Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While traveling on a busy interstate in very heavy rains and rush hour traffic, I heard a loud noise and then my wipers were stopped & criss-crossed in front of me. I felt extremely lucky to get off the highway, without causing a wreck. Later, I found out that there was a know defect on the wiper pivots for my model car. But regardless, the recall wasn't any good for my state. I don't understand the logic behind this... If a part is defective- it is defective. The recall was only effective for certain 'salt-belt' states, of which my state isn't included. I did however live in one of these salt-belt states for several years (with this car). But whether your car is registered in one of those states or not you could have a lot of use of the wipers. Between hurricane season and the rainy season in florida, wipers get a whole lot of use down here too.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 40 MPH in inclement weather conditions, the pivot housing fractured and caused the wipers to fail. As a consequence, the contact's visibility was significantly reduced and the risk of a crash was increased. The dealer stated that his VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 01V068000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages). The contact paid $380.68 to replace the windshield wiper pivot housing. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 93,986. Updated 1/26/09 updated 01/26/09.
Brake lights went out at unknown time to driver resulting in rear end collison by another automobile. Instrument panel went black and emitted a black smoke resulting in unoperative use of any fan/heat/defrost..main instrument of power windows on driver side operated enough to roll down windows but not roll up drivers side resulting in ice/snow/rain buildup. Alternator went out 4 times resulting in power failure on highway resulting in crash into guard rail. Please provide us with any information to protect our family and prevent any future accidents..thank you very much. Nlm
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving in rainy weather, the windshield wipers failed. The contact stated that the wipers crossed over each other and stopped working. The contact then moved off the roadway and manually dislodged the wipers however, they would not move. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the linkages needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recall. The failure mileage was 142,200.
I have had to change the passenger caliper and rotors twice because the bolts for the caliper keeps popping out and the bolts for the bracket keeps popping out.. My windshield wiper on the passenger side went out last month..last night the car wouldn't start up anymore when I do turn the key the lights come on but when I try to start the car up I get a clicking noise, the radio kept going in and out also. Now my o2 sensors and tripping. I've had to change the EGR valve because it kept getting stuck in open position and I also changed the belt
I am the owner of a 1997 Chevy Malibu. One day while I was driving around town, it was raining, and my windshield wiper arm flew off of the car. I looked up recalls on your site and found that there is a recall for the problem I have. I contacted Chevrolet and they told me that there is no such recall for my car. I don't feel I should have to pay for replacement parts if there is a recall on defective parts. The NHTSA campaign id # is 01V068000
Recall 01V068000 concerning windshield wiper arm. Front windshield wipers stopped operating during inclement conditions. Dealer was notified, but dealer informed the consumer that this vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN.
Windshield wipers are experiencing the same defect as stated in recall # 01 v 068 000, but this vehicle not included in recall due to VIN. Incident dated to be corrected when the evoq is returned. Per aaj. 7/7/04.
Date of incident- heavy rains, driving on 1-95 north in stratford, ct- the passenger side wiper system fail- breaks off its mounting bracket- leads to failure of drivers side wiper in a pouring rain on highway- visibilty becomes zero- was lucky to get off the road from middle lane without incident. Found a garage who had never seen anything like this before- put rin-x on my windshield was able to get home. Showed dealer- next day they had never seen anything like this. Made arrangements to have repaired, done and contacted Chevrolet and described this as amanufacturer defect. Car out of warrantee and they would not cover. How many demolished vehicles and fatalities have happened on a rainslick road and the culprit has been the weather when actually the windshield wiper system was at fault, but the dead person was unable to explain what happened just prior to the collision. …
My fiance and I have had a 1997 Chevy Malibu for a year and a half. About a month after purchasing it, the vehicle started having problems with the passlock theft system that would leave us stranded for 10 minutes because the car wouldn't crank. Gradually it started doing it more and more. We've had incidents where the theft system light would go off after 10 minutes but when trying to start it again; it would do the same thing. I've actually had times of being stranded for 2 hours because it would keep doing it! Right now our car is at my fiance's work because it won't crank and we got tired of trying after 3 hours. This is so annoying! Chevrolet should be ashamed of themselves! I know a lot of people that have had this same problem(not counting all the other problems like the brakes and windshield wipers). …
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
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,…
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…
NHTSA investigations
Windshield wiper failure
In March 2001, GM notified NHTSA that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA number 01V068) on certain model year (my) 1997-1998 Chevrolet malibu and Oldsmobile cutlass vehicles to replace defective windshield wiper pivot housings.GM reported the wiper failure was triggered by loads placed on the wipers when operated under conditions of moderate to heavy snowfall.GM conducted the recall in 28 states and the…
Windshield wiper
There is no summary currently available
Windshield wiper
On February 22, 2000, the office of defects investigation (odi) initiated pe00-009 based on seven reports of windshield wiper failure in certain model year (my) 1997 & 1998 Chevrolet malibu & Oldsmobile cutlass vehicles.the investigation was upgraded to ea00-019 on July 12, 2000.during the course of the investigation, it was found that the failures were the result of fracture of the passenger-side windshield wiper…
Window & Wiper complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu, 9% of the model year's 443 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer › linkages (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Malibu window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-068 (linkages, Mar 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Malibu window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.