE DURING SNOW STORM, HIT CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD ON AT 20-25 MPH, SPUN AND HIT CONCRET THREE TIMES, AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT OVER 40 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES VIGUROUSLY. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT SHOP NO REPAIR NEEDED AT TIME SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM WITH DISCS. *AK

BRAKES HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 8,000 MILES. DEALER HAS 2 TIMES REPAIRED BRAKES. DEALER ISN'T GONING TO KEEP REPLACING THE BRAKES.*AK

PE00 020; BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD SEPARATION, AND THERE WERE AIR STILL IN THE TIRES. FIRESTONE, P2215/60R15, THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. THEY WERE AFFINITY TIRES.*AK

I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL MAILBU'S WHERE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. *AK

BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 12000MILES. AT 31000 MILES BRAKES WERE REPLACED AGAIN AND ROTORS WERE GROUND DOWN. GM SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. I CONSIDER IT EXCESSIVE AND A PROBLEM ASSEMBLY WARPS DUE TO TWO METALS BEING USED IN THE BREAKS. HEAT PROBLEM. *AK

TWO FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED AND THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE OTHER TWO REPLACED (P215160 R15). NLM

FIRST NOTICED AT 5,500 MILES CAR WOULD VIBRATE OR PULSATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED.DEALER SAID FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND REPLACED THEM. PROBLEM REPEATED AT 12,000 MILES. ROTORS REPLACED AGAIN. PROBLEM REPEATED AGAIN AT 17,500 MILES. ROTORS REPLACED AGAIN.

OUR CAR SUDDENLY LOSS ALL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE SMOKIE MT. PARKWAY IN N. CAROLINA. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO PINE CREST CHEV. AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FLUID LINE TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY. THE FLUID LINE WAS AGAINST THE EXHAUST PIPE AND IT HAD BURNED AND WORN THROUGH CAUSING ALL THE FLUID TO RAPIDLY SPRAY OUT ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A SEVERE OR FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ALONG WITH AN ADDED THREAT OF A POSSIBLE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE FLUID.

FRONT BRAKES AT A HIGH SPEED VEHICLE SHAKES A LOT. IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF 2000 DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKES. THEN, IN MAY 2000 THEY WERE REPLACED. LATE AUGUST, BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 16,2000. *YH

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED TIE RODS AND TIRES.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED, REAR BRAKES SERVICED. *CJ

CLUNKING/GRINDING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN TURNING CORNERS AND/OR GOING OVER BUMPS (SUCH AS R/R TRACKS, DRIVEWAY APPROACHES, ETC); BRAKES SHUTTERED AND BARELY RESPONDED WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH DOWN DECLINE IN A LIGHT RAIN; ROTORS WERE REPLACED 8/2000 BUT NOISE HAS NOT LESSENED. COLD AIR COMES IN FROM DOOR HANDLE OF DRIVER SD DOOR, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO CONTINUOUSLY DRIVE W/DEFROSTERS ON WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE @/BELOW 50 DEGREES; VERY POOR ACCELERATION, ENGINE SLUGGISH AND MISSES WHEN ACCELERATING; VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE AVGING 21-23 MPG HWY. ON 4-CYL ENGINE; REAR TAIL LIGHT REPLACED DUE TO CONDENSATION FORMATION WHEN 1ST PURCHASED; REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT BURNT OUT AND NEED OF REPLACEMENT.; REAR PASSENGER DOOR 3" SECTION OF PAINT CORRODING AND IN NEED OF REPAINTING/FINISHING.*AK

APPLICATION OF BRAKES AT ALL SPEEDS CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUDDER AND AFFECTS STEERING. ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES. PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT 27,700 MILES. DEALER GROUND ROTORS TO SOLVE PROBLEM AND CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER A BULGE DEVELOPED IN THIS TIRE. IT GREW ON ITS OWN OVERNIGHT TO TWICE THE ORIGINAL SIZE WHEN I DISCOVERED IT. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH A SIMILAR TIRE. THIS REPLACEMENT TIRE HAS 1991 STAMPED ON IT, THE ORIGINAL FOR DO NOT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A FLUKE, BUT WITH ALL THE NEWS ABOUT FIRESTONE, I MUST TELL YOU I AM VERY UNEASY ABOUT DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES. WHAT IF ANOTHER BULGE COMES UP AND BLOWS OUT, AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT? I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF MALIBUS IN RALEIGH WITH THESE SAME TIRES, (I CHECKED). THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BARBARA DIPERT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 93T MTS TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE BEHIND THIS VEHICLE (1999 MALIBU) STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING 1999 MALIBU TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. THE "OTHER" VEHICLE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOSS. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARKING GEAR WITH IGNITION RUNNING, IT JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED DOWN HILL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

AFTER MARKET TIRE P215/60X15 SIZE. MIDDLE TREAD HAS STARTED TO WEAR OUT ON ALL FOUR TIRES, AND HAVE STARTED CRACKING ALONG THE SIDEWALLS.*AK FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES (P21560R15) DOT #W2MW0AAA378. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURRED WITHIN THE FRONT END, ALSO PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK AFTER THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEM, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YH