Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET MALIBU · model year
1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHEVROLETMALIBU carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 MALIBU is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front (1) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1989 MALIBU, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE GM RECALL ANTIFREEZE DXCOOL THE ANTI FREEZE THAT'S ON RECALL. THAT I HAVE INTAKE GASKETS SEEPING FROM THE RADIATOR. IT HAS THE DXCOOL. ITS NOT THE NORMAL ANTIFREEZE. ITS GOING TO COST 800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY PARENTS CAR HAS SAME ANTIFREEZE. BECAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE I HAD TO GET MORE OF THAT STUFF. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY LETTER. IT HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR AWHILE. THIS PROBLEM DRAINS FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON MOSTLY. *TR
Mileage: 96,887
20070527SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE MAKING A TURN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
19990730SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOORBOARD BRAKE FADE AWAY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Compare 1989CHEVROLETMALIBU to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?▼
The 1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM.
Is the 1989 CHEVROLET MALIBU safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.