1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU Electrical Systemignition Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SENSOR WERE BOTH REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE PISTON SLAP MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

I ONCE OWNED THE CHEVY MALIBU. INCIDENTS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. THREE TIMES WHEN I HIT A BUMP MY CAR SHUT DOWN. I BROUGHT IT TO DAVIDSON CHEVROLET IN MALDEN MASS. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMEONE DID SUGGEST THAT I REMOVE EXTRA STUFF OFF MY KEYRING. I NOLONGER OWN THIS CAR. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CHEVY COBALT IGNITIONS. FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I FEEL THAT YOUR CURRENT RECALL MAY NOT BE REACHING AS FAR AS IT SHOULD. *JS

I WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPLACEMENT,DISCOUNT OR FREE SERVICE ON MY 1997 MALIBU. I'VE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2004 AND HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR IN 2005 WHICH IS NEEDED NOW .THIS CAR HAS PUT ME DOWN A LOT NOT ONLY PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR BUT THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO REPLACE THAT AS WELL AS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS THAT LAST ABOUT 2 OR 3 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY THEY ONLY WORK ON HIGH BEAM. I CAN'T FIND A MORE REASONABLE MECHANIC THAT'S WILLING TO REPAIR THE MOTOR THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE DUE TO THE TYPE WHICH IS A 2.4 AND A USED MOTOR COST ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF A NEW ONE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

IGNITION FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. MISSED WORK!!! BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER.*AK

IGNITION LOCK FAILED! WE CAN'T TURN THE KEY TO START CAR! TUMBLERS MUST HAVE FROZEN!*AK

ALL OF THE ABOVE LISTED IN THE COMPLAINTS. NO COMPONENTS LISTED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD START TO FLICKER ON/OFF, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ALSO, CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED FUSE, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, DOME LAMP WIRING, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, POWER STEERING HOSE, FUEL PUMP, ENGINE MOUNT, HEATER, LEFT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH, RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT, LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE COVER, AND LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK SWITCH.*YD

CAR WOULD NOT START. ANTI-THEFT LIGHT KEPT FLASHING. 1ST OCCURRENCE HAPPENDED ON 10/20/00 AND THEN AGAIN ON 11/11/01. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE HOUSING AND TUMBLER AND REPLACED BOTH AT THE COST OF $396.39 EACH TIME.*AK

THE STARTER AND IGNITION FAILED CAUSING THE KEY TO BECOME STUCK IN THE START POSITION WITH THE ENGINE RACING, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF NOR COULD THE KEY BE REMOVED, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED AT THE DEALER TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. NLM

THIS CAR IS A LEMON (WIFE'S CAR). IN MANY INSTANCES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, DESPITE IT BEING BRAND NEW. WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENTS WOULD GO HAYWIRE (PINNING AND MOVING VIOLENTLY), AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE'S BRAKES FAILED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THE FRONT END MAKES A STRANGE NOISE, AND THE RIDE IS VERY HARSH. BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM, BUT THEY DID NOT 'FIND ANYTHING WRONG'! AT THIS POINT, THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US PROFESSIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A NEW CAR! THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE ARE BUYING AN AMERICAN CAR. IT'S JAPANESE AND GERMAN FROM NOW ON!!

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ON THIS CAR. EVERYTHING FROM THE CARPET TO THE RADIO TO WARPED ROTORS. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO "GET OUT OF" OUR LEASE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. IT'S BECOME QUITE A NUISANCE TO HAVE AND WE ARE DISSAPPOINTED AND EVEN ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT THESE MANY PROBLEMS HAVE GONE UNINVESTIGATED BY THE DEALER THAT WE TAKE IT TO FOR REPAIRS. FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE CAR CAUSING ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR STARTING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED FOR REPAIRS ON AVERAGE, ONCE EVERY SIX WEEKS.

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME FRAME I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCURRING 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST A 4TH. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP, THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AND THE CAR STARTS UP BUT SHUTS RIGHT BACK OFF. THIS CONTINUES, WITH THE RESULTS BEING THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" AND FIXED BY REPLACING THE INGNITION CYLINDER. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN JULY, 1998 AND AFTER SEVERAL UNPRODUCTIVE DAYS IN THE TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECT/SHORT IN THE WIRING, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS THIS ONE REPORTED - 5/15/99, WHICH WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" WITH...

IGNITION FAILED.

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK FAILED TWICE. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION.

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION, HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE.

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION, HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE.