Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts 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.
15
Latest Mar 2, 2015
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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. 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. 15 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 seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 2, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
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
ElectricalExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Mar 4, 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
Seat belts
Filed Jul 22, 2003
THE PLASTIC LOCKING LATCHPLATE ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSANGER SEAT HAVE BROKEN. THE DEALER FIXED THE FIRST PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WILL COST OVER $100 TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH.
NHTSA ID
10028841
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Jul 21, 2003
THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE IN USE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10029731
Mileage
90,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 6, 2003
Crash reported
LETTER FROM PHYLLIS GIFFORD (FL) OWNER OF A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHO WASA INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN. CONTACTED GMC TO REPAIR/REPLACE BROKEN SEAT BELT. REPLY TO ORLANDO FL. DISTRICT OFC ATTEN: JON MILLER STAFF ASSISTANT. *AK *NLM. *AK
NHTSA ID
10017824
Incident
Apr 25, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Apr 2, 2003
THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE TOO SHORT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10015065
Incident
Apr 2, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Dec 3, 2002
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM
NHTSA ID
8023651
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Mileage
84,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 3, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA ID
769222
Incident
Jun 26, 2001
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
Seat belts
Filed Jun 20, 2001
ALL SEAT SHOULDER BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF US$100. PLUS LABOR DUE TO THE PLASTIC BREAKING OFF AND THE INTERNAL SPRING SCRATCHING MY HAND. THIS ALSO PREVENTS THE SEAT BELT FROM RETAINING A SMALL CHILD SAFETY CHAIR.*AK
NHTSA ID
747107
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed May 10, 2001
BOTH REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF US$202.49 DUE TO THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE LATCHPLATE CRACKING AND FALLING OFF. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BELTS WERE PRIMARILY USED TO SECURE CHILD SEATS. I DON'T FEEL THE BELTS ARE OF QUALITY TO SUPPORT CHILD SEATS. I'M ALSO AFRAID THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY TO MAKE THEIR RESTRAINTS SAFE AGAIN. THE DEALER TOLD ME WE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE BELTS DUE TO THERE NOT BEING A RECALL ON THEM. I ALSO FEEL CHEVROLET SHOULD ABSORB THIS COST. *AK
NHTSA ID
745162
Incident
Apr 20, 2001
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Mar 6, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
719733
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Sep 29, 1999
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ON THIS CAR. EVERYTHING FROM THE CARPET TO THE RADIO TO WARPED ROTORS. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO "GET OUT OF" OUR LEASE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. IT'S BECOME QUITE A NUISANCE TO HAVE AND WE ARE DISSAPPOINTED AND EVEN ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT THESE MANY PROBLEMS HAVE GONE UNINVESTIGATED BY THE DEALER THAT WE TAKE IT TO FOR REPAIRS. FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE CAR CAUSING ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR STARTING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED FOR REPAIRS ON AVERAGE, ONCE EVERY SIX WEEKS.
NHTSA ID
712439
Incident
Jul 20, 1999
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 1, 1997
Crash reported
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
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