1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

FAULTY STARTER CAUSED FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. NLM

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY PULSATE AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. DEALER HAS SERVICED/ REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS EIGHT TIMES. ORIGINAL AND AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURED PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS OF TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON. SLOW CRANK AND BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM WHENEVER YOU SLOW DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE STALLING ISSUE, MECHANIC STATES IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND WILL AND TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. MOTOR MOUNTS ARE ALSO CORRODED WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUALLY DUE TO CAR ONLY BEING 3 YEARS. I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE VIN # DUE TO NOT HAVING ACCESS TO VEHICLE AT THE MOMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP UNDERGOING REPAIRS.

FRONT END WAS DEFECTIVE. ALL OF PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHEN BRAKING FROM FREEWAY SPEED OF 50+ MPH VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY, MAKING VEHICLE CONTROL DIFFICULT. ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED ON SEPT-1999, THE PROBLEM RETURNED, ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED FEB-2000, THE PROBLEM RETURNED.*AK

STEERING GEAR BOX HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABLITY DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. CONSUMER HAS HAD STEERING GEAR REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

HAD ALIGNMENT DONE AND WHEELS ROTATED AND STILL HAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. CAR WON'T START COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD UNEXPECTEDLY 3 TIMES IN 1 WEEK. LOUD NOISE IN REAR OF CAR WHEN TRAVELING.*AK

BRAKE LINE TOO NEAR BOLT ON SIDE OF ENGINE, WORN THROUGH DUE TO FRICTION, RESULTED IN COMPLETE DRAINAGE OF MASTER CYLINDER.

TRAVELLING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. TEMPERATURE WAS 15 DEGREES AND THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED/ROTATED.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY FAILING , ROTORS AND PADS ARE BEING REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 9464 MI, PADS (COMPLETELY SHOT) AT 26711 MI, PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN AT. *AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 9464 MI, PADS (COMPLETELY SHOT) AT 26711 MI, PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN AT. *AK

BRAKES IN FRONT REPLACED PADS THEN DEALER REPLACED DISC AND PADS,SHAKES NOT BAKE YET, TIRES WEARING REALLY LOW IN CENTER OF TIRE ALMOST DIDN'T PASS SAFETY INSPECTION, HARD TO KEEP CONTROLL OF VEHICAL IN INCLIMATE WEATHER WITH BAD TIRES.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R15 )

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED DEALER COUDN'T REMAKE PROBLEM, ROUGH ENGINE VIBRATIONS WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON NUMERUSE OCCASIONS. *AK

WARPPED BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS, BUT MADE ME PAY #117 FOR BRAKE PADS. THIS IS A RECCURRING PROBLEM ACCORDING TO YOUR DATA BASE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED WITH LOSS OF CONTROL. SEE STEERING COMPLAINTS ON YOUR DATA BASE. OIL LEAKS REOCCURRED ON O1/05/01. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY ABS INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT OR DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED WHILE PUSHING ACCELERATOR FROM A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE, THIS WOULD ALSO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SLIPPING, DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION, ALSO, LEFT FRONT AXLE BOOT WAS TORN, DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT. GAS CAP TETHER BROKE, DEALER REPLACED GAS CAP. VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE BRAKING, DEALER REPLACED WARPED ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES, THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS LATER REPLACED DUE TO A TORN PISTON BOOT. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, DEALER REPLACED SEAL. STEERING COLUMN TILT HOUSING BOWL ASSEMBLY MACHINED IMPROPERLY FROM FACTORY CAUSING TILT WOBBLE, ALSO CAUSED A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK NOISE FROM REAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *SLC

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BURNT OIL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAID THE REAR MAIN SEAL GREASE WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL FROM RECENT OIL CHANGE AND CREATING SMELL. DEALER SAID SMELL SHOULD GO AWAY AFTER 1,000 MILES.*AK

CAR HAS STALLED OVER 35 TIMES OVER A TWO MONTH SPAN. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, REPROGRAMMED THE PCM, AND REPLACED THE PCM. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTEY AND THE FUEL FILTER. THE CAR WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED. IT WOULD RESTART 'TILL 12/24/00 WHEN IT STALLED FOR THE LAST TIME AS I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION. MY TWO CHILDREN WERE WITH ME AT THE TIME. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER. I TRIED OVER FOURTY TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR. THE ENGIN TURNED OVER FINE. IT DID NOT DRAG. FINALLY, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I TAKIT IN WITH IN A TWO MONTH PERIOD TO HAVE THE STALLING REPAIRED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, WE WERE COMING BACK FORM VACATION WHEN THE CAR DIED ON US OVER TWENTY TIMES FORM SAN DIEGO TO SACRAMENTO. AT ONE POINT, WHILE RUNNING, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECCERATE AS IF SOMEONE WAS PUMING THE ACCERATOR IN A RAPID MOTION. THEN THE CAR WOULD DIE OUT. I WOULD PULL OVER AND RESTART IT. AFTER A WHILE, I GOT THE HANG OF IT. IT WOULD DIE OUT, I WOULD PUT IT IN NUTERAL, AND I WOULD RESTART THE CAR. IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS EVERY TIME THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER TO RESTART IT. I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN. SECOND PROBLEM: THE ABS LIGHT LIT UP WHEN THE CAR HAD 35,800 MILES APPROXIMATLY. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND AT THAT TIME THE LIGHT WAS OUT. IT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. AROUND 37,000 MILES, THE ABS WOULD COME ON EVERYOTHER DAY, AND THE CAR WOULD GO INTO AN ABS BRAKE

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BULGE IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, OWNER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. TIRES WERE MADE BY FIRESTONE, AFFINITY-TOURING, P21560R15 M&S. *CJ

VEHICLE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S SEAT CAME UNLATCHED & DRIVER RECEIVED INJURY TO RIGHT HAND & RIGHT BREAST. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

MOTOR MOUNTS/ BOLTS SHEARED OFF RIGHT FRONT, CAUSING ENGINE TO TILT AND TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK AFTER CONTACTING GM, THEY DECIDED TO PAT FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS, CONSUMER PAID FOR THE LABOR CHARGES AND RENTAL CAR CHARGES. *SLC

BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES. *SLC

PAD/,ROTORS,TIRES REPLACES AT 22,000 MILES. TIRES CHOPPED AND FEATHERED. RUBBING BEGAN AT 7,000. TOLD DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FINALLY AT 22,000 PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. HOWEVER, STILL GETS GRINDING NOISE WITH BRAKES WHEN ROADS ARE WET. TOLD DEALER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. *AK (TIRESIZE: R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R14 )

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING AN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH WARPED ROTORS, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL WHEN BRAKES GO BAD, THE THIRD TIME ROTORS WERE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX TO THE ONGOING PROBLEM. *SLC

OCT/99,FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS/BRAKE PEDAL SHUDDER,STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY/(SEVERE OVER 55MPH) AT 7000 MILES. REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER-WAS TOLD NORMAL WEAR/OUT OF WARRANTY-CAR IS 13 MONTHS OLD. HAD TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED/SEVERE WARPING.NOV/00,11600MILES. SAME PROBLEM.ROTORS AND PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARPING/EXCESS WEAR. CAR ONLY DRIVEN 4000 MILES IN LAST YEAR.DIDNT CONTACT DEALER BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS DISMISSAL BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER.*AK

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING T-Z TIRE (P215 60 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM AND ALMOST CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *SLC

THE FRONT ROTORS (LEFT AND RIGHT) WARP EVERY 8-12 THOUSAND MILES CAUSING SEVER VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL MAILBUS FROM 1997-2000 BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER MALIBU OWNERS AND DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS. NHTSA COMPLAIN FILES SHOW DOZENS AND DOZENNS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, YET NO ACTION BY EITHER NHTSA OR CHEVY/GM. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE AMENDS TO OWNERS AND REPLACE TRHE ROTORS WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE 2000 MODEL MALIBUS HAVE AN IMPROVED ROTOR AND HEAT DISSIPATING FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE CHEVROLET REFIT 97-99 MODELS WITH THESE NEW PARTS. *AK

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES (P215 60 R15) EXPERIENCED CRACKING IN THE TREAD, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

REPLACED FRONT BRAKES(ROTORS AND PADS) TWICE IN UNDER 33000 MILES, RADIO REPLACED TWICE IN UNDER A YEAR, HEATER CORE AND BLOWER REPLACED AT 32000 MILES, HAZARD BUTTON BROKE IN UNDER A YEAR. *AK

PREMATURE FAIL OF FRONT ROTORS DEALER WILL REPLACE ROTORS BUT WILL CHARGE FOR PADS AND ADDITIONAL LABOR. WHEEL CENTER COVERS PRESENT A CONDITION (ALL 4) THAT MAY CAUSE THEN TO COME OFF DUE TO FATIGUE OF SUPPORTING BRACKETS. REAR GLASS WEATHERSTRIPE SHRINK ABNORMALY CAUSING WATER TO ENTER INSIDE. *AK

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM TO DOWN. DEALER CHECK BUT CONDITION CONTINUE. DASH COVER IS SHRINKING PREMATURELY. DEALER SAID CONDITION IS NORMAL AND HAS NO PLAN TO REPLACE IT. PERSONALLY OBSERVED OTHER CARS, SAME YARS, WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY SPEED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE FRONT ROTORS WARPED AT 10,000 MILES. RESURFACED ROTORS, WARPED AGAIN. REPLACED CHEVROLET ROTORS WITH AFTERMARKET ROTORS AT 18,000 MILES. AFTERMARKET ROTORS WARPED. VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHEN I APPLY BRAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, FRONT OF VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING. AT 70 MPH, VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I USUALLY DRIVE UNDER 65 MPH AND FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN I TOOK MY FIRST TRIP. ON A RECENT TRIP, I HAD TO BRAKE ON A STEEP HILL, WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT AT 70 MPH, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BE A DEFECT FROM DAY ONE.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED. TIRE PICKED UP TACK. NOTICED CRACKS JUST BELOW THE TREAD. WAS JAGGED ALONG 3/4 OF LEFT REAR TIRE. CHECKED OTHER TIRES & CRACKS ON THEM, BUT NOT AS BAD. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD NUMEROUS CRACKS. TOOK TO FIRESTONE RETAILER & WAS INFORMED WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT MECHANIC TOUCH TIRE. 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING T2. P215/60R15 WITH 30,000 MILES.*AK DOT # W2MWAAA397. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE HIGHLY. VIBRATION WILL BE FELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE AS WELL AS ON DRIVER'S SIDE, DEALER HAS ROTATED THE TIRES, REPLACED TIRES (NO BRAND OR SIZE GIVEN), REPLACED PLUG WIRES PLACED A BOLT IN THE SUSPENSION, AND REPLACED ROTORS, THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC

ALMOST AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THE CAR, REAR LIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT SPORADICALLY, I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SHOES TWICE (AT 18,000 AND ABOUT 44,000 MILES), I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT 37,000 MILES, ONE SEAT BELT CLIP PLASTIC HANDLE PROTECTOR BROKE OFF, AND I'VE HAD RADIATOR LEAKAGE AND AIR CONDITION PROBLEMS AS WELL AS RADIO RECEPTION BEING SPORADIC AT BEST.

BUSHINGS ON CONTROL ARMS DEFECTIVE AND BATTERY ACCID LEAKS

AT AROUND 40 THOUSAND MILES THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO COMPLETELY STOP IN A TURNING LANE IN TRAFFIC. THE RUBBER LINING GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO FALL OFF. THE BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACED LONG BEFORE THEY WERE DUE. THE TIRES, WHICH SUPPOSEDLY HAD A 70,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. THAT COST US 300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. AFTER LOOKING ON MESSAGE BOARDS I DON'T SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE MALIBU AND I REALLY THINK SOMEONE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING INTO THIS. SEEMS LIKE THESE CARS ARE MADE TO FALL APART AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO EXTENDEDN STOPPING DISTANCE, BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON EIGHT OCCASIONS. AT PRESENT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FIRESTONE CLAIMS THAT TIRES WORE DUE TO OVER-INFLATION. DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY ONES INFLATING THOSE TIRES. WHEN TESTED TIRES WERE AT 35PSI. FIRESTONE CLAIMS THAT PROBLEM IS COMMMON ON MALIBUS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/60/R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/60/R15 )

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR DOESN'T STAY ENGAGED. COMPRESSOR DOES COME ON BUT INDICATOR ON DASH SHOWS IT GOING OFF AND COMING ON AGAIN. WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED. HAS TO BE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK

FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES P215 60 R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, BREAK IN TIREWALL, AND TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND. *SLC

THEFT DETERENT SYSTEM SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 7+ TIME SINCE 11K CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN FOR 3-4 MIN, TURN OFF AND NOT RESTART, PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED.*ET

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE OR ALMOST STOP WHILE DRIVING. ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. IN DECEMBER 1999, REPROGRAMMED PCM(POWER CONTROL MODULE)/CLR CODES. REFERENCED BULLETIN 99-0604032. IN JANUARY 2000, PROBLEM RECURRED, REPLACED IGNITION COIL. IN JULY 2000, PROBLEM RECURRED, ROADTESTS CONDUCTED. TECHNICIAN CONTACTED "TANS" AND DETERMINED THAT FUEL PRESSURE BELOW SPECS. REPLACED SENDING UNIT (SENDER) AND FILTER.