Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC · model year
1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999CHEVROLETMALIBU CLASSIC carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 1999 MALIBU CLASSIC is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by suspension (1) and structure (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 1999 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.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Mileage: 160,000
20140930CrashFireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
20140923FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
20140911SUSPENSION
THERE IS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAL SUSPENSION, THAT IF A POT HOLE WAS HIT, THE REAR AXLE WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE CAR AND WHICH WOULD CAUSE A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR FATALITY. *TR
Mileage: 184,000
20140911STRUCTURE
THERE IS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAL SUSPENSION, THAT IF A POT HOLE WAS HIT, THE REAR AXLE WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE CAR AND WHICH WOULD CAUSE A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR FATALITY. *TR
Mileage: 184,000
Compare 1999CHEVROLETMALIBU 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 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC have?▼
The 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and STRUCTURE.
Is the 1999 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.