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 my Malibu in 2000 as a used vehicle. It had 24,000 miles on it. I have repeatedly had to replace the front brakes on this vehicle. I have had the rotors turn and replaced the rotors about 5 times. There is definitely a problem with the breaking system. I understand that brakes need to be replaced but I have replaced mine about 32 times in 6 years. I drive a lot of highway miles and therefore do not use my brakes as often as an in town driver. The brakes start to chatter when applied and when I go down the road at certain speeds they also do it. I have never had a Chevrolet vehicle use brakes like this one. I have a 1995 Chevy Corsica with 230,000 miles on it and have only had to replace the brakes on it about 10 times. I also had a Chevy cavalier and also drove it about 250,000 miles and did not have to replace the brakes on it that many times either. I have 230,000 miles on my Malibu. I have talked to several owners of Malibu's and all of them said that they had problems with the brakes needing to be replaced to often.
I purchased my 1998 Malibu, it's had nothing but problems. Since I bought this car in November of 2001 with in less than a week of purchasing I had to take the car back to dealer and have them fix a problem because check engine light was on, I am unsure of the exact problem but I do know the car did not pass emissions and if I had to pay for it, it would have cost me over 500 dollars, I have replaced my front brakes on 3 occasions, I have fixed the leaking transmission 2X, I have replaced the tail light bulbs about 4X, I replaced the alternator and the lining is coming off the trunk. These are all problems I had in less then 2 years of owning the vehicle. Since March 2004 I have been unable to drive my vehicle. I have replaced the fuel pump, water pump, 2 of the injectors and there have been other small repairs here and there. Every time I fix something within less then a week of driving it there is something else wrong I am unable to repair it until I can save enough money to put more into it. I am currently replacing the injectors which I have already paid 600 dollars and have 4 more to go. I am worried that after I put this money into it I will still have more problems, I have been told that there is some electrical problem in the dash but they are unsure exactly what it is because the car will not run long enough to figure out. Nobody can tell me everything that is wrong with because I need to fix one problem before they can be sure of the next. This car was the worst purchase I have made. I was unable to register my vehicle last year due to all the problems. I have been on several web sites and about this car and everyone is having similar problems and putting out thousands of dollars in repairs.
A loud popping noise came from the front and rear. Consumer drove to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the left and right brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced due to warping.
For some reason the front disc brake pads wear prematurely.(they last about a month or so of in-frequent driving).at about every third pad change, I've had to replace both front rotors.ak
I have had several problems with this car: I have replaced tires twice, tried to have the front end aligned because of the steering problem, it is like I have no power steering - when I took it to get the front end aligned, they told me that they couldn't do it because of the rack & pinion needed replaced first. I have called GM and was told that it was not their problem. The dealership told me that there is a recall on this and for me to contact you. I have already had to put a motor and brakes(several times) on this car. Please help me. Sincerely, [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Parma, MO, USA
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The front brake rotors on my 1998 Malibu (with 113,000 miles) are warped and must be replaced. Three prior sets also warped, at 18,000, 29,000, and 91,000. After the first problem I sent a complaint to the Office Of Defects Investigation at NHTSA. It was assigned ODI #735425. I never heard anything back. I note there are over 200 complaints about Malibu rotors warping on the NHTSA website. Isn't there some manufacturer liability for this?
Consumer complained about an ignition problem. Consumer had to hold the key in ignition switch, turn and hold for a period of time before the engine turned over. Secondly, seat belt on the front driver side did not retract. Had to put the seat belt on manually. Also, brakes squeak when applied.
While applying the brakes at any speed, consumer felt vibration in the steering wheel. Vehicle was taken to a dealer, who informed the consumer that the rotors were warped. Had the rotors replaced three times since owning vehicle. Currently, another set of rotors were needed.
Water is leaking into engine from the head gasket. Water pump started seeping after head gasket was replaced. The front brakes was replaced several times with finally the ones mentioned on the bulletin. First the left side wheel bearing/ speed sensor assembly changed then a couple of thousand of miles later the right side. Air condition was going on and off intermittently.
Consumer states that she has had to replace front rotors/ pads, and rear cylinders. While driving 35 mph on highway vehicle started to shimmy and pull to the right. After taking vehicle to dealer, all the above repairs were made.
I have a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. I have had numerous front brake problems...from them wearing out prematurely to the rotors warping. At around 5,000 miles I went to the dealer because the rotors were warped and they were subsequently resurfaced. At around 13,000 miles I had to have the rotors replaced because they were warped (the were replaced with after market rotors). Although warping did occur after the rotors were replaced with a non oem part, it did not occur as often and as badly. About one month ago I had the front brakes resurfaced and bendix pads placed. Warping started after a few days that the breaks were done. The mechanic informed me that it was not the rotor that was at fault. It was the entire brake design of the Malibu. The brakes simply cannot hold back the weight of the car on such small rotors. Because of the relatively small surface area of such small rotors, they tend to heat up way to early causing severe brake fading....the reason why I brought the car to the mechanic to have the brakes done to begin with. Today, as I was driving in light traffic, as I applied the brakes at around 25 miles an hour, it felt as if I wasn't pressing the brake at all and I rear ended a vehicle causing a lot of damage to my vehicle...somewhere around $2,500 worth. After allowing the car to sit for about a half hour I decided to test the brakes by applying them in the same manner as before...and the vehicle stopped as it should. The only possible explanation is brake fade do to the rotors overheating. I'm extremely upset at Chevrolet and at NHTSA because they have not done anything to remedy this major well known issue with this vehicle. These vehicles need to recalled immediately in order to prevent serious accidents from occurring. What if the object in front of my vehicle was a person and not just another car.
There was a vibration in the steering wheel when driving, dealer resurfaced front rotors, then replaced them at 20000 miles. At this time rotors need to be replaced again.
Intake manifold gasket failed, causing coolant to leak. A known problem on this car, Chevrolet should recall it. Mine was replaced under warranty luckily. Rotors replaced one week after purchase, again, a common problem with this car.
Rotors "defective". "out of round". first reported 7/5/99, "pulsation" noted when bakes applied, (first noted about 3-4 months previous?) dealership did not replace, "cut rotors"..2nd incident, "pulsation " in brakes when braking at high speeds?, 16,090 mi..5/23/00.."rotors replaced"...3rd incident noted in June 2001, 26,000 ("no work done" dealership did not find "problem") brakes pulsating..rotors cut again! at 32,969, 5/21/02, "would not replace"..cost $83..reported to gmac..800 222 1020.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Granbury, TX, USA