1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

THE ANTI- THEFT SYSTEM DISABLED THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WITH THE MOTOR DEAD, NEITHER THE BRAKES NOR STEERING WERE POWERED. COASTED TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE OUT OF TRAFFIC FLOW, TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. CALLED A TOW TRUCK BUT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN. THIS ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS PROHIBITED THE CAR FROM STARTING FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CANNOT FIX THIS. THEY SUGGESTED I USE A BACKUP KEY, BUT I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL KEYS INSERTED BOTH WAYS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS STRANDED THE DRIVER TWICE AT WORK AND ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN MALL PARKING LOTS, ONCE LATE AT NIGHT. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM, AND THEY CANNOT DISABLE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AS A WORK-AROUND. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT ONLY THE MANUFACTURER CAN SOLVE. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS AN EVENFLO DISCOVERY CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE CONTACT SAW A REPORT ON CBS TODAY RE: SAFETY RECALL ON THE EVENFLO DISCOVERY. ALSO, THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EVENFLO CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER DATE FOR THE EVENFLO CHILD SAFETY SEAT WASJULY 8, 2003. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT LOOSENED AND DIDN'T SECURE THE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURREDS IN BOTH OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDED CAB, AND A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT CRASH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED UPON INITIAL IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON STATE RD. 1 AFTER WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 P.M. I CROSSED RAILROAD TRACKS AT ABOUT 32 MPH AND BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DISCHARGED. THIS FORCED MY REAR VIEW MIRROR INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE NOW ACTING ERRATICALLY AND FUNCTIONS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. THE SHOCK OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS IS MUCH LESS THAN THAT OF A SPEED BUMP AT 3 MPH. G.M. HAS FAILED TO SEND ANYONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER LETTING IT SIT AT A DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS BECAUSE THEY ORIGINALLY STATED THEY WOULD. G.M. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE EXTENSIVELY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND BOTH WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED G.M. SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE BRUSHING THIS OFF LIKE IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ADD COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED COOLANT TO THE RESEVOIR. A WEEK LATER MORE COOLANT WAS ADDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED AND THE LEAKING BECAME WORSE AS ANOTHER LEAK WAS NOTICED FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

I PURCHASED MY MALIBU IN 2000 AS A USED VEHICLE. IT HAD 24,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURN AND REPLACED THE ROTORS ABOUT 5 TIMES. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT I HAVE REPLACED MINE ABOUT 32 TIMES IN 6 YEARS. I DRIVE A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES AND THEREFORE DO NOT USE MY BRAKES AS OFTEN AS AN IN TOWN DRIVER. THE BRAKES START TO CHATTER WHEN APPLIED AND WHEN I GO DOWN THE ROAD AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THEY ALSO DO IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CHEVROLET VEHICLE USE BRAKES LIKE THIS ONE. I HAVE A 1995 CHEVY CORSICA WITH 230,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON IT ABOUT 10 TIMES. I ALSO HAD A CHEVY CAVALIER AND ALSO DROVE IT ABOUT 250,000 MILES AND DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON IT THAT MANY TIMES EITHER. I HAVE 230,000 MILES ON MY MALIBU. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF MALIBU'S AND ALL OF THEM SAID THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED TO OFTEN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THERE WAS A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, AND NOTED THAT THE SPRING FROM THE MACPHERSON STRUT HAD DETACHED AND DUG A GROOVE INTO THE SIDEWALL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRUT.

I HAVE HAD MY LOCK CORE IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU LS REPLACED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES SINCE MY CAR WAS AROUND 30,000 TO 35,000 MILES. IT STARTED WHEN THE PASSIVE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED IN MY CAR. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD COME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD ONLY FOLLOW THE PLANS ON HOW TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT IT MORE THAN LIKELY WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR. IT HAPPENS EVERY SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS WHERE IT WON'T START AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTS FLASHING AT ME. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR UP TO 20 MINUTES. I LIVE THE UPPER MIDWEST AND IF IT WAS ON A REALLY COLD OR HOT AND HUMID DAY, THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF YOU STAY WITH YOUR CAR. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET IT FIXED AND FIXED RIGHT? OR HAVE GM STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? *NM

ANTI- THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. AFTER GETTING IN THE CAR, WE TRY TO START IT; IT TURNS OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL KEYS INSERTED BOTH WAYS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AT WORK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF THIS. IT COST $ 180 EVERY TIME TO HAVE IT RESET BY THE DEALER. A NEW SYSTEM IS $450, BUT NO GUARANTEES IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. FROM READING WEB SITES, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *JB

HAVING TROUBLE WHEN TURNING VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY WHEN TURNING LEFT FOLLOWED BY A JERK TO THE LEFT. SOMETIMES IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS TO HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT THEN EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN TO RIGHT AS THOUGH UNASSISTED. I HAVE A RECALL FOR 98 MALIBU BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE . I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE CONSIDERING THE TROUBLE I AM HAVING WHICH IS JUST LIKE OTHER 98 MALIBUS THE CAMPAIGN # IS 03V527000 EFF. 12/11/03 GM RECALL# 03062. *NM

CODES C1286 AND C1214. THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE BRAKES AND ROTORS DONE BECAUSE THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WERE ON. THE TRACTION CONTROL FOR THE RELAY CONTACT OR COIL AND STEERING SENSOR BIAS MALFUNCTION IS PULLING UP. THE CAR HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS IN 3 MONTHS I'VE HAD IT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THE BRAKES LIGHT FAIL. THE LIGHTS OVER HEAT AND SMOKE THEN EXPLODE CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN ALERTED. *AK

ON COUNTLESS OCCASIONS MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING. I FEAR FOR THE TIME WHEN THIS SYSTEM CAUSES THE ENGINE TO CEASE WHEN I AM DRIVING AND IN DANGER OF LOOSING CONTROL. I KNOW THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM--HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED ONLINE ALONE. CAN'T YOU PERSUADE GM TO CORRECT AND ADRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE INJURIES AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE OCCUR--TO SAY NOTHING OF THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING AFFECTED DRIVERS TO ATTEMPT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS SEEMS TO BE AN ANTI-OWNER SYSTEM ALSO. SINCE 1998 WHEN THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, THE IGNITION CYLINDER OR THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF ONE OF TWO REASONS. EITHER THE KEY WON'T TURN OR THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T LET ME START THE CAR. I DRIVE OVER 50 MILES EACH WAY TO AND FROM WORK AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET STRANDED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME SHOULD I HAVE TO STOP SOMEWHERE DURING MY TRAVELS. IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE IT WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN THE LIGHT IS COMING ON.... AT $300+ FOR EACH REPAIR SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IT'S GETTING A LITTLE EXPENSIVE. IF THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT'S NOT REASON ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND FIND A SOLUTION THEN WHAT IS? I REALLY LIKE THE CAR BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *NM

REPEATEDLY HAVE TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BECAUSE TAIL LIGHTS FILL WITH WATER EVERY STORM OR WHEN WASHED UNTIL THEY FINALLY BURN OUT. MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER WITH MALIBU'S. ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB

REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS (COMMON GM PROBLEM, NO GREASE NIPPLE). HAVING FUEL PROBLEM (GETTING TOO MUCH). NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END (SOUNDS LIKE COIL SPRING). *JB

1998 MALIBU REAR SPRING BROKE OFF. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS NEEDED REPLACING. *TS ***NAR****JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND TURNING THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V527000, REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *NM

DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT SEEMS EVERY TWO MONTHS THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS NEED REPLACING. I KEEP REPLACING THEM BUT IT IS NOT WORKING. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONE MINUTE THEY WORK. DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND IT IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? THERE SHOULD BE. *JB

MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE THAT ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK. WATER CAN MIX WITH OIL OR CAN GENERATE OVERHEAT OF THE ENGINE. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE I WAS BACKING UP ON MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION UNITS WHICH INCLUDED THE STRUT, COIL SPRING AND MOUNTING PLATE. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, IT'S SAFER TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. I AGREED WITH HIM, WHO KNOWS IF I DID NOT REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE IT COULD HAVE BROKEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE RESULTS COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS LESS THAN 57,000 MILES ON IT AND THE COIL SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK IN HALF IN SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THAT SAID, I AM THINKING IF THERE''S ANY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND/OR BUILD MATERIAL OF THE COIL SPRING. I SPENT $634 TO FIX IT AND IT COULD HAVE COST MUCH MORE, INCLUDING MY LIFE, LOVED ONES AND OTHERS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO TAKE ACTIONS, INFORM GM AND BEGIN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. REGARDS, SCOTT SHYU [email protected]. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME SHE USED THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DEACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - THE BRALKES FAILED AT LESS THAN 2800 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. *NM

1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK, GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 100,000 MILES (MAY BE RELATED TO MANDATED USAGE OF DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE IN VEHICLE PER MANUFACTURER). *NM

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON ONE MINUTE THE NEXT MINUTE THE CAR CUT OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CURTIS CHEVROLET IN WASHINGTON, DC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO THE OIL REGULATOR AND FILTER EXPLODED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57500 ORIGINAL MILES, SERVICED MAINLY BY CURTIS CHEVROLET...OIL RECENTLY CHANGED BY CURTIS YET I WAS TOLD THAT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WOULD BE $6,000. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERED TOTALED. *JB

FRONT PASSENGER COIL STRUT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. RUBBED UP AGAINST TIRE. LEFT MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIXED MY CAR. FRONT PASSENGER COIL WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TWO FRONT STRUTS. ALSO TWO NEW TIRES WERE REPLACED UP FRONT. *NM

ON AUG. 10,2005 MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, WHILE PARKED WITH IGNITION OFF CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE EXITING CAR BEFORE THE FIRE, I SMELLED NO SMOKE OR "HOT" SMELLS, I STOOD THERE APPROX. 3 MIN. WHILE TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER. 10 MIN. LATER THE LEBANON, TENNESSEE FIRE DEPT. WAS THERE EXTINGUISHING A FIRE THAT WAS MOSTLY CONTAINED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AREA, THEY DEEMED THE CAR "TOTALED" . I CONTACTED GM THE SAME DAY, AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CONVERSATIONS , ON SEPT.13, 2005, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. MIKE DEMARE, CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, THAT "GENERAL MOTORS IS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES AND WE SUGGEST THAT YOU RESOLVE THIS MATTER THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER." SO I AM STILL WITHOUT A CAR, AND I AM DISABLED, WITH A MINOR CHILD LIVING WITH ME. I CAN NOT AFFORD FULL COVERAGE , AND ONLY HAD LIABILITY ON THE VEHICLE. *NM SEPT.

DT: ONE OF THE COIL SPRINGS ON FRONT DRIVER' S SIDE PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A BIG BOOM SOUND. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 14, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT THE RESPONSE SHE HOPED FOR. *JB

SUDDEN FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT SPRING CAUSING PUNCTURED TIRE SIDEWALL AND SUDDEN DEFLATION OF TIRE. *JB

REPEATED FAILURE OF FRONT ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSORS CAUSING ERRATIC ABS AND BRAKE OPERATION. *JB

1. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS NEEDED. I PUT WATER INTO THE RESERVOIR (CAR WAS ON) AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 10 MILES. I STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND NOTICED WATER/COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I REPLACED THE WATER AND DROVE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HE SHOWED ME THE LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE ALSO STATED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. SIMILAR COMMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO ME IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO THE INTAKE GASKET; MECHANICS, AUTO PART SALES MEN AND THE DEALER WHERE I GET MY CAR SERVICED HAD ALL BEEN CONCERNED IN THE PAST FOR THIS AREA OF MY CAR, BUT UNTIL NOW EVERYTHING HAD BEEN FINE; 2. FAILURE OF THE INTAKE GASKET PREVENTED THE ENGINE COOLANT FROM MAINTAINING THE PROPER COOLANT LEVEL, THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE TIME OUT OF MY DAY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS MATTER AND SEEK ADVICE IN PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE; 3. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON TUESDAY (9/6/05). I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR FOR A FULL DAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THE CAR WAS 550.00 TO 600.00 DOLLARS. *JB

LATELY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ONLY SEEMS TO BE WORKING TO KEEP ME FROM DRIVING. I HAVE ASKED EVERYBODY WHAT I CAN DO TO STOP THIS STUPID THING AND I COME UP WITH THE SAME ANSWERS. WE CAN CHANGE THE KEYS, PUT IN A NEW IGNITION, A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. ALL WITH THE SAME RESULTS. IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE WHY CHEVROLET WILL NOT RECALL THE SYSTEM AND DISABLE IT SOME HOW. IT USED TO HAPPEN JUST ONCE IN AWHILE NOW IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ABOUT 2-3 TIMES PER MONTH. EACH TIME I AM STRANDED FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BECAUSE THAT IS HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM TO CYCLE THROUGH. I CAN REMEMBER AT LEAST 3 TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF I WOULD TRY TO START IT AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD START BLINKING AGAIN. VERY FRUSTRATING. OTHER THAN THE STUPID THEFT SYSTEM THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT.*JB

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU ENGINE STARTED RACING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *MR THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING ON HIGH SPEED UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. *SC TPS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

I PURCHASED MY 1998 MALIBU, IT'S HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WITH IN LESS THAN A WEEK OF PURCHASING I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX A PROBLEM BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BUT I DO KNOW THE CAR DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS AND IF I HAD TO PAY FOR IT, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS, I HAVE REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES ON 3 OCCASIONS, I HAVE FIXED THE LEAKING TRANSMISSION 2X, I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS ABOUT 4X, I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE LINING IS COMING OFF THE TRUNK. THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS I HAD IN LESS THEN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SINCE MARCH 2004 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WATER PUMP, 2 OF THE INJECTORS AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SMALL REPAIRS HERE AND THERE. EVERY TIME I FIX SOMETHING WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR IT UNTIL I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT MORE INTO IT. I AM CURRENTLY REPLACING THE INJECTORS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY PAID 600 DOLLARS AND HAVE 4 MORE TO GO. I AM WORRIED THAT AFTER I PUT THIS MONEY INTO IT I WILL STILL HAVE MORE PROBLEMS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE DASH BUT THEY ARE UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT. NOBODY CAN TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH BECAUSE I NEED TO FIX ONE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN BE SURE OF THE NEXT. THIS CAR WAS THE WORST PUR

WHEEL BEARINGS KEEP FAILING, RESULTING IN ME HAVING TO GET NEW OR RESURFACED ROTORS, PADS, CALIPERS, BEARINGS OBVIOUSLY, ETC. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN A YEAR AND A HALF! I CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SHELLING OUT $500-600 EVERY SIX MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, EITHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND TALKING TO A FEW MECHANICS, I'M APPARENTLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, MY POWER STEERING HOSE HAS A HABIT OF BLOWING OFF THE LINE FOR NO REASON, RESULTING IN ME HAVING TO RE-ATTACH IT. BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB

WE DROVE OUR CAR TO OUR CAMP WHICH IS 60 MILES AWAY. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO MOVE OUR CAR WHEN THE FRONT END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT DOWN WITH A HARD AND LOUD BANG. AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE SINCE IT WAS FLAT, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE CAR IT LOOKED LIKE THE SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THAT THE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE STRUT AND THE MOUNT WERE ALSO BLOWN OUT. THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT, MOUNT AND THE SPRING. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT SPRING TO THE VEHICLE TO EVEN IT OUT. BOTH FRONT TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1171.43 WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD TAKEN OUR TWO GRANDSONS TO CAMP WITH US. (AGES 2 & 4) IT IS SCARY TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM, IF WE HAD BEEN IN A CRASH. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE JUST MOVING THE CAR A FEW FEET. *JB

(1) FRONT PASSENGER SHOCK SPRING BROKE IN TWO PLACES, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE (2) SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING THE TIRE AND FORCING THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR ON THE FRAME AND TIRE RIM (3) CAR WAS TOWED TO A GM DEALER, THE SPRING WAS REPLACED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER ADVISED THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT FOR THIS DEFECT THAT HE HAS SEEN. *JB

THE ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT AND OIL FROM THE BLOCK, WHICH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. MY CAR THEN OVERHEATED ON THE ROAD WHICH LED TO MY COOLANT BURSTING OUT OF THE OVERFILL TANK. THE ENGINE THEN STARTED TO STEAM, AND ALL THE COOLANT LAID THERE ON THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST ME $1000 IN PARTS AND LABOR.

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON OCCASIONALLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 1998. RECENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY, ALMOST EVERY TIME, SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND USUALLY DURING THE FIRST TURN. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTING TURNS THE ABS LIGHT OFF, AND IT THEN STAYS OFF. ALSO, IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THE CAR HAS SLID FORWARD JUST AS IT IS COMING TO A STOP. THIS CAUSES ME TO SLIDE ABOUT ONE FOOT BEYOND WHERE I INTENDED TO STOP, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN TO STOPPING WELL BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO ALLOW FOR THIS EXTRA SLIDE. AT THE TIME OF THE SLIDE, I FEEL THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY DROP, AND THEN I HAVE TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO STOP. THIS FAILURE ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST FEW TIMES I STOP AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TODAY TO WILKIE CHEVROLET IN PHILADELPHIA TO HAVE THIS DEFECT CHECKED OUT.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN WITH A HARD BANG. IT FELT LIKE THE WHEEL FELL OFF. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE. I LEFT THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED FOR A FLAT BED TOW TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND DAMAGE THE STRUT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE BOTH SPRINGS AND BOTH STRUTS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1391.64 WHICH WAS PAID TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP ON JUNE 24, 2005. ON JUNE 22, 2005 I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS. I CONTENDED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY WHICH IS WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. I EXPLAINED TO GENERAL MOTORS REP. THAT THE SPRINGS SHOULD NEVER BREAK IN HALF AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. AFTER 2 WEEKS, GENERAL MOTORS WOULD ONLY GIVE ME A $500 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT I AM NOT PLANNING TO BUY A NEW CAR AND THAT I WOULD LIKE SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR THE COSTS OF THE REPAIRS. THEY REFUSED.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, 2.4 L, 4 CYL, SEDAN. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMMMING ON AND MY BRAKES WERE GRINDING REALLY BAD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DAY MY WARRENTY WAS TO RUN OUT. THEY SUPPOSIDLY RESET THE ABS SYSTEM BECAUSE IT DID THROW THEM A CODE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR COMPRESSOR. IT MAKES AN AWFUL NOISE. THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ALSO SUPPOSIDLY REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR WITH A USED ONE. THE COMPRESSOR IS STILL MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS IF THEY NEVER REPLACED IT. BUT THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE ON MY LAST DAY OF MY WARRENTY SO THE DEALER WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEMS ANYMORE. I LOVE MY VEHICLE, IT IS PERFECT FOR THE SIZE FAMILY THAT I HAVE AND IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE BUT THE ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH IT ARE ALMOST NOT WORTH DEALING WITH. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

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

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???

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.

BOTH COIL SPRINGS FAILED WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD.

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

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.

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

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

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

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