Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
134 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
92 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 14V400000.
84 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 03V527000.
68 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
62 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
48 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 01V068000.
45 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
25 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 97V107000.
17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
15 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
15 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
9 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Visibility. Recall covering the visibility system, reported to NHTSA on March 8, 2001. The campaign covers an estimated 129,427 vehicles across all affected models.
Steering. Recall covering the steering system, reported to NHTSA on December 11, 2003. The campaign covers an estimated 750,283 vehicles across all affected models.
Electrical System. Recall covering the electrical system system, reported to NHTSA on July 3, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 5,877,718 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on June 28, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 16,099 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY OVERHEAT. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WINDSHIELD WIPER. Resulted in recall campaign 01V068000.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. Resulted in recall campaign 02V286000.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. Resulted in recall campaign 02V286000.
WINDSHIELD WIPER. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
STEERING RACK AND PINION. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.