1999 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior lighting Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT HER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS HERSELF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A MECHANISM WITHIN THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT FUEL WOULD SPILL OUT OF THE TANK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING FUELED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10361373

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNALS WORK ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE, MORE OFTEN THEY DO NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 12/2009, THE PROBLEM BEGAN LATER IN 12/2009. WITH OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WE TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, AFTER 8 HOURS, THEY SAID THEY THINK THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN AND IS STILL A PROBLEM. IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE WERE NOT TOLD OF THE PART PUT ONTO THE CAR, BUT WE DID SEE THEM TAKE A PART OFF OF ANOTHER CAR TO PUT INTO OURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339121

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

Mileage

109,000 mi

SOMETIMES THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS WONT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283051

Incident

Sep 7, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

1999 MALIBU LS- (R) BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT- HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BULBS EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. HAVE HAD WORK DONE IN 2005,2006 REPLACE HOUSING AND 2008 REPLACE SOCKET PLATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253379

Incident

Dec 31, 2008

THE HEADLIGHTS GET CONDENSATION BEHIND THEM AND I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. ALSO THE COOLANT TANK NEEDS TO BE REFILLED MORE THAN AVERAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243436

Incident

May 10, 2008

THIS IS THE 2ND CHEVY THAT I'VE OWNED WHOSE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL (CENTER BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO WORK) TO ILLUMINATE DUE TO A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. ALTHOUGH THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL, WIPER CONTROL, ETC. WORK FINE, THERE IS SOMETHING INTERNAL TO THIS TURN SIGNAL/MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THAT SUDDENLY CAUSES THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL ANOTHER DRIVER ON THE ROAD BRINGS IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS GM CAR OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, YET GM HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THIS SWITCH FOR THE OWNER. THE DEALER WANTS $170 FOR THE PART AND CHARGE 2 HOURS LABOR AT $90/HOUR FOR A WHOPPING COST OF $350 + TAX AND ONLY OFFER A 12-MONTH WARRANTY FOR THEIR PARTS/LABOR. TO ME, THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE BY RECALLING OR SIMPLY REPAIRING FREE OF CHARGE. APPARENTLY, GM SAYS THE LEFT/RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS WIRED THROUGH THE MULTI-FUNCTION/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SO THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL CANCEL ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, BUT THAT FEATURE STILL WORKS EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE! OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS' CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, YET THEY DON'T HAVE THE ISSUE OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILING INTERNALLY CAUSING THE LEFT/RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE. PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO GET GM TO REPLACE THIS POORLY DESIGNED SWITCH, FREE OF CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT BOTH THIS 99 MALIBU AND 96 MONTE CARLO WERE BOTH VERY WELL CARED FOR BY US AND STILL, THESE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. THANK YOU. RESPECTFULLY, SCOTT STEFFES *TR

NHTSA ID

10238476

Incident

Jul 30, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, WHICH BEGAN LAST YEAR 07/07. I REPLACED FUSES TO SEE IF THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR-ENDED WITH MY INFANT SON IN A CARSEAT THE BACK SEAT AS MY TURN SIGNALS FLASHED TWICE AND FAILED I FOUND OUT LATER THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE HAZARD/TURN SWITCH ON THE 2000 MODELS OF MALIBU AND NOT THE 99'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222082

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SINCE 2000 THE BACK UP LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERNAL BRIGHT LIGHTS IN 2000 AND 2002. THE AIR CONDITIONER ALSO COMES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO BACK UP OR USE THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER PERFORMING AN ELECTRICAL TEST, THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND THE AC CONTROL HEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92000.

NHTSA ID

10200304

Incident

Aug 19, 2007

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE WORKED SPORADICALLY SINCE OCTOBER OF 2006. BEGINNING IN MAY OF 2007, THE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10190119

Incident

May 8, 2007

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVEROLET MALIBU WITH FAILURE MILEAGE 110,000. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKED ON OCCASION OR NOT AT ALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES THEY WILL STOP WORKING AT ANY GIVEN TIME FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TELL THE CONTACT THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED PARTS THAT WERE AFFECTED DID NOT COME FROM THE SAME PLACE AS THOSE PARTS OF THE 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA NOTIFICATION RQ040005 AS A REFERENCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.*AK UPDATE 4/30/07*TR

NHTSA ID

10187357

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

ROTOR REPLACEMENT X 3. SUSPENSION - FRONT REPLACED. CALIPERS X3. TIRE WEAR AND LEAKS - REPLACED ANNUALLY. RADIO - BAD WIRING. A/C IN DASH WIRING REPLACED TWICE. REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED TWICE. LEAKING IN REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND TRUNK. COOLANT LEAK - 8/06 AT 74000 MILES. MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS THE WATER PUMP. A/C SENSOR REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166043

Incident

Aug 18, 2006

Mileage

5,000 mi

CHEVROLET MALIBU 1999. 84000 MILES. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS I HAD TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHTS TWICE THIS IS THE ENTIRE UNIT WHICH COST OVER $250 EACH I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STOP/BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AT LEAST SIX TIMES ON EACH SIDE. THE SOCKET THAT HOLDS THE BULBS KEEP MELTING AND LAST DECEMBER IT MELTED TO THE POINT THAT I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT AND WHEN I OPENED THE PLASTIC SOCKET WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. AS OF NOW NEITHER LIGHT IS WORKING. I CHECKED IN THIS SITE AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ04005 INDICATES THE FOLLOWING: GM IN DECEMBER 2004, GM WILL ISSUE A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004. THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I CALLED GM AS WELL AS THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE LIGHT THEY CLAIM THE AGREEMENT WAS ONLY FOR SOME OF THE 1999 CHEVY MALIBU AND MY VEHICLE [XXX] IS OUTSIDE THE RANGE THEY ARE COVERING. I WAS TOLD BY A GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THEY RECALL OTHER CARS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED OF THE ADVICE AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO, THE INFORMATION AND AGREEMENT POSTED ON NHTSA (SEE ABOVE) DOES NOT INDICATE ANY EXCEPTIONS. CAN SOMEONE INVESTIGATE THIS PLEASE? IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM, THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND I HAD TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD REMOVED AND A NEW GASKET PUT IN TWICE. REPLACED BRAKE PADS 5/6 TIMES AND ROTORS ONCE. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10153529

Incident

Mar 18, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ON MY CHEVROLET MALIBU ARE ABOUT TO BURN I CAN SMELL A BAKALITE SMELL WHEN I OPEN THE TRUNK. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO MAROONE CHEVY IN PEMBROKE PINES SAW THE SERVICE REP ( MANDY RAMOS ) COMPLAINNG TO HIM SINCE 2000 AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THE LIGHTS. IFOUND OUT THAT GENERAL MOTORS FILED A CONFIDENTIALITY REPORT AND THAT WAY GM DID NOT REPAIR THE LIGHTS. I DISABLED PERSON AND WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I KNEW THAT IT HAD TO LAST A LONG TIME. NOW I AM FEARFUL OF IT CATCHING ON FIRE. IT COST ME $ 25,000.00 TO BUY AND GM HAS THE NERVE TO KEEP ONTELLING ME FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BACK IN 2000 WHEN THEY REQUESTED THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT BEING APPROVED, THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE REPORT IS EA00010 I FOUND THIS OUT TODAY ONLINE. THE COST OF THE PAIR OF LIGHTS IS $ 500.00. TELL ME WHERE I CAN GET THIS KIND OF MONEY ON DISABILITY. THE GOVERNMENT IS GOOD AT HIDING THINGS. MAYBE THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY BEFORE I GET BURNED ALIVE AS I AM DISABLED.

NHTSA ID

10126772

Incident

Aug 6, 2000

Mileage

23,000 mi

. I BOUGHT CAR NEW. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE ASSEMBLY. THE AC SWITCH - BLOWER RESISTOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE ROTORS - IT ONLY HAD 5000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS 61000 TODAY.

NHTSA ID

10121776

Incident

May 18, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE CHANGED BY THE DRIVER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115026

Incident

Mar 11, 2005

TAIL LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE CAME VERY CLOSE TO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT KNOW THE LIGHTS WERE OUT UNTIL SOMEONE BLEW THE HORN. SHE HAD THE TAIL LIGHTS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112832

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099850

Incident

Jun 5, 2001

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE RUBBER MOLDING AROUND THE BACK LIGHT ENCASING IS LOOSE, SO WATER IS CONSTANTLY SEEPING IN CAUSING THE BACK LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE OUT THE BULBS. MY BRAKE LIGHT IN MY WINDOW IS THE ONLY ONE WORKING AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096211

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10086745

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

Mileage

109,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITANTLY. THEY WORK FINE ONE MOMENT AND THEN THEY STOP WORKING, MANY TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THEN A LITTLE LATER THEY WORK FINE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10086547

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

Mileage

35,000 mi

TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL FAILED. DEALER STATED THAT WIRE CONNECTOR MELTED. CONSUMER REPLACED LIGHT BULBS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068719

Incident

Apr 19, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS, CAUSING THE BULB TO SHORT OUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10061091

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

GENERAL MOTORS HAS JUST ANNOUNCED A RECALL OF 2000 AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBUS FOR A FAULTY HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF HAZARD LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. I OWN A 1999 MALIBU NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY, AND MY MECHANIC HAS INDICATED IT MAY BE THE RESULT OF A FAULTY SWITCH. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AND THAT THE 1999 MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AS WELL. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THE RECALL?*AK

NHTSA ID

10037283

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

THE TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER STATED SOME TYPE OF LUBRICANT WAS TO BE USED TO PREVENT OVER HEATING, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB......*AK

NHTSA ID

10012489

Incident

Mar 25, 2003

INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010943

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi