1999 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1227 complaints
1227
Total Complaints
60,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
Top Issue
61
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

38,500 25th Percentile
60,000 Median Mileage
93,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
107
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
102
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
74
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
67
TIRES
46
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
39
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
32
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
32
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
26

Severity Assessment

61
Crashes
2
Fires
69
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM. UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLS THIS "NORMAL". *AK"
"ABS & PARK BRAKE CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR 5 SECONDS AFTER CAR IN SHOP 9 OF FIRST 21 DAYS OWNED FINALLY IT WAS FIXED. THE SERVICE DEPT WOULD GIVE ME NO INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEMS, AND TRIED TO REDUCE LIKELIHOOD OF LEMON LAW BY NOT PROVIDING ME WITH DOCUMENTATION. ALSO FAKE WOOD NOT SECURED ON A..."
"ABS & PARK BRAKE CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR 5 SECONDS AFTER CAR IN SHOP 9 OF FIRST 21 DAYS OWNED FINALLY IT WAS FIXED. THE SERVICE DEPT WOULD GIVE ME NO INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEMS, AND TRIED TO REDUCE LIKELIHOOD OF LEMON LAW BY NOT PROVIDING ME WITH DOCUMENTATION. ALSO FAKE WOOD NOT SECURED ON A..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28