Front Suspension Problems of Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving between 30 to 40 mph the vehicle began to violently jerk. As a result, the vehicle traveld into another lane and crached into a curb. The contact also stated that the front passenger side axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.

See all problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I have a 1998 chevy Malibu, and the spring strut snapped in half and popped a hole in my tire, I had no control of the vehicle and almost had a head on collision with another car going 45 mph. Luckily the car moved just in time, I am very scared for other people who own this car. It just happened tonight, so I am not quite sure what is going to be done about the car, but im begging you to please make this issue public! something needs to be done about this issue, people need to know because it can cost lives by not saying anything.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

My 2003 chevy Malibu has noise due to the front strut mounts being broke, noticed on web site 7 other people with the same problem. Some of them have replaced and happened again within 17,000 miles. All cars are between 50,000 to 69,000 miles. I think there should be a factory recall on this problem.

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The front end of 2007 chevy Malibu suspension performance is unacceptable. I had the struts replaced because the standard equipped struts were too weak.

See all problems of the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The subframe of my 1999 Chevrolet Malibu suffered corrosion to the point where it needed to be replaced. This is a very unusual failure of the suspension system. The area round one of the bolts holding the subframe broke off due to corrosion, causing the vehicle to not be able to be steered properly (could not turn right more than 10-15%). If this had happened while I was driving at any speed, it very well could have caused an accident (the component broke while I was attempting to parallel park). Recently Hyundai recalled a number of vehicles due to the same damage for those residing in the salt belt (I happen to own a Hyundai involved in the recall). Based on the damage my Malibu suffered, I believe that the issue of subframe corrosion for those in the salt belt may go beyond the Hyundai recall.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Malibu 1999 with 68,000 miles came out to leave for work found pass side spring.

After driving to work (25 miles) I backed into the parking space in the morning. At noon, I started the car to move forward and heard a heavy rubbing. The front left strut spring had broken at the its bottom ring and was rubbing on the tire. I was fortunate that I was not traveling 50 mph to work. Car mileage 140,000. 1999 Malibu.

The front left, driver side, spring broke while driving at approximately 5 miles per hour on a smooth paved road. This was the 2nd time this has happened on the same car. The first time was the right front side. I was driving slower so the tire did not blow from the sharp broken spring end rubbing on it. The spring was replaced with no other damage. After reading about many others having the same problem I decided to sumit complaints hoping we can prevent any injuries or deaths. I can not understand why gm has not recalled these cars and how many accidents go unreported with this the cause.

The coil spring on the passenger side strut snapped into causing a large gouge in the tire deflating it immediately. Luckily, I had pulled off interstate I-77 and was in a large level parking space. My wife got in the car to pull up and pick me up. As the car went less than a foot forward a large bang was heard and journey began to get help. To avoid random details of 88 degree heat and hardship events, the result was a new tire, a new spare tire (donut), an overnight stay and expenses and a repair bill. The strut was replaced with a used one due to the fact that we were stranded away from home and had no time to wait for a new one to be ordered. What really drew my attention to the possible severity of the problem was that in a small repair shop with only 4 bays (shepard's repair, parkersburg, wv) there sat another Malibu of possibly the exact model waiting for a new strut to be shipped in. The odds are rather staggering that this event could be so random as to not in some way point to a much larger scaled problem with these coils. Both snapped in approximately the same place (except his was the driver's side) and neither of the struts themselves were leaking or weak. Now how do I trust the car for fear the other strut will break or even the replacement for which I know not what model car it was disassembled from.

Driving at 35 mph, the spring fractured on the front left strut of a 1999 chevy Malibu with 19000 miles. The break caused a huge bang and the front of the car dropped. Luckily the sharp part of the break did not puncture the tire, damage the brake line or break the tie-rod end. The spring did indeed contact the tire and wore the epoxy coating off, but again, did not puncture the tire. I had the two front struts replaced and saved the broken one and the receipt for verification in case there is a future recall. I have seen that this problem has many complaints and I can say that this is a defect in the steel that was used to make the spring. . . . Not a corrosion problem. The spring is covered with an epoxy coating and where it rubbed off, from contact with the tire, the steel looked shiny new.

When driving faster than 40 miles an hour the steering wheel vibrates like the wheels are out of alignment or the tires have a broken belt. The faster you drive, the more pronounced the vibration becomes. I got new tires, not same as oem, and it's better, but still very noticeable at freeway speeds.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Driving at approximately 10 mph on a smooth dry road suddenly the front right side spring broke damaging the strut and tire. Thankfully, this was at a slow speed or someone could have been killed. The tire, spring and strut were replaced.

Failure of front strut springs. No notification either time they broke / passenger's side front spring broke about 6 months ago. I did not think too much of it because dealer stated they have seen this happen before. 6-27-07 my driver's side strut spring broke. I was now told that this could have caused an accident by the way this had broke. I contacted another dealer per recall or any notification out there regarding this safety issue. I was told by dealer that they replaced them often enough that they even stocked them. I felt that in this year the production defect required intervention by you. I again had no indication until I heard a clung. Which at that time I was not driving very fast. I work in a repair shop, and have never seen a spring break on any vehicle. The shop I work for deals with vehicle with lots of miles on them. My 99 Malibu only has 85,000-90,000 miles on it and both my springs broke within 6 months of each other. Thanks for taking the time to read my concern. Please let me know if you have heard of anymore issues that may relate to my concern.

Consumer has a concern that the vehicle pulled to the left while driving 55 mph or more. The vehicle has been to the dealer on four separate occasions. Each times the dealer has aligned the front wheels, readjusted the steering wheel, changed the left side tire and realigned the front tire and the problem continued.

See all problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

While driving at any speed vehicle pulled to the left.

Consumer states that while driving the vehicle and no warning the front suspension collapsed. Dealer notified.

The vehicle swerved left and right without warning. The dealer was notified.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

While driving at any speed on flat surface front end will make loud noises, and vehicle will heavily vibrate. Dealer notified.

Suspension is still having problems after three trips to dealership for repairs. Gm admits service alert, but remedy they suggest doe snot fix problem. When vehicle is moving at higher speeds on rough surface, car jerks, squeaks and feels generally less controllable.

There is a thumping noise in front end of vehicle when consumer is driving. Contacted dealer, and the dealer is not willing to do anything.

When I press the brake pedal to slow down on the highway the sterring wheel shakes, like it is going out of control.

Front end was defective. All of parts had to be replaced by the dealership.

Starting at 60mph, front-end begins to shimmy. Dealer says it's a harmonic viberation that their tech center has indicated. No repairs have been done. I feel I have just purchaced a "lemon" ( dot number: ).

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The front of my car vibrates still after being in the shop 5 times at three different dealers, at 21000 miles had to buy new tires due to the front of car being defective, steering went out along with some type of arms and a gear box , we bought this car for my daughter and its done nothing but cost us money along with the orignal payment ,the dealer says he dosent no why he cant stop the vibration I cant afford new tires every 21000 miles or a new car for my daughter I want my money back, and the dealer says they cannot do that, would you let your child drive this car ?:(.

Car has been in shop 11 times, dealer found problems 10 times. Car has been in shop overnight 16 days since 9-2-98. On one visit, dealer drove car 187 miles and had car 6 days, actually fixing car, finding another front suspension problem, and fixing again.

No summary listed for above vehicle. (tiresize: 215r60-15).

Front end squeak and thump. Dealer reports no repair/remedy at this time.

2004 Malibu makes a constant knocking and popping sound in the front end. The manufacturer is aware of the problem but hasn't identified the cause of the problem.

Car sounds like the front end is all going to fall from underneath the car!!!.

Front end problems after 40mph speed, vehicle jerks and float over rough roads, handles like front end is loose.

Firestone said allignment problem. It was alligned at 23,139 miles. First noticed irragular wear on both rear tires on 9/29/2000 when rotating tires. The vehicle has also been towed about 24,000 miles. (dot number: w2mwaaa168 tiresize: p215/60r15).

Right front suspension failed. Yh.

The front end is loose. Please provide further detail.

This car has a directional stability problem on the highway. It wanders back and forth across the driving lane and you constantly have to correct the steering wheel. If you relax or look away for a moment, such as at a highway sign, you never know where the car will be in the lane. On long trips it fatigues you terribly. The dealer has tried to remedy the situation with a new tire, new alignment, tire rotation, tire pressure, etc. , but nothing works. I noticed this problem driving the car home after picking it up new. The dealer had me drive another Malibu with approx the same mileage, and it drove the same. The local chevy dealer service mgr. Says his drives the same way. I have contacted Chevrolet and they noted the problem, but offered no solutions. I retired from the auto collision business where I specialized in heavy collision repair and driveability. I have worked for every gm car line at a dealership. I know what I am talking about, when I say this car has a design problem. It is the worst driving gm car I have ever driven. It is my wifes car and I worry about her on the highway. People should be warned about this problem. It is the perfect commuter car around town, but I am afraid this problem will contribute to highway crashes and deaths. For my wifes safety, I think I will be forced to get rid of this car.

While traveling and when turning steering wheel consumer noticed crunching noise. Dealer has replaced parts, but problem returned. Please provide further information.