1999 Chevrolet Malibu Suspension Problems

Yes it was on and off kept having computer issues and other issues

NHTSA ID

11584137

Incident

Mar 11, 2024

MALIBU 1999 WITH 68,000 MILES CAME OUT TO LEAVE FOR WORK FOUND PASS SIDE SPRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325561

Incident

Oct 12, 2009

Mileage

68,000 mi

FIRST INCIDENT. I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU AND IN DECEMBER 2009 (I BELIEVE) THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME OFF DUE TO LUGNUTS SNAPPING OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE LUGNUTS THE SPRING ON THE SHOCK AND BEND THE WHEELWELL. UNFORTUNATELY THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THAT INCIDENT BUT THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON IT. SECOND INCIDENT. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING WORE RIGHT IN HALF AND BROKE JUST BEFORE GETTING INTO THE CAR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FRONT STRUT AND I DO STILL HAVE THE PARTS. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319941

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE SUBFRAME OF MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU SUFFERED CORROSION TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE AREA ROUND ONE OF THE BOLTS HOLDING THE SUBFRAME BROKE OFF DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE STEERED PROPERLY (COULD NOT TURN RIGHT MORE THAN 10-15%). IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (THE COMPONENT BROKE WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK). RECENTLY HYUNDAI RECALLED A NUMBER OF VEHICLES DUE TO THE SAME DAMAGE FOR THOSE RESIDING IN THE SALT BELT (I HAPPEN TO OWN A HYUNDAI INVOLVED IN THE RECALL). BASED ON THE DAMAGE MY MALIBU SUFFERED, I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE OF SUBFRAME CORROSION FOR THOSE IN THE SALT BELT MAY GO BEYOND THE HYUNDAI RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10299983

Incident

Dec 25, 2009

Mileage

185,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING TO WORK (25 MILES) I BACKED INTO THE PARKING SPACE IN THE MORNING. AT NOON, I STARTED THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD AND HEARD A HEAVY RUBBING. THE FRONT LEFT STRUT SPRING HAD BROKEN AT THE ITS BOTTOM RING AND WAS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING 50 MPH TO WORK. CAR MILEAGE 140,000. 1999 MALIBU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279547

Incident

Aug 6, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING SEVERLY DAMAGING TIRE. HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND AND THEN SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. BOTTOM OF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE AND LODGED INTO TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261647

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

Mileage

123,440 mi

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN WITH ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THAT DESCRIBED IN YOUR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE03031. WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS OF STARTING UP THE CAR AND LEAVING MY HOME, THERE WAS A AUDIBLE BANG AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MACPHERSON STRUT COIL SPRING SUDDENLY FRACTURED AND THE BROKEN SPRING END PENETRATED THE FRONT TIRE INSIDE SIDEWALL LEADING TO A BLOWOUT. I DID NOT TRAVEL OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP OR POTHOLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS WINTER CONDITIONS (SALTED ROADS) WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF AROUND 20 DEG.F. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THE SUSPENSION THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I AM HAVING BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES AND A TIRE AND RIM REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257123

Incident

Jan 31, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

NOTICED LEFT REAR OF '99 MALIBU LOWER THAN RIGHT WHILE PARKED IN A FILLING STATION ON THE EVENING OF 9/24/08. WHILE HOISTED FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON 10/01/08, THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS COMPLETELY RUPTURED. (IN AUGUST OF 2005, THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING RUPTURED. I PAID TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE.) THE RIGHT SPRING COILS ARE ORIGINAL TO THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244221

Incident

Sep 24, 2008

Mileage

133,200 mi

ON AUGUST 24, 2008 MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN A MILE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. ON AUGUST 25, 2008 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOB SUMEREL TIRE CO. FOR REPAIR. THE SPRING APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN AT THE TOP FIRST RING. THE SPRING WAS REPLACED. I HAVE THE REMAINDER OF THE BROKEN SPRING. THE TOP PART THAT BROKE OFF HAS BEEN LOST. I NOTICED THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO OTHER REPORTED INSTANCES OF THIS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE AND ACCIDENTAL INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239803

Incident

Aug 24, 2008

Mileage

88,013 mi

I JUST FILED A COMPLAINT, ODI# 10234547, 2 DAYS AGO ON THE FRONT STRUT SPRING BREAKING WITHOUT NOTICE AND AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT STRUTS, I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND NYS INSPECTION. I RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC STATING THAT HE CANNOT DO THE ALIGNMENT AND INSPECTION BECAUSE BOTH REAR STRUT SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 20K MILES ON IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE STEEL USED TO MANUFACTURE THESE SPRINGS.....WITH MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FILED.....YET NO RECALL....IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO THESE CARS AND THE PONTIAC GRAND AM, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME CAR. WILL TRAGEDY HAVE TO STRIKE A DETERMINED AMOUNT OF FAMILIES BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION INTO THESE STRUT SPRINGS IS REOPENED? I HOPE NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234758

Incident

Jul 17, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE SPRING FRACTURED ON THE FRONT LEFT STRUT OF A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 19000 MILES. THE BREAK CAUSED A HUGE BANG AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR DROPPED. LUCKILY THE SHARP PART OF THE BREAK DID NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE, DAMAGE THE BRAKE LINE OR BREAK THE TIE-ROD END. THE SPRING DID INDEED CONTACT THE TIRE AND WORE THE EPOXY COATING OFF, BUT AGAIN, DID NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE. I HAD THE TWO FRONT STRUTS REPLACED AND SAVED THE BROKEN ONE AND THE RECEIPT FOR VERIFICATION IN CASE THERE IS A FUTURE RECALL. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS MANY COMPLAINTS AND I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE STEEL THAT WAS USED TO MAKE THE SPRING....NOT A CORROSION PROBLEM. THE SPRING IS COVERED WITH AN EPOXY COATING AND WHERE IT RUBBED OFF, FROM CONTACT WITH THE TIRE, THE STEEL LOOKED SHINY NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234547

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

COIL SPRINGS BREAKING ON 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE ONE MORNING LAST YEAR WHEN I HEARD A LARGE BANG. FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE TIRE. REPLACED IT WITH A USED STRUT. LAST WEEK FOUND A BROKEN SPRING IN THE REAR WHILE ROTATING TIRES. I WENT ON-LINE AND DID A SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE AND WHAT IS SCARY IS THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO SOME WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IMMEDIATELY BLOWS OUT THE TIRE. CONTACTED A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS A GM SERVICE MANAGER, HE HAD JUST GONE THROUGH THIS PROBLEM WITH HIS NEPHEWS 1998 CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT GM HAD NO RECALLS ON THIS. THIS IS MY SONS CAR AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO BECOME A STATISTIC, TO RESOLVE IT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225593

Incident

Apr 19, 2008

Mileage

105,000 mi

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 1999 CHEVROLT MALIBU WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON SAID PART? *TR

NHTSA ID

10224384

Incident

Apr 11, 2008

THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING ON OUR 1999 CHEVY MALIBU BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THE STRUT ASSEMBLY DROPPED & PUNCTURED THE NEW TIRE WE HAD GOTTEN LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE & HAD TO BE TOWED & REPAIRED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE & FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBUS, WHILE CHEVROLET HAS NO CONSEQUENCES FOR HAVING DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS & SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED BY THE DEFECTS. WE STILL HAVE THE BROKEN COIL SPRING WITH THE PART NUMBER ON IT. WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS, THE NEW TIRE THAT WAS RUINED & THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF HAVING COME SO CLOSE TO A POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE RECALLED & REPLACED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10219599

Incident

Feb 24, 2008

Mileage

103,290 mi

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU FRONT END COIL SPRING FAILED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELL ONTO THE TIRE DUE TO THE FAILED COIL SPRING. SHE STATES THAT GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ID

10215049

Incident

Dec 12, 2007

FAILURE OF FRONT STRUT SPRINGS. NO NOTIFICATION EITHER TIME THEY BROKE / PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. I DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH OF IT BECAUSE DEALER STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. 6-27-07 MY DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SPRING BROKE. I WAS NOW TOLD THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY THE WAY THIS HAD BROKE. I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER PER RECALL OR ANY NOTIFICATION OUT THERE REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THEY REPLACED THEM OFTEN ENOUGH THAT THEY EVEN STOCKED THEM. I FELT THAT IN THIS YEAR THE PRODUCTION DEFECT REQUIRED INTERVENTION BY YOU. I AGAIN HAD NO INDICATION UNTIL I HEARD A CLUNG. WHICH AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT DRIVING VERY FAST. I WORK IN A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A SPRING BREAK ON ANY VEHICLE. THE SHOP I WORK FOR DEALS WITH VEHICLE WITH LOTS OF MILES ON THEM. MY 99 MALIBU ONLY HAS 85,000-90,000 MILES ON IT AND BOTH MY SPRINGS BROKE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY CONCERN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF ANYMORE ISSUES THAT MAY RELATE TO MY CONCERN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10194951

Incident

Jun 27, 2007

Mileage

90,100 mi

REAR SUSPENSION - BOLT HOLDING LOWER CONTROL ARM FOR REAR TIRE. EITHER UNSCREWED ITSELF OR BROKE. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ANY OTHER DRIVER MAY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE VEHICLE CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191951

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

123,810 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10185956

Incident

Feb 7, 2002

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE DAMAGING STRUT AND DAMAGING TIRE. BREAK WAS DUE TO RUST. VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN BREAK OCCURRED CAUSING WHEEL TO BE "STUCK" IN THE TURN POSITION DUE TO PARTS RUBBING ON TIRE. MECHANIC SAYS MANY OF GM PRODUCTS ARE AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SAID PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179181

Incident

Jan 18, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON CHRISTMAS DAY, MY RIGHT TIRE BURST. AFTER INVESTIGATING I LEARNED THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL RING HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED, AS WELL AS PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177013

Incident

Dec 25, 2006

Mileage

77,317 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

FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRINGS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE REDUCED. THE SPRING FAILED AFTER ITS FIRST WINDING DOWN FROM THE TOP, IT APPEARS DURING COMPRESSION THE SPRING END CONTACTS THE WINDING BELOW WHICH PROBABLY INDUCED A CRACK AND ULTIMATELY PROPAGATED A STRESS FAILURE. THE PART FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL NEAR FULL RIGHT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE SPRING FAILED. THE PASSENGER SPRING WAS ALSO REPLACED AND LOOKED AS FAILURE WAS IMMANENT BASED ON A MARKS IN NEARLY THE SAME SPOT AS THE FAILED SPRING. THE FAILED SPRING IS CURRENTLY IN MY POSSESSION.

NHTSA ID

10158970

Incident

Jun 2, 2006

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON A CLEAR AND DRY DAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT AND IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND MY TIRE WAS RUPTURED. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED, THE DEALER LET ME KNOWN NOW THAT THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. NOT ONLY WAS THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT THE REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY, NOT TO MENTION I HAD JUST GOTTEN NEW TIRES A FEW THOUSAND MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I HAVE HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE AND NOW WONDER IF THIS COULD OR SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM??*JB

NHTSA ID

10152966

Incident

Mar 17, 2006

WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY CAR PORT, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR FELL. I PROCEEDED TO GO TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP NOT TOO FAR FROM MY HOME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED. WHILE IN ROUTE, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE I LIVE, MY TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A WEIRD SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO WAIT FOR AAA TO TOW MY CAR TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THANK THE LORD, I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE RIGHT PASSENGER SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. HAD TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS, A TIE ROD AND STRUTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144153

Incident

Nov 26, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING IMMEDIATE FLAT TIRE. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED AND DRIVER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139183

Incident

Oct 7, 2005

Mileage

99,909 mi