1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT 80,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ON 3 OCCASIONS IN ALMOST 70000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO GET THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED ON MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY.THE OTHER TWO WERE NOT. ALL 3 RESULTED IN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE FIRST TIME WAS INTERNAL. ALL THREE TIMES WERE REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIPS. *AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN STEERING GEAR BEARINGS RECALL 03V527000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY GRANDSON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HE HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SOUND. A FEW SECONDS LATE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE OCEAN CITY CHEVROLET I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE BEEN HIT FOR AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN WRECK OF HIT. GM WAS NOTIFIED AND TEST WERE RUN ON THE CAR. I CONTACTED GM TO FIND OUT IF THEY WERE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY RESPONDED WITH A RUN AROUND SAYING THAT THE BLACK BOX SHOWS AN IMPACT IN THE FRONT AND BACK. THEN I TOLD HIM THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN WRECKED OR HIT. HE THEN RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THE AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE MY GRANDSON SLOWED DOWN 6 MPH IN UNDER A SECOND, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE GM MAN IS NOT POSSIBLE BY BRAKES. IF THAT WAS THE CASE MY GRANDSONS FRIEND THAT WAS FOLLWING HIM WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED HIM IF HE HAD SLOWED DOWN THAT RAPIDLY. FINALY THE GM MAN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUMPED JUST RIGHT AND THAT WAS THAT CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. GM REFUSED TO REPAIR MY AIRBAG SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. HOWEVER IT WAS A CAR DEFECT.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V527000 REGARDING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS FAILURE. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER TREATED THE RECALL UNFAIRLY. CONSUMER HAD BEEN PUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TRYING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE .*AK

SOMETIMES WE START THE CAR THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER SHUTS THE CAR DOWN FOR A 10 MINUTE PERIOD FOR NO REASON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A ROCK. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY TRIPLE L TOWING. *AK CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER IN LAW HEARD NEWS OF GM RECALLING 88,000 VEHICLES FOR A POWER STEERING DEFECT, AND RELAYED THE NEWS TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER CONTACTED GM REGARDING THE NEWS AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON THE LIST. ALSO, GM SAID THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO CHECK ON TO THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALSO REPORTED INFORMATION TO HER INSURANCE CARRIER. *LA

1998 CEVROLET MALIBU WITH 3.1 V6 ENGINE.CAR HAD SPORADIC STALLING.FINALLY TRACED TO A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH WAS ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE.THE COOLANT LEAKING ALSO CAUSED THE O2 SENSOR TO BE COATED AND NEED REPLACING.VEHICLE HAS APPROX MILEAGE IN THE 74K RANGE.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS TO REPORT, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE COULD OCCUR, IF NOT TO ME, TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM STATED OR COMPONENT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, WITH A 3.1L V6 ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE, IN THE 50K TO 80K MILE RANGE. I HAVE 89,500 MILES ON MY MALIBU. REPAIR COST IS $600-800. I DID SOME CHECKING AROUND, AND 2 OTHER MECHANICS I SPOKE TO ALSO SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO LOOKED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND PROBLEMS. GM CONTINUES TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER I ALSO BECAME AWARE THAT GM CANADA IS PROVIDING 50/50 DEALS FOR THE CORRECTION OF THIS VERY PROBLEM. CAN'T GM HERE IN THE U.S. ADMIT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PLASTIC GASKETS THEY USED, AND OFFER A RECALL? THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON FOR IT TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR...ESPECIALLY WHEN GM CANADA IS OFFERING TO FIX IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY AND WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS EMPTY THE GAS GAUGE READ FULL. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISES, THE A/C LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON AND THE A/C BLEW HOT AIR WHEN THE BUTTON WAS NOT ACTIVATED, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL DRIVE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, THE ANTENNA DID NOT PICK UP AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF STATIONS, (CASE EFFICIENCY DECREASED FROM 350 TO 250 TO REFILL THE CAN), WHEN TWO BATTERIES WERE REPLACED, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK, AND CONDENSATION WOULD SET IN THE REAR LIGHTS AND BURNED THEM OUT. *SC *JB

DISSATISFIED WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TOOK THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM A TWO AND A HALF HOUR RECALL. *PH

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU ABS LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN AND BRAKES DON'T WORK CORRECTLY, MAKING THE STOPPING DISTANCE LONGER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE THE FRONT SPEED SENSOR. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. AND SINCE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN BRAKING THE CAR VIBRATES, I KNOW THAT IT'S DO TO THE FRONT ROTORS, NEEDING TO BE REPLACE, BUT I WAS LOOKING ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT THIS TYPE OF CARS HAS AND DON'T FIND IT TO BE A COINCIDENCE. SURELY THERE IS SOME THINKING WE CAN DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE GET INJURED OR KILLED. IT IS NOTABLY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF NOW. WE HAVE CARS ON THE STREET THAT HAVE FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEMS, IF THAT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN CALL ME CRAZY. HOPEFULLY SOME ONE GET BACK TO ME. *AK

MY CAR WAS LEAKING A CLEAR FLUID I TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT HE GETS SEVERAL GM CARS A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RECOMMENDING I FILED A COMPLAINT SO THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL. THERE IS DEFINITELY A GASKET PROBLEM ON GM VEHICLES. *JB

WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIPS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA 03V527000 STEERING GEAR BEARING FAILURE. RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2004, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND HIT A DUMP TRUCK IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, HOWEVER, UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

CHEVROLET REFUSED TO PAY FERRY EXPENSE SO CONSUMER COULD GET HER VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE NEAREST CHEVY DEALERSHIP, 100 MILES AWAY BY WATER. *PH *LA *JB

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PRESSED DOWN TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER TURNED ON/OFF ON ITS OWN. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A ROCK. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SIX TIMES IN 4 1/2 YEARS. *PH

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TAIL LIGHTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WOULD NOT COME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD NOT BEEN FOUND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. **AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. TAIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD NOT BE FOUND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AND A/C CONTROLS. *AK

MY TURN SIGNAL WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. I NOTICE ESPECIALLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE IT DOES NOT WORK FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. I TRY AND TRY TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS, BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, I CANNOT PREDICT IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT. THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN, IT IS THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER SWITCH WHEN TRYING TO USE IT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET A RESPONSE, THEREFORE I CAN'T ALERT OTHER DRIVERS AND CYCLIST THAT I WANT TO TURN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SOON AFTER VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR LOW IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT INFLATING WHICH OFFERED ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION. *NM

ANTI-FREEZE (DEX-COOL) LEAKED OUT, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO RELPACE MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD / INTAKE GASKETS ARE LEAKING WATER INTO MY OIL. BECAUSE OF THIS I AM IN GREAT DANGER OF MY ENGINE BLOWING. THE CAR HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ALL.*AK

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRUNK DOES NOT STAY UP IN THE AIR ON WINDY DAYS OR SOMETIMES BY JUST PUTTING GROCERIES INTO THE TRUNK. I CAN NOT RECALL THE AMOUNT OF TIMES MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON HAS BEEN HIT ON THE HEAD WITH THE TRUNK LID. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND THINK THE SOME SORT OF HYDRAULICS (LIKE IN MOST HATCHBACKS) SHOULD BE INSTALLED. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH, TURN AND HOLD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER. SECONDLY, SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DID NOT RETRACT. HAD TO PUT THE SEAT BELT ON MANUALLY. ALSO, BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN APPLIED. *AK

AT 47,000 MILES VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED ENGINE GASKET, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A POWER STEERING PROBLEM AND THEY FOUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *SC

ANTI THEFT ACTIVATES ALOT , JUST WISH I COULD START THE CAR WHEN I NEED IT .HEATER CONTROL DOESN'T WANT TO WORK RIGHT, IT WOULD ALSO BE NICE TO HAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER , BEEN TO SHOP A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT GM CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. CHEVROLETS ARE JUNK, I WONT BUY ANOTHER ONE. I FIXED MY BRAKE PROBLEM BY USING CERAMIC PADS, COST A LITTLE BUT WELL WORT IT ( HAD THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT WERE REPORTED HERE EVERY 5000 OR SO MILE IN FOR REPAIRS. ) WHEN I PUT CERAMIC PADS ON THEY LASTED 40,000 MILES AND STILL GOING STRONG. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL NO.#03V527000(STEERING GEAR BEARINGS) PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS WORSE NOW THAN IT DID BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHILE IDLING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILURE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I NEED A NEW RACK AND SOME HOSES. ESTIMATED PRICE IS $1,300. I CALLED GM SERVICE AND THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ISSUED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS CONCERNING STEERING FAILURE IN CHEVY MALIBU. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED. THIS COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT LOST OF POWER STEERING FLUID. *AK

WHEN TURNING RIGHT POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A RECALL BEING CONDUCTED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT A PART OF IT. RECALL NO. #01VO68000, WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. *JB

CAR IS LEAKING COOLANT. AFTER HAVING IT CHECKED, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED IT IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOT ONLY ON MALIBUS BUT ON MANY GM/GMC CARS. *LA

THE HEATER ONLY BLOWS ON SETTING 5. RESEARCH INDICATES THE POSSIBILITY OF MELTED RESISTOR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON, RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MALIBUS. *LA

THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE HOUSING OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AS A RESULT THE WIPERS DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THIS DEFECT WAS ON RECALL THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

COOLANT LEAKING FROM 3.1 LITER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, NEEDS REPAIR.

WHEN MY CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM GOLD KEY AUTO IT HAD 88,000 MILES. THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK, HAD TO PURCHASE A BATTERY THAT WOULD HOLD ENOUGH POWER TO START CAR. THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINOUS SINCE CAR HAS BEEN PURCHASED THEY WEAR OUT AND SQUEAL ONCE A YR. OR LESS, 1 YR. AFTER PUCHASE OF CAR IT HAS HAD A TOTAL CALIBER CHANGE RIGHT AND LEFT, THIS WAS A 235.00 CHARGE FROM WHEELS UNLIMITED IN WAYCROSS CAUSE OF REPAIR BRAKES LOCKED UP ON CAR. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES 1ST YR., ONE FAILING AFTER ANOTHER. THIS PAST DEC., 1 RIGHT SIDE CALIBER CHANGE AND ANOTHER BRAKE CHANGE.CAR STARTED MAKING A RATTLE NOISE WERE TIMING CHAIN IS SO WE PROCEEDED WITH CHANGING THE TIMING CHAIN, REPLACED IN DEC. 2002.AT THE SAME TIME WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE RATTLED WAS STILL THERE, NOW MY CAR IS PARKED WAITING TO FIND OUT WHATS WRONG NOW. POSSIBLE FLY-WHEEL OR TIMING GEAR.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 3.1L V6, AND HEAD GASKET FAILED. SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM COOLANT ENTERING ENGINE, FREEZING TWO EXHAUST VALVES AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. COMPLETE DAMAGE ESIMATE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. CAN UPDATE LATER. CONTACT WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOT TRUE! A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW IT WELL! THEY APPARENTLY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO MAKE RIGHT THIS MAJOR ENGINE DESIGN ERROR. THIS CAR FAILED IN A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE.

HARSH WINTER OF 2003 WITH UNUSUAL BUILDUP OF SNOW/ICE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING AND/OR RELATED PARTS OF MY DAUGHTER'S 98 CHEV. MALIBU. CHEVY DEALERS REFUSE TO HELP REPAIR AS A RECALL, BECAUSE THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, AND CLOSEST STATE IS OUR NEARBY NEIGHBOR WEST VIRGINIA (WHERE, OF COURSE, OUR NC RESIDENTS NATURALLY TRAVEL REGULARLY DURING THE WINTER FOR THE SPORT OF WINTER SKIING). PART COST HAS BEEN QUOTED AS $137, THOUGH I HAVEN'T YET DETERMINED IF I HAVE THE TOOLS/CAPABILITY TO REPAIR MYSELF. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.