1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PIVOT HOUSING FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE WIPERS TO FAIL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND THE RISK OF A CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V068000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). THE CONTACT PAID $380.68 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,986. UPDATED 1/26/09 *CN UPDATED 01/26/09. *JB

Mileage: 93,986

MY FIANCE AND I HAVE HAD A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSLOCK THEFT SYSTEM THAT WOULD LEAVE US STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK. GRADUALLY IT STARTED DOING IT MORE AND MORE. WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES BUT WHEN TRYING TO START IT AGAIN; IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD TIMES OF BEING STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS BECAUSE IT WOULD KEEP DOING IT! RIGHT NOW OUR CAR IS AT MY FIANCE'S WORK BECAUSE IT WON'T CRANK AND WE GOT TIRED OF TRYING AFTER 3 HOURS. THIS IS SO ANNOYING! CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM(NOT COUNTING ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THE BRAKES AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS). WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM..THAT MEANS THEY SHOULD RECALL IT AND FIX IT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY LIKE THEY DO AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON. I'M CURRENTLY A COLLEGE PELL GRANT RECIPIENT THAT IS GOING TO LOSE MY GRANTS BECAUSE OF THIS LEMON CAR! I WAS ADOPTED BY MY GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE ON SSI AND DISABILITY AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND ME TO SCHOOL. I HOPE THE PEOPLE AT CHEVROLET ARE HAPPY WITH RUINING MY FUTURE! PLEASE HELP ME!!!I NEED MY CAR FIXED BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!*JB

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 CHEVY MALIBU. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND TOWN, IT WAS RAINING, AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF OF THE CAR. I LOOKED UP RECALLS ON YOUR SITE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I HAVE. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL FOR MY CAR. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # IS 01V068000

Mileage: 162,300

THERE IS A RECALL ON MY 1997 CHEVY MALIBU FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND I HAVE HAD THEM BREAK DO TO THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER IN MY TOWN WILL NOT COVER THE RECALL BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER THAT IS LISTED IN THE RECALLS AND I LIVE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS NOT REPORTED IT FROM MISSOURI ABOUT THIS HAPPENING DOES NOT MEAN IT SHOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE EXACT THING THAT IS SAID TO HAPPEN TO THE WIPERS ON THE RECALL HAS HAPPENED TO MINE AND IT WILL COST ME 150.00 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM THAT BROKE. I WANT THIS PROBLEM FIXED SO I CAN GET MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE AD MISSOURI TO THE LIST AND ALSO ALL CHEVY MALIBUS IN 1997 SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AS IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME.!!!*AK

RECALL 01V068000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

Mileage: 96,000

1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU WIPERS THE PART BROKE FROM THE ARM CALLED CHEVROLET PLACE IN BOAZ ALABAMA TO CHECK IF THEY HAD A RECALL HE CHECKED AND SAID NO. *NM

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

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION,AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK THE WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN VERY HEAVY RAINS AND RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN MY WIPERS WERE STOPPED & CRISS-CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME. I FELT EXTREMELY LUCKY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT CAUSING A WRECK. LATER, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A KNOW DEFECT ON THE WIPER PIVOTS FOR MY MODEL CAR. BUT REGARDLESS, THE RECALL WASN'T ANY GOOD FOR MY STATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS... IF A PART IS DEFECTIVE- IT IS DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE FOR CERTAIN 'SALT-BELT' STATES, OF WHICH MY STATE ISN'T INCLUDED. I DID HOWEVER LIVE IN ONE OF THESE SALT-BELT STATES FOR SEVERAL YEARS (WITH THIS CAR). BUT WHETHER YOUR CAR IS REGISTERED IN ONE OF THOSE STATES OR NOT YOU COULD HAVE A LOT OF USE OF THE WIPERS. BETWEEN HURRICANE SEASON AND THE RAINY SEASON IN FLORIDA, WIPERS GET A WHOLE LOT OF USE DOWN HERE TOO. *NM

Mileage: 109,482

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 91,000

SEP.6 2001 &JULY 22, 2003 RECALL WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING---DEALER SAID I DIDN,T NEED THE RECALL REPLACED AND MERCY FROM G.M. SAID TAKE THE CAR IN ON THAT RECALL STILL NO WORK ON WIPER PIVOT HOUSING----LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS LOW MILELAGE CAR---32610.*AK

VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THE PIVOT HOUSING. PLEASE REFER TO RECALL #01V068000 *SCC *JB

Mileage: 84,532

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL # 01 V 068 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK INCIDENT DATED TO BE CORRECTED WHEN THE EVOQ IS RETURNED. PER AAJ. 7/7/04.

Mileage: 97,000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL #01 V 068 000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

DURING RAINSTORM AT NIGHT TRAVELING ON LIGHT ROAD WITH LIGHTS OUT ON POLES DUE TO LIGHTNING STRIKE, CARS WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH A DOWN POUR OF RAIN THAT WAS HARD TO SEE IN ANYWAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER TO NOT WORK EITHER SINCE THE PASSENGER SIDE IS DESIGNED TO RUN BOTH. THE PART WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SEEM TO BE DESIGNED FOR FAILURE AS ANYONE KNOWS PLASTIC ONCE HEATE4D AND COOLED THRU SEASONS WILL BREAK. THE POTENTIAL HAZARD COULD HAVE BEEN MANY DEATHS AS THE DRIVING WAS IN A LARGE CITY WITH HIGH TRAFFIC HAD NOT I BEEN ABLE TO GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN DUE TO A CURB BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT ALLOWED ME TO FEEL MY WAY DRIVING.. NLM

GMC REPLACES DEFECTIVE PART IN "SALT BELT" AREA ONLY (RECALL 01V068000); SHOULD REPLACE IN ALL AREAS. *AK CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE DEFECT APPEARS IN ALL LOCALES AND WHEN THE HOUSING SNAPS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THIS OCCUR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MONIES CHARGED TO HER BY GENERAL MOTORS. *JG

THE CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE 01V-068 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE RECALL LISTED STATES WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THE CONSUMERS STATE WAS NOT LISTED THEREFORE THE CONSUMER TOOK NO IMMEDIATE ACTION, HOWEVER WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY SNOWSTORM THE VEHICLES WIPERS SUDDENLY CEASED TO FUNCTION, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE STATE IN WHICH HE LIVES. NLM

THE VIN NUMBER OF CAR FELL INTO RECALL BUT SINCE CAR IS IN MISSOURI GM SAYS IT DOESNT QUALIFY FOR RECALL. THE CAR WAS FROM ST. LOUIS MISSOURI WHICH BORDERS ILLINOIS . ILLINOIS BY THE WAY IS IN RECALL. WE FEEL GM KNOWS ABOUT DEFECT AND IS AVOIDING FIXING IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT 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

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

BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT UNKNOWN TIME TO DRIVER RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISON BY ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK AND EMITTED A BLACK SMOKE RESULTING IN UNOPERATIVE USE OF ANY FAN/HEAT/DEFROST..MAIN INSTRUMENT OF POWER WINDOWS ON DRIVER SIDE OPERATED ENOUGH TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS BUT NOT ROLL UP DRIVERS SIDE RESULTING IN ICE/SNOW/RAIN BUILDUP. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT 4 TIMES RESULTING IN POWER FAILURE ON HIGHWAY RESULTING IN CRASH INTO GUARD RAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND PREVENT ANY FUTURE ACCIDENTS..THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NLM

PASSENGER SIDE PIVOT HOLDER WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS BROKE SO WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP-THEY SAID THE TRANMISSION WAS BROKE ON BOTH WIPERS-THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES NOT IN MISSOURI. UNFAIR!*AK

THE WINDSHILED WIPER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (01V-068) DURING A RAINSTORM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. NLM

THE WINDSHILED WIPER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (01V-068) DURING A RAINSTORM WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. NLM

WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NEEDED, WINDSHIELD WIPER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. THERE IS A RECALL LISTED REGARDING PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY. *AK *TT

FOR MONTHS THE AIRBAG MADE NOISES WHEN DRIVING AS AIR WAS SEEPING THROUGH THE RUBBER BORDER. THEN TODAY THE SUNROOF JUST FLEW OFF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY SO THERE WAS NO WAY OF SALVAGING IT. IT BROKE OFF THE HINGES AND THE SUNROOF WAS NOT OPEN ANYWAY AT ALL. IT WAS THE TYPE THAT YOU COULD EITHER VENT OR SLIDE BACK.*AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED RECALL(01V-068) FAILURE CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DURING SNOW STORM, CHEVROLET CLAIMS NO RECALL EXISTS. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM BROKE. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES IN SALT BELT STATES. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GOT OUT OF SYNC/ CAUGHT AND STOPPED AND STUCK AND STUCK TOGEHTER IN MIDDLE DURING OPERATION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *AK WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKE, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT 23350 MILES, HOWEVER TRANSMISSION DID NOT BURN OUT THIS TIME. *SLC

DATE OF INCIDENT- HEAVY RAINS, DRIVING ON 1-95 NORTH IN STRATFORD, CT- THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER SYSTEM FAIL- BREAKS OFF ITS MOUNTING BRACKET- LEADS TO FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE WIPER IN A POURING RAIN ON HIGHWAY- VISIBILTY BECOMES ZERO- WAS LUCKY TO GET OFF THE ROAD FROM MIDDLE LANE WITHOUT INCIDENT. FOUND A GARAGE WHO HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE- PUT RIN-X ON MY WINDSHIELD WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. SHOWED DEALER- NEXT DAY THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE REPAIRED, DONE AND CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND DESCRIBED THIS AS AMANUFACTURER DEFECT. CAR OUT OF WARRANTEE AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER. HOW MANY DEMOLISHED VEHICLES AND FATALITIES HAVE HAPPENED ON A RAINSLICK ROAD AND THE CULPRIT HAS BEEN THE WEATHER WHEN ACTUALLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT, BUT THE DEAD PERSON WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE CAR WOULD HAVE SEVERE DAMAGE AND THIS DEFECT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED. I THOROUGHLY BELIEVE BY MY EXPERIENCE, AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERING DEFECT AND CAUSE FOR SEVERAL DEATHS. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, OR THOSE THAT WHERE GIVEN ME BY THE DEALER AFTER THE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT AS I BELIEVE I AM ONE ONF THE LUCKY FEW WHO SURVIVED.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE IN A RAIN STORM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. SUSPENSION WAS BAD IN THE FRONT. ALSO, BATTERY DID NOT WORK & NEEDED CHARGING/ WINDSHIELD NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO WIND SINGING/ VEHICLE WOULD STALL/ BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED, AND TIRES WERE WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE POOR SUSPENSION. VEHICLE AT DEALER. *AK

WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS

EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR LOOSE. MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS FAILED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER DETACHING.

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS TURNED FROM DELAYED TO LOW, AND LEFT WIPER WENT OVER TO RIGHT SIDE, AND RIGHT WIPER JUST STOPPED WORKING. WIPERS BROKE, SMOKE FROM MOTOR THAT BURNED OUT, CAME FROM UNDERHOOD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WARRANTY WILL REMEDY PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION....

MIDDLE DASH VENTS FAILED.

DEFROSTER CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED RESULTING IN VIBRATION.

POWER WINDOWS SWITCH FAILED.

WIPER ASSEMBLY FAILED.

WINDSHIELD FAILED CAUSING IT TO CRACK.

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES AT ALL SPEEDS OBSTRUCTING VIEW ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, ALL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY HAVE FAILED, DEALER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND BOTH REFUSE FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR.

POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

WIPER MOTOR AND RELAY BOARD FAILED.

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE 7-29-97/ 8-04-97, THE STEERING RACK WAS DETERMINED DEFECTIVE. WHENEVER TURNING A CURVE THE RIGT FRONT TIRE RATTLES, OTHERWISE ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MAKE RATTLING NOISES. DEALER HAS REPLACED STEERING RACK EIGHT (8) TIMES ALREADY, AND SAYS THAT UNTIL GM REDESIGNS STEERING RACK THERE IS NO NEED TO REPLACE AGAIN. *AK BRAKES VIBRATE, FRONT ROTORS WARPED. CLICKING NOISE COMES FROM THE MOTOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW EXPRESS DOWN FEATURE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP 8 DIFFERENT TIMES, HOWEVER THE RATTLING NOISE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, MANUFACTURER HAS A NEWLY DESIGNED STEERING RACK, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED DUE TO PURSUING THE LEMON LAW. LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, CAUSED A THUMPING NOISE. *SLC

EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE, OBSTRUCTING VISION.