13 of the
693 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu are about the
body and structure — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
104,080 miles.
D
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Body
538.5%
Frame AND Members
215.4%
Door
17.7%
Hood
17.7%
Bumpers
17.7%
Hinge AND Attachments
17.7%
Tailgate
17.7%
Structure
17.7%
Body & Structure across every Chevrolet Malibu year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO FLIP AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10639799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 158,160 milesKingston, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING), RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR AND WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, EXTREME FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER INDICATED THAT SOMEONE DAMAGED THE SUBFRAME AND BOLTS ALONG WITH THE QUARTER PANELS BEING RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS, SUBFRAME AND THE QUARTER PANELS WHICH WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER PROVIDED AN INTERIM FIX OF WELDING THE BRACKETS TO THE FRAME AND WITHIN WEEKS THE COMPONENTS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE STEERING RACK DUE TO THE FRACTURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,160. DYD
NHTSA complaint #10630718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MA1 injured
STRUCTURE
NORMAL DRVING CONDITIONS. HE ENTIRE VISOR AND ITS HINGES ON DRIVER'S SIDE SPONTANIOUSLY FALLS OFF. THE END OF HINGE HAS SHARP PLASTIC SPIKES WHICH INJURED THE DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #10096069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wallins Creek, KY
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD START TO FLICKER ON/OFF, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED FUSE, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, DOME LAMP WIRING, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, POWER STEERING HOSE, FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNT, HEATER, LEFT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH, RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT, LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE COVER, AND LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #8009045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wheeling, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
SEAT BELT NOT WORKING, ALL FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING ALL AROUND THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED AND HOOD CABLE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #9005502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Durham, NC
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WENT TO THE DEALERSHOP FOR COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING IN "TIRES" AND T2222HE UNDERCARRIAGE FELT LOSE OVER SMALL BUMPS. I GOT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR $1,200 AND DECLINED THE OTHER REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. WITH THE CAR ONLY BEING 3 YEARS OLD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR REPAIRS! I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE. WITH THE NEW STEERING ASSEMBLY, THE UNDERCARRIAGE STILL FEELS LOOSE. I CAN FEEL IT UNDER MY FEET. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM, THE 1 AND 2 BLOWERS DON'T WORK! THEY WORKED FINE WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR IN! WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOP, THEY DIDN'T WORK. I WILL CONTINUE TO GET THESE PROBLEMS SOLVED.2
NHTSA complaint #720714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE COMPARTMENT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND WOULD NOT LOCK SINCE NEW. YH
NHTSA complaint #609095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brownsboro, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE COMPARTMENT PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #531614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, UN
STRUCTURE:BODY
GLOVE COMPARTMENT REPLACED DUE TO NOISE AND LOOSENESS.
NHTSA complaint #543607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden CIT, KS
STRUCTURE:BODY
DASHBOARD SEPARATES BETWEEN THE UPPER DASH NEXT TO WINDSHIELD AND THE DOOR, REPAIRED AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO SEPARATE.
NHTSA complaint #542309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louis Town, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH FENDER SKIRTS FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCESWIRING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #825295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baldwin, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S HOOD/WINDSHIELD AREA IS VERY WIDE CAUSING SNOW, LEAVES AND DEBRIS TO ENTER ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #525896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carthage, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
VEHICLE MAKES ALOT OF NOISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AND HITTING BUMPS.
NHTSA complaint #521361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.