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.
Front passenger side coil suspension spring broke without warning severly damaging tire. Heard a loud bang sound and then saw a lot of smoke coming from front passenger side tire. Bottom of front passenger side coil suspension spring broke and lodged into tire without warning.
Coil springs breaking on 1999 Chevrolet Malibu. I was standing outside one morning last year when I heard a large bang. Front coil spring broke and was rubbing up against the tire. Replaced it with a used strut. Last week found a broken spring in the rear while rotating tires. I went on-line and did a search and found that this has happened to many people and what is scary is that it has happened to some while driving, which immediately blows out the tire. Contacted a friend of mine that is a GM service manager, he had just gone through this problem with his nephews 1998 car. He told me that GM had no recalls on this. This is my sons car and I don't want him to become a statistic, to resolve it this safety issue.
The right front coil spring on our 1999 Chevy Malibu broke while we were driving. The strut assembly dropped & punctured the new tire we had gotten less than a month before. The car was not drivable & had to be towed & repaired. I researched this problem online & found that there have been a lot of complaints about this same problem with 1999 Chevrolet Malibu, while Chevrolet has no consequences for having defective parts. This is dangerous & someone could be killed by the defects. We still have the broken coil spring with the part number on it. We should be reimbursed for the cost of the repairs, the new tire that was ruined & the mental anguish of having come so close to a possibly fatal accident. Does someone have to die before defective parts will be recalled & replaced at the manufacturer's expense?
1999 Chevrolet Malibu front end coil spring failed. Consumer states that the front end of the vehicle fell onto the tire due to the failed coil spring. She states that GM should have recalled this problem.
- Wheelwright, MA, USA
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Right front coil spring broke damaging strut and damaging tire. Break was due to rust. Vehicle was making a turn when break occurred causing wheel to be "stuck" in the turn position due to parts rubbing on tire. Mechanic says many of GM products are and have experienced said problem.
While driving 30 mph on christmas day, my right tire burst. After investigating I learned the right front suspension coil ring had fractured and punctured the tire. I had to have the entire front suspension replaced, as well as purchase a new tire.
Front driver side coil springs failed causing vehicle control to be reduced. The spring failed after its first winding down from the top, it appears during compression the spring end contacts the winding below which probably induced a crack and ultimately propagated a stress failure. The part failed while backing out of a driveway with the steering wheel near full right turn. During the turn the spring failed. The passenger spring was also replaced and looked as failure was immanent based on a marks in nearly the same spot as the failed spring. The failed spring is currently in my possession.
I was driving on the highway to work in the morning on a clear and dry day. All of a sudden my vehicle jerked to the left and it was out of control. I managed to pull off to the side of the highway and my tire was ruptured. After getting the car towed, the dealer let me known now that the left front spring broke and punctured the tire. Not only was this a very dangerous situation, but the repair is very costly, not to mention I had just gotten new tires a few thousand miles prior to the incident. I have heard this complaint before and now wonder if this could or should be a recall item??
While pulling out of my car port, I heard a loud noise. All of a sudden the front passenger side of my car fell. I proceeded to go to a auto repair shop not too far from my home to have the problem checked. While in route, right around the corner from where I live, my tire blew out. There was a weird smell and smoke coming from the front right tire. I was able to pull into a parking lot to wait for aaa to tow my car to a repair facility. Thank the lord, I wasn't on the freeway when this happened. The right passenger spring broke and caused the tire to blow out. Had to replace the coil springs, a tie rod and struts.
Passenger side front coil spring broke and punctured tire causing immediate flat tire. Car was traveling at slow speed and driver did not lose control.
Both front coil springs have broke since owning this 1999 chev Malibu. Purchased the car new in 1999. Left front spring failed within 36 months of purchase. The right front spring recently failed and penetrated the right front tire and ripping it open causing the tire to rupture.
The front driver side strut spring sheared off yesterday and was flushed against the tire. Backing out of the driveway at about 8:45 pm heard a loud noise and the car locked U for a second. Tried to pull it off the road, and could smell the tire burning. Got it to a side road, and drove it a little while to see what was wrong. Finally got it to the house garage and noticed the coil spring pressed against the tire.
I was driving my 1999 Chevrolet Malibu down my driveway when I heard a loud clunking noise. The front passenger side of the car went down almost to the ground. I turned car around to go back to my home and smoke started pouring from under the car. Had to have it towed to the dealer where the spring and strut had to be replaced. They had broken and cut into the tire. Extended warranty paid for the broken spring and strut but would not replace other side. Just have to wait for it to break. I had to pay to replace the tires which had only 30,000 miles on them. The Malibu has 72,000 miles on it. I bought it at 29,000 miles. Have had to replace 4 fuel injectors, replace brakes, have had the blower control fixed twice, still does not operate on 1 or 2 setting, check engine light and anitlock brake light comes on and off for no reasons, replaced belt tensioner twice, serpentine belt twice, had oil leaks, has a loud tapping noise when first starting engine (was told that this is common in this car) (sounds like a valve problem to me. I am keeping this car only until the extended warranty is about to expire. It has been a lemon since day 1. this model of Malibu should have been recalled. It is a danger for anyone to drive. Thank god I was in my own driveway and not on the expressway with my grandaughter. No more Chevrolet for me!
(1) I was driving my 1999 Chevrolet Malibu about 35 mph on a town street. (2)without warning, I heard a loud bang from the left front wheel. The car instantly made a sharp left hand turn into the oncoming lane. There were no oncoming cars. I was able to quickly regain control of the can and get back into my lane. I pulled down a side and looked at the left front tire and it looked normal. Under the hood looked normal. I proceded home. The left front wheel had a noticable clunk over the slightest bump in the road. I went home about one mile and took the left front wheel off. I noticed the coil spring around the strut had fractured. The base of the coil spring, (the pearch it was sitting on was bent) was close to the tire. I noticed a rub in the tire was caused by the fractured spring. The fracture was clean except some corrosion was evident at the start of the crack propagation. I have photos if you want. I will also ask for the fractured spring. (3) the car had both front end struts replaced and coil springs replaced.
Car had been driven from Ohio to Florida for vacation. Car was driven out of living complex when black smoke & burning rubber was noticed, drove back into complex & exited car when the tire on front passenger side blew.called aaa to have vehicle taken to an auto repair shop.
Vehicle experienced front coil spring problems. Consumer was backing out of the driveway and the suspension dropped. Then, driver saw the tire smoking. The tire was damaged because the spring went right inside the inner sidewall.
I heard a really loud bang and the front of the car dropped down while traveling at 25 mph near my home. After pulling into my driveway and removing the front tire, I found that the drivers side coil spring had broken and the coil was now rubbing on the tire. The tire was slightly damaged and the car is not drivable. I am planning to have the car towed to my repair shop.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lock Haven, PA, USA