Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 990844003 | 06/01/1999 | 606083 | Some customers may complain about weak fm radio reception and / or no am radio reception. *tt | 08/06/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 010849020 | 12/01/2001 | 631899 | Subject regarding revised ignition lock cylinder or ignition switch assembly replacement. *slc | 06/25/2002 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 020604011 | 03/01/2002 | 634710 | Subject regarding revised diagnostic trouble code p0140. *tt | 10/07/2002 | |
| 0208116001 | 01/01/2002 | 631229 | Subject regarding intermittent communication or serial data diagnostic trouble codes stored in history. *slc | 05/21/2002 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 150000 | 1 | |
| Passlock sensor theft system, i believe this was a huge mistake for the gm company. as a owner of the 1999 chevy malibu, and exper. the problem many times. i have reviewed many complaints on the internet about this part as it keeps the vehicle from starting and is a very expensive part to replace. it is dangerous as well as a inconvenience to many....it can take up to ten minutes for the passlock sensor to reset in which case parents may have to leave there children in the cold or reverse in the heat which could be dangerous to infants or toddlers.. many people replace the part for hundreds of dollars and in return it defects again. it causes people to be late for very important appointments such as doctors visits or even the case of (work). i believe the gm company should evaluate the part and try to come up with a solution. many people are talking about this part in which it should be recalled. as a owner of this vehicle i foresee a very big lawsuit coming about in result of injury due to the sensor not working properly. it causes more problems with the owner than it does with thieves that is supposed to be working against. *tr | |||
| 06/08/2012 | 87900 | ||
| The theft system, passlock, fails causing the car to not start for 10 minutes. this can and has happened consecutively, sometimes causing a wait of 30 minutes, before the car can be started. apparently the theft deterent system is defective, known issue with gm, and does not read the key properly when inserted in the ignition system. so, it will shut off the fuel pump to the engine, disabling the engine. | |||
| 03/01/2009 | 0 | ||
| The anti theft light comes on and we have to wait about 15 minutes before the car starts up. sometimes even longer. this has caused dangerous situation from my wife and daughter where they have both been stranded at night not being able to get the car started. there are many people that have the same problem with this anti theft issue. please make this manyfacturer recall and fix this issue. | |||
| 10/03/2011 | 140000 | ||
| Security pass lock problem, security light is on,replaced ignition cylinder. car still periodically shuts down while driving whats gm want to do wait until a incident like toyota happens, or worse causing multiple deaths or injuries. i ran across to many similar incident like this on internet.what if someone is coming on a interstate and while merging this happens, it could cause horrific incidents gm is trying to rebuild its reputation and trust this isn't a good way . | |||
| 07/01/2011 | 160000 | ||
| I try to start my 1999 chevy malibu and it will not start the security system light blinks then about 10 minutes later i have a chance of starting it again. sometimes it wont start the second try either then i wait another 10 minutes to start it. i am lead to believe this is something with the anti theft system. these vehicles need a recall so owners may have there cars fixed at the manufactures expense not ours. i just bought this car and it did seem ok for the first couple months. it is an ongoing problem. | |||
| 10/20/2005 | 40000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet malibu. she was stopped by a passenger in another vehicle and informed that her brake lights were not functioning. she replaced the brake lights herself. the failure has intermittently recurred approximately 5 times a year since she owned the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where she was advised to replace a mechanism within the brake lights. she replaced the mechanism but the failure continues. she also mentioned that she will intermittently experience difficulty starting the vehicle. when she turns the key in the ignition she has to wait approximately 15 minutes for the vehicle to start. the vehicle was not taken to be examined for the cause of failure and was not repaired. the vehicle was also experiencing another intermittent failure in which fuel will spill out of the fuel tank while refueling. the vehicle was not taken to have this failure diagnosed and was not repaired. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 114,000. sm. | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 122152 | ||
| The theft system light kept coming on. it won't start i have to wait about 20mins before the light goes off . i have had my car for 2 -3 years. the problem started about a year ago. how can one light give me so much grief. my car is not worth stealing. is this problem included under safety standard 102 (09v-073) chevy malibu recall ? please advise | |||
| 01/26/2010 | 3 | ||
| Theft system on my 99 chevy malibu has been a constant source of trouble for the last 5 years. have replaced ignition cylinder 3 times but still causing problems. this does not work and causes major problems for the drivers especially when it disables the car several times in a row. it appears the system malfunctions in many models and gm is probably aware it was a bad product and should be recalled.*cw | |||
| 11/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| I bought a 99 chevy malibu for my daughter. only 55,000 miles on it. the vehicle all of a sudden started acting up, lights flashing, power locks going crazy locking and unlocking, all the gauges on the dash are going crazy, vehicle ended dying and wont start. bought a brand new battery $80.00, then purchased a alternator $150.00 vehicle still not running correctly , vehicle ended up not running at all , had the vehicle towed to a gm dealer and they put the veh on diagnostics (charged $95.00) and was told that cannot run diagnostic because there is an electrical problem....fixed that problem ($300) and the vehicle still wont run because of the anti- theft lockout system failure (which i mentioned to the dealer, because of doing research on the internet) i have read online that there are several (more than several people) that all have the same issue with this vehicle, but are being taken for a financial ride with the repair facility not being able to figure out the problem and replacing part after part and the vehicles still don't run. gm obviously has been aware of this problem and the consumer is stuck to foot the bill with a obvious defect that they included in this vehicle. i really would like to know what it takes for a recall on a part that the manufacturer is fully aware and has done nothing to fix the problem, other than charge the consumer $$$$$$$ to fix their mistake. i have read over and over how people are stranded with this vehicle all because of a defective part : anti- theft lockout system failure. *tr | |||
| 09/11/2009 | 65000 | 1 | |
| 1999 chevrolet malibu. no start problem due to a defective ignition switch and or anti-theft system. ongoing problem. no set time or conditions. have key separate from others. not a weight of key ring problem. if a stall occurs or in an emergency occurs, vehicle is disabled for 10 minutes.i have tried to garner any and all information i can, including the non-help from chevrolet to by-pass or correct this problem. this problem started approx. 4 years ago and is very random. *tr | |||
| 01/26/2000 | 40000 | 1 | |
| 1999 chevrolet malibu, the theft system will malfunction and the car will not start for 10 to 15 minutes. this is a safety issue if the car happens to stahl at an intersection or you need to get away quickly from robber or carjacker. *tr | |||
| 10/05/2007 | 67000 | 1 | |
| My 99 chevy malibu, anti-theft light comes when i try to start and i have to wait 10 minutes before it goes out to start the car. is always having trouble starting - it chews through brakes & rotors. very poor manufacturing by gm. *tr | |||
| 08/19/2006 | 100000 | 1 | |
| My 99 chevy malibu, is always having trouble starting - i must wait for the anti-theft lights to go out. it chews through brakes & rotors. very poor manufacturing by gm. *tr | |||
| 06/25/2007 | 90000 | 1 | |
| My car kept stalling and one day it didn't start at all. the dealers first sure thought it was the fuel pump and the lines, so i got that replaced. about a month later my car would stall while driving. so, i brought it the dealer again and they replaced the alternator. car ran fine again for a couple of weeks, and once again, it started stalling on me while driving. sometimes it wouldn't start, or it would start and then die on me. i brought to the dealer again and they said i needed new spark plugs. got that all done, and it didn't help one bit. now, i drove my car all the way from minnesota to new york with no problem, but the day i got here, i started having problems again. my car won't start or it will and it stalls on the through-way, which is very scary, unsafe and inconvenient! i called the dealership here, and i told them what was going on and before i even told him what kind of car it was, he asked if it was a chevy malibu and i said yes. he told me chevy knows about all this happening to almost every malibu they have and they aren't doing anything about it! he said it has something to do with the anti-theft passlock making it so the security comes on in the car and locks the car up because it's faulty. i can't afford anymore repairs and i've been in 2 accidents because of my car randomly stalling! i am glad my 6-month old wasn't in the backseat at any of those times! what am i suppose to do if i have an emergency and can't get my car started because chevy knows about this problem, yet they aren't doing any recalls?! *tr | |||
| 02/07/2002 | 12/04/2001 | ||
| My 1999 chevy mailbu has had many problems. i will start with the 2 fuel injecters replaced 2 months after purchasing. the car begin to run rough then would have problems starting. then there was the altanator, the thermostat, the head and intake gaskets and the numurous electical problems. the electrical problems still cannot be solved after numrous tripsto the repair shop. most of the problems have been corrected on more than one occasion. as a consumer i hope you will help us malibu owners who are in destress. i know the auto companies are in financial trouble but that still does not excuse making an unsafe auto. i am afraid enough not to drive my car. i feel i put my family and myself in danger taking thsi car on the road. i hope you will help correct this problem. i feel my only next option is to contact a lawyer over my legal rights. | |||
| 05/04/2005 | 60000 | 9 | 07/14/2002 |
| Brakes and rotors have been replaced 3 times since 2002- a/c goes off and on- ignition switch replaced due to electrical failure- driver's side window don't roll down- alternator and battery replaced- intake manifold gasket and radiator replaced. *nm | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 50000 | 2 | 06/13/2002 |
| #1 on the stock radio, which came with the malibu, the lights illuminating the radio buttons and knobs burnt out. first along the bass, treble, fade & balance turn knobs and now all the preset buttons #'s 1-6. you can't see anything on the radio in the dark now. #2 i have terrible reception of fm (some times) and am (all the time) radio stations. this has gotton worse since i owned in 6/13/02. | |||
| 09/12/2003 | 30200 | 4 | 12/11/1999 |
| 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. *ph | |||
| 06/05/2003 | 24000 | ||
| All malibu's seem to have the same problems, low miles high miles, ect brakes are replaced at least three to four times a year with minimal miles each time, head gasket leaks, alternator replaced twice, battery twice, electrical shorts twice, ignition switch handles terrible, not safe, car was suppose to have high ratings, lying to get people to buy junk. *nlm | |||
| 2 | |||
| On two occasions while driving, the vehicle would shut down with no warning inhibiting the control of the vehicle with entire console going blank and gauges dropping to zero. the cause of the failure has not been diagnosed. please describe details. *mr | |||
| 05/23/2001 | 5 | 07/16/1999 | |
| Horn was replaced twice by the dealer. no lights illuminated on the dashbaord as linked to another problem. this keeps causing a short circuit.*ak consumer stated the vehicle has been to the dealership 5 times for electrical problems, the multi-function switch, relay switch and cancel cam horn were all replaced, also the intake manifold gasket was leaking oil due to the gasket being improperly sealed, the oil pump drive seal was replaced.*jb | |||
| Everytime passenger gets out of vehicle experiences an electric shock. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1999 | 13 | 02/27/1999 | |
| Electrical system malfunctioned, causing brake light to be inoperative/ air conditioner to turn off/ abs light to come on and off, and vehicle to stall unexpectedly which may result in a crash. dealer replaced battery/ alternator, and etc. took to dealer for these problems 13 times. dealer could not determine cause. *ak all left side and right side brake lights failed. the a/c was shorting. the vehicle stalled on highway on the day it was repaired. the consumer believes the vehicle was unsafe. *yh | |||
| 12/14/1998 | 11/01/1998 | ||
| Problems with brakes since car was new, engine oil leaks, electrical problems | |||
| 06/01/1999 | 05/01/1999 | ||
| Please understand this is not the normal static electric shock you occasionally get from other vehicles. this is on the order of three or four times as strong. i am concerned that the energy released during one of these electric shocks could ignite gas fumes at a gas station when i go to fill up the gas tank. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 02/07/2002 | 12/04/2001 | ||
| My 1999 chevy mailbu has had many problems. i will start with the 2 fuel injecters replaced 2 months after purchasing. the car begin to run rough then would have problems starting. then there was the altanator, the thermostat, the head and intake gaskets and the numurous electical problems. the electrical problems still cannot be solved after numrous tripsto the repair shop. most of the problems have been corrected on more than one occasion. as a consumer i hope you will help us malibu owners who are in destress. i know the auto companies are in financial trouble but that still does not excuse making an unsafe auto. i am afraid enough not to drive my car. i feel i put my family and myself in danger taking thsi car on the road. i hope you will help correct this problem. i feel my only next option is to contact a lawyer over my legal rights. | |||
| 02/02/2006 | 62300 | 1 | 06/24/2002 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 03/16/2005 | 77000 | 10 | 03/01/2003 |
| On several occasions my car has failed to start for no apparent reason. the alternator and ignition system have all been checked out with no problems and i had my battery replace because i thought that was the cause of the problem. the very next day after having my battery replaced, it happend again. each of these times, i attempted to start my car and it would sound like it was trying to start but fail to turn over. each of these times, my theft system light was blinking. if i wait several minutes, eventually the car will start. this has happened in cold and warm weather and has stranded me and my 2 young children many times. also, now my the fuel gauge in my car has begun to fall to empty even when it is full with gas. my gauge suddenly went from 1/4 of a tank to empty a few minutes into my trip. i stopped to fill up my gas tank and was only able to put 7 gallons of gas in it when i know my gas tank hold 13 gallons of gas. this is a new problem just starting yesterday (3/16/05) but has happened every time i start my car since then.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2004 | 119000 | 1 | |
| Consumer stated alternator bracket broke. *ak | |||
| 10/06/2003 | 53000 | 4 | 10/31/1999 |
| Within the past year we have had multiple system failures with our 1999 chevrolet malibu with 47,000 miles. the intake manifold gasket has leaked, the brake pads, rotors, and wheel cylinders were repaired, the theft deterrent system and abs warning lights come on repeatedly, and the alternator and water pump have failed. the passlock sensor and body control module have been replaced to address the theft system warning light and the harness and individual wheel speed sensors have been suggested for the abs warning light. chevrolet should be requred to recall the vehicle to address some or all of these problems.*ak | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 82000 | 4 | 05/07/2000 |
| Vehicle had catalytic converter and alternator go out completely within 10k of each other. once the cat had gone bad, it caused the valve seals on the engine to need to be replaced along with the intake manifold gasket, a $1300 job not covered by extended warranty. also have had break pad problems with them wearing unevenly. the vehicle was at a chevrolet dealer for almost a week before they guessed the problem-no one actually looked at my engine to verify that the seals needed to be replaced, i was so annoyed with waiting for a diagnosis, i had another mechanic complete the work and replace the cat. these problems also resulted in a midnight tow two hours away from home since my car would not start, taking more time and money out of my hectic schedule. *ak | |||
| 11/04/2003 | 70000 | 10 | 07/25/2001 |
| 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 $500.00 for a new set. so i purchased the lug nut part & repalced it myself at a dealership for $10.00 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.*ak | |||
| 07/24/2003 | 52000 | 3 | 02/17/2001 |
| 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!! :)*ak | |||
| 07/10/2003 | 44497 | 3 | 02/17/2001 |
| Altenator replaced at 44500 miles, thought that was the problem but when started up vehicle slams into gear and has no reading on the engine temp, engine warning light continued to stay on odbii testing reads 2 codes both are cooling system input sensor failure, car is now sitting in the garage as repairs are too expensive right now, gm should take responsibility for this failure, as this car is well maintained, i can tell you this i wil never buy another malibu again in my life. *ak | |||
| 07/19/2003 | 47000 | 1 | 08/20/1999 |
| Alternator failure.*ak | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 34000 | 1 | 02/01/1999 |
| Consumer stated that while driving at any speed, the anti lock brake light illuminated and remained on the entire time the vehicle was in motion. *ak the consumer stated the alternator failed. *jb | |||
| 06/30/2003 | 53600 | 1 | 05/03/2002 |
| Electrical system went out while driving on the interstate due to alternator failure. *ak | |||
| 05/28/2003 | 55000 | 3 | |
| Two repairs in one week, alternator had to be replaced,dash lights started coming on & guages going crazy! car wouldn't start after being parked for 1 hr, then when jump started it, died again in few minutes, replaced alternator, battery, then next day ignition failed, key wouldn't turn in ignition, had to be towed to my mechanic (this was the third (3rd) time the ignition switch locked up like this and the key wouldn't turn & the car would not start & entire ignition assembly had to be replaced, 2x earlier it was under warranty...this time it cost me over $400.00 (the part alone cost $289.) i am so frustrated w/ this problem, as dealership repaired it the first 2 times & they didn't seem to understand it. this is the second battery i've had to purchase since i bought the car brand new in january 2000. *ak | |||
| 2 | 04/01/1999 | ||
| This car is not reliable or safe!. no safety defec tmentioned. *ak | |||
| 12/26/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| This vehicle has had several problems i'll try to list.the airbags did not deploy they had been replaced when they fixed the horn problems.completely dissatisfied with my vehicle.i'm not sure if vehicle will be totaled since the accident was 9/6/01. i believe at the very least the airbags should have deployed.i don't know who to complain to.i've replaced rear brakes and rotors,altenator,water pump,battery,horn contact replaced twice at same time had to replace air bag due to sensor behind airbag,interior door panel replaced bracket broken,oil light continued to come on often even though service dealer could not dulpicate,air conditioner not blowing hard secured blower and blower resister wiring another time had to replaced a/c control unit,engine leaking oil around intake replaced intake gaskets,rear seat sqeaked w/ passengers service shop had attempted to fix but was unsuccessful ,so as you can tell many problems!!! makes me think twice before buying a chevrolet product again.thank you | |||
| 02/15/2001 | 1 | ||
| Alternator replaced. dealer thought would remedy stalling/coolant leak at 38000 miles. manual said no maintenance needed until 150000 or 5 years. dealer told her to replace coolant, it kept leaking. finally, dealer found crack in intake manifold, replaced that. water pump was replaced due to leaking. *ak the a/c had never worked properly. the battery cable snapped off due to corrosion. *yh | |||
| 06/01/2000 | 6 | 05/01/2000 | |
| Car purchased 5/00-2 map sensors, fuel filter, shortage to alternator, been in shop 6times in 2months, car stalls in the middle of traffic and at rest.no solution found. dangerous in traffic!! | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 02/01/2000 | 15000 | 8 | 11/06/1998 |
| 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 . *ak | |||
| 07/24/2003 | 52000 | 3 | 02/17/2001 |
| 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!! :)*ak | |||
| 05/28/2003 | 55000 | 3 | |
| Two repairs in one week, alternator had to be replaced,dash lights started coming on & guages going crazy! car wouldn't start after being parked for 1 hr, then when jump started it, died again in few minutes, replaced alternator, battery, then next day ignition failed, key wouldn't turn in ignition, had to be towed to my mechanic (this was the third (3rd) time the ignition switch locked up like this and the key wouldn't turn & the car would not start & entire ignition assembly had to be replaced, 2x earlier it was under warranty...this time it cost me over $400.00 (the part alone cost $289.) i am so frustrated w/ this problem, as dealership repaired it the first 2 times & they didn't seem to understand it. this is the second battery i've had to purchase since i bought the car brand new in january 2000. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The horn, anti-lock brakes, battery and engine failed. *ak *jb | |||
| 12/07/2002 | 2 | 11/01/2098 | |
| Positive side terminal on delco battery failed. second time this failure has happened in 4 years/40,000 miles. dt | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1999 | ||
| The battery post fell off and the battery was replaced. *yh | |||
| 02/07/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Had coolant/oil leaking from valve cover/ intake manifold. dealer replaced all 5 gaskets, oil and coolant. only have 31,000 miles on the car. also had resistor for fan control changed. blower would not operate in position 1 or 2. one month ago in january, had transmission cooling leak. dealer said it was transmission internal wiring harness connector leaking when i told them it was cooling line. invoice shows changed harness, which i couldnt tell it was new because it was dirty, and changed gasket in cooling line. at same time had a/c blower control unit replaced. ive had probelms with this vehicle since i bought it. tires were cupped after first rotation. dearler replaced 2 front tires under warranty. now i have a problem with tires/wheels after each rotation when rear wheels are put up front. said problem might be alignment, which is not covered under warranty. also have had horn repaired due to inop. dealer found wiring harness wasn't connected. had control switch changed on power drivers seat. drivers seat moves back/forth slightly when braking/accelerating. passenger-side airbag was replaced due to squeaking when hitting bumps in the road. had battery replaced due to acid leak eating off positive terminal. had to leave car overnight at work brakes are due replacement due to brake fade. car is total disapointment. would trade it in, but i owe more than vehicle is worth. | |||
| 12/26/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| This vehicle has had several problems i'll try to list.the airbags did not deploy they had been replaced when they fixed the horn problems.completely dissatisfied with my vehicle.i'm not sure if vehicle will be totaled since the accident was 9/6/01. i believe at the very least the airbags should have deployed.i don't know who to complain to.i've replaced rear brakes and rotors,altenator,water pump,battery,horn contact replaced twice at same time had to replace air bag due to sensor behind airbag,interior door panel replaced bracket broken,oil light continued to come on often even though service dealer could not dulpicate,air conditioner not blowing hard secured blower and blower resister wiring another time had to replaced a/c control unit,engine leaking oil around intake replaced intake gaskets,rear seat sqeaked w/ passengers service shop had attempted to fix but was unsuccessful ,so as you can tell many problems!!! makes me think twice before buying a chevrolet product again.thank you | |||
| 02/15/2001 | 1 | ||
| Alternator replaced. dealer thought would remedy stalling/coolant leak at 38000 miles. manual said no maintenance needed until 150000 or 5 years. dealer told her to replace coolant, it kept leaking. finally, dealer found crack in intake manifold, replaced that. water pump was replaced due to leaking. *ak the a/c had never worked properly. the battery cable snapped off due to corrosion. *yh | |||
| 07/18/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1999 | |
| Positive post on battery leaked battery acid. not charging properly. informed by service technician at the dealer that this is a fairly common occurence for acdelco batteries. was also told i was lucky to have been able to drive it in to the dealer- they often times will die while running or will not start at all. battery was replaced under warranty, but with another acdelco product. *ak | |||
| 11/24/1999 | 1 | 09/01/1999 | |
| At less than 3000 miles car started to lose power in acceleration. and transmission started shifting roughly. has now been to dealership 5 times for the same problem. my children and i have almost gotten ran over by other automobiles numerous times, simply because the car would not go. while the car was in for the 2nd repair of the clock spring they broke the tilt lever and scratched trim on steering column. tires are wearing unevenly dealer stated this was normal for a malibu. this car has been nothing but problems since the first day. i have driven more loaner cars than i have my own that i continue to make payments on. most of the miles on my car has been due to repeated visits to the shop. i am very unhappy with this car, the dealership, the service dept., and the way gm has handled the case. *ak( dot number: 93t m + s tire size: p2155or15 ) | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 08/05/2003 | 48000 | 1 | 06/10/2003 |
| The rubber molding around the back light encasing is loose, so water is constantly seeping in causing the back lights to stop working. this is an ongoing problem. i have to constantly change out the bulbs. my brake light in my window is the only one working at this time.*ak | |||
| 70000 | 1 | ||
| Consumer said while driving at highway speed the vehicle died. driver was two lanes from the shoulder. police had to stop traffic while vehicle was pushed to the shoulder. mechanic replaced a # 48 fuse for fuel pump injector. *ak | |||
| 07/24/2003 | 52000 | 3 | 02/17/2001 |
| 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!! :)*ak | |||
| 06/23/2002 | 5 | 06/01/2002 | |
| Fuel and temperature gauges/ blower fuse replaced for 1and 2 positions. *ak | |||
| 04/17/2002 | |||
| Rear brake and turn signals have stopped working, water is getting inside rear brake lights and has caused a short. *ak | |||
| 12/22/2001 | 4 | 10/01/1999 | |
| The brake lights went out. when checking the problem for repair we found that the lights failed because they had been so hot the plastic melted over the contacts. this has happened to 3 of the 4 lights, but the 4th has signs of being very hot also. the fuse should blow before these lights get this hot. this manufacturing is unacceptable. what if all the brake lights were to go out at the same time??? big problems!*ak | |||
| 10/02/2001 | 2 | 05/01/2001 | |
| Purchased vehicle 5/04/01. had to return 2 days later for melted brake light sockets on left rear. bulbs were replaced. melted again within 3 weeks. went back to dealer, was told they couldn't check it they were too busy. made appointment to have fixed. they replaced bulbs and reworked socket but it still failed. they said that there is nothing else they can do. i have replaced bulbs on average every 2-3 weeks. i think they have an electrical short causing the bulbs to melt the sockets. now the turn signal and back-up lights are starting to melt. the interior dome light also works sporadically. front brakes shudder when applied and have been replaced, rotors were cut. still having shudder and extended stopping distances.*ak | |||
| 10/01/2000 | |||
| The rear brake lights on all the malibu seem to have a common problem. the rubber seal leaks water causing the bulbs to short out or get corrosion on them causing them to be inoperable. this problem occurs every time it rains or the car gets washed. | |||
| 08/01/1999 | |||
| 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.*ak | |||
| 09/06/2000 | 3 | 05/01/2000 | |
| Lugs: nuts- these are constantly loose,i can turn them bye hand. some are broken right off.and the chevrolet h.q.and dealership(wildd dodge) along with the chevydealership(ewalds) keep givin me the run around. the paint is simply peeling off the hood of the car,the rotors are grinding and are beginning to peel apart.the back bumper is starting to hang,and the back tail lights are melting and constantly out.*ak | |||
| 3 | 01/01/2000 | ||
| Car shimmied when brakes were applied/stop light quit working went to fix found it all melted on the inside had to repalce whole tail light assembly. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 08/18/2009 | 143000 | 1 | |
| I have found that car can be shifted out of park without the key even being in ignition. *tr | |||
| 12/22/2006 | 119676 | 15 | 10/24/2003 |
| 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. *nm | |||
| 03/16/2005 | 77000 | 10 | 03/01/2003 |
| On several occasions my car has failed to start for no apparent reason. the alternator and ignition system have all been checked out with no problems and i had my battery replace because i thought that was the cause of the problem. the very next day after having my battery replaced, it happend again. each of these times, i attempted to start my car and it would sound like it was trying to start but fail to turn over. each of these times, my theft system light was blinking. if i wait several minutes, eventually the car will start. this has happened in cold and warm weather and has stranded me and my 2 young children many times. also, now my the fuel gauge in my car has begun to fall to empty even when it is full with gas. my gauge suddenly went from 1/4 of a tank to empty a few minutes into my trip. i stopped to fill up my gas tank and was only able to put 7 gallons of gas in it when i know my gas tank hold 13 gallons of gas. this is a new problem just starting yesterday (3/16/05) but has happened every time i start my car since then.*ak | |||
| 05/28/2003 | 55000 | 3 | |
| Two repairs in one week, alternator had to be replaced,dash lights started coming on & guages going crazy! car wouldn't start after being parked for 1 hr, then when jump started it, died again in few minutes, replaced alternator, battery, then next day ignition failed, key wouldn't turn in ignition, had to be towed to my mechanic (this was the third (3rd) time the ignition switch locked up like this and the key wouldn't turn & the car would not start & entire ignition assembly had to be replaced, 2x earlier it was under warranty...this time it cost me over $400.00 (the part alone cost $289.) i am so frustrated w/ this problem, as dealership repaired it the first 2 times & they didn't seem to understand it. this is the second battery i've had to purchase since i bought the car brand new in january 2000. *ak | |||
| 06/06/2002 | 10 | 11/01/2098 | |
| Please refer also to odi id 703986. was driving along a 2-lane road and bumped the keys. the car stopped running immediately. all lights on the dash came on, and all the gauges turned off. i had to make an emergency stop on the shoulder. i turned the ignition off and then back on, and the car restarted. the dealer does not know what the problem is yet. i am able to replicate the problem by tapping on the ignition switch when the car is running.*ak | |||
| 02/27/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Was driving vehicle on freeway, hit a small bump in the road. the car stopped running instantly. all dash lights came on, all gauges went flat (spedometer, tach, fuel, temp), loss of power steering, power brakes. i had to make an emergency stop on the side of the road. i turned the ignition all the way off, then tried to restart the car. it restarted. dealer could not find the problem. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 04/24/2007 | 258000 | 200 | 03/15/2003 |
| I bought the car in 2003, 3 months later the anti-theft light began coming on keeping the car from starting for at least 10 minutes. april 24, 2007 the car would not start at all. i contacted chevrolet several times, and no definite answer for the problem could be given. i could not afford to let them try to figure the problem out. i work in a not so safe part of town and the car stalled in an empty parking lot at night and i could have been robbed or worse. this was very unsafe for people. if a person needing medical attention was driving one of these defective malibus it could have resulted in very serious problems if not even death to the owner. *ak | |||
| 04/21/2006 | 58000 | 50 | 01/01/2001 |
| 1999 chev malibu gm pass lock ii security system activates and prevents use of car. people with medical problems can not depend on car. *nm | |||
| 10/15/2004 | 1 | 03/04/2003 | |
| Intake valve. seal leaked , lost anti freeze almost over heated engine. *ak | |||
| 09/02/2004 | 8 | 08/24/2002 | |
| I have a theft systme light that comes on in my car and it won't let me start my car,,i have had it in the shop numorous times and they can't find anything wrong,,and all they told me was when this happened to switch keys,,dumb but it works sometimes but why should i have to do this..it is a 1999 chevy malibu 4 dr. with only 53000 miles on it.*ak | |||
| 10/06/2003 | 53000 | 4 | 10/31/1999 |
| Within the past year we have had multiple system failures with our 1999 chevrolet malibu with 47,000 miles. the intake manifold gasket has leaked, the brake pads, rotors, and wheel cylinders were repaired, the theft deterrent system and abs warning lights come on repeatedly, and the alternator and water pump have failed. the passlock sensor and body control module have been replaced to address the theft system warning light and the harness and individual wheel speed sensors have been suggested for the abs warning light. chevrolet should be requred to recall the vehicle to address some or all of these problems.*ak | |||
| 02/06/2004 | 68000 | 3 | |
| The vehicle's anti theft system would engage intermittently. as a result the consumer was unable to start the vehicle. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *nm | |||
| 11/04/2003 | 70000 | 10 | 07/25/2001 |
| 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 $500.00 for a new set. so i purchased the lug nut part & repalced it myself at a dealership for $10.00 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.*ak | |||
| 09/22/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle will stall at any speed. *ak anti theft system light comes on at 70 mph. this anti theft system shuts the vehicle down with out notice. *yd | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 04/03/2003 | 60000 | 4 | 08/05/2000 |
| Anti theft controller shut engine down due to faulty ignition switch/module. *nlm | |||
| 10/07/2002 | 30000 | 1 | |
| Had to have the module replaced. mechanic didn't know why it went but knew thats what i needed. after contacting gm they said that it was not a manufactures defect and could not give me a reason why it just went out. *jb | |||
| 1 | 10/04/1999 | ||
| Part of the vehicle shut down, causing the vehicle having to be towed. *slc | |||
| 03/17/1999 | 1 | 03/01/1999 | |
| While operating the vehicle the rpm gauge started to show max rpm readings to 0 and changing rapidly. the car was being driven to the repair shop to have this checked when at a intersection the vehicle just cut off. the engine did not stop but the car could only be moved very slowly until a minute or two past then the speed went up a bit. the repair facility found a crankshaft sensor and the computer to be the fault. currently the vehicle runs good, but the gas mileage is only about 17-18 mpg. will turn it back into the german dealer to have this checked. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 09/12/2005 | 106000 | 1 | |
| Car will not start, replaced starter, relays. dash lights come on but it won't turn over. repair shop said it is ignition switch @$254.00l. i can't afford to repair. tried to start it few days later, perfectly ok and starts everytime for about a week or two, then no warning and it doesn't start again. engine cuts off while driving even. air coditioner blower doesn't work on 1-4, only if fan on 5. fuses have started to blow. cig 4x, radio 2x. dash light theft system stays on at times after start and while operating. could this be any part of why car doesn't start????? my mechanic is bewildered to say the least. *jb | |||
| 06/10/2005 | 50 | 05/25/2005 | |
| Car fails to start more than frequently. was told to replace ignition switch, a cost of $254.00. don't think car should already need ignition replaced. car has died completely while driving on the interstate numerous times. also has something to do with if dash lights come on or just theft deterrent lights. day running lights are equal to reg headlights, all system lights turn on when car is started, no need to even turn switch on, could this be normal? mechanic installed a switch under hood that connets directlyto my starter so when car fails to start i push switch and she starts right up, he said something in column but he not able to pinpoint. steering column doesnot lock, ever! *jb | |||
| 06/22/2005 | 62000 | 2 | 04/15/2000 |
| Dt: the igition switch shorted out and left consumer stranded.the heater switchers burned out, can be replaced but it will burn out again. took vehicle to the dealer, and had an igintion switch put in this week. dealer didn't say what caused the problem.*ak | |||
| 60000 | 4 | ||
| Consumer complained about an anti-lock brake problem. the transmission was also performing poorly and the ignition switch required a little jiggling before it ignited. the intake gasket leaked and the vehicle overheated. the vehicle became inoperative. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Power windows fail to operate at different times. this is caused by an ignition switch failure. *ak | |||
| Ignition switch and electrical system kept failing while driving, causing steering wheel to lock up,which almost resulted in crash. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 03/14/2005 | 26000 | 1 | 10/01/1999 |
| It took several attempts before it would start. the vehicle stalled in traffic and had taken several attempts to start again. the mechanic suggested that the problem was with the starter switch. *ak *sc | |||
| 06/25/2003 | 123000 | 2 | 02/03/2003 |
| Defective intake manifold gasket and then the head gaskets blew on me requiring expensive repairs. *ak | |||
| 05/28/2003 | 55000 | 3 | |
| Two repairs in one week, alternator had to be replaced,dash lights started coming on & guages going crazy! car wouldn't start after being parked for 1 hr, then when jump started it, died again in few minutes, replaced alternator, battery, then next day ignition failed, key wouldn't turn in ignition, had to be towed to my mechanic (this was the third (3rd) time the ignition switch locked up like this and the key wouldn't turn & the car would not start & entire ignition assembly had to be replaced, 2x earlier it was under warranty...this time it cost me over $400.00 (the part alone cost $289.) i am so frustrated w/ this problem, as dealership repaired it the first 2 times & they didn't seem to understand it. this is the second battery i've had to purchase since i bought the car brand new in january 2000. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| Ignition switch and electrical system kept failing while driving, causing steering wheel to lock up,which almost resulted in crash. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 05/03/2000 | 1 | 04/21/1999 | |
| Brake lights and tail lights shorted out, dash lights are inoperative, possible wiring problems. *slc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 08/13/1999 | 1 | 10/05/1998 | |
| Engine light came on while driving because of loose crimp, wiring and/or connector repaired by dealership. *cj | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 04/26/2004 | 1 | 08/20/2002 | |
| Tried to start 1999 chevy malibu on 4/26/04-ignition module had gone out of vehicle-now to replace it i have to apy for it completely because the warranty has expired- i only have 53,500 miles on my car and i feel the manufacturer should be responsible for some of the cost | |||
| 08/11/2002 | 04/01/2002 | ||
| The air conditioner doesn't cool properly. it seems that once my car is getting cool the air conditioner will shut off and will blow warm air. there also is a short between the recirculating air button and the outside air button. the lights will blink on and off simultaneously without even touching the buttons. sometimes an odor will come from the air conditioner. the rear-passenger door is hard to open. my rotors have been resurfaced and replaced. my brake pads have also been replaced but my brakes still grind and squeek. | |||
| 03/01/2000 | 3 | ||
| Rotors and pads were replaced, control panel went out. happened 3 times. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 109000 | 5 | |
| Multiple tail lamp failures on my 1999 chevrolet malibu. i have replaced more tail lamps than i can remember. while replacing them the last time i noticed that the place where you plug in the lamp was starting to melt. i think this is a hazard. the lamps are not burned out when i have to replace them. they just don't make contact with the contacts after a while. i have to put new ones in to get them to work again. this last time i almost couldn't get one to work. *ak | |||
| 09/15/2000 | 1 | 12/01/1998 | |
| I have noticed several mailbu's where brake lights have failed. *ak | |||