2nd Feb 2009, 22:23

I also have a 1999 Malibu. I got the car almost 3 years ago at 74,000 miles. It's now at 112,000.

It didn't start acting up until about 90,000 miles. The first thing was the "intake" the coolant... then it was the brakes.. then it was the gas gauge.. also the dashboard lights.. and out of nowhere the car got loud compared to no sound at all...

Now it kinda has a low knock when I first start the car. It goes away after a min or 2... but I'm still driving it.

4th Feb 2009, 13:26

I was told a couple of months ago that I was getting a 99 Malibu. I was like OK, I hate GM products, but hey it was free.

When I got it, the motor was taken apart and I gotta fix it. Great fun. I have to get it running just to have the problems you guys are. Thanks a lot Chevy for making such a piece of crap. This really goes to show ya that they are more concerned about the CEO of the company making more money that they make a crappy car to make up for it.

I think everyone with one that is falling apart should take it to there local Chevy dealer and refuse to leave until they get it fixed. This will never happen, but at least Chevrolet will realize they made a mistake.

12th Feb 2009, 21:18

I own a 1999 Chevy Malibu and I'm in stitches reading the comments posted on this site. I am NOT laughing at you; I'm laughing with you. It's comical the way the comments are posted. All humor aside, I too have had the following problems:

Gas gauge goes to "E", even after being filled up

Coolant leaking - can't figure out where it's coming from

Just replace alternator last week

Power steering fluid leaking - had to replace hoses

Car jumps when put in reverse - motor mount

Driver side and front passenger window stopped working

Lights on air conditioner switch off and on, on its own

Heater works when it wants to - heat today/no heat tomorrow

Theft light used to come on ever other week - car locked up.

It's time to let it go. I'm going back to a Honda or something better than GM!

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

13th Feb 2009, 13:40

Well I bought my 99 Malibu LS V6 for $400.00 due to the previous owner wrecking and somewhat repairing it. Still pretty cheap I thought! And it has 112,000 miles on it.

I have a few of the problems a lot of the people have like 1 and 2 not working on the blower, air doesn't work, coolant disappearing, have to add every 2-3 weeks.

Passenger side window stopped working, and the power sunroof works when it wants, and the radio stations quit coming in and I've checked all the connections.

Rust around the gas lid, and I just had to put a brake line on it last week.

But other than the minor problems, the car runs good. And it goes smoothly down the road and has plenty of power for me. I also like the space inside. I've gotten my moneys worth already and I plan on driving it till she goes. Just be easy on your cars and they will run a lot better.

22nd Feb 2009, 18:22

This is just too funny - like you're all driving MY car!!

My intake manifold gasket took a dive on me 6 hours from home. Got that fixed for $700 and two train tickets home!!

The gas gauge kept falling to empty, so we replaced the sending unit in the tank, $387.

My balance knob on the radio, which I NEVER use, literally shattered in my hand yesterday!

The first two weeks I had the car, the theft light kept coming on and wouldn't allow me to start the car. This was 8 hours from home. Three trips and a lot of yelling on my part, the dealership finally realized that it was a wiring harness problem.

I've replaced the alternator twice, rotors every other year and my serpentine belt once. The belt was harder to get on than the alternator was to replace, because the engine mount was in the way so I had to drop the engine!

I'm a girl, and grew up with gear heads, and thank God I learned how to work on cars to some extent.

I'd like to thank my boyfriend for saving my hide on the rest of the repairs, because I couldn't have afforded to do all of this at a dealer.

Last, but not least, I have the infamous rust hole by the gas tank. HONDA, here I come!!!

3rd Mar 2009, 11:17

I'd have to say I can't agree with all of your comments. I must have found the diamond in the rough with my '99 Malibu. I bought it used, with only one previous owner and 32,000 miles on it back in 2000. I haven't replaced much of anything on the car. Just the regular maintenance, brakes, oil change/air filters. I've replaced the battery once back in 2001 and replaced the alternator in 2004, but that's about it. I still drive it today and it has about 240,000 miles on it. I can't complain, it's held up extremely well with how much I drive it!

3rd Mar 2009, 13:23

There seems to be someone with every make and model who goes a quarter million mile with hardly a repair. I just can't imagine a vehicle with 200000+ miles on the original struts and shocks. Well, yes, they are the ones who keep bouncing 20 times after a bump.

18th Mar 2009, 09:26

Have 99 Malibu -- original owner -- coming up to 99,000 miles and very happy with the car.

29th Mar 2009, 22:03

Have a 99 Malibu with 187,000 miles on it, bought it for $1500 3 years ago.

I only had to replace the wheel bearings once, my one taillight fills up with water sometimes, so I left the one clip open so it can drain, HVAC control only works at 3,4,or 5, and the passenger side caliper slide is frozen. The trick with the intake manifold gasket is to get the one from Fel-Pro that isn't that plastic garbage they use on the replacements, I think it's $90 bux.

Also the ABS light has been on since I owned it, but I have gotten used to it, don't need ABS anyways, nothing tells another moron driver they cut you off rather than screeching tires, haha j/k.

It has recently started to have trouble starting up, sounding like a WWII fighter plane, haha. The ABS is some wire I don't feel like replacing. I disabled the automatic lights and daytime running lights, and put tape over the service vehicle soon light, because I can't fathom owning a car that you cannot shut the lights off on it, why even put a light switch on it?

Oh yeah, I was visited by the lovely GM exploding alternator fairy the other day, but it's the stock alternator, so it impressed me.

I really hate this car for some reason other than being a POS, probably just not liking it for spending a majority of my time under the hood.

The transmission also slips a lot, especially going around corners because the rear main seal leaks. I just take that retarded red cap off and dump a half quart or so in it, since some rocket scientist decided to save 35 cents by not putting a dipstick in it.

Every day I hope that it will catch on fire, because it is worth more on fire than it is now. I can't really complain because I got my money out of it for 3 years at $1500, which isn't bad. I beat the hell out of it every day I drive it, and really isn't the cause of the problems it has, other than being an electrical nightmare of the proportions it is while only having 5 knobs and 6 buttons.

Maybe the people that are having problems should start hating their car and beat the hell out of it some more, they were never designed to be driven like grandma cars all the time.

The gas tank filler area has started to rust, along with the quarter panel on that side, and the bottom of the driver's quarter has a hole due to that convenient "dirt cup" they placed in front of the rear wheels. This is probably also due to me not washing it in 2 years.

Oh well, this was an average car, as anyone that has owned a early 90's Eagle Talon knows all about problems far beyond this car.

14th Nov 2010, 21:37

I have a 1999 Malibu and have been looking for someone with the same problem I'm having with mine. I see many of you are have "gas tank" problems, but none I've read are like mine.

My tank never goes to empty, even when it's empty. When I get down to a quarter tank the gauge starts to rise again. When I'm almost empty, my gauge is showing full. I hear a loud "pop" in the rear end and when I try to fill up, the pump shuts off like the tank's full. Then gas starts burping back out at me. I have driven to four different gas stations in one afternoon trying to find a pump that will let me fill up.

Also I smell gas a lot when I'm outside my car right after I've driven it. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone have a solution other than gas tank/sending unit replacement?

4th Jun 2011, 15:28

I have a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu LS, and I was wondering if anyone else had the problem where water leaks into the passenger compartment foot area when it rains or goes through a car wash. I've had this problem for some time, and it was originally thought by a mechanic that it was a bad window seal. Well I had the window resealed and put back on, and this didn't fix the problem. I was wondering if it could be an air intake filter. If anyone has any suggestions for what the problem could be and any resolutions for it, that would be much appreciated.

31st Jul 2014, 22:18

When commenting on the performance of any aspect of government, we in Kentucky, thank Mississippi, because for lack of Mississippi we would be last. With General Motors I guess it is Yugo.