1999 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

ANTI THEFT CONTROLLER SHUT ENGINE DOWN DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH/MODULE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. *NLM THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LEAK AND HAD GIVEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER. (THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED) THE AC WAS FOUND INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE HOSE LEAKED, THE ENGINE RACED BUT DIDN'T MOVE DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE LEFT REAR TAIL LAMP SEAL HAD FALLEN APART. *SCC

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE GAS GAUGE REGISTERED FULL. WHILE DRIVING THE GAS GAUGE CHANGED TO DIFFERENT AMOUNTS (1/4, 1/2, 3/4) OF GAS. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN FROM HAVING NO GAS IN THE TANK BUT THE GAUGE READ FULL. *NLM *NLM

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. REPLACED CALIPERS, BEARINGS,ROTORS,OF COURSE PADS. NOW MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF (IDIOT LIGHT) ALSO THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS WHEN IT GETS TO 1\4 TANK ALSO MY CLIMATE CONTROL FAN WON'T WORK ON THE 1ST 3 SPEEDS. *NLM

I HAVE ALREADY SENT IN A COMPLAINT RE: MY '99 MALIBU'S ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT WAL-MART, THE COMPANY I WORK FOR, HAS HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS ON BETWEEN 30 AND 50 OF THEIR '98-'99 MALIBU'S, GRAND AM'S AND GRAND PRIX'S. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET GM TO PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE I HAD TO GET BECAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. I PAID $2000.00 FOR A USED ENGINE TO BE INSTALLED AND WHO'S TO SAY THAT THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE IT'S THE SAME TYPE 3.1 ENGINE.*JB

ALL THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP AT RANDOM TIMES. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE DEFROSTER IS ON, IF IT IS RAINING OR DRY OUTSIDE. THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS IS TO TURN ON THE ELECTRIC. REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND RAISE AND LOWER THE SIDE WINDOWS SEVERAL TIME. THE FOG ON THE WINDOWS GETS SO BAD SOMETIME THAT WE WILL ONLY HAVE TWO ROUND CIRCLES ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO SEE OUT OF. WE TOOK IT BACK TO OUT DEALER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS BECAUSE OF DIRTY WINDOWS. THEY CLEANED THE WINDOWS AND WE LEFT, ONLY TO HAVE THEM FOG UP AGAIN ABOUT 8 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR SUCH AS TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WHILE THE DEFROSTER IS ON AND TURNING UP THE FAN, BUT NOTHING WORKS LIKE RAISING AND LOWERING THE SIDE WINDOWS. WE KNOW OF SOMEONE ELSE THAT OWNS A MALIBU AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK EXCEPT DURING THE SUMMER.*JB

MY AUTO OVER HEATS. COOLANT LEAKS AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEAR THE HEAT SENSOR. I HAVE TO ADD COOLANT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. MY AUTO IS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU FOUR DOOR SEDAN,VIN #[XXX]. I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM FOR WHAT IT REALLY WAS UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED. HIGH GAS CONSUMPTION. ONLY 71,000 MILES. TOWN DRIVEN BY LADY. DEALER SAYS THIS COMMON PROBLEM WITH CAR. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE, AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. *JB

MY "99 MALIBU DEVELOPED ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS AND THE FANS WERE NOT WORKING. IT GOT TOO HOT AND TRASHED THE ENGINE. I DEALT WITH GM FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEY FINALLY TURNED ME DOWN FOR HELP BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION GASKET WAS LEAKING, SO THEY REPLACED THAT AND WHEN IT STILL LEAKED THEY SAID IT WAS THE SENSOR TO THE THERMOSTAT AND BY THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY SAID IT WAS SHOT. I HAVE KNOWN OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GM CARS. NOW, SINCE I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR A MONTH, I AM GOING TO GET A USED MOTOR PUT IN IT. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE.

THE TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER STATED SOME TYPE OF LUBRICANT WAS TO BE USED TO PREVENT OVER HEATING, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB......*AK

INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE - WARPED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE AND BOIL OVER. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH GENERAL MOTORS V-6 3100CC ENGINES. *NLM

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME HARD TO HANDLE AND GET OFF OF THE ROAD. ALSO, THE TIRE HAD SPLIT FROM THE RIM TO TREAD. (TIRE MODEL/TOURING) SCC

I HAD MY MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AND I KNOW THAT GMAC HAD A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED ON IT. I CONTACTED GMAC AND THEY ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE SO I TOOK IT BACK WHERE I GOT IT FIXED AT AND WAS ADVISED I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I CONTACTED GMAC AND THEY DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL DECEMBER 24, 2002 AND TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE ENGINE SINCE I DIDN'T GET MY CAR REPAIRED AT A GMAC DEALERSHIP. I TOLD THEM WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER THEY SAID I COULDN'T GET MY CAR IN UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND I COULDN'T WAIT THAT LONG BECAUSE I NEEDED MY VEHICLE SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP. HAD I BEEN TOLD WHEN I FIRST CALLED GMAC I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER CHEVROLET SHOP. I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT I CAN DO TO HAVE THIS MATTER RESOLVED.

I AM WRITING TO FIND OUT THE FREQUENCY OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CHEVROLET MALIBU I HAVE A 1999 YEAR AND HAD PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR $700(ANTIFREEZE WOULD LEAK INTO ENGINE) I WAS TOLD BY SOURCES THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL INCLUDING GM MECHANICS THEMSELVES AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED IN HOW TO PROCEED WITH GATHERING INFORMATION ON THIS AND WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT IT. *JB

HAD TO HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED. MECHANIC DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WENT BUT KNEW THATS WHAT I NEEDED. AFTER CONTACTING GM THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY IT JUST WENT OUT. *JB

THE FUEL LINE WAS CRACKED.*JB

THE HORN, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, BATTERY AND ENGINE FAILED. *AK *JB

I HAVE A 1999 CHEV MALIBU AND YES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS FAILING. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE. GM APPARENTLY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR USING SHOTTY PARTS AND THEY REFUSE TO STEP UP AND FIX IT. I AM FORMALLY COMPLAINING TO THE BBB GM ITSELF AND ANYONE ELSE I CAN THINK OF. GM CHEVY STANDS FOR JUNK

AT 32,000 MILES LOUD GRATING NOISE FROM RIGHT BRAKE AREA AFTER BRAKING HARD OR BRAKING INTO RIGHT TURN. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED I NEEDED NEW BRAKES. REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. 2ND DIAGNOSIS WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK IN POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS APPEARED TO HAVE FIXED PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. INFORMED DEALERSHIP BUT THE NOISE STOPPED DUE TO COLD WEATHER. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF NOISE RESUMED. IT DID WHEN WEATHER GOT WARMER AND BRAKE PADS WERE ADJUSTED (35,000 MILES). RIGHT AWAY I NOTICED THE BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. CAR SLOWED DOWN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT I HAD TO REALLY PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TO GET IT TO STOP. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER I HEARD KNOCKING AGAIN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED LIGHTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A CREEKING NOISE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND A SIGNIFICANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. KNOCKING NOISE GOT WORSE, BECAME A THUMPING NOISE. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. HAD TO MAKE APPOINTMENT. (THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE!). THE DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT NOISE GOT SO BAD I THOUGHT MY BRAKES WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIGHT ROTOR WAS WARPED (EXCESSIVE RUNOUT). TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ARMED WITH A PRINTOUT OF DIAGNOSIS FROM MECHANIC. ROTOR MACHINED AGAIN (36,000 MILES). I ASKED THE SERVICE REP WHAT COULD CAUSE THE ROTOR TO WARP AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW, IT COULD BE HOW I WAS DRIVING THE CAR! WHILE IT WAS IN THE SHOP I DID SOME

HAVE LESS 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR, MOSTLY USED TO DRIVE TO WORK ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES EACH AWAY. HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GETTING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO TURN ON AND WHEN USED ALOT. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH. ALSO JUST HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FAN CONTROL AS THE FAN DOES NOT WORK IN POSITION 1 OR 2. WILL CHECK IF RESISTOR FOR FAN CONTROL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR JUST WENT OUT OF MANUFACTOR WARRANTY AS OF JAN.

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACED BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR SEVERAL TIMES. THE PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. PH *TS

THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER THEN STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS DRUM.*JB PH

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CUPPED BADLY DUE TO TIRE MALFUNCTION. *JG

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER STATES THE HEAD GASKET CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT WOUL COME ON IMTERMITTENLY. IT WAS SAID TO BE A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM (SINCE NEW). THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP(DEALER) MANY TIMES. NOW THE BRAKES RELEASE AND COAST AT SLOW SPEED, AND ALMOST CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED ANOTHER. THERE ARE ALSO COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIRES (INCOMPLETE INFO). SCC *JB

I HAVE A 1999 CHEVORLET MALIBU WITH 73,000 MILES. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL PREVENTIVE MAINTAINCE ON THE CAR. ON 12/31/02, I NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF ENGINE COOLANT UNDER THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. I WAS ADVISED AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST I HAD A LEAK AT THE INTAKE GASKET. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS $596.00. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE LEARNED OF MANY OWNERS OF A GENERAL MOTERS (GM) VECHICLE HAVING SIMILIAR PROBLEMS. I FEEL IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND INVESTIGATE GM. GM ADMITS NO WRONG DOING THOUGH THERE IS SUFFICIENT PROOF TO SHOW A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I HAVE DONE MOST OF MY OWN PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS REPAIR. I AM FAMILIAR WITH AUTOMOBILE ENGINES ENOUGH TO KNOW IF AN ENGINE IS PROPERLY DESIGNED AND HAS THE CORRECT GASKETS, SEALANT, AND PROPER ASSEMBLY LEAKS SUCH AS THE ONE I DESCRIBED SHOULD BE RARE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ AND I HOPE YOUR DEPARTMENT WILL WORK TO HELP CONSUMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM.

CONSUEMR STATES AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE THERE IS A STRONG GAS SMELL. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING GAS FUMES COMES FROM THE VENT. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE.TS *JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALLED. TS

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SHAKES VERY HARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. TS

INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

POSITIVE SIDE TERMINAL ON DELCO BATTERY FAILED. SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED IN 4 YEARS/40,000 MILES. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER STATES' HIT A PATCH IN THE ROAD AND VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A METAL AND CONCRETED BARRIER. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER , WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER COULD HEAR NOISE FROM "LEFT FRONT" OF VEHICLE AND ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ENGAGED ITSELF. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO "COAST" AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD SET OF PADS AND SECOND SET OF ROTORS. *TS *TT *NLM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS UNKNOWN. *TS *NLM

FAILURE TO INSPECT SAFETY FEATURES MORE THAN ONCE. DT

CAR HAD A KNOCKING IN THE MOTOR. TOOK TO DEALER TO GET FIXED, THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE LAST 2 TRIES. THEY FIRST SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TAKING CAR OF MOTOR. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS OR 3 THOUSAND MILES. THEY FIRST REPLACED THE LIFTERS, 2ND TIME IT WENT IN THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND GEARS. NOW UP TO DATE THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WITH IT DO TO THE FACT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY PLACE TO SAY THAT THEY CAN PUT A NEW MOTOR IN. THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT A USED MOTOR IN THAT HAS 42000 MILES ON IT. TILL THIS DATE THEY WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY WILL ALSO NOT LET ME SEE THE MOTOR IT SELF SINCE THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND EVERY THING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR IS OUT OF THE CAR EXCEPT THE BLOCK. I PERSONALLY TAKE CARE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN THE JOB THAT I DO WHICH HAS A $ AMOUNT AROUND 350,000 DALLORS AND I DO OIL CHANGES, AND ANY MINNOR FIXING PROBLEMS. IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM TO A VEHICLE THAT I BOUGHT FROM THEM. IT MAY SOUND LIKE A PISTON OR A RODE THAT HAS GONE BAD. DT

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN LATE JUNE OF 2002. HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT EX CEPT THE TURN SIGNALS (ALL OF THEM) AND THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THEY WILL WORK FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN STOP WORKING WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES THE TURN SIGNALS WILL START OPERATING IN A FEW MOMENTS OR IT COULD BE DAYS. AS FOR THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THE ONE TIME I HAD AN OCCASION TO USE THEM, THEY FLASHED ONCE. AFTER THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS DID NOT WORK FOR DAYS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN FOR A OIL CHANGE. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF IT ON THE WORK ORDER AND THE SERVICE TECH SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. DT

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CONTACTED THE DEALER SAID FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE BAD. TS

THE LEFT REAR BRAKE MAKES NOISE AND THE BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. ALSO, WARPED ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND TURNED AS WELL. *YH

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING INHIBITING THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH ENTIRE CONSOLE GOING BLANK AND GAUGES DROPPING TO ZERO. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE HAS CORROSION ON THE MOTOR DUE TO A WATER LEAK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *MR