Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1998)

976 consumer complaints on file.

#10125964June 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET, MALIBU. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. THERE WAS NO SHIELD GUARD, AND IT CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT TO BREAK. ALSO, HAD TO DO OTHER REPAIRS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE COIL SPRING COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE FRONT TIRE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123999June 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT INTO VILLAGE CHEVROLET AND THEY SWITCHED OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH. (THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12 TO 15 TIMES). THEY HAVE REPLACED THE IGINITION SWITCH AT LEAST 4 TIMES, THE BODY CONTROL MODULE ONCE. AT LEAST FIVE OF THOSE 12 TO 15 TIMES, I WASN'T DRIVING ANYWHERE AND I WAS USING THE ORIGINAL KEY THAT I GOT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR AND THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON SOLID. I CALLED GM, AND THEY TOLD ME TO PUT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO RESET ITSELF. I LIVE IN MN, AND THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE SINCE WE HAVE WEATHER EXTREMES AND I AM A SINGLE WOMAN, AND THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THE LAST TIME THAT I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THIS, THEY CUT A NEW KEY FROM MY VIN TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THAT. I HAVE CALLED GM REPEATEDLY, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THERE IS A SHORT BETWEEN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STARTER. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE???
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122441May 30, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I PULLED OUT INTO THE STREET WHEN I HEARD A POP. THINKING IT WAS MY POWER STEERING I DROVE ON AND WITHIN A MILE MY TIRE BLEW. UPON REMOVAL OF THE TIRE, THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE HAD SNAPPED. THERE WAS NO RUST, ONLY A COMPLETE BREAK IN THE COIL SPRING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121657May 20, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
BOTH COIL SPRINGS FAILED WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120885May 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT CONSUMER STATED HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED, THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT BROKE AND CAUSED THE COIL SPRING TO SLIT THE TIRE WHICH LEAD TO A BLOW OUT OF THE TIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120784May 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
IN MARCH OF '05 TOOK CAR IN FOR SEVICE ENGINE WAS TICKING WHILE IDLE AT ONE POINT ONCE CAR WAS WARMED UP THE TICKING STOPED BUT NOW THE TICKING IS STILL HEARD WHILE DRIVING AND AT ACCELEARTION. TOOK CAR IN THE BOB MCGUIRE CHEVROLET IN BORDENTOWN, NJ WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK THAT HAD ALREADY MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. HAD EVERYTHING FIXED AND THEY EVEN PUT IN HEAVY DUTY LIFTER CLEANER TO CLEAN THE LIFTERS ACCORDING TO MECANIC THAT WAS WERE THE TICK WAS COMING FROM BUT WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS STILL TICKING WHEN IDLE AND THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX THE TICKING I WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE JOB THAT WAS JUST PERFORMED ON THE CAR HAD TO BE PERFORMED AGAIN IN ORDER TO FIX THE LIFTERS THAT IS CAUSING THE TICKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120023May 5, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT: THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD THUD WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER AFTER GOING PROBABLY 50 FT HE HEARD SOMETHING ROLLING UNDER HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. HE SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF COIL SPRING AND PICKED IT UP. HE LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW WERE THE COIL SPRING SLIPPED OFF FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE MECHANIC BUT HAS NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO TOOK THE ACTUAL PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING TO HIS DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT HE HAD SOLD SEVERAL COIL SPRINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE ROAD WAS BRICK PAVED ROAD AND THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE EXCEPT FOR THE NOISE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117566May 5, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN FIXED FOUR TIMES BUT THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119234April 27, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER HAS TWO SEPARATE ISSUES WHICH INVOLVED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BREAKING. THE FIRST TIME CONSUMER NOTICED A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, AND RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE. THE SECOND TIME WAS AFTER THE CONSUMER DROVE 50 MILES TO TAKE A FRIEND TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. AFTER GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE TO RETURN HOME CONSUMER FELT TENSION ON THE RIGHT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED FOUND THAT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118160April 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, EQUIPMENT
1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. 2) FAILURE OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY. VERY NOISY, REDUCED NOISE AROUND CORNERS. 3) THIS HUB HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR ANY RECALLS ON THIS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY. IT HAS BEEN 25000 MILES SINCE IT WAS REPLACED LAST AND THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND EXPENSIVE. WAS TOLD THAT CONTINUED DRIVING COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE INCLUDING ABS SYSTEM. INCIDENT DATE BELOW CORRESPONDS TO THE LASTEST TIME HUB FAILED. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPLACED YET, SO PART IS STILL AVAILABLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118946April 19, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY COIL SPRING BROKE AND WENT INSIDE OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. ALSO, REAR COIL SPRING BROKE, BUT DID NO DAMAGE TO TIRE. CALLED DEALER TO INQUIRY ABOUT THE TIRE AND DID NOT GET AN ANSWER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117829April 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A HORN PROBLEM. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS BEING PRESSED AGAINST THE WIRING OF THE HORN. VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116746April 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN PULLING OUT OF A FRIENDS HOME ON A DRY 60 DEGREE NIGHT, MY SON PROCEEDED LESS THAN A BLOCK TO A FLASHING RED LIGHT. BEFORE GETTING TO THE LIGHT, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE (THE CAR BEHIND HIM SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HE HAD A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD SOON BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, HE ACCELERATED TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE STILL WAS HIT NEAR THE REAR OF THE BACK DOOR (ON THE DRIVERS SIDE) AND THE CAR WAS SPUN INTO A POLE ON THE OTHER SIDE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE - THE CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. FORTUNATELY, THE OCCUPANTS WERE BOTH UNINJURED, BUT HAD HE NOT ACCELERATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE A DIFFERENT STORY. RIGHT NOW, THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS PUSHING FOR US TO HAVE IT MOVED TO A JUNK YARD TO AVOID THE STORAGE FEES. *AK *BF *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117730April 6, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BLEW UP.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117256April 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S IN-LAW HOUSE. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114356March 20, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
FUEL PUMP, DISCONTINUED, BUT NOT RECALLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115573March 8, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE ON THE CONSUMER'S 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ***NAR** *NM THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN NOISE AND FEELING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GONE DOWN ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND TORE UP THE TIRE. THEY COULD SEE NO REASON WHY THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED WITH NO WEAR OR RUST. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110786February 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
AFTER A FEW MINUTES (MAYBE 10 TO 15 MINUTES) OF STARTING/DRIVING, GAS PEDAL "STICKS" IN THE CLOSED POSITION REQUIRING ADDITIONAL FOOT PRESSURE TO MAKE IT ADVANCE TO A REASONABLE RPM TO EITHER BREAKE INERTIA OR CONTINUING DRIVING. THIS PROCESS BECOMES DANGEROUS TO THE EXTEND THAT A HIGHER/UNWANTED ACCELARATION RESULTS DUE TO THE PEDAL NOT TRAVELING SMOOTHLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111812February 19, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
IN LESS THAN THAN 8 MONTHS TWO SPRINGS HAS BROKEN. DEALER CLAIMS RUSTED COATING, THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ON ANY OTHER CAR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM? THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT..*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110458February 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NUMBER OF PROBLEMS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS A LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND NUMEROUS OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE I TALK TO OR READ ABOUT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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