1997 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND REALIZED I WAS GOING THE WRONG WAY. I TURNED LEFT TO MAKE A U-TURN AND DROVE ONTO THE EASEMENT (DIRT). WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT ALL THE WAY, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS BURNED BY THE CHEMICALS OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK AND CHEST, LEFT EAR AND INSIDE LEFT WRIST. I WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHILE MAKING THIS TURN. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG KNOCKED MY WINDOW CAMERA OFF AND BROKE IT AND SENT PART OF A HANDHELD FAN CLIPPED TO THE PASSENGERS VISOR, INTO MY HEAD AND ENDED UP IN THE BACKSEAT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AS IT WAS JUST DIRT.

NHTSA ID

11289715

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

83,501 mi

SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL, HEAD ON. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP. POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULDN'T BELIEVE THE BAGS AND SEAT BELT FAILED. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND RECEIVE A CONCUSSION, A V SHAPE CUT IN SCALP REQUIRING 17 STITCHES TO CLOSE AND SEVERE BRUISING ALL OVER. POLICE THINKS HER HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL OR POSSIBLY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. SLACK IN SEAT BELT ALLOWED TOO MUCH BODY MOVEMENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILURE CAUSE THE HEAD TRAUMA. ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR IS DESTROYED SO SENSORS SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10691665

Incident

Feb 27, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO FLIP AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10639799

Incident

Mar 31, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

SITTING AT A RED LIGHT IN A COMPLETE STOPPED POSITION THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD WITH THE BRAKE STILL BEING DEPRESSED AND COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR AS I QUICKLY TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE STRUCK ME. TROOPERS AND OTHER PERSONAL CHECKED MY BRAKES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ANY BRAKES. NO BRAKE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THIS. I WAS SEVERELY STRUCK BY THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH COMPLETELY TURNED THE DIRECTION OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSED TOTAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD, THE OTHER DRIVE WAS CITED FOR HIS HIGH-SPEED HIT TO MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND IS A GREAT CONCERN OF MINE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS WELL AS THE BRAKE FAILURE. I RECEIVED NOTICE IN DECEMBER 2007 FROM GM THAT THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OF A PENDING DISTRICT COURT CASE (DELMAS FORD, EL AL. V. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, CASE NO. CJ-2002-424) WHICH MEANT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE SEAN BY A AUTHORIZED CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE THE 1997 CHEVY MALIBU'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPROGRAMMED. THIS REFERRED TO TSB #07-09-41-006 DATED AUGUST 2007. I HAD THE VEHICLE SEEN AS SOON AS THERE WAS AN OPEN APPOINTMENT ON JANUARY 7, 2008 AT RANDY MARION CHEVROLET PONTIAC BUICK. SO, UPON THIS ACCIDENT TODAY, I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE AFTER ALREADY HAVE THEM REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AS WELL AS FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I AM ALSO CONTACTING AN ATTORNEY IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER. I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE OTHER ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THIS ISSUE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING AT ODD TIMES. AFTER A NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT OF THIS CASE AND HAVING THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS CHECKED AND FIXED AS INDICATED, I AM A FEARFUL AND CONCERNED CONSUMER OF THIS INCIDENT AS I HAVE TOTAL VEHICLE LOSS AND SUFFICIENT DAMAGES. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEFINITELY WORK.......THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL AS WELL AS THE BRAKES LETTING GO MID STOPLIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225297

Incident

Apr 21, 2008

Mileage

167,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR WARNING PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10160139

Incident

Jun 9, 2006

Mileage

112,000 mi

DT: ON 07/19/2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH CAUSED IT TO NOSE DIVE INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH BENT THE VEHICLE'S DOORS AND BUSTED HE WINDSHIELD. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10131099

Incident

Jul 19, 2005

Mileage

62,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSORS, AND AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CHARGING $425.00 TO REPAIR THE AIR BAGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064647

Mileage

17,026 mi

WHILE DRIVING 20 CONSUMER CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057896

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER HIT A POT HOLE AND THEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE IMPACTED A DITCH AND THEN THE VEHICLE BOUNCED ONTO A FIELD. NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. CONSUMER FRACTURED HER BACK. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ID

10033728

Incident

Jun 18, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

769222

Incident

Jun 26, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING ON A SIDE ROAD WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ID

8020412

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINEDE MAJOR BODY INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013828

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT TO DEPLOY AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR BODY INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8013826

Incident

Jun 16, 2002

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE FRONT DISC BRAKES AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND THE ROTORS TWICE IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAS NOT BEEN FUNCTIONAL SINCE 1 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO WEAR SO FAST. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER OWNERS AND MOST OF THEM HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AS I DO.*AK

NHTSA ID

762337

AIRBAG DERM MODULE FAILED, DISABLING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DEALER AND CHEVROLET DETERMINED FAILURE WAS DUE TO WATER IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SHORTING OUT MODULE. DEALER DETERMINED, AND CHEVROLET ADMITTED, THAT WATER CAME IN THROUGH HOLES IN CHASSIS OPENED UP DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF PATCHES AT TIME OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE. DESPITE THIS, CHEVROLET REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIR, DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. FUEL LINE BREAK OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SPRAYING FUEL OVER CAR EXHAUST SYSTEM AND TRAILING CARS. PASSING MOTORIST MOTIONED ME TO SIDE OF ROAD, HELPING TO PREVENT FIRE/EXPLOSION. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, CHEVROLET NEVER NOTIFIED NHTSA OR INVESTIGATED PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

753350

Incident

Jun 8, 1997

DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME WHIPLASH THAT HURT REAL BADLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

875717

Incident

Nov 5, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

726880

PREMATURE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SLIGHT IMPACT TO FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

721510

Incident

Apr 14, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

721125

Incident

Apr 4, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

855741

Incident

Jan 4, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

844556

Incident

Aug 2, 1999

INADVERTENT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ID

541535

Incident

Jul 18, 1998

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELTS UNBUCKLED WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. ALSO THEIR WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSEGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

819575

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT 5MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID THE INNER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

818466

CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO. AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT WAS ISSUED IN JULY. *AK

NHTSA ID

818095

Incident

Oct 31, 1997