VehicleVerdict

1997 Chevrolet Malibu visibility & wipers problems

The 1997 Chevrolet Malibu has 49 visibility & wipers complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

49

Visibility & Wipers complaints

7%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Visibility & Wipers complaints by year

Related recalls

01V068000Visibility & WipersMarch 8, 2001 · 129,427 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.

Consequence

REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Common questions

How many visibility & wipers complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA has 49 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu visibility & wipers — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu visibility & wipers?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the visibility & wipers: 01V068000.

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.