VehicleVerdict

1997 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

The 1997 Chevrolet Malibu has 77 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

77

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Malibu engine complaints by model year303 complaints1975: 1 complaints1978: 1 complaints1982: 1 complaints1989: 1 complaints1997: 77 complaints1998: 159 complaints1999: 151 complaints2000: 199 complaints2001: 198 complaints2002: 89 complaints2003: 91 complaints2004: 37 complaints2005: 66 complaints2006: 59 complaints2007: 35 complaints2008: 73 complaints2009: 71 complaints2010: 126 complaints2011: 172 complaints2012: 102 complaints2013: 215 complaints2014: 128 complaints2015: 70 complaints2016: 303 complaints2017: 256 complaints2018: 279 complaints2019: 62 complaints2020: 61 complaints2021: 12 complaints2022: 31 complaints2023: 12 complaints2024: 2 complaints
Malibu engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“SUDDENLY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FOUR COLLISIONS. . IN THE MOST RECENT COLLISION CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR END OF A TRUCK AT 30 MPH. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED AND CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 1, 2005 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA has 77 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu engine — 11% 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.