1989 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Chevrolet Malibu, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes133.3%
- Engine133.3%
- Suspension133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOORBOARD BRAKE FADE AWAY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE GM RECALL ANTIFREEZE DXCOOL THE ANTI FREEZE THAT'S ON RECALL. THAT I HAVE INTAKE GASKETS SEEPING FROM THE RADIATOR. IT HAS THE DXCOOL. ITS NOT THE NORMAL ANTIFREEZE. ITS GOING TO COST 800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY PARENTS CAR HAS SAME ANTIFREEZE. BECAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE I HAD TO GET MORE OF THAT STUFF. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY LETTER. IT HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR AWHILE. THIS PROBLEM DRAINS FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON MOSTLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE MAKING A TURN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .