Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Sep 29, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 443 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBody & structureSuspension
Filed Sep 29, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
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
Body & structureSteering
Filed Sep 4, 2014
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING), RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR AND WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, EXTREME FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER INDICATED THAT SOMEONE DAMAGED THE SUBFRAME AND BOLTS ALONG WITH THE QUARTER PANELS BEING RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS, SUBFRAME AND THE QUARTER PANELS WHICH WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER PROVIDED AN INTERIM FIX OF WELDING THE BRACKETS TO THE FRAME AND WITHIN WEEKS THE COMPONENTS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE STEERING RACK DUE TO THE FRACTURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,160. DYD
NHTSA ID
10630718
Incident
May 29, 2014
Mileage
158,160 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 19, 2004
1 injury reported
NORMAL DRVING CONDITIONS. HE ENTIRE VISOR AND ITS HINGES ON DRIVER'S SIDE SPONTANIOUSLY FALLS OFF. THE END OF HINGE HAS SHARP PLASTIC SPIKES WHICH INJURED THE DRIVER. *AK
NHTSA ID
10096069
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Body & structureElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed May 2, 2002
CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD START TO FLICKER ON/OFF, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED FUSE, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, DOME LAMP WIRING, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, POWER STEERING HOSE, FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNT, HEATER, LEFT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH, RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT, LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE COVER, AND LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK SWITCH.*YD
NHTSA ID
8009045
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Body & structureSeat beltsSuspension+1 more
Filed Feb 11, 2002
SEAT BELT NOT WORKING, ALL FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING ALL AROUND THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED AND HOOD CABLE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA ID
9005502
Body & structureSteering
Filed Mar 28, 2000
I WENT TO THE DEALERSHOP FOR COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING IN "TIRES" AND T2222HE UNDERCARRIAGE FELT LOSE OVER SMALL BUMPS. I GOT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR $1,200 AND DECLINED THE OTHER REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. WITH THE CAR ONLY BEING 3 YEARS OLD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS! I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE. WITH THE NEW STEERING ASSEMBLY, THE UNDERCARRIAGE STILL FEELS LOOSE. I CAN FEEL IT UNDER MY FEET. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE 1 AND 2 BLOWERS DON'T WORK! THEY WORKED FINE WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR IN! WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOP, THEY DIDN'T WORK. I WILL CONTINUE TO GET THESE PROBLEMS SOLVED.2 *AK
NHTSA ID
720714
Incident
Mar 23, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999
GLOVE COMPARTMENT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND WOULD NOT LOCK SINCE NEW. YH
NHTSA ID
609095
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Body & structureBrakesFuel system+3 more
Filed Jan 25, 1999
TURN SIGNAL CONTROL FAILED.
NHTSA ID
543607
Incident
Dec 4, 1997
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Oct 27, 1998
ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURES CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOW TO FAIL.
NHTSA ID
542309
Incident
Aug 31, 1998
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 13, 1998
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH FENDER SKIRTS FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCESWIRING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT. *AK
NHTSA ID
825295
Body & structureBrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 3, 1998
BRAKES CONTINUALLY PULLING AND RUBBING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ID
531614
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Dec 9, 1997
DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S HOOD/WINDSHIELD AREA IS VERY WIDE CAUSING SNOW, LEAVES AND DEBRIS TO ENTER ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ID
525896
Body & structure
Filed Sep 26, 1997
VEHICLE MAKES ALOT OF NOISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AND HITTING BUMPS. *AK
NHTSA ID
521361
Incident
Jun 12, 1997
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own