1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU'S 3.1L ENGINE REQUIRED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT AROUND 30000 MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN USING MORE FLUID LATELY AND I AM THINKING THAT THE GASKET WILL ONCE AGAIN REQUIRE REPLACING. SECONDLY, MY CAR RUSTED AROUND THE DOORS AND THE HOOD SEAMS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE REPAIRS AND THE SEAMS LOOK WORSE THAN EVER.

AIR COMPRESSER AND WIRE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED FAN DID NOT WORK ON SETTING 1 AND 2 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2000. AIRCONDITIONING PROBLEM CAUSED THE FUSES THAT CONTROL GAS TANK, TEMP GAGE AND LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD TO GO OUT ALL FUSSES REPLACED

ALUMINUM ALLOY TIRE RIMS: I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU, AND THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RIMS. I AM ON MY THIRD PURCHASED REPLACEMENT RIM FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE TIRE GOES THROUGH A CHUCK OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD THEY ARE CRACKING, CAUSING DEFLATION OF THE TIRE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING ALOT OF THESE RIMS.

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THOSE STATED IN RECALLS, WHICH INCLUDED THE STEERING GEAR BEARINGS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS. *AK

TRUNK STRUTS WORE OUT, AND CAUSED THE TRUNK LID TO FALL ON THE CONSUMER. CONSUMERS SUSTAINED NECK/BACK OF THE HEAD INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED , BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASGET LEAKING AT 43,661 MILES. REPAIR COSTS ENCOUNTERED TOTALED $589.90. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. THIS CAUSED ANTI-FREEZE IN OIL AND IT MADE THE CAR TO DIE OUT. ONCE THE OIL WAS CHANGED THE USED OIL WAS THICK AND HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. ALSO THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. RECALL 01V068000 WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE SYSTEM CRACKED WHILE IN USE DURING A HEAVY RAIN CAUSING BOTH WIPERS TO FAIL. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 65 TRAVELING AT 55MPH. VISIBILTY AFTER THE INCIDENT DIMINISHED TO APPROX 20-30 FEET. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND PULL TO THE ROADSIDE. *AKHOWEVER I DON'T THINK AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WOULD HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS,, WEATHER, SPEED, TRAFFIC... I SEARCHED FOR ANY RECALL NOTICES FROM CHEVY ON THIS AND FOUND ONE, 01V068000. WHY WASN'T MY STATE LISTED IN THE GROUP TO NOTIFY? THERE IS A REAL DANGER IN THE PLASTIC DESIGN OF THE WIPER MOUNT. PLEASE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND HAVE CHEVY NOTIFY ALL OF US MALIBU OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER...THANK YOU PHLECIA PARTAIN

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, ANOTHER SET OF ROTORS WERE NEEDED. *AK

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 61,000 MILES NEEDED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED, WATER PUMP REPLACED AND ENGINE OIL FLUSH BECAME A $1146.22 PROBLEM AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH WARRANTY GOLD COVERED NOTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER LIQUIDATION/CHAPTER 11. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. *LA

FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM MODULE FAILS CONSTANTLY CAUSES FUEL INJECTORS TO QUIT FOR ABOUT 10-20 MIN. "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT BLINKS, ONCE IT'S DONE BLINKING IT MIGHT START THE CAR, OR IT MIGHT FAIL AGAIN CAUSING ANOTHER 10-20 MIN. LAG PERIOD. A/C ALSO BLOWS COLD AIR WHEN OFF, AND HOT AIR WHEN ON AT TIMES. A/C ALSO TURNS IT'S SELF OFF AND ON FROM TIME TO TIME. BRAKES SEEM TO GIVE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BRAKING. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED SPOTS OF COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO GRAB INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO AN EMBANKMENT.*AK

I HAD TO HAVE THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM REPLACED ON MY 1998 MALIBU ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY DUE TO BEING WORN THRU AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY THE SERVICE TECHINICIANS RECOMMENDATION. THIS WAS DONE AT 68719 MILES. I ALSO HAD THE INTAKE VALVES REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO FOR THE SECOND TIME DUE TO LEAKAGE OF LOTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE, ALSO PER THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS RECOMMENDATION. THIS WAS ONLY 14 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS DONE THE LAST TIME. I HAVE MY SERVICE DONE AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND I THINK THAT 68719 MILES IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM. I ALSO THINK THAT I WAS GIVEN FAULTY INTAKE VALVES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND ALSO ON THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. I AM ALSO TAKING MY CAR BACK FOR THE 3RD VISIT TO TRY AND FIX THE CHIRPING SOUND THAT IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I ALSO REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND BEARINGS 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE INTAKE VALVES WERE DONE. *LA

THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

PASS LOCK SYSTEM PERMITS ENGINE FROM STARTING FOR AT LEAST 10-20 MINUTES. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*MR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A SNOW STORM AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE. *TS *JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES, EVERY 35,000 MILES. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, AND THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

WATER IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE FROM THE HEAD GASKET. WATER PUMP STARTED SEEPING AFTER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKES WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITH FINALLY THE ONES MENTIONED ON THE BULLETIN. FIRST THE LEFT SIDE WHEEL BEARING/ SPEED SENSOR ASSEMBLY CHANGED THEN A COUPLE OF THOUSAND OF MILES LATER THE RIGHT SIDE. AIR CONDITION WAS GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *LA

RACK AND PINION BROKE, CAUSING STEERING TO FAIL. *AK

I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, LIFTED MY FOOT OFF, THEN PRESSED AGAIN - THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED, THE MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, LIFTED MY FOOT OFF, THEN PRESSED AGAIN - THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED, THE MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - 2ND FAILURE. *JB

COOLANT WAS LEAKING DUE TO CRACKED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK

FRONT BRAKES PULSATE WITH A VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND FRONT END SHAKE.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NORMAL STREET SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ITS RACK AND PINION STEERING AND ALL POWER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE ARM REST POPPED OUT, THE VEHICLE PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT (DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM). THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BRAKE ROTORS, 2 SETS OF TIRES/ALMOST COMPLETELY BALD AT THE TIME ONLY 13K MILES. THE RIMS HAD TO BE FORCED OFF, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD BECOME RUSTED AT 20K MILES, THE IGNITION WIRE HARNESS HAD COME APART, THE POWER STEERING HOSES HAD COME LOOSE, LOST FLUID AND POWER STEERING WHILE IN MOTION, THE TRUNK LEAKED, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON TWICE A WEEK, THE FRONT END SQUEAKED AND RATTLED, THE ANTENNA WIRE WAS LOOSE, THE RIGHT HEAD LAMP HAD PERMANENT MOISTURE WITH NO CRACK, THE A/C WOULD SHUT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 60K MILES AND THE WANING LIGHT HAD COME ON FOR ONLY FIVE MINUTES, THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL, AND THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING HAD BROKEN. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TRUNK LATCH PROBLEMS. EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER OPENED THE TRUNK AND WAS UNDER IT, THE TRUNK CLOSED, HITTING THE CONSUMER ON THE HEAD. MANUFACTURER OR DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK *PH *JB

INTERMITTENTLY PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S VIEWS. *AK

WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND CAUSED LEFT BACK TAIL LIGHT TO FAIL. *AK

98 MALIBU LS DEVELOPED COOLANT LEAK AT 19,000 MILES. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 98. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING AS WELL AS WATER PUMP BAD. $880.00 TO REPAIR. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP COVER COST EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SIUT AGAINST GM OVER THIS ISSUE!?!?*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER CHANGED THE NEW KEY AND THE PROBLEM REMAINED. *AK THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT HAD COME ON AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS STRANDED UNTIL THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE KEY STILL DIDN'T WORK WHEN THE NEW KEY WAS MADE. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS/ PADS, AND REAR CYLINDERS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, ALL THE ABOVE REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONING AND FAN FAILURES. *AK

PLASTIC BASE OF SYLVANIA 3057 DUAL FILAMENT TAIL LAMPS MELT CAUSING STOP LIGHTS TO FAIL.

I WAS TOLD I HAD A COOLANT LEAK WHICH CAUSED MY CAM TO BREAK IN MY ENGINE. I HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE WITH A USED ONE. I CONTACTED GM FOR SOME HELP AND THEY GAVE ME NONE. THEY WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURED DEFECT ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I AM OUT OF POCKET NEARLY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A CAR THAT SHOULD BE STILL GOING STRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND STILL, UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS USED ENGINE AS I MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH GM BECAUSE I PUT A LOT OF TRUST IN THEM AND THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY LET ME DOWN. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I HAVE HAD CONSISTENT BRAKE PROBLEMS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND IT WOULD BE A SAD THING TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE FATALITIES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

FRONT BRAKES & ROTORS CONTINUOUSLY NEED REPLACING (5 TIMES IN 4 YEARS). *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP POSITION WITH FEET ON THE DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.*AK

BRAKE PULSATION CONTINUES AFTER SEVERAL SETS OF ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO HAVE REPLACED CALIPERS, MASTER CYLINDER AND HOSES. REAR BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONAL.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING. *JB BAD AXLES IN FRONT DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TT *JB

ENGINE GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 1998, CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 66,000 MILES. INFORMED BY MECHANIC 3RD MALIBU HE HAS SEEN IN A MONTH FOR SAME PROBLEM, COST $1500.00 FOR REPAIRS, WHY NO RECALL OR REPLACEMENT. RESEARCHED THIS SIGHT AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY CARES THIS LITTLE FOR ITS CONSUMERS. CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DISCUSS IT OPENLY. CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION.*AK

DRIVING ON I-95 FOR SEVERAL HOURS, CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS ON CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT ISN'T. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR IS IS STILL DOING 65, TACKOMETER SAYS I'M AT 2,000 RPMS. I PULL OFF HIGHWAY AT A REST STOP AND HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I PUT IT IN PARK AT A GAS STATION AND THE ENGINE REVS. TACK STILL AT 2,000 (IN PARK). MECHANIC TELLS ME COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS (MOTOR IDLE GUMMED UP AND GETTING STUCK). I HAD BOTH KIDS IN THE CAR. IF THE BRAKES HAD GIVEN OUT, WE'D ALL BE DEAD NOW.*AK

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *NLM

BRAKE PROBLEM, ABS FAULTY AS WELL, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAULTY I.E.; AC FAN DOES NOT TURN ON UNTIL TURNED TO 3, THEFT SYSTEM INTERMITTENT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE POSTED THESE SAME PROBLEMS. IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *JB

ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING OR RELEASING CAUSING TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS 4 TIMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND GOING OFF. FIRST TIME ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE OF CAR. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER EQUIPMENT.*MR PASSENGER WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL 01V068000. *TT *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN.*AK