Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. 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. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON I-45 AT 6:45AM. ONCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA RIGHT BEFORE THE WEST BOUND EXIT TO I-94 A LARGE OBJECT FELL FROM THE BRIDGE AND BUST MY PASSENGER WINDOW. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER NOT A DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY PROBLEM IT HAD WHEN WE BOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK. NOW ALMOST A YEAR LATER I HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE WORST IS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH MY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF, NO WARNING, THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND THIS HAPPENED WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR IT WAS VERY SCARY. THEN WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I GOT READY TO DRIVE IT DIED ON ME AGAIN. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER, SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TRY TO RESTART AND IT USUAL DOES UNTIL DEC. 2. IT DIED AND NOW IT WILL NOT START. IT WILL CRANK, THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING AND I HAVE SPARK. OTHER PROBLEMS: WHILE CHECKING OIL ONE DAY I LEANED AGAINST CAR AND IT SHOCKED ME; BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO; CANNOT LOCK DOORS FROM DRIVERS SIDE; COOLANT HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY WEEK (NO LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND); TRUNK IS NOT WANTING TO OPEN WITH BUTTON OR KEY; RADIO/ANTENNA GETS 1 STATION; A/C WORKED WHEN WE GOT IT AND APPARENTLY THE DIODE OR SOMETHING WENT BAD BUT YOU CANNOT BUY JUST THE DIODE. I AM TIRED OF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE READ MANY OTHERS LIKE THESE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE CAR DIEING WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND LOCKING EVERYTHING UP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 35 MPH., SUDDENLY I WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SUB FRAME OF THE CAR IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TOTALLY REPLACED AT APPROX. $1100. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE CAR THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED. (THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY. I BELIEVE GM NEEDS TO MAKE COMPENSATION FOR THIS REPAIR.)
SUB FRAME UNDER MOTOR ROTTED/RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING RACK SEPARATED FROM FRAME CASING STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. NO MATTER WHICH WAY HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS VERY RARE FOR THAT TO OCCUR TO A VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY USING A USED FRAME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 184,000.
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU. I NOTICED LAST YEAR ABOUT AUGUST AROUND MY GAS TANK THE PAINT WAS STARTING TO BUBBLE, SO I TOOK IT IN TO A CHEVY DEALER IN LIVONIA TO SEE IF THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON THE BUBBLING PAINT, THEY HAD TOLD ME THE WARRANT WAS UP ON THAT, THEY HAD ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS OF A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU. I WANTED TO KNOW IF GENERAL MOTORS IS GOING TO HAVE A RECALL ON THAT, OR DO I JUST HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BY A BODY SHOP? *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
MULTIPLE TAIL LAMP FAILURES ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE REPLACED MORE TAIL LAMPS THAN I CAN REMEMBER. WHILE REPLACING THEM THE LAST TIME I NOTICED THAT THE PLACE WHERE YOU PLUG IN THE LAMP WAS STARTING TO MELT. I THINK THIS IS A HAZARD. THE LAMPS ARE NOT BURNED OUT WHEN I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. THEY JUST DON'T MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONTACTS AFTER A WHILE. I HAVE TO PUT NEW ONES IN TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN. THIS LAST TIME I ALMOST COULDN'T GET ONE TO WORK. *AK
BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT TO THE POINT OF HOLES IN THE BULBS, LEAKS AROUND REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EVERY TIME IT RAINS, AND LOOSE SEALS AROUND TRUNK AND REAR LIGHTS , THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *LA
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. *NLM THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LEAK AND HAD GIVEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER. (THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED) THE AC WAS FOUND INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE HOSE LEAKED, THE ENGINE RACED BUT DIDN'T MOVE DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE LEFT REAR TAIL LAMP SEAL HAD FALLEN APART. *SCC
THE LEFT REAR BRAKE MAKES NOISE AND THE BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. ALSO, WARPED ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND TURNED AS WELL. *YH
THE ROTORS WARP EVERY 10,000- 15,000 MILES. ALSO, THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES ALREADY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS EARLY SHIFTING IN ALL THE GEARS, THE RIDE IS ROUGH, THE ELECTRICAL REAR DEFOGGER DOESN'T CLEAR WELL, SOMETIME THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR/TOO FAR, SOUNDS LIKE AIR IS COMING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR/AND WINDOW-PER BULLETIN, THE PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD BROKEN OUT OF THE SUPPORT BRAKET-R/R, THE ROTORS ARE WORN/OUT OF ADJUSTMENT/AND MAKE NOISES WHEN STOPPING/PULSATION FROM REAR BRAKES-DRUMS, AND AT LOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION JERKS/SLIPPING-DIAGNOSED A LEAK FROM PAN BOLTS. *SCC
WHILE DRIVING PULLED SUNVISOR TO BLOCK SUN, AND SUNVISOR FELL INTO CONSUMER'S LAP. *AK
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER MADE NO LESS THAN FOUR TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CONTROL PANEL FOR THE LOCKS AND WINDOWS LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS DOOR CAME LOOSE. *JG
FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO SQUEAK. THIS WAS THE FOURTH SET OF FRONT WHEEL BEARING CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED JUST KEEP CHANGING WHEEL BEARINGS . *AKGLOVE BOX DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE, HEADLIGHT BRIGHER THAN OTHER, FOG LAMP FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, FOGLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, PASSENGER REAR DOOR QUEEKS WHEN OPENED / CLOSED, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS, BRAKES NOISY / SQUEEKING WHEN BRAKING, VEHICLE SQUEEKS WHEN STERRING RIGHT, CONSUMER ALSO STATES FAILURES WITH STRUTS AND STRUT CAPS. *TT CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WORN OUT TOO FAST, WHIRRING NOISE FROM FL TIRES. NO TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *TT
CONSUMER HAS REPLACED PADS/CALIPERS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES, AND GETTING READY TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS SHAKING/SHUTTERING AND GRINDING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CHEVROLET DEALER DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM. IT WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED THIS CLOSE TOGETHER. MANUFACTURER COULD ONLY SAY THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND UNTIL THEN THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION. *AK THE TAIL LAMP FAILED. RIGHT REAR DOOR SOMETIMES WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE AND DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. CONSUMER DEMAND A REFUND OF THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE OR A COMPARABLE VEHICLE. *YH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BRAKE COMPONENT FAILURES AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED CAUSING PULSATION AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO GRINDING NOISE. NLM
THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN RESURFACED ONCE. THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR THE FINAL REPAIR ATTEMPT ON THE BRAKES. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THIS, THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WENT OUT. THREE PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE DEPT. TRIED TO GET IT TO WORK. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR ANOTHER DAY. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WINDOW AND IT IS NOW WORKING. THE POWER LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY. I HEAR AIR COMING IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE CD PLAYER FACE GETS TO HOT TO TOUCH AND I SMELL BURNING. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULDN'T TILT DOWN BECAUSE OF PLASTIC DEBRIS ON THE ASSEMBLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD MELTED. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL HEAD SHORTED OUT. THE EVAP SYSTEM VAPOR PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR DOORS STUCK AND HAD TO BE LUBRICATED. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH HAD TO BE ADJUSTED TO STOP RATTLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL MAILBU'S WHERE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. *AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED, REAR BRAKES SERVICED. *CJ
LUGS: NUTS- THESE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOSE,I CAN TURN THEM BYE HAND. SOME ARE BROKEN RIGHT OFF.AND THE CHEVROLET H.Q.AND DEALERSHIP(WILDD DODGE) ALONG WITH THE CHEVYDEALERSHIP(EWALDS) KEEP GIVIN ME THE RUN AROUND. THE PAINT IS SIMPLY PEELING OFF THE HOOD OF THE CAR,THE ROTORS ARE GRINDING AND ARE BEGINNING TO PEEL APART.THE BACK BUMPER IS STARTING TO HANG,AND THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS ARE MELTING AND CONSTANTLY OUT.*AK
CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 1 HOUR EARLIER - NOTICED WISP OF SMOKE IN TRUNK AND CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. UPON CHECKING MILEAGE, NOTICED ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CAR WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE. FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEGUN IN CONSOLE AND SPREAD TO PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. FIRE HAD EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. TOWING COMPANY SENT A PART-TIME FIREMAN TO TOW CAR TO DEALER. AWAITING FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .