15 of the 693 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu are about the fuel system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 125,358 miles.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Theft light. Car won’t start it’s happened 20 times in the last 6 months. I was driving and theft light caused everything to shut down. This is a dangerous thing that needs to be fixed
NHTSA complaint #11433505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Theft light keeps coming on, my car will stop when it happens. This has happened while driving. And will not start. I’ve had the recall fixed years ago that was said to be the reason. It didn’t fix the problem
NHTSA complaint #11422206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR GOES INTO LOCKDOWN FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF THE THEFT ALERT SYSTEM AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND POTENTIAL HAZARD TO ANYONE IS OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM AND THERE REPLY IS "WELL THE CAR IS OLD AND YOU NEED TO SEE ABOUT PURCHASING ANOTHER ONE". I GOT THIS REPLY IN 2007. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CHEVY MALIBU'S, WHICH TO ME CONSTITUTES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS WELL AS A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10482296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VEHICLE HAD ITS GAS TANK CAP REPLACED, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10081649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CARS ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, NO OBVIOUS LEAKS; TAKEN TO AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN INTAKE LEAK; THEN INFORMED BY ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP THERE WAS WATER IN MY OIL ; POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH GASKET; BASICALLY SAME SITUATION AS ODI-ID758781.
NHTSA complaint #764595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED MECHANIC STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A SLIGHT LEAK. ADVISED CONSUMER TO HAVE MANIFOLD REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY 35000 MILES ON VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8012001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
5 DIFFERENT TIMES, VEHICLE STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CAUSING EXTEME ANXIETY AND STRESS, REPLACE THE PCM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, DUE TO CAP CRACKED, REPLACE FUEL CAP, CLEAN CODE ROAD TEST OK. GAS PEDAL LOOSE, REPLACE ACCEL PEDAL SHAFT AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY
NHTSA complaint #9004520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
IN JUNE OF 1999, THE ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PREVENTED CONSUMER FROM STARTING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP DID REPAIRS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IN OCTOBER OF 2001, ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, PREVENTING CONSUMER FROM STARTING VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON AT TIMES, ALSO CONSUMER WENT TO HAVE FUEL FILTER REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE QUICK RELEASE CONNECTION AT FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED QUICKLY, BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY IT WAS SOME HOW BENT.
NHTSA complaint #898989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
AIRBAG DERM MODULE FAILED, DISABLING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DEALER AND CHEVROLET DETERMINED FAILURE WAS DUE TO WATER IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SHORTING OUT MODULE. DEALER DETERMINED, AND CHEVROLET ADMITTED, THAT WATER CAME IN THROUGH HOLES IN CHASSIS OPENED UP DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF PATCHES AT TIME OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURE. DESPITE THIS, CHEVROLET REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIR, DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. FUEL LINE BREAK OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SPRAYING FUEL OVER CAR EXHAUST SYSTEM AND TRAILING CARS. PASSING MOTORIST MOTIONED ME TO SIDE OF ROAD, HELPING TO PREVENT FIRE/EXPLOSION. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, CHEVROLET NEVER NOTIFIED NHTSA OR INVESTIGATED PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #753350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS I'VE HAD TO ADD COOLANT TO THE CAR I DID'NT NOTICE ANY LEAKAGE BUT I KEPT AN EYE OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE OIL THE OTHER DAY COOLANT LEAKAGE WAS EVEDENT AND WAS COMING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE LOOSE, YOU COULD MOVE THEM WITH YOUR FINGERS. DEALER COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS 500 DOLLARS.THE TIRE SITUATION IS AS FOLLOWS, 2 SETS OF FIRESTONE AFINNITY TIRE THAT ARE SUPOSSED TO LAST 80000 MILES A SET AND WE CAN ONLY GET AOUT 33000 MILES BOTH SETS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED BY A FIRESTONE DEALER AND OF COARSE IT'S NOT THE TIRES IT IS THE CAR SO THEY SAY.I HAVE THEM ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES AND KEEP THEM INFLATED TO THE PROER SPECS,ALSO HAVE THEM BALANCED AND HAVE THE CAR S ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ANNUALLY. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/60/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/60/15 )
NHTSA complaint #740113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS CAP CABLE BROKE OFF. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS CAP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DRIVING AT APPROX 10-25 VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO STALL WHEN TRYING TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP OR STARTING UP VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY A LEMON. CHANGED/REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS/CLEANED FUEL PLUGS/REPLACED THE COMPUTER, REPROGRAMMED IT.
NHTSA complaint #819072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WALKING TOWARDS VEHICLE & NOTICED STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED A DEFECTIVE PART IN GAS LINE & THEY HAD TO REPAIRED IT. MONTH LATER HAVING SAME PROBLEM, ONLY GASOLINE SPILLING OUT OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #814256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.