1999 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brakes — recurring rotor and pad wear, ABS warning lights and, in a few cases, a corroded brake line — and about coolant loss from intake manifold gaskets that lets coolant into the oil or overflow. A second cluster of complaints involves the anti-theft (Passlock) system and ignition switch causing no-start or stalling episodes, with front strut springs and sporadic turn signals also mentioned. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   No-start or stalling with anti-theft light (Passlock)

   • 126 complaints (16%)
   • median 77,500 mi at 8.2 yrs old (71 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Complaints describe the vehicle refusing to start or stalling while driving, usually with the anti-theft or security light blinking; owners report waiting around ten minutes before it will start again. Some were told the ignition switch or the Passlock sensor and body control module needed replacement, and a few report the same behavior returning after repair. One owner notes the car could be shifted out of park with the key in accessory. Reported across a wide range, from around 26,000 to over 160,000 miles, and often described as random rather than tied to weather.

   Recall 14V4000004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, Passlock sensor or body control module has been replaced, and confirm whether recall 14V400000 was performed. Note that one owner reported the stall returned after that recall work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I try to start my 1999 chevy Malibu and it will not start the security system light blinks then about 10 minutes later I have a chance of starting it again. Sometimes it wont start the second try either then I wait another 10 minutes to start it. I am lead to believe this is something with the anti theft system. These vehicles need a recall so owners may have there cars fixed at the manufactures expense not ours. I just bought this car and it did seem ok for the first couple months. It is an ongoing problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10419182, filed 2011-08, 160,000 miles

   “On several occasions my car has failed to start for no apparent reason. The alternator and ignition system have all been checked out with no problems and I had my battery replace because I thought that was the cause of the problem. The very next day after having my battery replaced, it happend again. Each of these times, I attempted to start my car and it would sound like it was trying to start but fail to turn over. Each of these times, my theft system light was blinking. If I wait several minutes, eventually the car will start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10114228, filed 2005-03, 77,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leak at intake manifold gasket

   • 118 complaints (15%)
   • median 58,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (72 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2015

   Owners describe low coolant, a coolant smell, overheating or a low-coolant light, traced to a leaking intake manifold gasket that lets coolant into the oil or overflow tank. Several say the same gasket was replaced more than once, and some were told the engine had sustained damage. According to complaints, dealers commonly replaced the gasket and sometimes the intake manifold or coolant tank. Often reported between about 35,000 and 75,000 miles, with some repeat failures later.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for a milky or frothy appearance on the oil dipstick; ask whether the intake manifold gasket has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The intake manifold gasket fails. The dexcool coolant leaked into the oil. The bearings on the gasket are damaged. I was told that I really need a new engine, but that I could try replacing the gasket, but there are no guarantee that will work. I understand this is a common problem for most GM cars from that time frame and starting around 40,000 and that GM has even made a new part finding the original deficient.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070241, filed 2004-01, 59,000 miles

   “The intake manifold has been replaced 2 times on this car. We are still having engine cooling problems. It is in the shop as we speak. Now they are looking at the head gaskets due to coolant leaking into the overflow. There has been numerous complaints I have found in regards to this model. Why isn't anyone contacting the chevy to get this design flaw corrected and compensation for the affected consumers who were unfortunate enough to buy this particular model?”

   NHTSA complaint #10112459, filed 2005-03, 112,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Recurring brake wear, ABS light and corroded brake lines

   • 290 complaints (37%)
   • median 42,854 mi at 5.0 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Complaints describe front rotors and pads needing replacement repeatedly — some owners list several brake jobs at low mileage — along with vibration or noise when braking and ABS warning lights that come on while driving. Several owners say the rear brakes were not working or that a metal brake line rusted through and leaked fluid, leaving the pedal soft. Dealers and shops typically replaced pads, rotors, calipers or wheel-speed sensors; some owners report the noise or warning light returned afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 100,000 miles, though brake-line corrosion shows up on high-mileage vehicles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect rotors and pads for uneven wear and rust, check the hard brake lines underneath for corrosion, and confirm the ABS light goes out after start-up. A service bulletin covers ABS pump running when it should not, so ask whether that has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my rotors reground numerous times over the past one and a half years as well as have had both bearings replaced in the front. I had all valves replaced on the coolant system and it continues to leak still. There is a strong oder that comes in through the airconditioning vents. There is also a strong vibration when braking or traveling at higher speeds which makes the vehicle difficult to control.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021386, filed 2003-06, 34,000 miles

   “In july of 2005 I was involved in a accident due to the fact I was unable to stop this vehicle. I did not realize at the time that I had the ability to file a complaint to a federal safety organization. This vehicle has now had 5 brake jobs, the last being today. The front rotors had to be repaired because the vehicle was difficult to stop and had severe vibration during braking. The mileage on this vehicle is 101000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10164261, filed 2006-08, 98,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Broken front strut springs

   • 49 complaints (6%)
   • median 73,318 mi at 6.8 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2010

   Owners report a loud bang from the front of the car and, in some cases, the spring contacting the tire or the car pulling to one side. Complaints describe front strut springs breaking, sometimes on both sides at different times, and dealers replacing the struts without offering an explanation beyond having seen it before. A separate complaint describes a rear lower control arm bolt coming loose or breaking and the car shaking badly. Reported from as low as about 19,000 miles up to roughly 140,000 miles.

   What to check: Look at the front springs and strut mounts for cracks or a sagging stance, and listen for clunks over bumps during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After driving to work (25 miles) I backed into the parking space in the morning. At noon, I started the car to move forward and heard a heavy rubbing. The front left strut spring had broken at the its bottom ring and was rubbing on the tire. I was fortunate that I was not traveling 50 MPH to work. Car mileage 140,000. 1999 Malibu.”

   NHTSA complaint #10279547, filed 2009-08, 140,000 miles

   “Failure of front strut springs. No notification either time they broke / passenger's side front spring broke about 6 months ago. I did not think too much of it because dealer stated they have seen this happen before. 6-27-07 my driver's side strut spring broke. I was now told that this could have caused an accident by the way this had broke. I contacted another dealer per recall or any notification out there regarding this safety issue. I was told by dealer that they replaced them often enough that they even stocked them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10194951, filed 2007-06, 90,100 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and service history matter more than the odometer. Have a shop check the brakes and brake lines, the coolant and oil for a gasket leak, and whether the ignition-related recall and any anti-theft repairs were done.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.