Faults:

One month after purchasing the car with 50,000 miles I had an Axle Seal Leak, the wheel bearings/hubs had to be fixed, and the rotors were warped.

The fan blower motor stopped working and would only work on speeds 3, 4 & 5.

The a/c blower blinks and sometimes cools, sometimes doesn't.

I had a short in a circuit board for the brake light (if you drive behind any other Malibu, it's likely you will see one section of the brake lights out).

Passenger side window goes down slow (this is a recent problem) and at times doesn't work.

Brake pads and drums replaced twice. They always make a noise even after being replaced.

My fuel gauge is not accurate. I can sit at a stop light and watch the gauge move up and down.

Struts had to be replaced around 70,000.

Intake manifold around 85,000.

Water pump went out a couple of weeks after the intake manifold.

Wheel bearings AGAIN at 85,000.

Both rear doors are difficult to open and shut and squeak loudly.

Headlights always have water/condensation on them.

The car is SO sluggish. I hit the gas and have a 3 second delay before I even go anywhere.

Something is wrong with the transmission and the check engine light just came on. I am dumping this car ASAP (and taking a loss on it, I might add--considering I haven't lost enough money on this piece).

General Comments:

If you are considering purchasing this car buy the extended warranty and get rid of the car before the warranty is up.

I am almost sad to see this car go. It is a fun car to drive when nothing is wrong with it.

Faults:

Brake pads changed every 15000 km. Rotors replaced under warranty 3 times.

Intake manifold gasket blew at 70,000 km, after expiry of 60,000 km warranty. Dealer service dept stated that this was because Canada has higher sulphur content in our fuel compared to US and that the gaskets are not designed for this.

Using recommendations from "Lemonade", I called GM Canada and enquired regarding the existence of a "secret warranty". They confirmed that such a warranty existed and covered the cost of the intake manifold replacement, which had been quoted at $1400.

I sold the car back to the dealer for $7200, in 2002.

Chevy's North Vancouver service dept was fairly cheerful through all the trials and tribulations. They acknowledged that the quality was crap, in both the original equipment and replacement parts.

General Comments:

GM produced the 1999 Malibu with appalling quality. I am embarrassed to have owned such a car.

Faults:

Brakes drums and pads too many times to count

Parts I have replaced:

A/C blower motor

Alternator

Battery

Ignition Switch

ABS light kept coming on, but stopped when ignition switch replaced

Rear passenger power window motor

Serpentine Belt

Spark Plugs and wires.

Current Problems:

Fuel gauge drops to empty and sounds chime as soon as tank is down to 1/2 (thank god there is a trip counter so I know when I need to fill up)

Driver side power window switch works when it wants to

Front passenger window switch operates really really really slowly

Temperature gauge registers in red zone when car is cold and bounces through the entire range of temperature during driving

Brakes make all kinds of strange noises.

General Comments:

I love this car. It is comfortable to drive, has great power and rides really well. It handles nicely on the winding Italian roads.

The constant glitches are annoying, especially since they have all occurred since we transferred to Italy. Therefore there are no Chevy dealers and we have to order our parts through the mail, wait weeks for them to arrive just to find we have not isolated the actual problem.