Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC · model year
1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETMALIBU CLASSIC 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 1997 MALIBU CLASSIC is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by wheels (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 1997 MALIBU CLASSIC, 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160314ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING
Mileage: 50,000
20151108WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING IN NEW BERN WHERE I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THAT BUSTED MY TIRE. I MADE A POLICE REPORT. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ONLY GOING 3-5 MPH WASN'T ABLE TO GET GOOD PICTURE OF TIRE IT'S STILL ON THE RIM
Mileage: 252,596
20141121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM CHEVROLET DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS SEPTEMBER 2014. GM RECALL 14350. IGNITION SHUT OFF PROBLEM. GM ADVISED ME BY LETTER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR BY OCT 1, 2014. COMPLIED WITH GM REQUEST ON OCT 1, 2014, BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT GM HAD NOT SENT PARTS FOR REPAIR AND TO CHECK BACK IN ONE MONTH. COMPLIED WITH DEALER REQUEST AND RECONTACTED DEALER ON NOV 10, 2014 FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT GM STILL HAD NOT SENT PARTS AND THAT MY NAME WOULD BE ADDED TO A CALL BACK LIST. AS OF THIS DATE, NOV 21, 2014 HAVE NOT HAD A CALL BACK FROM DEALER. *TR
Mileage: 116,200
Compare 1997CHEVROLETMALIBU CLASSIC 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 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC have?▼
The 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 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.