13 of the 693 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu are about the other systems — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY THIEF LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND MY CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES THIS PAST MONTH. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE PASSLOCK TO TURN CAR IN ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL LIGHT STOPS BLINKING THEN IT WOULD START. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #11386109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, THE DRIVE WHEEL PULLEY SHATTERED CAUSING INABLITY TO STEER VEHICLE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10120199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOUGHT CAR NEW 4-14-1997----PROBLEM CAR 32750 MI NOW CHEVROLET RAN AWAY FROM THIS CAR AND SO DID DEALERS---KEPT CUSTOMER IN THE DARK----WAITING FOR 3 YRS OR 36000MI SUSPENSION NOISE ON GOING---RATTLE---CREAKING---GLUNKING WATER PUMP LEAK AT 23000 MILES--FIX EST.$835.00--29295 MI SUSPENSION NOISY YET 32655 MI ON CAR. RELACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER $532.42---32600 MI REPLACE 4 TIRES $314.00---32525 MI TOOK 3 YEARS TO GET BRAKES UP TP PAR. SUSPENSION STILL A PROBLEM.OVER ALL THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. BATTERY---WINDSHIELD---POORLY BUILT AUTO. THAT'S WHY I HAVE LOW MILES DON'T USE IT MUCH.
NHTSA complaint #10069826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSIVE THEFT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY IF SET OFF, NOT ALLOWING ENGINE TO RUN. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FROM BEING LATE TO WORK, TO SIMPLY MISSING A MOVIE. IN PAST INSTANCES THE ENGINE WOULD START AFTER THE SYSTEM RESET IN TEN MINUTES, THIS TIME IT JUST WILL NOT START AND NOW WE ARE LATE TO CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE WITH OUR FAMILY.I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC, I HAVE LOOKED IN CHEVROLET REPAIR MANUALS, AND I HAVE EVEN ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS, BUT I CAN NOT FIND AN ANSWER ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RANDOM MULTIPLE MISFIRE THAT CAN NOT SEEM TO BE FIXED AS WELL. FROM TALKING TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE INTAKE PENELEM GASKET. WHEN IQUIRING AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE ABOUT THIS GASKET I CAME TO FIND AN IMPROVED DESIGN HAS BEEN MADE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10051457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSLOCK* (THEFT SYSTEM) ENGAGES NOT ENABLING THE CAR TO START (GAS IS CUT OFF TO THE ENGINE). CHEVORLET IS REPLACING IGNITION LOCK (BELIEVED TO BE THE FIX). *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CABLE NEARLY SEVERED. HAD REPORTED ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS IN PAST TO DEALER. WAS DISMISSED AS FLOOR MAT CATCHING THE PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #766778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT UNKNOWN TIME TO DRIVER RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISON BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK AND EMITTED A BLACK SMOKE RESULTING IN UNOPERATIVE USE OF ANY FAN/HEAT/DEFROST..MAIN INSTRUMENT OF POWER WINDOWS ON DRIVER SIDE OPERATED ENOUGH TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS BUT NOT ROLL UP DRIVERS SIDE RESULTING IN ICE/SNOW/RAIN BUILDUP. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT 4 TIMES RESULTING IN POWER FAILURE ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN CRASH INTO GUARD RAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND PREVENT ANY FUTURE ACCIDENTS..THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NLM
NHTSA complaint #760809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #883365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD THREE NEW FRONT CONTROL ARMS PUT ON. NOW THE REAR SUSPENSION IS BAD. THE BRAKES WEAR OUT FAST BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE JUNK, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15K TO 20K MILES. THE CAR HAS 47K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 20K OF THOSE MILES AND HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED ONCE AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN NOW. THE BRAKES NEED REPLACED OFTEN AS A RESULT OF THE ROTORS WEARING DOWN SO QUICKLY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS BUT I URGE CHEVY/GM TO OFFER A SOLUTION SHORTLY OR THEY WILL LOSE A LOT OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF MALIBU OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #722896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SIDE TRIM ON THE INSIDE (TOP AND BOTTOM) ARE DEFECTIVE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #719733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIR CONDITIONER CUTS OFF, ENGINE FAILS TO START (SECURITY SYSTEM), CARPET HAS DISENTEGRATED, FRONT END PROBLEMS, BRAKE PAD REPLACED AND BELT.
NHTSA complaint #716924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CUP HOLDER FELL OFF ON TWO OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #543607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.