1999 Chevrolet Malibu review from North America

The problems started the minute I got the car. The first set of problems were with the brakes. I had to have the calipers replaced and have twice replaced the rotors, plus the normal disc maintenance.

In the first year, I was also plagued with electrical problems galore. I've had electrical panels fully replaced, my back headlights kept burning themselves out, and I'm currently driving without lights on my inner dashboard.

The rear defrost has never fully worked, although I've had it replaced, and the fan has broken twice, so it only runs on the top two fan speeds.

I've had my rack and pinion replaced (they were too tight and couldn't handle spinning off the road).

I've also had my radiator intake valve replaced. Apparently that's a common problem. I just replaced my water pump as well, and I've been told that I'm in line for needing a new a/c clutch.

The speakers have gone bad several times. They're scratchy, the wires get loose, and it's impossible to use the bass in the car.

The ABS sensor is dirty, so the light comes on frequently.

I had to have the motor of my driver's side window replaced, and it's still not functioning properly. When I got the car, the passenger lock also wasn't working correctly. The dealer installed another one - backwards.

A few months ago, the tensioner pulley also broke, which was fortunately a relatively easy fix.

Last weekend, I was driving the car, and it sounded like my windshield was coming off. The moulding around the windshield had come loose and was making quite a racket.

Now it looks like my transmission's going bad, even though I've replaced the fluid frequently after hearing that this is a common problem in the Malibu.

This car is disappointing in every possible way. I loved how it looked and handled, but I've never been able to trust it. I bought it used, and the first year I owned it, it was in the shop more often than it was not. Never has an extended warranty been more appreciated than it was with this car.