1997 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior lighting 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

THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT RELIABLE THEY MIGHT WORK ONE TIME AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WONT WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A WEIRD SOUND WHEN BEING TURNED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10180895

Incident

Nov 16, 2006

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY REPORT OF THE FAILURE OF THE FLASHING OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (OID#10121781). I REPLACED THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IN THE DASH ON JUNE 4, 2005, AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000). AS SUGGESTED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MODELS, SINCE IT IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ID

10124241

Incident

May 16, 2005

THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD SIGNALS SUDDENLY STOPPED FLASHING. INTERMITTENTLY, THEY FLASH RAPIDLY WHEN ACTIVATED, BUT THEY TYPICALLY JUST STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED TO A RECALL ON THE 2000 AND 2001 MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000): "EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH". I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1997 MALIBU MODELS.

NHTSA ID

10121781

Incident

May 16, 2005

Mileage

55,900 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

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

MY FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE MALIBU. MY LIGHT DEVELOPED CONDENSATION IN THEM WHICH IN THE REAR CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GLOW DIM, AND CAUSED E TO GET PULLED OVER ON A NUMBER OF TIMES. IN THE FRONT IT HAS CAUSED THE GLASS SHIELD TO FOG CAUSING ME TO FAIL VEHICLE INSPECTION. THERE HAVE ARE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON MY CAR SUCH AS THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM, THE POWER MOON ROOF, THE MANUFACTURER'S CD PLAYER, THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THEN IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH EMISSIONS. THE HEADLINER IS FALLING OFF THE CEILING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073144

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED FAILURES WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM OFTEN LOCKS UP THE IGNITION, THE HEADLAMP AND TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN THEM, CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN MOTOR SHUTS OFF, AND THE DRIVERS SEAT IS LOOSE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060437

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

POOR MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018487

Incident

Mar 10, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10002181

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

MOISTURE BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBY OF BOTH SIDES. ALSO, DURING RAIN OR CAR WASH, WATER POURS INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. UNKNOWN ORIGIN POINT OF THE WATER.

NHTSA ID

731890

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

719733

HEADLIGHTS GET WATER CAUGHT IN THEM AND FOG UP, MAKING VISIBILITY POOR FOR THE DRIVER AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LENSES, AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

854913

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

BRAKE PADS FAILED WITH OUT AUDIBLE WARNING DAMAGING ROTORS. BULB BASES IN REAR LIGHT BOTH MELTED FOR 2ND TIME. PWR WINDOW FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NOISE IN SUSPENSION, DEALER COULDN'T FIND IT.BRAKES ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. MODEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED.

NHTSA ID

718360

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

HEADLIGHTS ARE STEAMING UP DUE TO WATER ENTERING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LEAVE HIGHBEAMS ON FOR 1 HOUR TO DRY OUT THE WATER. *AK

NHTSA ID

849559

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAILURE AT IDLE , SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS

NHTSA ID

548940

Incident

Apr 2, 1998

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DOES NOT TURN OFF ONCE A TURN IS COMPLETED. NLM

NHTSA ID

547545

HEADLIGHT LENS' HAVE CONSTANT MOISTURE IN BOTH LENS, THEY FREEZE AT NIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE BULBS WILL MELT THE ICE, BUT LIGHTING IS DISTORTED. I'VE REPORTED THIS 4 TIMES TO DEALER. THE 1ST TIME, THEY REPLACED ONE LENS AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS, THEIR COMMENTS WERE "CHEVROLET WON'T AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT ANY MORE REPLACEMENTS" SO THEY TAKE OFF THE LENS AND WIPING THEM DRY. THAT LASTS UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN FREEZING RAIN AND FOG. THEY NEVER SEEM TO DRY OUT.

NHTSA ID

703919

AFTER WASHING MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS WERE CONDENSATED COVERING 75% OF BOTH LENSES. VECHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHEN I PICKED UP THE VECHILE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND I WAS TO DRIVE THE VECHILE FOR 2 TO 6 HRS WITH THE LIGHTS ON TO CORRECT IT. I PRIMARILY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR VACATIONS AND I ALWAYS HAVE THE CAR WASHED WHEN I REACH MY DESTINATION. AFTER DRIVING MANY HOURS, IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO DRIVE FOR EVEN ONE MORE HOUR. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS NOT TO OPERATE AT 100% CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS 1-800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. I FEEL THAT THE EXPLANATION IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BOTH G M AND THE DEALER REFERED TO THEIR BULLETIN NUMBER 638206A. II WAS ALSO GIVEN A NUMBER FROM G M (990079295).

NHTSA ID

703230

Incident

Jan 29, 1999

WATER GOES INTO THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

834639

MOISTURE OR WATER FORMS IN THE HEADLIGHT CASING AND IN THE BULB AREA, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME DIM OR FOGGY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER SEALED THE CASING WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN IT IS TO MAKE REPLACEMENT.*AK.ET.

NHTSA ID

834332

Incident

Mar 12, 1998

TAIL LIGHT FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607464

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ID

543607

Incident

Dec 4, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK (NOT ALWAYS, NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE THEM. SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED SWITCH, NOW IT IS WORSE. NEVER HAPPENS TO SERVICE WHEN THEY HAVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

701124

Incident

Oct 13, 1998