1997 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR, AND NOISE. ABS LIGHT ON AND OFF. MECHANIC QUESTIONED WIRING PROBLEM COMING FROM WHEEL BEARING TO ABS LIGHT WHICH COULD NOT BE FOUND. WHEN ABS LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE HAS NO ANTILOCK BRAKES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000090 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002181 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DISC BRAKE WEARS FASTER THAN OTHERS AND RUIN THE ROTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002357 at NHTSA ↗

THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN FIXED A FEW TIMES AND NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. NOW, THE ENGINE HAS STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE MALIBU IS A LEMON OF A CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003425 at NHTSA ↗

COOLANT-OIL LEAK PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008379 at NHTSA ↗

ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE, CAR OVER HEATED AND ANTI FREEZE BOILED OVER.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008420 at NHTSA ↗

COOLANT POURED OUT OF VEHICLE. MANIFOLD GASKET WAS A LEMON. REPAIR PLACE INFORMED US, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLE'S. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 87,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010668 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL #01 V 068 000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011302 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.

Consequence: REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 1997-06-28 (June 28, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TIE BAR WERE OMITTED.

Consequence: IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS, THE MODULE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRIKING AND INJURING AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BAG MODULE FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE FASTENERS AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL ANY FASTENERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.