Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1998)

976 consumer complaints on file.

#10022919June 12, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VCOIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022730June 10, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FRONT END PULSATES WHICH PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS BRAKE ROTOR REPAIRS. THE CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND THE PISTON SEALS LEAKED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT LOST IT'S CONTACT. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG AND REPAIRED THE HORN POWER WIRE FROM THE HORN PAD TO THE HORN CONTACT RING. *SCC *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021020June 4, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DEFECTS IN 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO REPAIR THE ABS SYSTEM (INCLUDING REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR WHAT GM CALL AN "UPDATED WIRING HARNESS," REPLACING LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BARONS, AND REPLACING THE ABS RELAY). THE BRAKES CONSISTENTLY HAVE TROUBLE AND PULSE WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, CREATING CODES IN THE COMPUTER, WITH NO VISIBLE REASONS FOR THE CODES. THE GAS PEDAL HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK. THE LEFT REAR STRUT MOUNTS HAVE ALSO BROKEN AND HAVE HAD TO BE REPAIRED (QUITE COSTLY). I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020941June 3, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKES FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020717May 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS
I BOUGHT A 98 CHEVY MALIBU ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO.IT ONLYHAD 69,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKESAND BUY A NEW BATTERY.MY ABS LIGHT POPS ON AND OFF,MY AIRCONDITIONER CUTS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF, AND MY CAR CLUCKS ALL THE TIME. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND WE RIDE TOGETHER WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT BOTH OF OUR CARS ARE GIVING US THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020247May 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COMPLAINT LETTER FROM IL STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFC WANTING TO KNOW WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1998, CHEVROLET, MALIBU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018896May 19, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3.1 L INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018531May 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS...FROM THEM WEARING OUT PREMATURELY TO THE ROTORS WARPING. AT AROUND 5,000 MILES I WENT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THEY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESURFACED. AT AROUND 13,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED (THE WERE REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET ROTORS). ALTHOUGH WARPING DID OCCUR AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITH A NON OEM PART, IT DID NOT OCCUR AS OFTEN AND AS BADLY. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RESURFACED AND BENDIX PADS PLACED. WARPING STARTED AFTER A FEW DAYS THAT THE BREAKS WERE DONE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE ROTOR THAT WAS AT FAULT. IT WAS THE ENTIRE BRAKE DESIGN OF THE MALIBU. THE BRAKES SIMPLY CANNOT HOLD BACK THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR ON SUCH SMALL ROTORS. BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL SURFACE AREA OF SUCH SMALL ROTORS, THEY TEND TO HEAT UP WAY TO EARLY CAUSING SEVERE BRAKE FADING....THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE TO BEGIN WITH. TODAY, AS I WAS DRIVING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR, IT FELT AS IF I WASN'T PRESSING THE BRAKE AT ALL AND I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE...SOMEWHERE AROUND $2,500 WORTH. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR I DECIDED TO TEST THE BRAKES BY APPLYING THEM IN THE SAME MANNER AS BEFORE...AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AS IT SHOULD. THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION IS BRAKE FADE DO TO THE ROTORS OVERHEATING. I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AT CHEVROLET AND AT NHTSA BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THIS MAJOR WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO RECALLED IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO PREVENT SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FROM OCCURRING. WHAT IF THE OBJECT IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WAS A PERSON AND NOT JUST ANOTHER CAR. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017964May 1, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017570April 25, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ALL THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014061April 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON LEFT TURN. HAVE TO STOP, TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART TO TURN OFF THE ABS LIGHT. SERVICE REVIEW INDICATED THAT FAULTY LIGHT, WOULD COST 600$ TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015317April 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES PERFORMED ERRATICALLY EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE CALIPERS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013898April 3, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILED TWICE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON PERIODICALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013940April 3, 2003
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, TIRES:SIDEWALL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I OWN A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JUNE 1998 AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT MONTH. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SHAVER MOTORS HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING IN CHICAGO ON 80 90 TOLL ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE STOPPED FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DOING 55 MILES PER HOUR. I LISTED ONE INCIDENT DATE BUT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AFTER LESS THAN 3000 MILES, THEY WERE ALSO BAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015041April 2, 2003
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. *JB THE VEHICLE SLID, HIT A CURB, AND HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN MUD. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011891March 27, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE ODOMETER READ INCORRECTLY. THE WATER PUMP AND BELT FAILED. THE WIPER REGULATOR FAILED. THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED. THE VEHICLES ROTORS WARPED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *NLM *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010997March 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO OIL. 46000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010900March 23, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS CONTINUALLY FAILED ON CHEVROLET MALIBU. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW. PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BALL JOINTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED - PADS AND ROTORS AS OFTEN AS EVERY 6000 TO 12000 MILES. DEALERS AND INDEPENDENTS HAVE WORKED ON IT WITH THE SAME RESULT: MORE FAILURES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FOR MALIBU'S JUST FROM THIS YEAR'S MODEL AND MANY MORE FOR OTHER YEARS. NHTSA HAS NEVER INVESTIGATED EVEN THOUGH BRAKE FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE SIGNIFICANT. MY TAX MONEY IS NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010696March 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED AT 65,000 MILES, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED (LAST TIME WAS AT 40,000). THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS 6 TIMES AND HAS EXPERIENCED ALL OTHER MALIBU PROBLEMS SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL FAILURE, TAIL LIGHT MELTING, ETC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010537March 16, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ONCE THE VEHICLE IS AT "NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE" THE POWER STEERING BECOMES HARD AND WILL SQUEAL. I HAVE REPLACES THE POWER STEERING FLUID, IN ENTIRETY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I PLAN ON GOING TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP, BUT READING ALL OF THE ARTICLES ON THIS VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THEY WILL TELL ME THE SAME. IT IS A RACK-AND-PINION PROBLEM THAT I WILL HAVE TO INCUR AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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