Overview & Reviews

First year for new midsize sedan with classic name.

• Amazing value, standard A/C, standard anti-lock brakes, available V6 engine

• No traction control or integrated child seat available

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 48.00

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  Money pit after 100,000 miles - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By matty - July 17 - 8:27 pm

  I bought this Malibu with 50k on it. It now has 140,000. One thing I noticed on this car was that as soon as I hit 100,000 all the nickel and dime crap would break. I had to replace all the pulleys because a bearing went bad, replaced the ignition cylinder lock which turned out that if it fails you need to buy the ignition switch as well. I try to do my own repairs this repair went from 35 bucks to 285 in parts I had to buy both. (awesome engineering, way to go gm) the build quality with gm has been crap for many years as well as the other 2 manufacturers. Things break that shouldnt. Driving down the road one day and the overhead light just came off. Come on! Really? Average.

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  Poor quality - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By consultant3 - April 23 - 2:54 pm

  Purchased car from family/original owner at 40k. 6 cycl. 40k replaced alternator, brake pads and adjustment, battery and tires by 30k, by 70k serp belt, headliner-visor worn, a/c - Freon, now at 78k, oil pan gasket leaks, est. -up to $300. Suspension is bad, you feel every minor bump. This is the fifth and last gm for me. Imports are not perfect, but, this is terrible! I might try a Mazda?

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  Crappy car - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jescalex - April 8 - 2:35 am

  This car has been through 2 water pumps, one timing chain, (due to a dumb mechanic!), I have had brakes put on 4 times. It wears tires quick. Everything that goes wrong is very expensive to fix. Brakes alone for this car are $150. This car is not worth any amount of money paid for it. I know its a used car but 2 water pumps in 6 months. Thats nuts!

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  A LEMON!! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Debs24 - September 25 - 2:00 am

  i owned my car for seven years. and unfortunatlly its paid and i cant buy a new one.but these are the things i have to share. had it two weeks the steering wheel harness shorted,2 sets of control arms,2 alternators,2 manifold gaskets,control board for tail lights,main computer had to b replaced,tracking bar was bent,2batterys,serpentine belt, now tensioner chatters,a/c control head 3 times, paint chipping the room,doesnt hold alignment,a/c doesnt function right,the first 6 months we had it we had to replace half of the interoir trim and seat cloth,now we have a piston slap,radiator cap was craked,4 sets of brakes,2 sets of rotors,leaves stuck in blower

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  Dont Buy First Year Models or Chevys - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By msmiley - September 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in March of 1997 and had problems with it ever since. Lets see...3 lower control arms (they rattled), ABS sensor bad, #1 fuel injector bad, altenator quit, brakes wore prematurely, headlights fogged over, brake pedal pad fell off, rear window seal blew out, interior panelling came off, turn signal wouldnt cancell after making a left turn(took two dealership visits to convinve them it was actually malfucntioning), and numerous other problems. This car is junk, not even rental fleet worthy. I got a divorce and she got this hunk of junk, thank goddness. I bought an import which now has over 35,000 miles on it with NO problems.

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  Steer clear of these! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TeeSorter - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Malibu for only 2 years, and in that two years, it has been nothing but problem after problem. I bought the car with only 68,000 miles on it. The dealer I bought it from actually put about 1500 bucks into it during the first 6 months I had it (part of the selling agreement to fix some of the things)....I hate this car, and will never own another Chevy after this. Every fluid the car has in it, other then the brake fluid has leaked at some point. I just received a recall on it. The drivers side power window works when it feels like it.

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  dont buy - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tn - April 9 - 2:00 am

  this was the first car i ever financed,thought i was getting a great deal, within the first month my anti- theft system locked up, and my power window/lock switch broke. i went through 2 sets of brakes, one day it wouldnt start, had it towed to chevy dealership were it sat for 4 days i couldnt get them to look at it. my husband ended up fixing it in the parking lot himself. 1 week before i traded it the emegency brake got stuck i could still drive it but every time i pulled out it made the dinging sound. the bad part is i only owned it 1 year.

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  1997 Malibu - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By roberth - February 6 - 2:00 am

  puschased this veh at 36k miles, appently all the good had been used. had trouble with alignment on rear tires. car vibrates excessively and the road noise is terrible. car was quasi- ok for the first year we had it, put in a new battery. had the alternator replaced. last year the water pump went out. that is quite a chore!! had to remove the timing chain.would not recommend this car to others.

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  Bad Car - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By boshkash - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Very Bad break system, avd A/C

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  Crappy Car - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By katmay - July 7 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car for what I thought was a deal at 4,000.00. In the past month have had to replace brakes, rotors, wheel bearings (twice), tire rod, and left front axel. All at only 79,000 miles. This car is junk, all I have to say is never buy american made cars and never buy as is.