Problems · by component

1999 Chevrolet Malibu electrical system problems

142 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Malibu cite electrical system, 18% of all 800 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
142
18% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2021Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11433541
“I LOCATED A RECALL THAT MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALER IN LARAMIE WHY WHERE MY CAR SAT FOR 2 WEEKS AND ENDLESS CALLS NO CALL BACK FOR THE IGNITION RECALL AND OTHER ISSUES THAT MY CAR HAD I HAVE EMAILED AND CALLED AND ALL I HAVE GOTTEN WAS A BILL FOR NON SENCE AND HEADACKS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED ON THE CAR AND I HAVE LOST MONEY AND TIME BECAUSE THEY WOULDNT FIX THE RECALL OR EVEN KNOLAAGE THE PROBLEM. JUST UN PROFESSIONAL AND UN REASONABLE PEOPLE THAT AGAIN WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RECALL JUST LET ME LOOSE MY JOB... AGAIN THE AUTO PLACE IS GMC LARAMIE AND THE REP THAT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TIME ABOUT MY CAR IS RICH!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2018Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11064928
“BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK AT ANY SPEED,NO FUSES OR RELAY ARE BAD OR BLOWN.NO POWER AT RELAY BY BLOWER OR BLOWER ITSELF.IT WORKED FRIDAY,SATURDAY WHEN STARTED DID NOT WORK.ALSO WHEN TURNING LEFT SOME DUMB BELL SOUNDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2016Electrical systemODI 10926267
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2016Electrical systemODI 10860369
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FOR THE KEY SWITCH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,135.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2016Electrical systemODI 10853509
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE KEY MOVED OUT OF POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO ABLE TO START WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO PROVIDE A PROPER READING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE BULBS CONSTANTLY SHORTED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) YEARS AFTER EXPERIENCING THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THE CONDITION. THE FAILURES CONTINUED, INCLUDING VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2016Electrical systemODI 10836727

Showing 6 of 142 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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