Page 7 of 20 · complaints 301–350 of 976

1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jun 12, 200300

WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VCOIL SPRING BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 10, 200390,000 milesMD

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FRONT END PULSATES WHICH PRODUCES A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS BRAKE ROTOR REPAIRS. THE CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND THE PISTON SEALS LEAKED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT LOST IT'S CONTACT. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG AND REPAIRED THE HORN POWER WIRE FROM THE HORN PAD TO THE HORN CONTACT RING. *SCC *NLM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jun 4, 200361,000 milesNH

DEFECTS IN 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO REPAIR THE ABS SYSTEM (INCLUDING REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR WHAT GM CALL AN "UPDATED WIRING HARNESS," REPLACING LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BARONS, AND REPLACING THE ABS RELAY). THE BRAKES CONSISTENTLY HAVE TROUBLE AND PULSE WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, CREATING CODES IN THE COMPUTER, WITH NO VISIBLE REASONS FOR THE CODES. THE GAS PEDAL HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK. THE LEFT REAR STRUT MOUNTS HAVE ALSO BROKEN AND HAVE HAD TO BE REPAIRED (QUITE COSTLY). I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 3, 2003SC

BRAKES FAILED. *AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables
Filed May 29, 200370,000 milesAL

I BOUGHT A 98 CHEVY MALIBU ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO.IT ONLYHAD 69,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKESAND BUY A NEW BATTERY.MY ABS LIGHT POPS ON AND OFF,MY AIRCONDITIONER CUTS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF, AND MY CAR CLUCKS ALL THE TIME. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND WE RIDE TOGETHER WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT BOTH OF OUR CARS ARE GIVING US THE SAME PROBLEMS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed May 28, 2003IL

COMPLAINT LETTER FROM IL STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFC WANTING TO KNOW WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1998, CHEVROLET, MALIBU. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 19, 2003MI

3.1 L INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › RotorCrash
Filed May 12, 200365,000 milesNY

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS...FROM THEM WEARING OUT PREMATURELY TO THE ROTORS WARPING. AT AROUND 5,000 MILES I WENT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THEY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESURFACED. AT AROUND 13,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED (THE WERE REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET ROTORS). ALTHOUGH WARPING DID OCCUR AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITH A NON OEM PART, IT DID NOT OCCUR AS OFTEN AND AS BADLY. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RESURFACED AND BENDIX PADS PLACED. WARPING STARTED AFTER A FEW DAYS THAT THE BREAKS WERE DONE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE ROTOR THAT WAS AT FAULT. IT WAS THE ENTIRE BRAKE DESIGN OF THE MALIBU. THE BRAKES SIMPLY CANNOT HOLD BACK THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR ON SUCH SMALL ROTORS. BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SMALL SURFACE AREA OF SUCH SMALL ROTORS, THEY TEND TO HEAT UP WAY TO EARLY CAUSING SEVERE BRAKE FADING....THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE TO BEGIN WITH. TODAY, AS I WAS DRIVING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR, IT FELT AS IF I WASN'T PRESSING THE BRAKE AT ALL AND I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE...SOMEWHERE AROUND $2,500 WORTH. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR I DECIDED TO TEST THE BRAKES BY APPLYING THEM IN THE SAME MANNER AS BEFORE...AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AS IT SHOULD. THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION IS BRAKE FADE DO

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 1, 2003111,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *NLM

Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Apr 25, 2003NY

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ALL THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light
Filed Apr 7, 20033,000 milesMI

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON LEFT TURN. HAVE TO STOP, TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART TO TURN OFF THE ABS LIGHT. SERVICE REVIEW INDICATED THAT FAULTY LIGHT, WOULD COST 600$ TO REPAIR. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 7, 2003FL

THE BRAKES PERFORMED ERRATICALLY EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE CALIPERS. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Apr 3, 200350,000 milesUT

FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILED TWICE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON PERIODICALLY.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 3, 2003IN

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JUNE 1998 AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT MONTH. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SHAVER MOTORS HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING IN CHICAGO ON 80 90 TOLL ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE STOPPED FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DOING 55 MILES PER HOUR. I LISTED ONE INCIDENT DATE BUT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AFTER LESS THAN 3000 MILES, THEY WERE ALSO BAD.

Steering
Filed Apr 2, 200339,000 milesMD

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. *JB THE VEHICLE SLID, HIT A CURB, AND HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN MUD. SCC

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 27, 2003173,527 milesFL

THE ODOMETER READ INCORRECTLY. THE WATER PUMP AND BELT FAILED. THE WIPER REGULATOR FAILED. THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED. THE VEHICLES ROTORS WARPED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *NLM *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 25, 200339,000 milesOH

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO OIL. 46000 MILES

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 23, 2003VA

BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS CONTINUALLY FAILED ON CHEVROLET MALIBU. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW. PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BALL JOINTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED - PADS AND ROTORS AS OFTEN AS EVERY 6000 TO 12000 MILES. DEALERS AND INDEPENDENTS HAVE WORKED ON IT WITH THE SAME RESULT: MORE FAILURES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FOR MALIBU'S JUST FROM THIS YEAR'S MODEL AND MANY MORE FOR OTHER YEARS. NHTSA HAS NEVER INVESTIGATED EVEN THOUGH BRAKE FAILURE WOULD SEEM TO BE SIGNIFICANT. MY TAX MONEY IS NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 18, 200340,000 milesMO

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED AT 65,000 MILES, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED (LAST TIME WAS AT 40,000). THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS 6 TIMES AND HAS EXPERIENCED ALL OTHER MALIBU PROBLEMS SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL FAILURE, TAIL LIGHT MELTING, ETC. *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Mar 16, 2003IN

ONCE THE VEHICLE IS AT "NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE" THE POWER STEERING BECOMES HARD AND WILL SQUEAL. I HAVE REPLACES THE POWER STEERING FLUID, IN ENTIRETY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I PLAN ON GOING TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP, BUT READING ALL OF THE ARTICLES ON THIS VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THEY WILL TELL ME THE SAME. IT IS A RACK-AND-PINION PROBLEM THAT I WILL HAVE TO INCUR AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2003NC

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2003OH

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 10, 2003100,000 milesCA

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A DIP STICK, THEREFORE THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO POUR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Mar 10, 2003PA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 10, 200332,000 milesFL

ABS SENSORS CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF ABS SYSTEM.*JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Mar 3, 2003TX

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

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 26, 2003CO

THE REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE MELTED THE LIGHTS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2003MI

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 22, 200383,000 milesMO

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.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Feb 13, 200350,000 milesNE

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?

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 12, 2003109,000 milesMD

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

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Feb 12, 2003TX

THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Feb 5, 200355,800 milesPA

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

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Feb 5, 200335,000 milesVA

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 3, 2003PA

ON MY 1998 MAILBU (3100 ENGINE) WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM OR THE DEALER.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 29, 200359,000 milesIN

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?

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Jan 24, 20032,241 milesPR

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

Steering › Linkages
Filed Jan 22, 200373,400 milesNC

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 17, 200354,500 milesFL

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 16, 200333,311 milesAZ

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!

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jan 14, 20032,241 milesPR

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: THE FRONT END/LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS NEED CHANGING, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING CONSTANTLY AND HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE, AND THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING OIL. *SCC *NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2002IL

I PURCHASED NEW 98 MALIBU AND TRADED BACK IN W/IN ONE MONTH FOR ANOTHER BECAUSE OF SEVERE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS IN FOR SERVICE ON 11/23/01 FOR TRANSMISSION LEAK AND ALL GASKETS & SEALS REPLACED. I HAD IN FOR SERVICE ON 8/5/02 FOR $1146 WORTH OF WORK ON VARIOUS PARTS. I REPORTED THAT VEHICLE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY BUT FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR THAT PROBLEM. I POINTED OUT THAT I THOUGHT CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT THAT TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT CAR DID NOT HAVE HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH AUTO HAD ALL TRANSMISSION SEALS REPLACED IN 2001 BY DEALERSHIP. ALL WORK WAS DONE BY DEALERSHIP THAT AUTO (#2) WAS PURCHASED FROM. REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON CAR WITHOUT FAIL. JUST REPLACED FRONT ARMS ON VEHICLE LESS THAT 1 MOS. AGO FOR $400 AND WAS TOLD BY SALES THAT THIS WAS AN EARLIER PROBLEM ALSO W/98 MALIBU. DT

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed Nov 18, 2002GA

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WORN CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TS

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Nov 18, 2002OH

IN JULY OF 2002 MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN I TOOK APART THE LIGHTING SECTION I SMELT BURNING . I WENT TO THE AUTO ZONE TO BUY A REPLACEMENT BUT COULDN'T REMOVE THE BULB. I THAN TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE TO BE FIXED. THEY SAID THAT THE BULB WAS WRONG IN THE BOARD. NOW (11-18-02) MY TAIL LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN AND WHEN I CHECKED THE OTHER BULBS WERE ALSO APPEARING TO BE MELTED IN THE BOARD ALSO. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY CHEVY GARAGE TO BE FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE BOARD ON THE RIGHT AND THE BULBS. UPON CHECKING THE LEFT SIDE REAR LIGHTS WERE OUT NOW. THEY REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE TAIL LIGHTS BOARD AND BULBS TOO. THEY ARE WORKING NOW BUT NEXT? THIS IS TOO FAMILIAR OF A COINCEDENCE TO BE HAPPENING I THINK THIS IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR ITSELF. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN I'LL BE BACK TO COMPLAIN AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN JUST MY MALIBU! DT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 5, 2002NY

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. TS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Nov 1, 2002PA

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHICH WILL BE IT'S THIRD ONE IN FIVE YEARS--CAR ACTS LIKE IT 'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS TO GO--PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 10, 200257,471 milesOH

REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET, MOLDED COOLANT TUBE $572.00. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED GM IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS BEING DEFECTIVE. WE MAINTAIN OUR CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS, IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING LARGE EXPENDITURES FOR NEGLECT. THIS IS NOT A NEGLECT ISSUE ON THE CUSTOMER'S PART. BUT SOLELY ON THE PART OF GM. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****768314

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Oct 10, 200243,401 milesOH

RADIO DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE - SEEK/SCAN/STATION ACCESS. CD PLAYER STILL WORKS. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768316

Tires
Filed Oct 7, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TIRES EVERY 30,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Sep 30, 2002NC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT OVER 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS ON THE VHEICLE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NLM

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu → · Every Malibu year → · How the figures are calculated →