CHEVROLET MALIBU · model year

1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU

1227 NHTSA complaints, 61 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999CHEVROLETMALIBU carries 1227 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 61 crashes, 2 fires, 69 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 1999 MALIBU is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor with 107 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (102) and electrical system (74). 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 1999 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.

1227
Complaints
61
Crashes
2
Fires
69
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

1227 filings

Crashes Reported

61 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR107
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP102
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM74
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC67
TIRES46
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM39
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING32
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS32
TIRES:TREAD/BELT30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS26
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE24
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC24
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER23
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS22

Recent Complaints

20240419FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Yes it was on and off kept having computer issues and other issues

20240419SUSPENSION

Yes it was on and off kept having computer issues and other issues

20240419UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Yes it was on and off kept having computer issues and other issues

20210919FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.

20210919AIR BAGS

My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.

20210919ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.

20190829CrashAIR BAGS

TAKARA RECALL ..FRONT AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A CAR STRUCK ME FROM BEHIND GOING HIGHWAY SPEED , IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO GET STUCK IN MY TRUNK PUSHED ME DOWN THE HIGHWAY SIDEWAYS AND STUFFED THE NOSE OF MY CAR INTO THE GUARDRAIL BREAKING THE GUARDRAIL , QUICK THINKING SAVED OUR LIVES ( MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT )I SAW THE CAR COMING FULL HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOSED MY CAR INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID GETTING STUFFED UNDER THE TRUCK INFRONT OF ME. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS, I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION, TORN ROTATOR CUFF, FRACTURES IN MY RIGHT ARM AND RIGHT KNEE, CHRONIC HEADACHES, AND PARANOIA OF DRIVING.. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE BACKSEAT BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BROKE FROM IMPACT WITH THE SPARE TIRE.

Mileage: 180,000

20190513SERVICE BRAKES

STARTED MY DRIVE TO WORK IN THE TOOK A LEFT TURN, THEN APPLIED BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANKFULLY I WAS STILL GOING SLOW AND DIDN'T PANIC, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SLOWLY APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE. PARKED THE CAR AND OPENED DOOR AND LOOKED UNDER CAR. COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID NEAR REAR LEFT TIRE. APPLIED BRAKE AGAIN AND COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID STREAMING FROM THE METAL BRAKE LINE. CLEARLY A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE. CORROSION CAUSED THE UNSAFE CONDITION. DO NOT HAVE PICTURES BUT I WILL BE TAKING SOME AS SOON AS I CAN GET THE CAR ON A LIFT.

Mileage: 150,000

20180125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I LOCATED A RECALL THAT MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALER IN LARAMIE WHY WHERE MY CAR SAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND ENDLESS CALLS NO CALL BACK FOR THE IGNITION RECALL AND OTHER ISSUES THAT MY CAR HAD I HAVE EMAILED AND CALLED AND ALL I HAVE GOTTEN WAS A BILL FOR NON SENCE AND HEADACKS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED ON THE CAR AND I HAVE LOST MONEY AND TIME BECAUSE THEY WOULDNT FIX THE RECALL OR EVEN KNOLAAGE THE PROBLEM. JUST UN PROFESSIONAL AND UN REASONABLE PEOPLE THAT AGAIN WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RECALL JUST LET ME LOOSE MY JOB... AGAIN THE AUTO PLACE IS GMC LARAMIE AND THE REP THAT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TIME ABOUT MY CAR IS RICH!

20180125UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I LOCATED A RECALL THAT MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALER IN LARAMIE WHY WHERE MY CAR SAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND ENDLESS CALLS NO CALL BACK FOR THE IGNITION RECALL AND OTHER ISSUES THAT MY CAR HAD I HAVE EMAILED AND CALLED AND ALL I HAVE GOTTEN WAS A BILL FOR NON SENCE AND HEADACKS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED ON THE CAR AND I HAVE LOST MONEY AND TIME BECAUSE THEY WOULDNT FIX THE RECALL OR EVEN KNOLAAGE THE PROBLEM. JUST UN PROFESSIONAL AND UN REASONABLE PEOPLE THAT AGAIN WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RECALL JUST LET ME LOOSE MY JOB... AGAIN THE AUTO PLACE IS GMC LARAMIE AND THE REP THAT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TIME ABOUT MY CAR IS RICH!

20171121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 127,000

20171025CrashAIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING MY AIRBAGS BLEW UP AND I CRASHED RESULTING IN MY BACK AND BOTH LEGS BEING BROKEN

Mileage: 90,000

20161115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 132,000

20161115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 132,000

20161114AIR BAGS

I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR AND I LEFT IT RUNNING AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL

Mileage: 44,000

20160821CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TAKATA RECALL: MY SONS ANTITHEFT CONSTANTLY TURNS ON CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START OR SHUT OFF AND DISABLES HIS KEYLESS REMOTES WHICH THAN NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT STARTED DUE TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE HAD SOME TRICKS. MY SON IS IN COLLEGE AND HAS BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. HE'S HAD 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR WON'T FULLY STOP CAUSING HIM TO HIT A CAR. HIS AC LIGHT CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF MAKING THE AC NOT WORK PROPER. THIS IS THE WORSE CAR!

20160821CrashENGINE

TAKATA RECALL: MY SONS ANTITHEFT CONSTANTLY TURNS ON CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START OR SHUT OFF AND DISABLES HIS KEYLESS REMOTES WHICH THAN NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT STARTED DUE TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE HAD SOME TRICKS. MY SON IS IN COLLEGE AND HAS BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. HE'S HAD 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR WON'T FULLY STOP CAUSING HIM TO HIT A CAR. HIS AC LIGHT CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF MAKING THE AC NOT WORK PROPER. THIS IS THE WORSE CAR!

20160821CrashPOWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL: MY SONS ANTITHEFT CONSTANTLY TURNS ON CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START OR SHUT OFF AND DISABLES HIS KEYLESS REMOTES WHICH THAN NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT STARTED DUE TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE HAD SOME TRICKS. MY SON IS IN COLLEGE AND HAS BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. HE'S HAD 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR WON'T FULLY STOP CAUSING HIM TO HIT A CAR. HIS AC LIGHT CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF MAKING THE AC NOT WORK PROPER. THIS IS THE WORSE CAR!

20160419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 120,000

20160405ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 7,135

Compare 1999CHEVROLETMALIBU to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
The 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 1227 NHTSA complaints, 61 crashes, 2 fires, 69 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The most-complained component for the 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR with 107 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1999 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.