86 complaints reported

1999 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
86
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2017

IGNITION SWITCH AND PASS LOCK SENSOR CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT START AND/OR RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2017
Nov 2016

YOUR CAR LIKE ALL NEWER CARS ARE JUNK. READ CLAIM 10926267.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2016
Nov 2016

BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK AT ANY SPEED,NO FUSES OR RELAY ARE BAD OR BLOWN.NO POWER AT RELAY BY BLOWER OR BLOWER ITSELF.IT WORKED FRIDAY,SATURDAY WHEN STARTED DID NOT WORK.ALSO WHEN TURNING LEFT SOME DUMB BELL SOUNDS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2016
May 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FOR THE KEY SWITCH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,135.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2016
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2015
Feb 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE KEY MOVED OUT OF POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO ABLE TO START WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO PROVIDE A PROPER READING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BULBS CONSTANTLY SHORTED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) YEARS AFTER EXPERIENCING THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THE CONDITION. THE FAILURES CONTINUED, INCLUDING VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2010
Jan 2016

I'VE REPLACED TWO IGNITION SWITCHES PREVIOUSLY. ON 1/23/16 ANOTHER SWITCH FAILED. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING AND DASH LIGHTS POWER, RPM AND BATTERY WENT OFF. STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, AND AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING CONTROL. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASS LOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,249.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE ELECTRIC WINDOW PANELS AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V4000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,035. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AS EARLY AS MAY 2005. THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS, AIR CONDITIONER, DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC, COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED, IT WAS POSSIBLE THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CONTINUED TO SOME EXPERIENCE AN ISSUE WHERE THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPDATED 07/08/15

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2005
Jul 2015

THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. (WILL THE ALARM INITIATE ITSELF THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE KEY CYLINDER LOCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIE WHILE DRIVING)? THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH... APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS A ANTI-THEFT FEATURE NOT MENTIONED IN THE USER MANUAL (MENTIONS A ALARM FOR THE CAR RADIO, BUT NOT THE CAR ITSELF). MY CAR WOULD "NOT START" BECAUSE "IT" THOUGHT I WAS STEALING MY OWN CAR WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR. ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF OR RESET IT MANUALLY (YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ALARM GOES AWAY), THE CHEVROLET DEALER SAID UNIT MUST BE REPLACED (WHICH WOULD COST AROUND $350.00 TO $400.00 WHICH I REFUSE TO PAY). REGARDING SAFETY -- WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU NEED TO MOVE THE CAR FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER IN AN EMERGENCY AND THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT STARTS BLINKING? (NO WAY TO DISABLE THE ALARM) -- NEED TO WAIT... FIRST TIME IT TOOK OVER 8 HOURS, THE SECOND TIME IT TOOK LESS THAN 1 HOUR FOR IT TO RESET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE THEFT PROTECTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. AFTER WAITING, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 01/20/16 *BF *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2012
Apr 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2013
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2015*JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO REMAINED ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF OR ON POSITION, THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Dec 2014

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WROTE IN REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH.*MW

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2014
Nov 2014

1999 CHEVROLET CLASSIC CUSTOMER VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY.*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND ENGINE POWER. *JB THE CONSUMER RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM, WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACT PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. HE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES HE INCURRED FOR REPLACING THE PART AND TOWING CHARGES. UPDATED 07/20/15. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2012
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD INDEPENDENTLY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2003
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Sep 2014 Crash Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2010
Sep 2014

I ATTEMPTED TO START MY VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY WOULD NOT ROTATE TO START. A FEW TRIES HAD GOTTEN STUCK AND IT WAS NOT ALLOWING ME TO REMOVE THE KEY OR START THE CAR, OR IF IT WOULD START THE KEY COULD EASILY BE PULLED OUT OF IGNITION WHILE IN RUN POSITION. ULTIMATELY I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION TUMBLER AND NEW KEYS. I HAVE RECEIVED RECALL FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS THAT I HAD TO MAKE DO NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION TUMBLER AND KEYS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 1999 Chevrolet Malibu has 86 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.