1999 Chevrolet Malibu — Known Issues & Recalls

Your car may not start, or it might randomly shut off while you're driving. This is caused by problems with the ignition switch and the pass lock sensor, which controls whether the engine can run. The fix will likely involve replacing the ignition switch and/or the pass lock sensor.

Your ignition switch has failed multiple times—this is your third replacement. While driving, your engine suddenly shut off without warning, killing the dashboard lights, RPM gauge, and battery power. When you restarted and put the car in reverse, the engine died again, causing you to lose power steering control. The fix will involve replacing the ignition switch and possibly investigating why it keeps failing prematurely.

Your car's anti-theft alarm system has activated twice in the last month without you trying to steal your own vehicle, preventing the engine from starting. According to the dealer, there's no way to manually turn off or reset this alarm — you have to wait for it to reset on its own, which took over 8 hours the first time. In an emergency when you need to move your car, this could be a serious safety problem since the alarm can't be disabled. The dealer says the anti-theft unit needs to be replaced for $350-$400.

Your car stalled while driving at 60 mph, and the anti-theft warning light came on. After restarting, the problem happened repeatedly. A dealer diagnosed that your ignition switch needed replacement to fix the stalling issue.

After your Chevy Malibu was taken to the dealer for a recall repair on the key switch, the anti-theft warning light started coming on and your car randomly won't start. This problem didn't exist before the recall repair was done. The manufacturer was notified but hasn't offered to fix it. The repair may require the dealer to re-examine the key switch installation or reprogram the vehicle's anti-theft system.

Your ignition key moves out of position without warning, and your car can start even without the key in the ignition. Your fuel gauge doesn't show accurate readings, and your low beam headlights keep burning out and need frequent replacement. Various warning lights flash on your dashboard, and even after taking it to the dealer, these problems continue to happen.

Your car won't start while parked, and an anti-theft warning light comes on. This problem happens repeatedly. A mechanic found that the pass lock sensor (an anti-theft component) was faulty and needs to be replaced to fix the starting issue.

Your car's theft protection warning light keeps turning on and off while parked, causing the engine to stall. After waiting a bit, the engine restarts, but this problem happens repeatedly. A dealer diagnosed that the theft protection module needs to be replaced to fix this issue.

Your car's blower motor stopped working completely between Friday and Saturday, even though all fuses and relays are intact. There's no electrical power reaching the blower motor or its relay. Additionally, you're hearing a strange bell or chime sound when turning left.

The owner expresses general dissatisfaction with their vehicle's electrical system and references a previous complaint (claim 10926267) for more details. Without additional specific information about what electrical component is malfunctioning, the exact nature of the problem cannot be determined.

Your car's front and passenger airbags failed to deploy during a severe rear-end collision at highway speed, leaving you and your passenger without the protection these safety systems are designed to provide. The impact was severe enough to cause significant vehicle damage and result in multiple injuries including a concussion, torn rotator cuff, and fractures. This appears to be a known safety defect (Takara recall) that should have been addressed by the manufacturer.

Your airbags deployed unexpectedly while you were driving, causing you to lose control and crash. You suffered serious injuries including a broken back and broken legs. This issue requires investigation into why the airbag system activated when it shouldn't have.

Your airbag deployed unexpectedly while you were exiting the car, even though you didn't hit anything and the vehicle wasn't in a crash. This is a serious safety concern since airbags should only deploy during actual collisions. You should have the airbag system inspected by a mechanic to determine what caused the unintended deployment.

While driving, your brake pedal suddenly went to the floor when you applied the brakes, leaving you without stopping power. You noticed brake fluid leaking from the rear left area of your car, and when you looked closer, saw fluid streaming from a metal brake line. The brake line appears to have corroded and failed, which is a serious safety issue that needs immediate repair.

Your car's anti-theft system is constantly activating, which prevents the engine from starting or shutting off properly and disables your keyless remote controls until they're reprogrammed. This has left your son stranded multiple times and contributed to two accidents where the brakes didn't work as expected. Additionally, the air conditioning system is malfunctioning and shutting off intermittently. The dealer will need to diagnose the anti-theft system malfunction and address the brake and AC issues.

Your ignition switch became loose and difficult to turn after the dealer applied a glue-on plastic housing as part of a recall fix. Four days later, your key fell out of the ignition while driving at 40 mph, causing the engine to shut down; although you were able to safely pull over and restart the car, the recall repair did not adequately address the underlying problem. You eventually resolved the issue by replacing the ignition lock core yourself. The fix may require replacing the ignition lock cylinder and getting new keys cut to match the new lock.

Your car experienced intermittent computer issues along with suspension and fuel system problems that came and went. The vehicle had multiple system malfunctions that weren't constant, making diagnosis difficult.

Your 1999 Chevy Malibu won't start when you turn the ignition key, and the fuel pressure regulator isn't working when you try to start it. Additionally, your airbag warning light comes on during spring, summer, and winter—suggesting an intermittent electrical problem with the SRS system. The issue likely involves faulty connections or components in the ignition, fuel, and airbag systems that may need diagnosis and replacement.

Your car has an open safety recall related to the ignition system that hasn't been repaired. You took your vehicle to a GMC dealership for service, but after two weeks and multiple unanswered calls and emails, the recall work was never completed and you were charged without resolution. Getting the ignition recall fixed will likely involve replacing or repairing the ignition switch assembly.

Your vehicle failed inspection because all four Bridgestone Potenza tires developed cracks around their entire circumference and showed signs of tread separation, making them unsafe to drive. The tires were purchased in October 2010 and only had 24,183 miles on them when they were replaced in November 2015, despite still having adequate tread depth remaining. You had to purchase a complete set of new tires to pass inspection. The issue may require replacing all four tires and investigating whether they were defective or improperly stored.