Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1998)

976 consumer complaints on file.

#10010439March 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTAKE GASKET FAILED IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. I KNOW THIS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE GASKETS, SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010350March 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE REPLACED A BATTERY TWICE. I BOUGHT MY 1998 MALIBU USED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP JUMPING IT, TO GET IT WERE I NEEDED TO GO. FOUND OUT THE POSITIVE CHARGE WAS BROKEN FROM BATTERY. SIX MONTH'S LATER ON JANUARY 19. MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOSE ALL POWER ON SNOW AND ICE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY CAR AND GET IT STOPPED. IF THERE WOULD BE A BEEN ANOTHER CAR COMING TOWARDS ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM HEAD ON. I HAD IT TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID AND MY TIMING BELT WAS BREAKING. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR A YEAR AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. WHAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO LEAK ACID? I AM SCARED TO DEATH IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO LUCKY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011169March 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A DIP STICK, THEREFORE THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO POUR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010224March 10, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, TIRES
THE STEERING RACK & PINION AND THE ENGINE INTAKE GASKETS IN THIS 1998 MODEL ARE FAULTY. THE SHODDY RACK & PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH NUMEROUS TIRES OVER THE YEARS. THE INTAKE GASKETS ARE LEAKING FLUIDS AND AN ENGINE BLOW OUT IS IMMINENT. WITH THE LEAKAGES, THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE MAINTAINED ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND THE CAR IS STILL UNDER 50,000 MILES BUT I AM LOOKING AT A HUGE MECHANIC'S BILL DUE TO A SHODDY RACK & PINION AND INTAKE GASKET LEAKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010240March 10, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SENSORS CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF ABS SYSTEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009656March 3, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#0 1 V 068 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009460February 26, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE MELTED THE LIGHTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008066February 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTAKE GASKET FAILED IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, KNOW THIS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC INTAKE GASKETS, 500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007978February 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE LEAKING COOLANT FLUIDS FROM LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE ADVISOR AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005788February 13, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 60,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS STARTED TO RATTLE OVER CRACKS AND BUMPS AROUND JULY 2001. IT HAS STEADILY BECOME WORSE AND IS TO THE POINT I CAN HEAR A LOUD CLUNK EVEN OVER EXPANSION JOINTS OR WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FEWER MILES. IN ALL CASES CHEVROLET REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND SAYS WE HAVE TO REPLACE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED CONTROL ARMS AT OUR OWN COST. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THEM FOR FEAR THAT THE BOLTS ARE GOING TO BREAK FROM THE EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT ALLOWED BY THE INFERIOR BUSHINGS USED IN THE ORIGINAL PART, BUT I THINK GM'S DECISION TO NOT RECALL THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD BE QUESTIONED. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW BY PRODUCING A REDISIGNED PART, WHY SHOULD THEY NOT RECALL IT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005720February 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I'VE SEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. SOME SORT OF FAULT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. GM INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. ALSO THE AC CYCLES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, ANOTHER PROBLEM COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007201February 12, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005326February 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COOLANT LEAK IN MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU - 3.1 LITER ENGINE. 55,800 MILES. THIS DEFECT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. $800 REPAIR. LOST ONE WEEK'S WORK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005377February 5, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONTINUEING TO NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS ETC. THE ISSUE IS THE BULB SOCKETS ARE OVER HEATING AND THE RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET IS BEGINNING TO MELT DUE TO EXCESS HEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005227February 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON MY 1998 MAILBU (3100 ENGINE) WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM OR THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004931January 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A 3.1 LITER V-6 ENGINE HAS STARTED LOSING ENGINE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. WE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE AT LEAST 1996. OTHERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT MECHANICS ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM IN CARS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE FLUIDS ARE LOST THOUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND DO NOT LEAVE A TELLTALE STAIN OR RESIDUE UNDER A PARKED CAR. A REPAIR AT A CHEVROLET DEALER WAS QUOTED TO US AT $900. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR RECALL. IS THIS PROBLEM BEING RESEARCHED? IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003715January 24, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE FRONT END SUSPENSION ARM NEEDS CHANGING, RACK PINION ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING OIL AND INTERNAL NOISES, THE PUMP CAP HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE (THE PRESSURE OIL RETURNS TO THE CAP), AND THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003204January 22, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES
AFTER HEARING A "CLICKING/CREAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING (ON FULL LOCK)WHEN MANEUVERING AT SLOW SPEEDS, I.E. PARKING, I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD RH LOWER CONTROL ARM AND A LOOSE LH LOWER CONTROL ARM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002857January 17, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET / COOLANT REACTION. ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING ON BUSY TWO LANE ROAD LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A TRAFFIC LANE. I HAD TO WALK A HALF A MILE AND BACK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO USE A TELEPHONE TO SUMMON HELP. DIAGNOSIS BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS FOUND COOLANT WATER HAD INFILTRATED THE ENGINE, TWO VALVES WERE BENT WHEN THE PISTONS HIT THEM. SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1L GM ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002824January 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU DEVELOPED A INTAKE MANIFOULD COOLENT LEAK AT 33,XXX MILES. IT COST ME & MY EXTENDED WARRANTEE COMPANY OVER $400.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT CONTINUES TO SELL VEHICLES ANYWAY. THIS IS FRAUD!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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