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.

- Jacksonville, TX, USA

Vehicle has just reached 62000 miles. Most recent incident - all dashboard warning lights came on-car died and had to be towed to dealer. Replaced alternator - supposedly "common" at this mileage. Six weeks prior - coolant indicator keeps coming on. Dealer replaced lower intake manifold gasket and water pump. Also told common in this car at this mileage. Brakes done also - rotors needed replacement - again supposedly common in the Malibu.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

The consumer stated four months after purchasing the vehicle with 7,000 miles on it the brakes failed. When stopping the vehicle felt as though the brakes were hitting on one side. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and they replaced the rotors. Approximately nine months later the problem recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the rotors were replaced a second time. (12/08/05) the brakes would pulsate when applied. Updated 12/07/05. Updated 11/20/2005.

- Whitesburg, GA, USA

Chevrolet, Malibu 1999, vehicle had brake problem. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer four times over the life of the car. Dealer told the consumer that the vehicle had warped rotors. Dealer fixed the brakes four times at the consumer's expense, GM denied the problem. The first time the brakes only lasted until 43, 000 miles. The second until 71000 miles, the third time until 79000 miles, and the forth time until 91500 miles. There have been numerous reports of this same defect.

- Henderson, NC, USA

. 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.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

Chevrolet Malibu ls 1999, front end loose, replaced 2 bolts. While driving the entire steering rack cracked for no reason. Less than a year later, the engine cradle rack came apart from the frame of the vehicle. The front brakes, lower intake gasket and water pump were all replaced. The ABS and power steering pressure hose was replaced. The brake light bulbs had burned out.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Very erratic steering when braking supposed "silent" recall; as rotors were not annealed properly Chevrolet replaced rotors (I hope) and front pads condition occurred again six months later, had private garage re-cut rotors, replace pads condition occurred again three months later believe defective rotors but can't afford it, fixed income, this condition could cause severe accident if driver panics as it feels like control is totally gone. Feel there should be a real recall and new type of rotors installed, I was all set to do my brakes the first time but a friend told me about the "silent" recall. I don't feel that brake problems should be "silent".

- Hawthorne, NJ, USA

After making buying this car, I found out what a lemon really is. One month after the purchase, the front end started shaking so bad, I could not drive over 55 on the interstate. I brought it back to the dealer who told me the rotors were a bad design. They apparently had made them too thin, which was causing them to warp during braking. After they were changed to a thicker rotor I still continued to have problems. The dealer new of several complaints with the same thing happening, and even though they put a thicker rotor on, it was still happening. I could not get help anywhere. They blew me off until there was no warranty left. I was told it was the tires being out of balance. When I went to the tire dealer, they would tell me it was the rotors. Needless to say, after 6 new sets of tires, and 7 sets of rotors, I learned to deal with it. I would drive it about a month, the shaking would come back, and I would change the rotors again. This however would eventually ruin the tires after a few months, so I would replace them to. I to had the same problem with the antifreeze light coming on, and was loosing it somewhere within the motor. When my husband went to change the oil, there was antifreeze mixed in with it. I only had 6 payments left on this car, but I was tired of 5 yrs of dealing with this lemon. I traded it in! never will I own another Malibu. They are junk! I now own a Subaru! these dealers need to learn the secret Subaru has. Treat your customer good after the sale!!!!!!!!!!!!! word. Of mouth is the best form of advertisement. As for the dealers I dealt with. I would not send my dog to them!!!!.

- Livingston, LA, USA

Ongoing problems since February 2004. Seems to get worse as time passes. ABS and emergency brakes lights warning comes up at the same time either during driving or 10-15 second after starting car. When this happen, power windows locked up. Also, air conditioning power light went out and don't work. Sometime restart cars several time to clear but doesn't always work. Problems can last a few minutes to hours or until restart cars. Only worry is when driving on highway on very hot days with windows close and ac on and problem locked windows and shut A/C down. Had to do this once. Had to pull over and restart car to open windows. Not sure if this is related to A/C switch problem. A/C turn off/on at will. Was fixed once before but problem reoccured. Also have problem with brakes, ac smell, rotors warped... same reoccuring problems as many other 1999 Malibu owners had. Have problem check but technician unable to pull error codes from it. Been to a few places to have problem checked, get charge for diagnostic but no one seem to know what causing it. Because problem is intermittent, make it even harder.

- San Diego, CA, USA

1 - brake failure at 15,000 miles; replaced brakes 4 times after dealer and manufacturer (Chevrolet) failed to repair; I purchased 3 calipers, 4 rotors and many brake pads at costs of $1,000. 2 - gas guage sending unit failed after 60,000 miles; could not determine proper fuel level; purchased and replaced unit at cost of $325. 3 - intake manifold failed at 45,000 miles; vehicle experienced severe overheating; dealer charged $700 to perform valve job after charging $700 to replace intake manifold; 4 - battery failed after 25,000 miles; positive post fell out of battery; purchased replacement and did not have vehicle towed to dealer because I was in California from Texas on a trip - costs $70.

- Houston, TX, USA

Front end vibration. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, they replaced the rotors and front brakes. However, problem recurred.

- Eliot, ME, USA

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.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

Have to replace brake pads/rotors every 5,000 miles. I've spent more money on the brakes on this car than gas. I've also gone through 5 sets of tires. Replaced wheel hub bearings, and still, after replacing items, the vibration, shaking, instability comes back. Also, problem with ABS. Light comes on and stays on. I've had it looked at 6 times and dealer can't find problem. Each time after seeing dealer, it goes out. But then comes back on again in a few days. Have problems braking. I've had to stop quickly, and the brake pedal goes to the floor, and car won't slow down. It's as if I'm trying to slow down on a sheet of ice, and I live in Florida!!! back taillights constantly melt around bulbs. I've had to replace the tail light assemblies in both. Is Chevrolet going to do anything about these problems"? I've read that a lot of other people are having these same problems. Does it take a few people's deaths to finally get them to care" come on Chevrolet, I used to believe in you, but now I'm questioning the cars. This is the 6th Chevrolet car I've owned. Strongly thinking of never buying a Chevy again.

- Dania, FL, USA

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

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.

- East Canton, OH, USA

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.

- Junior, WV, USA

I experience constant brake grinding, and I had the rotors turned and the pads replaced twice over the past year. Recently, the calipers seized and the brakes did not work. The dealer claimed that there's nothing wrong -- two days after the pads, rotors, and calipers were replaced.

- Oro Valley, AZ, USA

On August 30,2002 I was in a curve and applied the brakes and upon braking the car slid and was uncontrollable. This was the third time that this happened. The first two times I took the car to the dealership and was told that there was nothing wrong. After the accident on the third time a mechanic looked at the car and told me that the rotors and drums were out of round and should have been replaced. The car only had 41000 miles on it and had already had the rotors replaced twice.

- New Concord, KY, USA

I have to do a front brake job on my 99 Malibu about twice per year because of excessive vibration when brakes are applied. This started after the original brakes started doing this and has continued. This is caused by the brake rotors not wearing evenly.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

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).

- New Bern, NC, USA