1999 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

AT ABOUT 27000MI (3000MI. SERVICE) I NOTIFIED DEALER OF SQUEAKING IN FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION BUSHINGS. DEALER SPRAYED LUBE ON REAR (ABOUT $100)AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOWER COMPLETE FRONT END TO LUBE FRONT, APPROX $200 MORE. EXTENDED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER. AT 30000 MI SERVICE DEALER NOTIFIED ME I NEEDED COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. I INSPECTED BRAKES WHILE ON LIFT. MECHANIC SAID HE MADE MISTAKE! HE SAID THAT HE HADN'T PULLED WHEELS OF YET. SAID THERE WAS 80% LEFT, REPAIR INVOICE SAID 50% LEFT. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF TRANS FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR & AIR CONDITIONING SMELLED LIKE URINE WHEN ON, ALSO SWITCHING ITSELF FROM RECIRCULATION TO FRESH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED SWITCH, DEDUCTIBLE $SE ON EXTENDED WARRANTY, SPRAYED SOMETHING IN OUTSIDE VENT (MOLD THEY SAID?), AND TIGHTENED TRANS COOLING LINE, THEIR FAULT! THREE DAYS LATER COOLING LEAK, DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP, DEDUCTIBLE $'S ON EXTENDED WARRANTY. TWO WEEKS LATER THE REAR POWER WINDOW ACTUATOR (MOTOR & CABLE ASSEMBLY) QUIT! I MIGHT HAVE USED THIS WINDOW 12 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT 99 MALIBU LS FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET, RENO,NV. NEW IN 12/99! ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I FEELS LIKE THEY ARE SABOTAGING MY VEHICLE TO GET BACK AT ME FOR DISCOVERING THEY LIED ABOUT BRAKE JOB! ALSO AFTER READING YOUR COMPLAINT LIST, I REALIZE THAT I AM NOT ALONE THINKING THAT BRAKES, STEERING VIBRATION, AND RELIABILITY IN GENERAL IS POOR ON THIS VEHICLE. *PH

GENERAL MOTORS HAS JUST ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF 2000 AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBUS FOR A FAULTY HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF HAZARD LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. I OWN A 1999 MALIBU NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY, AND MY MECHANIC HAS INDICATED IT MAY BE THE RESULT OF A FAULTY SWITCH. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AND THAT THE 1999 MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AS WELL. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THE RECALL?*AK

A/C CUTS OFF AND BLOWS HOT AIR, WHEN I PRESS THE A/C BUTTON, IT WILL COME BACK ON, BUT WILL NOT STAY ON FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. DEALER REPLACED THE A/C CONSOLE IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2001, AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN.*AK

I HAVE TO DO A FRONT BRAKE JOB ON MY 99 MALIBU ABOUT TWICE PER YEAR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS STARTED AFTER THE ORIGINAL BRAKES STARTED DOING THIS AND HAS CONTINUED. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE ROTORS NOT WEARING EVENLY.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *AK THERE WERE CRACKS AROUND THE TREAD. (FOUND DURING THE STATE INSPECTION) *SCC *JB

IN MARCH 2003 I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED AT 39,733 ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET. MALIBU. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE PADS WERE EATEN AWAY BY THE ROTORS. NOW, AUGUST 2003, MY PADS ARE EATEN AWAY AGAIN WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON THEM. I AM AFRAID THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN. I HAVE HEARD MANY MALIBU OWNERS AND AUTO MECHANICS TELL ME THERE IS A VEHICLE WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND PADS, YET GM (CHEVROLET) WON'T HELP CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIRING (AGAIN AND AGAIN).*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED, AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK THE VEHICLE NEEDED COOLANT ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. THE CONSUMER ADDED COOLANT IN THE BEGINNING OF 06/03 AT APPROXIMATELY 37,500K MILES AND AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER AT 38,500K MILE. SEVERAL MECHANICS SAID THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS AROUND 40K MILES. *SCC *JB

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING LOT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL BROKE, AND CAUSED FRONT TIRES TO BURN. *AK

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU 3100 V-6----THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THE WHITE PLASTIC CLIP THAT CLIPS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT BROKE OFF CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO FLOP TO FLOORBOARD

MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED ON 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT I PAID FOR AND GM HAS NOT EVEN GOT BACK WITH ME YET AFTER I SENT THEM COPIES OF ALL MY BILLS. THIS PROBLEM NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND NOW I SEE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT AND HAVE A 2002 IMPALA THAT THEY WANT TO PUT SEALER IN INSTEAD OF FIXING THE GASKET. I THINK THEY OWE ME MONEY FOR THE MALIBU AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE GASKET ON THE IMPALA. *NLM

BROKEN LEFT FRONT STRUT AND SPRING. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE STRUT BROKE. THE SERVICE DEALER COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED. THE LEFT FRONT STRUT, SPRING AND STRUT BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A CAR WITH ONLY 50,182 MILES ON IT. AGAIN I CALLED GM ZONE THEY TOLD ME TO SEND COPIES OF ALL MY BILLS AND I HAVE NOT EVER HEARD ANYTHING ELSE. *NLM

THE ROTORS ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY MALIBU OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DO. SO WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? *AK

THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT 20,150 MILES, 29,853 MILES, 44,379 MILES, AND 60,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED CHEVROLET WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. *AK THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND THE UPPER BEARING STRUT PLATE WAS ALSO REPLACED. *PH *NLM

HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR! BOUGHT CAR 2/17/2001.....-8/15/2001 HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR....2/24/2002 HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED BECAUSE OF COOLANT LEAKAGE, COST WAS 600.00.....06/20/03 HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY DUE TO LEAKAGE AND CORROSION AROUND POSITIVE CABLE.......7/24/03 HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND HAVE ROTORS TURNED FOR THE SECOND TIME....I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS!!!!! CAR NOW HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT... THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GOOD CAR!! :)*AK

ALTENATOR REPLACED AT 44500 MILES, THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN STARTED UP VEHICLE SLAMS INTO GEAR AND HAS NO READING ON THE ENGINE TEMP, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON ODBII TESTING READS 2 CODES BOTH ARE COOLING SYSTEM INPUT SENSOR FAILURE, CAR IS NOW SITTING IN THE GARAGE AS REPAIRS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW, GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE, AS THIS CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED, I CAN TELL YOU THIS I WIL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MALIBU AGAIN IN MY LIFE. *AK

SEVERE PISTON SLAP. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED LIFTERS 3 TIMES, PISTONS AND ALL OTHER MOVING PARTS IN ENGINE ONCE. ENGINE STILL RUNS VERY HOT AND HAS SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER (I HAVE TO FLOOR IT TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE GOING UPHILL, ETC.)*AK

BRAKE SEALS FAILED CAUSING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE CALIPERS REPLACED AS WELL AS DISC/PAD & DRUM/SHOE REPAIR/REPLACED. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILURE.*AK

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THEN THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON ME REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *AK

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS.*MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.*TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING OVER THE STRUT BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOWOUT. *AK *SCC *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK

THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*AK *TT *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL.THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE P20585R15. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *TS *JB

THE BLOWER MOTOR DID NOT WORK, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. *MR *TT *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT. *AK

THE HUB BEARING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. ALSO ON JUNE 5, 2003 THE COIL SPRING BROKE. *MR *TS *JB

INTERMITTENTLY ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

LEAKING COOLANT THROUGH MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU CARS AFTER 30,000 MILES. I NOTICED ON YOUR COMPLAINT DATABASE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IS THERE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR A RECALL? *NLM

ALL MALIBU'S SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, LOW MILES HIGH MILES, ECT BRAKES ARE REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR WITH MINIMAL MILES EACH TIME, HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE, BATTERY TWICE, ELECTRICAL SHORTS TWICE, IGNITION SWITCH HANDLES TERRIBLE, NOT SAFE, CAR WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE HIGH RATINGS, LYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY JUNK. *NLM

POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THIS IS CAUSED BY AN IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

DISC BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALMOST EVERY 17,000 MILES. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS. PROBLEM# 1: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT GASKET WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS. PROBLEM# 2: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE HOOD LATCH BROKE. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS. PROBLEM# 3: THE BRAKES NEED NEW ROTORS AND PADS. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY NEEDS WORK DONE TO THE BRAKES. *AK

1999 MALIBU WITH ENGING COOLING PROBLEMS AND FAN DOES NOT WORK ON POSITION 1 AND 2. HAD TO HAVE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AND ONE MONTH LATER ENTIRE ENGINE WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I REALLY LIKE MY MALIBU, BUT HATE THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I, TOO, HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS AND COOLANT LEAKAGE PROBLEMS.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS REGROUND NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST ONE AND A HALF YEARS AS WELL AS HAVE HAD BOTH BEARINGS REPLACED IN THE FRONT. I HAD ALL VALVES REPLACED ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND IT CONTINUES TO LEAK STILL. THERE IS A STRONG ODER THAT COMES IN THROUGH THE AIRCONDITIONING VENTS. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING OR TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND RIPPED THROUGH THE TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TWO REPAIRS IN ONE WEEK, ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED,DASH LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON & GUAGES GOING CRAZY! CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 1 HR, THEN WHEN JUMP STARTED IT, DIED AGAIN IN FEW MINUTES, REPLACED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, THEN NEXT DAY IGNITION FAILED, KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN IGNITION, HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC (THIS WAS THE THIRD (3RD) TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP LIKE THIS AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN & THE CAR WOULD NOT START & ENTIRE IGNITION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, 2X EARLIER IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY...THIS TIME IT COST ME OVER $400.00 (THE PART ALONE COST $289.) I AM SO FRUSTRATED W/ THIS PROBLEM, AS DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT THE FIRST 2 TIMES & THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IT. THIS IS THE SECOND BATTERY I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2000. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING FUEL.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES. VIBRATIONS EVEN THOUGH ROTORS/PADS REPLACED. CURRENTLY AT 36,000 MILES. ALSO HAD LOUD NOISES WHEN BRAKES FIRST APPLIED AT COLD START. *TT

REPLACED BRAKE SHOES AND ROTORS EVERY 6 MONTHS. *TT

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. "CHECK" ENGINE LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY COME ON SINCE MARCH 03. SCAN READS CODE P0420 CATALYST SYSTEM LOW EFFICIENCY. VEHICLE IS OUT OF EMISSION WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO CHEVROLET DEALER TWICE FOR TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. OBDII DIAGNOSTIC CAN NOT FIND A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT OR CAUSE FOR CODE. THROUGH DEFAULT, DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BAD CONVERTER. CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH NON OEM BRAND SINCE PROBLEM FIRST DIAGNOSIS IN MARCH 03. OBDII CODE P0420 REAPPEARED AGAIN 2 WEEKS AFTER LAST CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. I AM BEGINNING TO DOUBT RELIABILITY OF OBDII SYSTEM. THE ORIGINAL AND 2 REPLACEMENT CONVERTERS CAN NOT ALL BE BAD. NO FAULTS FOR OTHER EMISSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY OBDII. *NLM

HEAD GASKETS ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 53000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH GM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. SOME DEALERS GOODWILL THE REPAIR COSTS ($500-900), BUT OTHERS OFFER NOTHING MORE THAN AN APOLOGY. TWO RECENT TECH. SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS THIS VERY ISSUE. THIS DEFECT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE AND COULD PUT OTHER DRIVERS ARE RISK. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN A 50 MPH HEAD ON CRASH. ONE CAR ACCIDENT AGAINST A MEDIUM WHICH LED TO PAIN IN MY NECK, CHEST, AND LOWER BACK. I WAS GOING HOME IN LEFT LANE AND TWO SPEEDING CARS PAST ME AND CUT ME OFF, DIDN'T STOP AND I HIT A METAL RAIL. I'M VERY UPSET BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE CAR IS A 99 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH WE PURCHASED FROM CARMAX AND THEY SAID THEY SOLD US A CAR WITH NO DEFECTS. WHERE DO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS? THE CAR IS REPARABLE BUT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE SAME CONDITION WHEN I GET IT BACK. I'M VERY HAPPY I DIDN'T HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THAT CAR THEN. *NLM

THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THIS CAR INVOLVING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES (CALIPERS STICKING), THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS (RUSTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND BURNED OUT BULBS), REAR SEAT BELT (PART THAT LOCKED BELT TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR CHILD SEAT WAS PLASTIC AND BROKE) AND NOW ALSO THE INTAKE & INTAKE GASKETS ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. I'M GETTING REALLY FED UP WITH HAVING THE CAR IN THE SHOP ALL THE TIME. NOW, AT 57,000 MILES, THE INTAKE GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600, WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY REPLACED AT 16,000 MILES WHEN THE INTAKE WAS REPLACED. WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE PAYING FOR THIS CAR, BUT I GUESS NOT. *JB

1999 MALIBU KEEPS EATING FRONT BRAKE PADS. REAR BRAKES NEVER WEAR. PEDAL IS ALWAYS SOFT. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORMER MR. GOODWRENCH THAT THIS AN ONGOING ISSUE. HAVE TRIED TO GET GM TO RESPOND BUT THEY WILL NOT!!! I AM AFRAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BRAKING IS OCCURRING IN THE FRONT AND THAT IN AN EMERGENCY STOP-FULL BRAKING ON ALL FOUR WHEELS MAY NOT OCCUR. THANKS. *NLM

CONTINUAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. THREE COMPLETE FRONT BRAKE SERVICES INCLUDING ROTORS AND PADS EACH TIME AT 20,000 , 36,000 , AND 55,000 MILES. ALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. AFTER EACH SERVICE I HAVE NOTICED A "GRINDING" NOISE, FAINT, AT FIRST BUT WORSENS GRADUALLY UNTIL REPLACEMENT. LAST DEALER (SIMMS CHEVROLET ORTONVILLE MICHIGAN) STRONGLY SUGGESTED I CALL GM (WHICH I HAVE ON THE LAST TWO OCCASIONS) BUT THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL. I LEASED THE VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE TO WORK, BUT SHE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IT AS SHE IS AFRAID OF A TOTAL FAILURE. *JB

COOLING SYSTEM BOILS OVER AND RESERVOIR REQUIRES FREQUENT FILLING. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON IN 3.1 ENGINES UNDER 75000 MILES. 450$ TO FIX THE INTAKE GASKET. *NLM