Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 253 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 253, in the owner's own words
FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY CORRODED AND ERODED AND STARTED LEAKING. THE RESERVOIR DESIGN ALLOWED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID TO DRAIN OUT LEAVING NONE AVAILABLE TO SAFELY BRAKE THE CAR WITH AIR BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE WHOLE SYSTEM. ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH IS A PRESS ON AND PRESS OFF TO RELEASE STYLE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS GETTING STUCK IN THE ACC AND ON POSITIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE KEY COULD ALSO BE REMOVED AND THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE CONTACT ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO APPLY FORCE NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
MY TEENAGER WAS TRYING TO AVOID A COLLISION RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD CAME BACK ON THE ROAD AND THEN THE CAR WAS HEADED TO LEFT SHOULDER AND (TEENAGER) ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE OUT AND THEN THE VEHICLE RAN BACK OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AGAIN CAUSING A ACCIDENT. TEENAGER SAID VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEW UP AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE ROOF RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE DEFECT LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V4000000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
THE DAY MAY 13, 2009 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE AT 12: 15 A DAY. ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED THE STREET TO ENTER THE PARKING LOT OF ROSS. MY WIFE QUICKLY USE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS WHEN COLLIDED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE STOPPED. MY WIFE SUFFERED TRAUMA TO THE SPINE AND NECK. BREAKING THE 5TH LUMBAR VERTEBRA AND HERNIATED CERVICAL. NEVER AGAIN COULD WORK OR IT COULD OPERATE. REQUIRES A SPINAL FUSION WHICH COSTS $ 80,000.00. NOW WE KNOW WHY THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND DID NOT PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. *TR
BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A PROJECT CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE. GOT BOUGHT AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. PISTON SLAP!!! ESPECIALLY COLD. FRONT SUB FRAME ROTTED OUT AND RACK AND PINION DESTROYED NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. LATER WAS TOLD ROCKER PANELS ARE DESTROYED WITH HUGE HOLES I WAS CLEARLY UPSET ANOTHER MALIBU WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM. COMMON PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S FROM '98-'02. WAS UNABLE TO SAFETY BECAUSE OF PANELS MISSING A LAYER IN SPOTS (HOLES). REAR QUARTER PANELS SEVERE ROTTING AROUND WHEEL WELLS AND GAS CAP AREA REQUIRING BONDO TO FILL IN HOLES A HORRIBLE PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S. AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH GRINDING CONSTANTLY AND HALF THE TIME A/C BOTTOM WORKS. SADLY GM WILL NOT RECALL THESE ISSUES NOW HAVE TO INVEST $7000 TO MAKE INTO A SHOW CAR. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BODY PROBLEMS AND CONSTANT PISTON SLAPS AND LIFTER KNOCKING. I HAVE TO DO AN OVERHAUL OF $600-800 ON ENGINE. PATHETIC GM LINK TO THE PISTON SLAP ON MY CAR ON YOUTUBE : HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MNTTRCTQ5MM&FEATURE=YOUTUBE_GDATA_PLAYER. *TR
THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT TURNS OUT THE BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY AND ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND THE FLUID LEAKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ON THE WHOLE CAR ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU IN MARCH OF 2001. IN EARLY 2003 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I HAD LOST STEERING ABILITY. I WAS TOLD THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO I HAD IT DONE. A WEEK LATER I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WAS THEN TOLD THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO I HAD THAT DONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES. JUST LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS 3 TIMES IN A 9 MONTH PERIOD BECAUSE THE PADS HAD BEEN WORN ALL THE WAY DOWN. DURING THAT 9 MONTH PERIOD I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS ONCE THEN A WEEK LATER THE ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACE AGAIN. NOW I AM HAVING TO HAVE MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN THIS WEEKEND. SO THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 4 BRAKE PAD CHANGES IN LESS THAN A YEARS TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A SOUND AND THE SIGNALS WOULD STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SIGNALS WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE REPAIR SHOP, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK AGAIN. SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE SWITCH, WHICH WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V327000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. A NEW LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED. UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER COMPLAINT ON LEMON LAW. CONSUMER BELIEVES HIS VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW SPECIFICATIONS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECTIVE CALIPER DESIGN CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS. AFTER REPLACING THE FACTORY SUPPLIED CALIPERS, THE PREMATURE ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD WEAR CEASED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE THE NEW GASKET MATERIAL WAS IMPLEMENTED THE INTAKE GASKET NO LONGER LEAKED. THE SAFETY HAZARD LIGHT CONTROL ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE DEALER REPLACED DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WITH ADDITIONAL DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH WAS COVERED UNDER A SPECIAL AGREEMENT WITH NHTSA, HOWEVER, GM REFUSED TO HONOR THE AGREEMENT. *JB
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED THREE TIMES UNDER AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. HAZARD SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING - ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT TURNING SIGNAL/WIPER WASHER SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR UNTIL CALIPERS REPLACED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT VARIOUS EMISSIONS AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS. *JB
2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN WITH RUSTED LEFT AND RIGHT BRACKETS THAT ARE WELDED TO THE K FRAME AND HOLD THE STEERING ARM**CC THE CONSUMER HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. *JB
I HAVE A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. AS MANY MALIBU OWNERS MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUES. BLOWER FAN DOESN'T WORK ON SETTING 1 AND 2, REAR SPEAKERS DON'T WORK IN COLD WEATHER, REAR TAIL LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK, WEIRD BRAKING ISSUES IN THE COLD, AND AIR CIRCULATION BUTTON CHANGES FROM CLOSED TO OPEN AUTOMATICALLY. THESE ARE JUST SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND I THINK I FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE. THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER SEAL ON MY CAR WAS UNATTACHED FROM THE WINDOW OUTSIDE AT THE BOTTOM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I FOUND OUT BECAUSE AFTER A HEAVY RAIN A LOT OF WATER WAS SHOWING ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE WATER DAMAGES HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. I FOUND WATER SITTING IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING RIGHT UNDER THE BLOWER FAN. WATER CORRODING THE ELECTRICAL CABLES ON THE FLOOR. WATER TRACKS OVER THE COMPUTER BOARD LOCATED UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. I'VE INFORMED CHEVROLET AND ASK FOR THEM TO CREATE A TSB BUT THEY DENIED MY REQUEST.*JB
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK; BALL JOINT & FUEL PUMP; BRAKE PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YRS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP FROM 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, ALTHOUGH THE SEATBELTS WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE.
FRONT BRAKES ARE CONTINUOUSLY WEARING BEFORE THEY SHOULD. FRONT BRAKE LINE COLLAPSED. FRONT LEFT BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH BECAUSE OF WEARING TOO QUICKLY. REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTOR. *JB
MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES HAD A KNUCKLE IN THE FRONT BRAKE SHOWING NO WEAR AND TEAR VEERING ME OFF ROAD ,IM GOING TO KEEP THE PART AND TAKE PICTURES. IT DROVE SMOOTH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THEN TODAY THE FRONT TIRE FOLDED UNDER. ME AND THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC COULDNT EXPLAIN IT. THE PART SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR TO THE AREA THAT BROKE. IVE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, CANNOT FIND ONE IF THERE IS LET ME KNOW... THIS IS A VERY BIG DANGER AND IS LIFE THREATENING. AND IT WILL OBVIOUSLY HAPPEN WITHOUT A WARNING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAYBE HAVING THIS HAPPEN AND DONT LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT BEING THE REASON OR DONT EVEN KNOW TO TELL ABOUT IT. THANX. *NM
ON JULY 7, 2005 I PURCHASED A 2000 CHEVY MALIBU LS. THE RIGHT TWO BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. NEVER AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S EITHER THE ONE ON THE OUTSIDE OR THE INNER ONE.*JB
2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES.*MR THE BRAKE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES, 24666, 37158 AND 49592 MILES. THE FIRST TIME THE MANUFACTURER FIXED THEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE OTHER TIMES THEY CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE LAST TIME THE BRAKES FAILED THE FRONT DISC PADS HAD WORN INTO THE ROTORS. *NM
2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE FIRST BRAKE SERVICE THEY WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THAT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. *JB
I HAVE A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH CHRONIC BRAKE PROBLEMS. IN THE 5 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SHOES AND SURFACE THE ROTORS EVERY YEAR (AND REPLACE ROTORS ONCE) BECAUSE OF A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT BRAKES. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO COVER THIS ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR UNDER WARRANTY AND REQUIRES THAT I PAY FOR THE REPAIR EVERY TIME.
I HAVE ALREADY FILED COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO THE HAZARD LIGHT RECALL, WHICH FOR SOME REASON DOES NOT COVER MY 2000 MALIBU. I NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE MALIBU AND FIGURED I WOULD THROW MY TWO CENTS IN. I TO HAVE HAD TO DROP OVER $1000 DOLLARS INTO THE MOST DEFECTIVE CAR I HAVE PURCHASED THIS INCLUDES THE $200 PIECE OF JUNKS I BOUGHT WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER. MY LIST OF PROBLEMS. 1. COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK COST $700 NOTE: MECHANIC LAUGHED AND SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IS THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. IN REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE ONE REALLY STANDS OUT. NICE I AM GLAD GM OWNS UP TO ITS PROBLEMS. 2. BRAKES CONSTANTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED WELL BELOW MILEAGE. GLAD GM SAVED A FEW BUCKS UNDER SIZING THE ROTORS. 3. WITHIN A YEAR THE FANS SWITCH (LEVELS 1,2) AND LIGHTER STOPPED WORKING. BOY GM IS SAVING LOTS MONEY NOW. 4. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR I HAD FUEL PUMP FAILURE, NOTHING LIKE TRAVELING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DOING 75MPH AND CAR TOTALLY DIEING. BOY GM HAS MADE ONE QUALITY CAR. 5. THE LAST INSULT, MY FIRST AND LIKELY LAST GM PRODUCT IS WHEN I THOUGHT BOY I FINALLY GET SOMETHING FROM GM IN REGARDS TO ONE SMALL DEFECT, THE HAZARD SWITCH, I FIND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. WOW NOT ONLY I AM OUT AT LEAST $1000 BUCKS ON PIECE OF CRAP PRODUCT, GM DOES NOT EVEN WANT TO GIVE A BONE TO HUNGRY MAN. WITH THIS TYPE OF PRODUCT IT IS NO WONDER GM IS LOSING MARKET SHARE FASTER THAN ANY OTHER AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GM. CLEARLY THE ARE SOME SERIOUS DEFECTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE GMS OWNERSHIP WITH DEFECTS.
THE BRAKE PULSATE AND GRIND. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 2 YRS NOW. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETLY REPLACED. BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE FUEL LINES, YOU NAME IT AND IT HAS BEEN DONE. I REPLACED THE BRAKES WITH GM PARTS. I NEED NEW BRAKES AGAIN. MY CAR COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. IT IS AWFUL. WHEN THE CALIPERS WERE INSTALLED THEY MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS I WAS TOLD THIS WAS OK. ALSO, IF I APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE ABS GOES OFF. *AK
2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU, 20,000 MILES - DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AGAIN. THIS IS THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY) AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THIS IS A PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO MALIBU'S OF THIS TIME PERIOD. 3 SETS OF BRAKE ROTORS IN 20,000 MILES? UNHEARD OF AND ABSOLUTELY QUALIFIES FOR A "LEMON PART". THIS SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY GM, BUT INSTEAD IT IS A PROFIT STREAM FOR THEM. CAN YOU HELP?*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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