VehicleVerdict

1997 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

The 1997 Chevrolet Malibu has 136 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 20% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

136

Brakes complaints

20%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Malibu brakes complaints by model year469 complaints1978: 1 complaints1979: 3 complaints1981: 2 complaints1989: 1 complaints1997: 136 complaints1998: 469 complaints1999: 399 complaints2000: 307 complaints2001: 107 complaints2002: 63 complaints2003: 82 complaints2004: 64 complaints2005: 70 complaints2006: 70 complaints2007: 51 complaints2008: 90 complaints2009: 153 complaints2010: 199 complaints2011: 44 complaints2012: 74 complaints2013: 46 complaints2014: 46 complaints2015: 15 complaints2016: 104 complaints2017: 69 complaints2018: 69 complaints2019: 25 complaints2020: 45 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 4 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 2 complaints
Malibu brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACE BRAKE PADS/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE PROBLEMS. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 1, 1998 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA has 136 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu brakes — 20% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.