Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1998)

976 consumer complaints on file.

#758347February 17, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I BOUGHT IN AUGUST OF 2000 FOUR MONTS AFTER I HAVE HAD THIS CAR MY PROBLEMS BEGAN SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR SHAKES AND STALLS OUT.PADDOCK CHEVROLET HAS GIVEN ME FALSE HOPE ABOUT THE CAR THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FROM FUEL FILTERS FUEL INJECTORS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS THEY HAD EVEN AFTER TIME ADMITTED THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO JUST TURNED A YEAR AND ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD I HAVE MISSED WORK A COUPLE OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758228February 14, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I LOST ALL BRAKING AND HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEARS AND THEN PARK. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE A COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY, IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HAD BEEN RUBBING ON THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE HAD RUBBED A HOLE IN THE LINE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME, OR TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO MAY BE DRIVING AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON OTHER MALIBU'S.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758230February 14, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SAME PROBLEM THAT MANY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA IN THE PAST (INCLUDING MYSELF ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION). JUST OUT OF CURIOUSITY, HOW MANY REPORTS DO YOU HAVE TO GET BEFORE SOME ACTION IS TAKEN? THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLES FROM 1997-2001 (AT LEAST -- SEARCH YOUR DB). AFTER HAVING ANY SERVICE WORK DONE THAT REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE TIRES, THE ROTORS WILL WARP AFTER ABOUT 6 OR 10K MILES AND BOTH ROTORS AND PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE BRAKE PULSATION AND SHAKING (VIBRATION) IN THE FRONT END. MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRYING TO STOP FROM A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED (AT OR ABOVE 45MPH) WITH THIS VIBRATION IS CHALLENGING AT BEST. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, SO CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS, THE DEALER BLAMED IT ON MY TIRES, TURNED THE ROTORS AND THAT WAS IT. I GOT NEW TIRES AS HE SAID, AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. HIS REASON FOR NOT REPLACING THE ROTORS AND PADS AT THAT TIME WAS BECAUSE I WAS ALMOST OUT OF WARRENTY AND HE KNEW THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AGAIN AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. IF NHTSA CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758231February 14, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY ABS FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON A LOT SIGNIFYING THAT MY ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONING. ONCE I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THE LIGHT IS OFF, BUT THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND GIVEN THE "GREAT" SERVICE I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST WITH CHEVY DEALERS AND THE BRAKES ON THIS MALIBU, I WILL NOT TAKE IT TO THEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758021February 9, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
COOLING FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE FROM A FAILED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 52000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 YEARS ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE THE GASKET SHOULD HAVE A MUCH LONGER LIFE. THE SERVICE AGENTS AT THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT SAID THE $699 REPAIR BILL WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED OR COVERED BY GM UNLESS I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS AND SOME HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM OR HAVE NOTICED SIGNIFCANT AND 'UNEXPLAINED' (I.E., NO VISIBLE LEAKS FROM HOSES OR RADIATOR) COOLANT LOSS, EVEN AT LOWER MILEAGE THAN MY CAR. THESE 'UNEXPLAINED' LOSSES HAVE THE SAME SYMPTON AS I NOTICED WITH MY CAR, WHICH IS A BUILD UP OF A GREENISH-BROWN GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE OF THE OIL FILL CAP AND VALVE COVER, WHICH INDICATES COOLING FLUID LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757947February 7, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES 10 TIMES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT AND THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE ONCE I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. IN AUGUST OF 2001 I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS AS ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MY OIL. MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH I AM BECOMING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS MATTER. I HAVE SPOKE TO ABOUT 35 MALIBU OWNERS AND THEY ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. ONE OWNER HAD ONLY 10K MILES ONE HER CAR AT THE TIME HER BRAKES FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003674February 6, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BRAKE PADS ARE WARPED ON LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757772February 4, 2002
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON TO A HIGHWAY WHEN A TRUCK PULLED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE HIT HEADON INTO THE SIDE OF HIM. AFTER HE CLEARED THE AREA SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ACROSS 4 LANES OF ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET, AS SHE ENTERED THE LOT BOTH AIR BAGRS DEPLOYED VERY SLOWLY NEVER TOUCHING HER. THE SPEED CONTROL HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL CONTINUES TO DEACATIVE WHILE DRIVING, SOME TIMES MANY TIMES IN A ROW OTHER TRIPS NOT AT ALL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564231January 30, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL CLUSTER WHICH RECORDS MILEAGE DRIVEN, HOWEVER INSTEAD OF RECORDING THE MILEAGE, THE WORD ERROR HAS ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A COMPUTER CHIP MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD COST 400 TO 500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564205January 30, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
PRIOR TO RECALL 01V068, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER PIVOT HOUSING CRACKED AND THE WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION REQUEST AND THEN REQUESTED A REFUND SINCE HE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN HE RECEIVED THE REFUND CHECK IT WAS ONLY FOR $64.00 NOT EVEN HALF THE AMOUNT THAT HE PAID.*YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9005180January 28, 2002
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
IN POURING RAIN THE W/S/W TRANSMISSION BROKE, TWO DAYS AFTER RECIEVED A RECALL LETTER, REIMBURSEMENT REFUSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757387January 27, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 57000 ON MY 1998 MALIBU LS...IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR...THANKS...MY ROTOORS WERE BAD FROM DAY ONE AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE WHEELS NEEDING BALANCED....THE FAULTY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE A SCARY SITUATION...THE CAR IS RIDDLED WITH DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757087January 19, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS JUST OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME (THE FIRST TIME WAS IN SEPTEMBER,1999 AND THE SECOND WAS IN APRIL, 2000). THIS FEELS EXCESSIVE TO ME, BUT CHEVY SAYS IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR (STRANGE THAT IN HAVING CARS FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS I'VE NEVER REPLACED THEM). I'VE TRIED TO APPROACH THIS THROUGHT THE DEALER AND GM AS WELL, BUT I GET THE BLOW OFF EACH TIME. IT TOOK 3 PHONE CALLS TO CHEVY TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE. THEY KEEP SAYING THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL, BUT YOUR SOMEWHAT "SECRET" WEBSITE LISTS 123 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IF I CALL TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, THE SERVICE REP HAS EVEN GUESSED BEFORE ME SAYING, "LET ME GUESS...A 1998 MALIBU?" OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ARE WIDESPREAD IF THEY CAN GUESS THE MAKE OF MY CAR. ALTHOUGH NOBODY IN MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HURT YET, I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE THAT POINT IS REACHED. KRIS FITZ. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002322January 16, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
FRONT END RATTLES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT STRUT MOUNTS WERE BAD. CALLED GMC TO CHECK ON RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756258December 31, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756175December 29, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
RIGHT TAILIGHT COLLECTS WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS IN RELSULT THE LIGHTS GO OUT, IN RESULT THE PANEL FOR THE LIGHT HAS RUSTED AND CANNOT BE USED, THIS IS THE 2ND PANEL I HAVE PURCHASED BECUASE OF WATER LEAKING INTO TAILLIGHT. I HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER MAILIBU'S WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I WANT CHEVROLET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TO PURCHASE A NEW PANEL BECAUSE OF THE RUST, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THIS DEFECT, I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756109December 28, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER INCREASING NOISE NOTED OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT. THE SERVICE PERSON INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS AS NEW AS 1998 WITHOUT SEVERE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH MINE HAS NEVER RECEIVED AND THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755978December 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR,MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALMOST OUT OF ITS CASE. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAD 2 OTHER MALIBUS,SAME YEAR, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY BY LEN STOLER. THEY WERE ALSO SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, BUT IT HAS SINCE REOCCURRED.THEY ROBBED ME OF ABOUT $900 AND WERE VERY RUDE ABOUT THE SITUATION. THEREFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE STEERING PROBLEM FIXED YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#563843December 7, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785805December 4, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FAULTY REAR BRAKE SHOES CAUSING FRONT ROTORS TO WARP. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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