Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 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.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.
TAKARA RECALL ..FRONT AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A CAR STRUCK ME FROM BEHIND GOING HIGHWAY SPEED , IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO GET STUCK IN MY TRUNK PUSHED ME DOWN THE HIGHWAY SIDEWAYS AND STUFFED THE NOSE OF MY CAR INTO THE GUARDRAIL BREAKING THE GUARDRAIL , QUICK THINKING SAVED OUR LIVES ( MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT )I SAW THE CAR COMING FULL HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOSED MY CAR INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID GETTING STUFFED UNDER THE TRUCK INFRONT OF ME. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS, I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION, TORN ROTATOR CUFF, FRACTURES IN MY RIGHT ARM AND RIGHT KNEE, CHRONIC HEADACHES, AND PARANOIA OF DRIVING.. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE BACKSEAT BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BROKE FROM IMPACT WITH THE SPARE TIRE.
WHILE DRIVING MY AIRBAGS BLEW UP AND I CRASHED RESULTING IN MY BACK AND BOTH LEGS BEING BROKEN
I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR AND I LEFT IT RUNNING AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL
CAR CUT OFF WENT OFF ROAD. *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, WHICH WASNT MY FAULT. THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO FALL ONTO MY LAP.THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLORE, I SUFFERED A FRACTURED PELVIS WHICH DID NOT HEAL CORRECTLY. IM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS FROM THIS . THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/1/2015 *JS
I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO PUT SOME AIR IN THE TIRES, AND WHEN I GOT OUT AND CLOSED THE DOOR, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT SITTING IN THE CAR WHEN THEY JUST ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURY TO THE FACE AND THE LEFT FOOT AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH AND TRAFFIC STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW RESULTING IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TURNING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIRE STRUCK THE CURVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND THE STREETS WERE DRY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY 1999 CHEVY MAILBU HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS. I WILL START WITH THE 2 FUEL INJECTERS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. THE CAR BEGIN TO RUN ROUGH THEN WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING. THEN THERE WAS THE ALTANATOR, THE THERMOSTAT, THE HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS AND THE NUMUROUS ELECTICAL PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STILL CANNOT BE SOLVED AFTER NUMROUS TRIPSTO THE REPAIR SHOP. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. AS A CONSUMER I HOPE YOU WILL HELP US MALIBU OWNERS WHO ARE IN DESTRESS. I KNOW THE AUTO COMPANIES ARE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT EXCUSE MAKING AN UNSAFE AUTO. I AM AFRAID ENOUGH NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR. I FEEL I PUT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF IN DANGER TAKING THSI CAR ON THE ROAD. I HOPE YOU WILL HELP CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL MY ONLY NEXT OPTION IS TO CONTACT A LAWYER OVER MY LEGAL RIGHTS.
I WAS DRIVING IN SLOW MORNING TRAFFIC, MORE OR LESS 20 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO CRASH. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THANKS THAT I WAS DRIVING SLOW. MR. DAN BAILEY, SERVICE MANAGER AT HOLLER CHEVROLET - 407-645-1234, AFTER CHECKING THE CAR OUT, SAID THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME HE SAW AIRBAGS EXPLODING WITHOUT ACCIDENT ON A CHEVROLET. *NM
SMALL BUMP ACCIDENT AIR BAGS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE FOR MODERATE TO HEAVY FRONTAL ACCIDENTS. YET THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON MY VEHICLE WHEN MY DAUGHTER HAD A ACCIDENT WHERE SHE BARLEY BUMPED THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE EXCEPT THE AIR BAGS. IN FACT, SHE WAS INJURED MORE BY THE BAGS (SHE WAS DAZED AND HAD A HEAD ACHE) THEN THE BUMP. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. IF AIR BAGS ARE FOR MODERATE AND WORSE ACCIDENTS WHY ARE THEY DEPLOYING ON A SLIGHT IMPACT ACCIDENT? *NM
DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING A WRECK. GOT HIT FROM THE FRONT, AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE BACK. THE HOOD AND FENDER BENT. SPEED MAY HAVE BEEN 55- 60 MPH. *AK *SB *NM
CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE HIT SOMETHING WITH THE REAR BUMPER AT A LOW IMPACT OF 5 MPH OR LESS, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
THE AIRBAGS ON MY 1999 CHEVY MALIBU DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN A PRETTY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AND THE ACCIDENT SCENE. I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT BY SOMEONE RUNNING A STOP SIGN. *JB
MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN A 50 MPH HEAD ON CRASH. ONE CAR ACCIDENT AGAINST A MEDIUM WHICH LED TO PAIN IN MY NECK, CHEST, AND LOWER BACK. I WAS GOING HOME IN LEFT LANE AND TWO SPEEDING CARS PAST ME AND CUT ME OFF, DIDN'T STOP AND I HIT A METAL RAIL. I'M VERY UPSET BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE CAR IS A 99 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH WE PURCHASED FROM CARMAX AND THEY SAID THEY SOLD US A CAR WITH NO DEFECTS. WHERE DO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS? THE CAR IS REPARABLE BUT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE SAME CONDITION WHEN I GET IT BACK. I'M VERY HAPPY I DIDN'T HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THAT CAR THEN. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER STATES' HIT A PATCH IN THE ROAD AND VEHICLE HYDROPLANED INTO A METAL AND CONCRETED BARRIER. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS
CONSUMER SUFFERED AN EYE INJURY FROM A LATER DEPLOYING AIRBAG, WHILE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.(ATTORNEY KEVIN O'DELL ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HAD COOLANT/OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER/ INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER REPLACED ALL 5 GASKETS, OIL AND COOLANT. ONLY HAVE 31,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALSO HAD RESISTOR FOR FAN CONTROL CHANGED. BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE IN POSITION 1 OR 2. ONE MONTH AGO IN JANUARY, HAD TRANSMISSION COOLING LEAK. DEALER SAID IT WAS "TRANSMISSION INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR" LEAKING WHEN I TOLD THEM IT WAS COOLING LINE. INVOICE SHOWS CHANGED HARNESS, WHICH I COULDNT TELL IT WAS NEW BECAUSE IT WAS DIRTY, AND CHANGED GASKET IN COOLING LINE. AT SAME TIME HAD A/C BLOWER CONTROL UNIT REPLACED. IVE HAD PROBELMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. TIRES WERE "CUPPED" AFTER FIRST ROTATION. DEARLER REPLACED 2 FRONT TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TIRES/WHEELS AFTER EACH ROTATION WHEN REAR WHEELS ARE PUT UP FRONT. SAID PROBLEM MIGHT BE ALIGNMENT, WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO HAVE HAD HORN REPAIRED DUE TO INOP. DEALER FOUND WIRING HARNESS WASN'T CONNECTED. HAD CONTROL SWITCH CHANGED ON POWER DRIVERS SEAT. DRIVERS SEAT MOVES BACK/FORTH SLIGHTLY WHEN BRAKING/ACCELERATING. PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED DUE TO "SQUEAKING" WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HAD BATTERY REPLACED DUE TO ACID LEAK EATING OFF POSITIVE TERMINAL. HAD TO LEAVE CAR OVERNIGHT AT WORK BRAKES ARE DUE REPLACEMENT DUE TO "BRAKE FADE". CAR IS TOTAL DISAPOINTMENT. WOULD TRADE IT IN, BUT I OWE MORE THAN VEHICLE IS WORTH.
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.
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