1997 Chevrolet Malibu Brakes Problems

I WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPLACEMENT,DISCOUNT OR FREE SERVICE ON MY 1997 MALIBU. I'VE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2004 AND HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR IN 2005 WHICH IS NEEDED NOW .THIS CAR HAS PUT ME DOWN A LOT NOT ONLY PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR BUT THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO REPLACE THAT AS WELL AS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS THAT LAST ABOUT 2 OR 3 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY THEY ONLY WORK ON HIGH BEAM. I CAN'T FIND A MORE REASONABLE MECHANIC THAT'S WILLING TO REPAIR THE MOTOR THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE DUE TO THE TYPE WHICH IS A 2.4 AND A USED MOTOR COST ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF A NEW ONE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10227398

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

74,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE BYWAY AND TOOK THE INTERSTATE MERGE LANE WHILE INCREASING MY SPEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I FELT A SNAP IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL, I THEN LOST THE DASH AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY OVERHEATED, I HAD NO REAL POWER TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS A LOOSE PUSH. BEING THAT I HAD MERGED ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS OCCURRED I HAD TO DRIVE AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT. NOT EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE. WHEN I GOT TO THE NEXT EXIT I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL ENOUGH TO GET IT INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT, IT WAS HARDER TO TURN THAN MY FIRST TRUCK A 1959 FORD TWIN I BEAM PICKUP. I FORTUNATELY DIDN'T HIT ANY ONE OR ANYTHING. UPON RAISING MY HOOD AFTER PARKING THE CAR I AM APPALLED TO SEE THAT THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS ARE GONE AND MY SERPENTINE BELT IS SHREDDED. I HAVE REPLACED THE PARTS BUT SINCE THEN I ALSO FOUND THAT WITHIN 5 MILES THE "DREADED" GASKETS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND MINE WE ALREADY EATING FLUIDS IN SIPPS BEFORE THIS, WERE GONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BROKEN PULLEYS SERPENTINE BELT ALTERNATOR WATERPUMP AND GASKETS NOT A MONTH LATER THE OTHER IDLER PULLEY THAT WAS UNAFFECTED IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WENT. WHEN THE FIRST TWO WERE REPLACED THAT DREADED SQUEAKING STOPPED FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. SOMETHING MUST NOT BE STRAIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE MOVING PARTS THAT RUN ON THE SERPENTINE BELT AND EVERYTIME ONE OF THEM GOES YOU LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING AND THE CAR IS HARD TO TURN. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE FOR A GOLD FISH THAN A LIGHT BULB. EVERYTIME IT RAINS, OR SNOWS I HAVE TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS. THIS CAR IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I HAVE THE FIRST IDLER PULLEY PART STILL THE REST OF THEM WERE LOST TO THE HIGHWAY THE THING IS MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223326

Incident

Feb 4, 2007

Mileage

187,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED MY MALIBU SINCE IT WAS NEW IN 1997. IN ITS LIFETIME IT HAS HAD 4 OR 5 SETS OF ROTORS AND AT LEAST 7 SETS OF BRAKE PADS. IT IS NOW READY FOR A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKES. THE LAST TIME THESE WERE REPLACED ON THE CAR WAS 2 YEARS AGO. GM KNEW ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. THE 1997 AND 1998 MODELS HAVE HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS GOTTEN KILLED FROM THE PROBLEM. DO I HAVE TO DIE IN A WRECK BEFORE SOMEONE LISTENS?? 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD IT FIXED I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME, BUT NO, THE BRAKES AND ROTORS STILL DON'T FIT MY CAR RIGHT OR THEY WOULDN'T WEAR LIKE THEY DO. GM NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON MY CAR. THEY SEEM TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE 2000 MODELS JUST FINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205348

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

Mileage

10,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND MY SISTER HAS A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WE BOTH EXPERIENCE THE SAME INSTANCES WITH OUR VEHICHLES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON FREQUENTLY, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ONE FREQUENTLY. IT HAPPENS TO MY CAR, THE 97 CHEVROLET MALIBU EVERY OTHER TIME I TURN ON MY CAR. I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF, AND THEN RESTART IT AND THEN THE LIGHTS GO OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT WORK. MY SISTER GOT HER 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE LOOKED AT AND FIXED AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A SENSOR. I FIND IT ODD THAT WE BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IS THERE A RECALL ON ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE OR SENSOR? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108185

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

SUDDENLY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FOUR COLLISIONS. . IN THE MOST RECENT COLLISION CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR END OF A TRUCK AT 30 MPH. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED AND CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106676

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

EXTERIOR BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT. HAVE REPLACED BULBS AT MY OWN EXPENSE FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. TODAY I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND ISSUES A WARNING BECAUSE IT HAS BLOWN OUT YET AGAIN. LOST OF CONDENSATION IS GETTIN INSIDE THE LAMP ITSELF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096510

Incident

Oct 27, 2004

THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BLOWS EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR THERE IS WATER IN THE LIGHT - I HAVE CHECKED THE LENS FOR CRACKS AND/OR DAMAGES THERE ARE NONE - I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT 12 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096428

Incident

Jun 2, 2004

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS OKAY. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10083634

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

Mileage

72,489 mi

I BOUGHT A 1997-MALIBU LS BRAND NEW. BEFORE IT TURNED 14,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE WORK DONE ON BRAKES. BEFORE EVEN TURNING 30,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB, (2ND SET) TIRES, WATER PUMP, WHEEL CYLINDERS, MY HEAD LIGHTS POP ON, AND I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 33,000 MILES.THE DEALER WERE I BOUGHT THE CAR SAID UNLESS THEY SEE THE LIGHTS POP ON.THEY COULD DO NOTHING. GM SENT OUT A RECALL. WHICH I DID TAKE MY CAR INTO DEALER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM A FEW TIMES.I MOVED BACK TO INDIANA AND TOOK IT TO COYLE CHEVROLET IN NEW ALBANY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.BOTH DEALERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS A CONSUMER..I AM MAD AS HELL-AND FEEL I WAS RIPPED OFF, AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND TO NO ONE TO EVER BUY A MALIBU. I HAD ONE IN 1969. AND, IT WAS THE BEST CAR. WHEN YOU PAY AROUND $25,000.00 FOR A NEW CAR-YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ALL THE BRAKE TROUBLE. I TO THIS DAY DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE BRAKES. I AM A SINGLE WOMEN AND THOUGHT BY BUYING A NEW CAR I WOULD FEEL SAFER. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD TO GET RID OF THIS CAR I PLAN TOO. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ON OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS. BATTERY-2 BRAKE JOBS-ABS BRAKES-WHEEL CYLINDERS-ROARIES-WATER PUMP. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080895

Incident

Sep 15, 1997

Mileage

14,000 mi

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VEHICLE HAD ITS GAS TANK CAP REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081649

Incident

Oct 4, 2002

Mileage

125,358 mi

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068542

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES PEDAL IT TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, RESULTING INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A POLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057895

BOUGHT CAR NEW 4-14-1997----PROBLEM CAR 32750 MI NOW CHEVROLET RAN AWAY FROM THIS CAR AND SO DID DEALERS---KEPT CUSTOMER IN THE DARK----WAITING FOR 3 YRS OR 36000MI SUSPENSION NOISE ON GOING---RATTLE---CREAKING---GLUNKING WATER PUMP LEAK AT 23000 MILES--FIX EST.$835.00--29295 MI SUSPENSION NOISY YET 32655 MI ON CAR. RELACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER $532.42---32600 MI REPLACE 4 TIRES $314.00---32525 MI TOOK 3 YEARS TO GET BRAKES UP TP PAR. SUSPENSION STILL A PROBLEM.OVER ALL THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. BATTERY---WINDSHIELD---POORLY BUILT AUTO. THAT'S WHY I HAVE LOW MILES DON'T USE IT MUCH.

NHTSA ID

10069826

Incident

Jul 15, 1998

Mileage

3,000 mi

BRAKES GONE (AGAIN). BEEN REPLACING ABOUT EVERY 10000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE THING WRONG AFTER ANOTHER. ALREADY REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARMS AT 7500 MILES, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE GASKET, A/C CONTROL HEAD (TWICE), AND THE BRAKES ARE ONGOING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050934

Incident

Nov 20, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD USEAGE WITH THIS CAR. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 88,000 MILES. I AM VERY VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT PLAN ON PURCHASING ANOTHER GM AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050673

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

Mileage

88,000 mi

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I LOSE BRAKE. CHRONIC PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE ARE ABS SENSOR, BELT TENSIONER BREAKS AWAY, COOLING SYSTEM HEAT CONTROLS, WIRING TO THE REAR LIGHTS. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT THIS YEAR MODEL HAS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BREAK SENSOR GOES OUT AND BRAKES ARE LOST. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE TO FORCE CHEVROLET TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS? IT IS NOT JUST ONE CAR BUT ALL OF 1997 MALIBU THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10038970

Incident

Aug 9, 2002

Mileage

361,620 mi

GRINDING SOUND WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT-HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR-THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN I TOOK IT BACK A WEEK LATER- I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THE TIME THAT I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR WITHOUT A CHARGE!*AK

NHTSA ID

10023851

Incident

Sep 20, 2002

COOLANT LEAKING, ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. BRAKES AND ROTORS FAIL CONSISTENTLY WITHIN 15000 MILES OF REPLACEMENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017116

Incident

May 6, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi

THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN FIXED A FEW TIMES AND NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. NOW, THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE MALIBU IS A LEMON OF A CAR.

NHTSA ID

10003425

Incident

Jan 26, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DISC BRAKE WEARS FASTER THAN OTHERS AND RUIN THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10002357

EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR, AND NOISE. ABS LIGHT ON AND OFF. MECHANIC QUESTIONED WIRING PROBLEM COMING FROM WHEEL BEARING TO ABS LIGHT WHICH COULD NOT BE FOUND. WHEN ABS LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE HAS NO ANTILOCK BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

10000090

Incident

Dec 3, 2002

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT. THE ABS LIGHT AND SQUEAKING BRAKES WERE A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE 2 TIMES A YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IN OCTOBER, 2000 THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR SAID THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED. I DO NOT DO MY OWN REPAIRS AND THE SHOPS DENY THEY CONTAMINATED THE BRAKE SYS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A LEAK INTO THE ABS SYSTEM FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE ENGINE? AFTER MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN 2000 I DID NOT HAVE THE ABS FAILURE UNTIL MIDAS DID AN OIL CHANGE IN JAN 2001. MR

NHTSA ID

768342

Incident

Oct 26, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015652

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH I HAD TO STOP FOR A CAR, THE BRAKES FAILED,( BRAKE CLEAR TO THE FLOOR) I HAD TO DRIVE INTO THE BAR PIT TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A GM AUTHORIIZED SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIXED BECAUSE OF HOW SLOW IT STOPS. BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, CALIPERS REPLACED, EVERYTHING WAS DONE TO THE BRAKES THAT THEY COULD. THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE BRAKES ON THE WHEEL WERE IN WORKING ORDER. I THINK THE ABS SYSTEM IS GOING OUT.!*AK

NHTSA ID

763351

Incident

Jun 23, 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