Problems · by component

1997 Chevrolet Malibu suspension problems

45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu cite suspension, 10% of all 452 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
45
10% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE PASSENGER CALIPER AND ROTORS TWICE BECAUSE THE BOLTS FOR THE CALIPER KEEPS POPPING OUT AND THE BOLTS FOR THE BRACKET KEEPS POPPING OUT.. MY WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT LAST MONTH..LAST NIGHT THE CAR WOULDN'T START UP ANYMORE WHEN I DO TURN THE KEY THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR UP I GET A CLICKING NOISE, THE RADIO KEPT GOING IN AND OUT ALSO. NOW MY O2 SENSORS AND TRIPPING. I'VE HAD TO CHANGE THE EGR VALVE BECAUSE IT KEPT GETTING STUCK IN OPEN POSITION AND I ALSO CHANGED THE BELT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2020Suspension, Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11322384
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO FLIP AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2014Suspension, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10639799
“NOTICED A HOWLING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT WHEEL. NOISE GREW LOUDER AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DETERMINED IT TO BE THE WHEEL HUB/BEARING. THE HUB/BEARING WAS REPLACED. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE 3 ON LF AND 1 ON RF WHEEL.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2007SuspensionODI 10186089
“THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT RELIABLE THEY MIGHT WORK ONE TIME AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WONT WORK. THERE IS A LOT OF RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A WEIRD SOUND WHEN BEING TURNED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2007Steering, Suspension, Exterior lightingODI 10180895
“CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY CHECKED THE TIRES, AND FOUND THAT THE TIRES WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM OR CAUSE OF IT. *AK WHILE DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE PULLED MULTIPLE TIMES TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER PULLED TOWARDS THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *TC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2004SuspensionODI 10090216
“MY FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE MALIBU. MY LIGHT DEVELOPED CONDENSATION IN THEM WHICH IN THE REAR CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GLOW DIM, AND CAUSED E TO GET PULLED OVER ON A NUMBER OF TIMES. IN THE FRONT IT HAS CAUSED THE GLASS SHIELD TO FOG CAUSING ME TO FAIL VEHICLE INSPECTION. THERE HAVE ARE MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON MY CAR SUCH AS THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM, THE POWER MOON ROOF, THE MANUFACTURER'S CD PLAYER, THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THEN IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH EMISSIONS. THE HEADLINER IS FALLING OFF THE CEILING. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2004Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Wheels, SeatsODI 10073144

Showing 6 of 45 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.