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.
The subframe of my 1999 Chevrolet Malibu suffered corrosion to the point where it needed to be replaced. This is a very unusual failure of the suspension system. The area round one of the bolts holding the subframe broke off due to corrosion, causing the vehicle to not be able to be steered properly (could not turn right more than 10-15%). if this had happened while I was driving at any speed, it very well could have caused an accident (the component broke while I was attempting to parallel park). Recently Hyundai recalled a number of vehicles due to the same damage for those residing in the salt belt (I happen to own a Hyundai involved in the recall). Based on the damage my Malibu suffered, I believe that the issue of subframe corrosion for those in the salt belt may go beyond the Hyundai recall.
After driving to work (25 miles) I backed into the parking space in the morning. At noon, I started the car to move forward and heard a heavy rubbing. The front left strut spring had broken at the its bottom ring and was rubbing on the tire. I was fortunate that I was not traveling 50 mph to work. Car mileage 140,000. 1999 Malibu.
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.
1999 Chevrolet Malibu sedan with about 70,000 miles on odometer. A similar problem to that described in your NHTSA action number PE03031. Within a few hundred yards of starting up the car and leaving my home, there was a audible bang and the passenger side macpherson strut coil spring suddenly fractured and the broken spring end penetrated the front tire inside sidewall leading to a blowout. I did not travel over any kind of bump or pothole. Fortunately I was traveling at a low speed and the loss of control did not cause an accident. It was winter conditions (salted roads) with an air temperature of around 20 deg.F. I feel that this was a design flaw structural failure in the suspension that should never have happened as it could have been extremely dangerous. I am having both front strut assemblies and a tire and rim replaced at considerable expense.
- Sharon, MA, USA
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On August 24, 2008 my 1999 Chevrolet Malibu was driven less than a mile and the passenger side front coil spring broke. On August 25, 2008 I took the vehicle to bob sumerel tire co. For repair. The spring appeared to have broken at the top first ring. The spring was replaced. I have the remainder of the broken spring. The top part that broke off has been lost. I noticed there are at least two other reported instances of this that were previously investigated by the NHTSA but no recall was issued. This could have resulted in severe tire damage and accidental injury.
I just filed a complaint, ODI# 10234547, 2 days ago on the front strut spring breaking without notice and after replacement of the front struts, I took the car to a local repair shop for an alignment and nys inspection. I receive a call from the mechanic stating that he cannot do the alignment and inspection because both rear strut springs are broken. This car has less than 20K miles on it. This is obviously a defect in the steel used to manufacture these springs.....with many, many complaints filed.....yet no recall....it will continue to happen to these cars and the Pontiac Grand Am, which is basically the same car. Will tragedy have to strike a determined amount of families before the investigation into these strut springs is reopened? I hope not.
Driving at 35 mph, the spring fractured on the front left strut of a 1999 Chevy Malibu with 19000 miles. The break caused a huge bang and the front of the car dropped. Luckily the sharp part of the break did not puncture the tire, damage the brake line or break the tie-rod end. The spring did indeed contact the tire and wore the epoxy coating off, but again, did not puncture the tire. I had the two front struts replaced and saved the broken one and the receipt for verification in case there is a future recall. I have seen that this problem has many complaints and I can say that this is a defect in the steel that was used to make the spring....not a corrosion problem. The spring is covered with an epoxy coating and where it rubbed off, from contact with the tire, the steel looked shiny new.
Failure of front strut springs. No notification either time they broke / passenger's side front spring broke about 6 months ago. I did not think too much of it because dealer stated they have seen this happen before. 6-27-07 my driver's side strut spring broke. I was now told that this could have caused an accident by the way this had broke. I contacted another dealer per recall or any notification out there regarding this safety issue. I was told by dealer that they replaced them often enough that they even stocked them. I felt that in this year the production defect required intervention by you. I again had no indication until I heard a clung. Which at that time I was not driving very fast. I work in a repair shop, and have never seen a spring break on any vehicle. The shop I work for deals with vehicle with lots of miles on them. My 99 Malibu only has 85,000-90,000 miles on it and both my springs broke within 6 months of each other. Thanks for taking the time to read my concern. Please let me know if you have heard of anymore issues that may relate to my concern.
Rotor replacement X 3. suspension - front replaced. Calipers X3. Tire wear and leaks - replaced annually. Radio - bad wiring. A/C in dash wiring replaced twice. Rear light assembly replaced twice. Leaking in rear light assembly and trunk. Coolant leak - 8/06 at 74000 miles. Mechanic believes it is the water pump. A/C sensor replaced.
At about 27000mi (3000mi. Service) I notified dealer of squeaking in front & rear suspension bushings. Dealer sprayed lube on rear (about $100)and notified me that they would have to lower complete front end to lube front, approx $200 more. Extended warranty didn't cover. At 30000 mi service dealer notified me I needed complete brake job. I inspected brakes while on lift. Mechanic said he made mistake! he said that he hadn't pulled wheels of yet. Said there was 80% left, repair invoice said 50% left. A little over a week later there was a puddle of trans fluid on garage floor & air conditioning smelled like urine when on, also switching itself from recirculation to fresh. Took car to dealer, they replaced switch, deductible $SE on extended warranty, sprayed something in outside vent (mold they said?), and tightened trans cooling line, their fault! three days later cooling leak, dealer replaced water pump, deductible $'s on extended warranty. Two weeks later the rear power window actuator (motor & cable assembly) quit! I might have used this window 12 times since I bought 99 Malibu ls from champion Chevrolet, reno, nv. New in 12/99! all things considered, I feels like they are sabotaging my vehicle to get back at me for discovering they lied about brake job! also after reading your complaint list, I realize that I am not alone thinking that brakes, steering vibration, and reliability in general is poor on this vehicle.
Suspension is still having problems after three trips to dealership for repairs. GM admits service alert, but remedy they suggest doe snot fix problem. When vehicle is moving at higher speeds on rough surface, car jerks, squeaks and feels generally less controllable
Front wheel started to squeak. This was the fourth set of front wheel bearing contacted dealer, and dealer stated just keep changing wheel bearings. *akglove box door does not close, headlight brigher than other, fog lamp fell off while driving, foglamp assembly was replaced, passenger rear door queeks when opened / closed, automatic transmission fluid leaks, brakes noisy / squeeking when braking, vehicle squeeks when sterring right, consumer also states failures with struts and strut caps. Consumer complains that all four tires worn out too fast, whirring noise from fl tires. No tire information given.
6 months after purchase and presently, left front brakes cause vehicle to shake, consumer states vehicle is hard to control on ice and snow at high speeds, consumer also hears a low hum coming from front of vehicle, sound could be brake related or a suspension problem.
Vehicle has had 6 sets of rotors. Steering wheel and front shake and vibrate at highway speeds. Vehicle experienced engine and coolant problems. Air conditioner faulty and was repaired.
Clunking/grinding sounds coming from front end when turning corners and/or going over bumps (such as R/R tracks, driveway approaches, etc); brakes shuttered and barely responded while driving 35-40 mph down decline in a light rain; rotors were replaced 8/2000 but noise has not lessened. Cold air comes in from door handle of driver sd door, making it necessary to continuously drive w/defrosters on when temperatures are @/below 50 degrees; very poor acceleration, engine sluggish and misses when accelerating; very poor gas mileage avging 21-23 mpg hwy. On 4-cyl engine; rear tail light replaced due to condensation formation when 1st purchased; rear passenger brake light burnt out and need of replacement.; rear passenger door 3" section of paint corroding and in need of repainting/finishing.
Vehicle has been in for a front end noise 3 times so far..1st the front suspension arms were replaced...2nd the steering knuckles were replaced....3rd they still dont know....4th to replace front left strut....on 5/22/2000 the brakes locked and shimmied, was told the rotors were worn and needed turned.
Ongoing problem with frontal vibration while traveling at highway speed of 65-70 mph. Also, caused vehicle to go out of control when applying brakes at that speed. Vehicle been in/out dealer shop on nine occasions. Some repairs and parts replacements was made; but, problem still occurring.
When driving the car upon putting on the brakes the car shakes and vibrates. Sometimes it is violent enough that it is hard to control. This has happened three times. I have had the car fixed twice and waiting for an appointment to have it fixed again. The lights also go dim when you roll the windows down. This was a program car when we purchased it. I need a dependable car for me and my family. Something that I do not believe that this car is.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- East Chicago, IN, USA