This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I purchased a 1999 Chevy Malibu in November 2003. I have replaced the brake pads at least 10 times ($20 each time), the rotors have been replaced 3 times ($70 each time). The brakes give you no warning they just quit suddenly which has almost caused several accidents. The ABS light always comes on and when this happens you can guarantee the ignition switch is about to lock up on you. The rear windows quit working, I hear a weird popping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle while driving down the highway. The anti theft system has came on 6 or 7 times and will not allow me to crank the car(once it happened while my child was having an asthma attack and I was attempting to take him to the er). If you hit a bump in the road sometimes it sounds like a small explosion in the front end and causes the steering wheel to jerk uncontrollably for several miles. I have taken this vehicle to several mechanics who absolutely refuse to work on it because of the general fact that it is a 1999 Malibu, now my ignition has completely quit, actually it hung in the start position and was making my starter grind and almost catch fire, this has happened several about 15 times, but usually after jiggling the key a few times it comes undone, but not this time. My dad had to take my battery off in order to make the engine die. So now my employer got so fed up with me being late or calling in because of my car problems that I was terminated. I am a single mom with 2 children, both have chronic asthma and have to be rushed to the er with severe asthma attacks all the time, and now I have no way to take them should the need arise. The parts are going to cost me $200 and the cost of labor and now I have no job. If you call Chevrolet all they tell you is to take it to a dealer and let the mechanic look at it for a fee, and then they want to charge you more than I make in 2 months, and they never even ask you any personal info so there are no documented claims on your calls.
. I bought car new. The rotors, calipers and brake pads on this car have been replaced 4 times. The passenger side tail lights have had to be replaced every year due to water getting into the assembly. The ac switch - blower resistor has had to be replaced. The first time I replaced the rotors - it only had 5000 miles on it. It has 61000 today.
While driving 75 mph vehicle vibrated when applying the brakes. Vehicle was taken to an independent shop, and mechanic determined rotors and pads needed to be replaced.
I have numerous complaints regarding the brake system of my vehicle. I have had my car for just over a year now and I have had 3 wheelbearings done, the brakes changed twice, the rotors changed and turned, the calipers changed and more. The calipers continue to make a horrible crunching noise and no one wants to take responsibility for it. The dealer says its a manuafacturing defect and Chevy says it was under warranty when I bought it, 12 days, and it was never brought into a Chevy dealership so there's nothing they can do. Well, its crap and I know there are at least a hundred other people with the same problem so if you have a 1999 Chevy Malibu with defects call me and lets sue in a class action suit because they should not get away with this. 607-397-1782
- Worcester, NY, USA
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Ltr re defective 1999 Chevrolet Malibu coolant system, requesting reimbursement for repairs and a recall investigation. The intake gaskets and the water pump had to be replaced it cost the consumer almost $2000 for repairs. Also the brake pads were replaced.
When depressing the brakes at any speed there was pulsation and severe vibrations throughout the steering column. Also, there was extended stopping distance. Dealer had vehicle three times, and replaced rotors/pads on both sides, and the left front coil spring.
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 for a new set. So I purchased the lug nut part & repalced it myself at a dealership for $10 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.
In March 2003 I had to have my rotors and pads replaced at 39,733 on my 1999 Chevrolet. Malibu. The rotors were warped and the pads were eaten away by the rotors. Now, August 2003, my pads are eaten away again with less than 12,000 miles on them. I am afraid the rotors are warped again. I have heard many Malibu owners and auto mechanics tell me there is a vehicle wide problem with the rotors and pads, yet GM (Chevrolet) won't help correct the problem and help with the cost of repairing (again and again).
Have had many problems with this car! bought car 2/17/2001.....-8/15/2001 had to replace alternator....2/24/2002 had intake manifold gasket replaced because of coolant leakage, cost was 600.00.....06/20/03 had to replace battery due to leakage and corrosion around positive cable.......7/24/03 had to replace brake pads and have rotors turned for the second time....I think that there should be a recall for some of these things!!!!! car now has 70,000 miles on it... thought I was buying a good car!! :)
1999 Malibu keeps eating front brake pads. Rear brakes never wear. Pedal is always soft. Have been told by a former Mr. Goodwrench that this an ongoing issue. Have tried to get GM to respond but they will not!!! I am afraid that the majority of the braking is occurring in the front and that in an emergency stop-full braking on all four wheels may not occur. Thanks.
Two-fifths of inboard pad was missing from the metal plate and appeared not to have been bonded to the plate as the metal appeared corroded in the area where the pad should have been bonded to the plate. The dealership is contacting the zone representative who is to inspect the pad and plate on February 28th. The pads were worn but not to the point that the wear indicator touched the rotors. Therefore, the only warning we had of a brake problem was an unusual noise coming from the right front wheel during brake applications, and only then after driving the vehicle for a few miles.
Vehicle shakes and vibrates when brakes are applied. Also, stopping distance has increased. Front brake pads were being replaced too often from wear and tear. Dealer was notified, and problem still exists. Also, rear brake cylinders are starting to leak, and problem became worse.
Brake pads didn't wear evenly, noticable difference on upon comparison. Dealership said this was normal since both sides wore the same. Took to independent mechanic and he stated this wasn't normal wear. The front side of the pad was completely wore out and the back side had more than 60 % remaining wear. How can this be normal? the slides are not distributing the pressure evenly and therefore the pads are wearing unevenly. I feel this is a manufacturing defect. Please help!!!! thank you.
Brake pads are experiencing excessive wear, have either been replaced or resurfaced six times by the dealership. Consumer states rotors have been replaced five timess and the brake pads have been replaced three times, brake drums resurfaced one time because of noise in wheels, recently the wheel hub was replaced, the driver side seat belt would not retract, tires were rotated.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, TX, USA