1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System Problems

MY CAR STARTED LEAKING ENGINE COOLER, I HAD IT CHECKED, THEY SAID IT WAS COMING FROM THE OVERFLOW VALVE OR HOSE, AND THAT I MAY HAVE PUT TOO MUCH IN THERE. AND THEN ONE MORNING I GOT UP AND STARTED TO DRIVE, IT CRANKED UP FINE AND THEN I STARTED HEARING A NOISE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM , SO I TOOK IT BACK HOME. ONE MECHANIC SAID IT MAY BE MY INTAKE MANIFOLD OR A GASKETS, I REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT I KNOW IT WILL PROBABLY COST A LOT OF MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I PROBABLY WILL TRY TO TRADE IT SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY KEEPING MY CAR RUNNING, IF YOU CAN MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS , IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT OPEN THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE COOLANT SUDDENLY SPLASHED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THE PAVEMENT BELOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE COOLANT TANK REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD BEGUN LEAKING AND THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

GASKET ON INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING AGAIN REPLACED IN 2001 WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IN 2008. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS GET CONDENSATION BEHIND THEM AND I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. ALSO THE COOLANT TANK NEEDS TO BE REFILLED MORE THAN AVERAGE. *TR

COOLANT SYSTEM OVERHEATING. *NM

CHEVROLET MALIBU 1999. 84000 MILES. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS I HAD TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHTS TWICE THIS IS THE ENTIRE UNIT WHICH COST OVER $250 EACH I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STOP/BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AT LEAST SIX TIMES ON EACH SIDE. THE SOCKET THAT HOLDS THE BULBS KEEP MELTING AND LAST DECEMBER IT MELTED TO THE POINT THAT I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT AND WHEN I OPENED THE PLASTIC SOCKET WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. AS OF NOW NEITHER LIGHT IS WORKING. I CHECKED IN THIS SITE AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ04005 INDICATES THE FOLLOWING: GM IN DECEMBER 2004, GM WILL ISSUE A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM...

BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE 2002- A/C GOES OFF AND ON- IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE- DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DON'T ROLL DOWN- ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED- INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND RADIATOR REPLACED. *NM

. I BOUGHT CAR NEW. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE ASSEMBLY. THE AC SWITCH - BLOWER RESISTOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE ROTORS - IT ONLY HAD 5000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS 61000 TODAY.

AT ONLY 43000 MILES THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE GASKET FAILED. *NM WHEN THE GASKET FAILED IT LET COOLANT INTO THE OIL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

CHRONIC COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAULTY INTAKE GASKET.*AK

AFTER MAKING BUYING THIS CAR, I FOUND OUT WHAT A LEMON REALLY IS. ONE MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO BAD, I COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 55 ON THE INTERSTATE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE ROTORS WERE A BAD DESIGN. THEY APPARENTLY HAD MADE THEM TOO THIN, WHICH WAS CAUSING THEM TO WARP DURING BRAKING. AFTER THEY WERE CHANGED TO A THICKER ROTOR I STILL CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER NEW OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT A THICKER ROTOR ON, IT WAS STILL HAPPENING. I COULD NOT GET HELP ANYWHERE. THEY BLEW ME OFF UNTIL THERE WAS NO WARRANTY LEFT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES BEING OUT OF BALANCE. WHEN I WENT TO THE TIRE DEALER, THEY WOULD TELL ME IT WAS THE ROTORS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER 6...

INTAKE VALVE. SEAL LEAKED , LOST ANTI FREEZE ALMOST OVER HEATED ENGINE. *AK

NOTICED A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE AROUND MY 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. LOOKED AND FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, AND THANKFULLY HAS NOT LEFT HER BESIDE OF THE ROAD. WILL REPLACE THE GASKETS ON MY OWN, WILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND IF NO PROBLEM WHY DID GM REDESIGN THE GASKET (PART # 89017279). WHY ALSO IS THERE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS DATED MARCH 2003 ( # 03-06-01-010). WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN STARTED. THIS PROBLEM COULD START A FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY, AND A WHOLE LIST OF OTHER THINGS. *NM

OVERHEAT, PURCHASE OF NUMEROUS GALLONS OF COOLANT. BROUGHT TO DEALER 8 TIMES OVER A 2 YEAR PERIOD, WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG WHEN WARRANTY IN PLACE. WARRANTY RAN OUT, PROBLEM OF GASKET FIXED. CAR STILL OVERHEATS IF SITS FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES.*AK

36000 MILES PLUS....EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. WAS SEARCHING THE WEB AND FOUND THIS SITE SO I DECIDED TO ADD MY TWO CENTS WORTH ABOUT MY MALIBU. REPLACED FRONT BRAKES (DRIVERS SIDE 3 TIMES - DUE TO CALIPER) AND ROTOR TWICE. ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM - OVERHEATING. STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH FAN MOTOR CONTROL SETTINGS 1 AND 2. ENGINE MISFIRING - HAD INJECTORS CLEANED TWICE AND REPLACED ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM. HAVE A RATTLE IN THE FRONT FOR THE LAST 20000 MILES. CAR HAS FAILED TO START AROUND 8 TIMES. ENGINE HAS DIED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER STARTING AND SOMETIMES WHILE IN MOTION. ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT OCCASSIONALLY LIGHTS UP. LOOKING FORWARD TO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. WOULD RATHER SETTLE FOR AN ADMISSION BY CHEVROLET/GM AND COMPENSATION FOR SOME REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS THE WORST GM PRODUCT I'VE EVER OWNED AND DUE TO THE OTHER...

ENGINE COOLING LIGHT WENT ON, AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE, CAUSING WHITE SMOKE TO APPEAR FROM THE EXHAUST.*AK

LTR RE DEFECTIVE 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU COOLANT SYSTEM, REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS AND A RECALL INVESTIGATION.*MR THE INTAKE GASKETS AND THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED IT COST THE CONSUMER ALMOST $2000.00 FOR REPAIRS. *CB ALSO THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO PERFORMING POORLY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REQUIRED A LITTLE JIGGLING BEFORE IT IGNITED. THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

THIS 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2001 IN HAD A WATER LEAKING PROBLEM TOOK 3 TRIES BEFORE THEY FOUND IT NEEDED THERMOSTAT GASKET DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ONE IN IT THEY SOLD IT TO ME .THIS WAY WITH A PROMISE IT HAD BEEN FIXED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS & STRUT BUSHINGS. THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT & IT CAUSE MY BATTERY TO GO BAD OVERCHARGED IT THEY REPLACED ALTERNATOR BUT REFUSED TO RE-EMBURSE ME FOR THE BATTERY. THEN IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED PROBLEM WITH ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD NOT START. HAD THAT REPLACED IN MARCH 2002. THEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED WINDOW SWITCH VERY SLOW HAD TO BE CLEANED ANOTHER ONE NOT WORKING AT ALL NOW, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AT THIS TIME ALSO HAD TO HAVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM FIXED AGAIN LIGHT...

LEAKING COOLANT THROUGH MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU CARS AFTER 30,000 MILES. I NOTICED ON YOUR COMPLAINT DATABASE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IS THERE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR A RECALL? *NLM

THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS. PROBLEM# 1: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT GASKET WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK. *AK

1999 MALIBU WITH ENGING COOLING PROBLEMS AND FAN DOES NOT WORK ON POSITION 1 AND 2. HAD TO HAVE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED AND ONE MONTH LATER ENTIRE ENGINE WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I REALLY LIKE MY MALIBU, BUT HATE THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD. I, TOO, HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS AND COOLANT LEAKAGE PROBLEMS.*AK

THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THIS CAR INVOLVING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES (CALIPERS STICKING), THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS (RUSTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND BURNED OUT BULBS), REAR SEAT BELT (PART THAT LOCKED BELT TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR CHILD SEAT WAS PLASTIC AND BROKE) AND NOW ALSO THE INTAKE & INTAKE GASKETS ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. I'M GETTING REALLY FED UP WITH HAVING THE CAR IN THE SHOP ALL THE TIME. NOW, AT 57,000 MILES, THE INTAKE GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600, WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY REPLACED AT 16,000 MILES WHEN THE INTAKE WAS REPLACED. WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE PAYING FOR THIS CAR, BUT I GUESS NOT. *JB

COOLING SYSTEM BOILS OVER AND RESERVOIR REQUIRES FREQUENT FILLING. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON IN 3.1 ENGINES UNDER 75000 MILES. 450$ TO FIX THE INTAKE GASKET. *NLM

I HAVE ALREADY SENT IN A COMPLAINT RE: MY '99 MALIBU'S ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT WAL-MART, THE COMPANY I WORK FOR, HAS HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS ON BETWEEN 30 AND 50 OF THEIR '98-'99 MALIBU'S, GRAND AM'S AND GRAND PRIX'S. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET GM TO PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE I HAD TO GET BECAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY CAR. I PAID $2000.00 FOR A USED ENGINE TO BE INSTALLED AND WHO'S TO SAY THAT THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE IT'S THE SAME TYPE 3.1 ENGINE.*JB

MY "99 MALIBU DEVELOPED ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS AND THE FANS WERE NOT WORKING. IT GOT TOO HOT AND TRASHED THE ENGINE. I DEALT WITH GM FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEY FINALLY TURNED ME DOWN FOR HELP BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION GASKET WAS LEAKING, SO THEY REPLACED THAT AND WHEN IT STILL LEAKED THEY SAID IT WAS THE SENSOR TO THE THERMOSTAT AND BY THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY SAID IT WAS SHOT. I HAVE KNOWN OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GM CARS. NOW, SINCE I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR A MONTH, I AM GOING TO GET A USED MOTOR PUT IN IT. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE.

HAVE LESS 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR, MOSTLY USED TO DRIVE TO WORK ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES EACH AWAY. HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GETTING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO TURN ON AND WHEN USED ALOT. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH. ALSO JUST HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FAN CONTROL AS THE FAN DOES NOT WORK IN POSITION 1 OR 2. WILL CHECK IF RESISTOR FOR FAN CONTROL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR JUST WENT OUT OF MANUFACTOR WARRANTY AS OF JAN.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEAT, DEALER CHANGE WATER PUMP, STILL REOCCURING THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE COOLANT BOILS UP AND SHOOTS OUT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW RUBBER TUBE ONTO THE COOLANT CONTAINER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CONSUMER CAN SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE. THEN THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISES SLIGHTLY. CONSUMER HAS TO CONSTANTLY STOP AND ADD COOLANT. *TT

WHILE DRIVING THE COOLANT BOILS UP AND SHOOTS OUT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW RUBBER TUBE ON THE COOLANT CONTAINER, THIS IS DUE TO ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR CORRECTION OF THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. *YH

THERE IS A COOLANT SMELL IN VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE HESITATES. ALSO, HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

COOLING SYSTEM IS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED SENSOR AND WATER PUMP, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. NOW THERE IS LEAKING AROUND THE MANIFOLD. NLM

WATER PUMP WENT OUT WHILE THE CONUSMER WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND LEAK ANTI FREEZE.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS I'LL TRY TO LIST.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THEY HAD BEEN REPLACED WHEN THEY FIXED THE HORN PROBLEMS.COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED WITH MY VEHICLE.I'M NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALED SINCE THE ACCIDENT WAS 9/6/01. I BELIEVE AT THE VERY LEAST THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.I DON'T KNOW WHO TO COMPLAIN TO.I'VE REPLACED REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS,ALTENATOR,WATER PUMP,BATTERY,HORN CONTACT REPLACED TWICE AT SAME TIME HAD TO REPLACE AIR BAG DUE TO SENSOR BEHIND AIRBAG,INTERIOR DOOR PANEL REPLACED BRACKET BROKEN,OIL LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON OFTEN EVEN THOUGH SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DULPICATE,AIR CONDITIONER NOT BLOWING HARD SECURED BLOWER AND BLOWER RESISTER WIRING ANOTHER TIME HAD TO REPLACED A/C CONTROL UNIT,ENGINE LEAKING OIL AROUND INTAKE REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS,REAR SEAT SQEAKED W/ PASSENGERS SERVICE SHOP HAD ATTEMPTED TO FIX BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL ,SO AS YOU CAN TELL MANY PROBLEMS!!! MAKES ME THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING A CHEVROLET...

COOLANT WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.*AK

ALTERNATOR REPLACED. DEALER THOUGHT WOULD REMEDY STALLING/COOLANT LEAK AT 38000 MILES. MANUAL SAID NO MAINTENANCE NEEDED UNTIL 150000 OR 5 YEARS. DEALER TOLD HER TO REPLACE COOLANT, IT KEPT LEAKING. FINALLY, DEALER FOUND CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD, REPLACED THAT. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. *AK THE A/C HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE BATTERY CABLE SNAPPED OFF DUE TO CORROSION. *YH

VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 SETS OF ROTORS. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE AND COOLANT PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER FAULTY AND WAS REPAIRED. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK