Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 29 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 29, in the owner's own words
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
REAR DEFROSTER FAILED TO AUTO SHUTOFF RESULTING IN REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERING AND NEEDING FULL REPLACEMENT. *TR
AFTER REPLACING MY INTAKE GASKET 8 MONTHS AGO, MY CAR STILL OVERHEATS. ONE OF MY COOLING FANS IS NOT WORKING. MY AC LEVEL CONTROLS 1 & 2 DOESN'T WORK, ONLY 3,4, AND 5. AC SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN. MY ENGINE BELT WENT FROM SQEAKING TO MAKING A NOISE I NEVER HEARD BEFORE. NOW MY CAR IS NON OPERATIONAL DUE TO A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SO FAR IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS, I REPLACED MY INTAKE GASKET $600, REPLACED MY ENGINE BELT COST $120, REPLACED MY BRAKE PADS AND CALIPER TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS $250 EACH TIME. NOW I'M LOOKING AT ANOTHER MAJOR REPAIR JOB. HELP ME PLEASE
BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE 2002- A/C GOES OFF AND ON- IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE- DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DON'T ROLL DOWN- ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED- INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND RADIATOR REPLACED. *NM
INTERMITTENTLY DURING SEVERE COLD WEATHER, ALL THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP SO BAD THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE, EVEN WHEN THE DEFOGGER / DEFROSTER IS ON IT DOES NOT CLEAR ALL THE GLASS AND CAUSES SEVERE VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE HEATER, DEFOGGER AND THE DEFROSTER AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. *JB
THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING. SHE THEN OBSERVED FUEL DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER CONNECTOR DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE FUEL LINE. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD OTHER COMPONENTS FAIL ON THE VEHICLE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO CENTER TREAD WEAR. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 20000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 41313. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR BROKE. BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE AT 41313 MILES. BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 41313 MILES. *JB *NM
AIR CONDITIONING - ELECTRICAL FAILURE, WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. ENGINE - HEAD GASKET, FAULTY. WAS REPLACED. POWER WINDOW - REGULATOR AND MOTOR FAULTY, THE WINDOW JUST STOP ROLLING UP AND DOWN, DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAIURE TILL IT HAPPENED. IN SHOP RIGHT NOW, NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. OTHER - COOLING SYSTEM, USES THE INFAMOUS DEX-COOL COOLANT. THE ENGINE GETS HOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. HOT MEANING TWO BARS ABOVE MIDDLE. IT USUALLY RESIDES IN THE MIDDLE. THE RADIATOR CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS ALSO SUSPECTED OF BEING A PROBLEM RELATED TO THIS. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND IS GOING TO THE DEALER TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION. THE WORST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS AFTER THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR TWO MONTHS. WE TOOK IT ON VACATION TO LAKE POWELL WHEN THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AGAIN. THE ENGINE STARTED TO GET HOT. I TURNED OFF THE A/C AND TURNED ON THE HEAT. THIS WAS ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE DRIVEABLE WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT. MY WORRY IS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN TO MY WIFE ON THE FREEWAY OR DRIVING HOME TO SEE HER PARENTS. HAD THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME WITH JUST HER IN THE CAR SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO AND WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED.
THIS 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2001 IN HAD A WATER LEAKING PROBLEM TOOK 3 TRIES BEFORE THEY FOUND IT NEEDED THERMOSTAT GASKET DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ONE IN IT THEY SOLD IT TO ME .THIS WAY WITH A PROMISE IT HAD BEEN FIXED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS & STRUT BUSHINGS. THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT & IT CAUSE MY BATTERY TO GO BAD OVERCHARGED IT THEY REPLACED ALTERNATOR BUT REFUSED TO RE-EMBURSE ME FOR THE BATTERY. THEN IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED PROBLEM WITH ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD NOT START. HAD THAT REPLACED IN MARCH 2002. THEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED WINDOW SWITCH VERY SLOW HAD TO BE CLEANED ANOTHER ONE NOT WORKING AT ALL NOW, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AT THIS TIME ALSO HAD TO HAVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM FIXED AGAIN LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME ANOTHER BAD IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO HAD BLOWER MOTOR & RELAY SWITCH FOR HEATER TO GO OUT OVER THE SUMMER MOST OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE LONG AGO BURNT OUT & HAD TO BE REPLACED LOCK OUT FOR TRUNK LID ALSO BROKE NOT COVERED ON WARRANTY. HUB CAPS HAVE LUG NUTS MADE IN THEM THAT SCREW ONTO YOUR LUG BOLTS STRIPPED OUT WHEN TOOK FOR REPAIRS BY DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THEY COST $500.00 FOR A NEW SET. SO I PURCHASED THE LUG NUT PART & REPALCED IT MYSELF AT A DEALERSHIP FOR $10.00 SET OF 5. NOVEMBER OF 2002 BRAKES & ROTORS WERE REPLACED IN JAN. 2003 BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN IN MARCH 2003 PADS REPLACED AGAIN IN JULY 2003 PADS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN THEN IN SEPT. 2003 MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN OCT. 2003 MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AGAIN NOW IT'S NOV 2003 & MASTER CYLINDER BEING REPLACED AGAIN TOMORROW.THESE CARS HAVE A REAL BRAKE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IT'S COSTING A FORTUNE.*AK
AT ABOUT 27000MI (3000MI. SERVICE) I NOTIFIED DEALER OF SQUEAKING IN FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION BUSHINGS. DEALER SPRAYED LUBE ON REAR (ABOUT $100)AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOWER COMPLETE FRONT END TO LUBE FRONT, APPROX $200 MORE. EXTENDED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER. AT 30000 MI SERVICE DEALER NOTIFIED ME I NEEDED COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. I INSPECTED BRAKES WHILE ON LIFT. MECHANIC SAID HE MADE MISTAKE! HE SAID THAT HE HADN'T PULLED WHEELS OF YET. SAID THERE WAS 80% LEFT, REPAIR INVOICE SAID 50% LEFT. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF TRANS FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR & AIR CONDITIONING SMELLED LIKE URINE WHEN ON, ALSO SWITCHING ITSELF FROM RECIRCULATION TO FRESH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED SWITCH, DEDUCTIBLE $SE ON EXTENDED WARRANTY, SPRAYED SOMETHING IN OUTSIDE VENT (MOLD THEY SAID?), AND TIGHTENED TRANS COOLING LINE, THEIR FAULT! THREE DAYS LATER COOLING LEAK, DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP, DEDUCTIBLE $'S ON EXTENDED WARRANTY. TWO WEEKS LATER THE REAR POWER WINDOW ACTUATOR (MOTOR & CABLE ASSEMBLY) QUIT! I MIGHT HAVE USED THIS WINDOW 12 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT 99 MALIBU LS FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET, RENO,NV. NEW IN 12/99! ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I FEELS LIKE THEY ARE SABOTAGING MY VEHICLE TO GET BACK AT ME FOR DISCOVERING THEY LIED ABOUT BRAKE JOB! ALSO AFTER READING YOUR COMPLAINT LIST, I REALIZE THAT I AM NOT ALONE THINKING THAT BRAKES, STEERING VIBRATION, AND RELIABILITY IN GENERAL IS POOR ON THIS VEHICLE. *PH
THE BLOWER MOTOR DID NOT WORK, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. *MR *TT *JB
THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY.*AK *TT *JB
POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THIS IS CAUSED BY AN IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *AK
ALL THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP AT RANDOM TIMES. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE DEFROSTER IS ON, IF IT IS RAINING OR DRY OUTSIDE. THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS IS TO TURN ON THE ELECTRIC. REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER AND RAISE AND LOWER THE SIDE WINDOWS SEVERAL TIME. THE FOG ON THE WINDOWS GETS SO BAD SOMETIME THAT WE WILL ONLY HAVE TWO ROUND CIRCLES ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO SEE OUT OF. WE TOOK IT BACK TO OUT DEALER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS BECAUSE OF DIRTY WINDOWS. THEY CLEANED THE WINDOWS AND WE LEFT, ONLY TO HAVE THEM FOG UP AGAIN ABOUT 8 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR SUCH AS TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WHILE THE DEFROSTER IS ON AND TURNING UP THE FAN, BUT NOTHING WORKS LIKE RAISING AND LOWERING THE SIDE WINDOWS. WE KNOW OF SOMEONE ELSE THAT OWNS A MALIBU AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK EXCEPT DURING THE SUMMER.*JB
INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
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
THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING PULSATION AND NOISE. *YH
POWER WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO UP OR DOWN.*AK
FRONT END WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP RIGHT AWAY. DEALER BOTH ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH ONE SIDE SEEMED TO BE AFFECTED. DEALERS HAD NO RESEASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR PROBLEM. *AK ONE OF THE ROTORS ( THE LEFT SIDE) WAS DETERMIND TO BE BAD. ALSO, THE WIPER BLADES SCRUB THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE TIME AND BECAME WORSE WHEN NEW ONES WERE REPLACED. *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 PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *SLC
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
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIR. PARTS OF THE IGNITION AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. RECENTLY A LOUD WHISTLE NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN TWIN FALLS, ID, WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A PIECE OF MOLDING THAT HAD COME OFF FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE (ANOTHER PROBLEM) AND THAT WAS CAUSING IT. THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO FIX IT, AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO BOISE, ID. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN BOISE WHO STATED THAT THEY KNEW WXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL MALIBU'S COME IN WITH THE WINSHIELD NOT PROPERLY SEATED. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE WINDSHIED AND RESEAL IT. I DONT KNOW HOW MANY MORE VEHICLES ARE OUT THERE LIKE THIS, BUT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH OURS.
THE GAS TANK FAILED. NLM
VEHICLE PURCHASED IN MAY 1999,HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 16 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, INCLUDING INOPERABLE HORN, WARPED ROTORS,TURNED ONCE, RESURFACED ONCE AND FINALLY REPLACED, INTERIOR VINYL PEELING, REPLACED ONCE AND IS OCCURING AGAIN,WINDOWS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION, CURRENT WORK ORDER TO HAVE WINDOWS CHECKED, BREAK PEDAL MAKING A "CREAKING" NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED, RECENTLY REPAIRD WITH AT LEAST 4-5 VISITS TO THE DEALER WITH NO SUCCESSFUL REPAIR OF PROBLEM, DEFECTIVE MOTOR ON THE HEATER, MAKING STRANGE NOISE, AIR CONDITIONING IS NOW STARTING TO "SMELL" VEHICLE ROLLS WHEN PUT IN PARK, NOTIFIED FACTORY AND HAVE CURRENT FILE NUMBER, FACTORY INFORMED ME THAT IF IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IN NEED OF REPAIR TO BRING IT IN...THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WE (THE FACTORY) CAN DO...I BELIEVE TOO NUMEROUS REPAIRS IN AN 11 MONTH PERIOD..STILL HAVE OUTSTANDING WORK ORDERS FOR NEEDED FUTURE REPAIRS. *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.
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