1998 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 55MPH IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SHUT OFF CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I TRIED TO GET OVER IN ANOTHER LANE. I COULD NOT BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. SO, WHEN I COULD GET OVER I HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER MY HOOD. ALL MY LIGHTS LIT UP AND I COULD NOT STOP MY CAR. I TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME AND MY CAR STARTED SMOKING. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BELT HAD POPPED OFF ALONG WITH THE PULLEY THAT WAS BURNED BADLY. MY ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING ALSO, I WENT ALONE W/MY MECHANIC TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED BY AUTOZONE THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT ANY TIME BUY THE COMPANY. I CALLED AND REPORTED IT THIS MORNING AND WAS INFORMED THAT IS NOT TRUE. I HAVE THE PART TO SHOW THAT THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE THE PART IS A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC. THE CORPORATE OFFICE WAS AL SO RUDE AND STATED MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ALSO, I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT GONE TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. NLM

BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AS SOON AS CONSUMER PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRINT BROKE. A BROKEN END GOUGED THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, MAKING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS SENSOR THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON HEADLIGHTS AT DUSK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF WITHOUT TURNING VEHICLE OFF. IT COULD BE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.*AK

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT VIBRATED SEVERELY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON/OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD START AND SOMETIMES HAS TO PUMP THE PEDAL. *SCC

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WITH CERTAIN PRESSURE. OWNER IS CONCERNED NOT KNOWING IF BRAKES ARE GOING TO PERFORM AS NECESSARY. *AK *YH

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DEALER, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WORKING AIRBAGS. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IF INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. DEALER NEVER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIRBAGS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY DEPLOYED AND WERE NOT RECONSTRUCTED.*AK

BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *YH

PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE 01V068000, CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM BROKE INSIDE THE CASING DURING A SNOW STORM AND BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE ARM, IMPAIRING CONSUMERS VISIBILITY, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS.*JB

TIRES ARE CRACKING BETWEEM THE TREAD (FIRESTONE AFFINITY P215/60R15). NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES ARE CRACKING IN BETWEEN THE TREAD, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/60R15. *SLC

THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING, DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS, THEN REPLACED THEM AT 20000 MILES. AT THIS TIME ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK *YH

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS CAR, CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL IT. MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY LUCKILY. ROTORS REPLACED ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, AGAIN, A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *AK

DEAR MS. RADLEY AND CHEVY, I AM QUITE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU, BUT JUST IN CASE I WILL EXPOUNDED ON THE ISSUE. MY WIFE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM YOUR DEALERSHIP ON 22 AUG 98. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE NOTED SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. THE FOLLOWING ARE DATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR BRAKES PROBLEMS: 02/04/99 - 8K MILESMS. RADLEY, THAT MAKES A GRAND TOTAL OF TEN TIMES THE CAR HAS HAD NOTED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A DEFINITE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKES THAT I EXPECT FIXED. I HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE WHEN THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20K MILES, APPARENTLY NO ONE CARED THEN AS NOW. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CHEVROLET CONSUMER COMPLAINT DIVISION, JEFF MERRITT AND IKE CHRIS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT LENGTH AND I MUST SAY THE TOTAL LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY GROWS MORE EVIDENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTHING FROM DRIVING HABITS TO LACK OF SERVICE. THIS PATRONIZATION IS INFURIATING. THE BOTTOM LINE IS CHEVROLET KNOWS FULL WELL THAT THEY PLACED A BRAKING SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR A CHEVY CAVALIER ON THE MALIBU. DO NOT TRY AND TELL ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR ROTORS TO WARP AND GO BAD EVERY 20K MILES; I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT ANSWER. WHEN I CALLED SEVERAL GARAGES AND ASK WHAT VEHICLE REQUIRES THE MOST BRAKES SERVICE AND REPLACEMENT ROTORS  THE ANSWER WAS MALIBU AND ALERO. I CALLED S

DEALER DECLARES CAR " UNSAFE TO DRIVE ". I FEEL TRANSMISSION MOUNTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 40,000 MILES.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE DO NOT WORK PROPERLY THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BULB SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DIDN'T WORK. HAD FUSE AND BULB CHECKED, NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.*AK

ROTORS "DEFECTIVE". "OUT OF ROUND". FIRST REPORTED 7/5/99, "PULSATION" NOTED WHEN BAKES APPLIED,(FIRST NOTED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS PREVIOUS?) DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE, "CUT ROTORS"..2ND INCIDENT, "PULSATION " IN BRAKES WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS?, 16,090 MI..5/23/00.."ROTORS REPLACED"...3RD INCIDENT NOTED IN JUNE 2001, 26,000 ("NO WORK DONE" DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND "PROBLEM") BRAKES PULSATING..ROTORS CUT AGAIN! AT 32,969, 5/21/02, "WOULD NOT REPLACE"..COST $83.00..REPORTED TO GMAC..800 222 1020. *AK

BACK UP LIGHT WENT OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED LIGHT, AND IT WON'T COME ON. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM BRAKE LIGHT. CONSUMER HAS NO BRAKE OR BACK UP LIGHTS. CONSUMER PULLED BRAKE LIGHT OUT AND IT WAS MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER HAD TO REPAIR BRAKES TWICE UNDER 15000 MILES.*AK *YH

BUSHINGS ON BOTH LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON FRONT SUSPENSION WOR OUT AT 16K MILES, CAUSING THUMPING AND BANGING NOISE THAT GETS INCREASING WORST WITH MORE MILES PUT ON THE CAR--DEALER SAYS IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. *AK

BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, AND VEHICLE PULSATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED FRONT ROTORS. EIGHT THOUSAND MILES LATER SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AGAIN. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT JUST YESTERDAY SAME PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WHEELS NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE REAR, AND BRAKES NEEDED CLEANING AND ADJUSTING. CONSUMER FELT THIS SHOULD HAD BEEN DONE IN THE BEGINNING. CURRENTLY THERE IS A CHARGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION MAKE LOUD SQUEAKY NOISES. THE NOISE IS CONSISTANT WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH AND BUMPY ROADS. DEALER CONFIRMS THAT SUSPENSION IS BAD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND TURNED ONCE FROM 12,000 MILES TO PRESENT MILEAGE BY DEALER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK *JG

5 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD "SQUEAL" WHEN ANY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS WERE AT/BELOW MIN. THICKNESS. RT 25.04 & LT 24.66 MM. MINIMUM THICKNESS BEING 25.0MM. PADS & ROTORS WERE CHANGED AND NOW HERE IT IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER AND I'M NOW GETTING A GRINDING NOISE AND WHEN I GET TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE WHOLE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS JUST GOING TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER ME. WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN TO BE CHECKED OUT BUT WILL BE PLACING COMPLAINT WITH MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP, & STATE DCCA.*AK

I HAVE GOTTEN MY PADS,ROTORS/CALIPERS FIXED AND CLEANED TWICE AT OVER 700 DOLLARS AND MY ABS LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SIX MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 MECHANICS AND NOW I CAN HARDLY STOP THE CAR. PLEASE GET BACK WITH ME ASAP I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THE IGNITION WAS STUCK, THEN CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION, FIRE WENT OUT, IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. ON 16 APRIL 2002 ALSO WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THE STARTER CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*JB

MY CAR HAS HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND THE ROTORS AS WELL. THIS CAR WAS JUST IN FOR REPAIR WORK LAST WEEK AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE BRAKES WERE 60% WORN AGAIN ALREADY. THEY WERE JUST REPLACED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR PULSATES WHEN STOPPING. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET HAD A PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKES AND NEEDS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE BRAKES AGAIN VERY SHORTLY.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IT FELT SLUGGISH AND FAIL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ONE OF THE MOUNTS HAD CRACKED & THE OTHER WAS BROKE. THE MOUNTS SUPPORTED THE ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED.

CONSUMER STATES COOLANT IS LEAKING AROUND THE WATER PUMP AREA, DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM

MULTIPLE ROTOR FAILURES. BAD VIBRATION. BRAKING PROBLEMS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 20-25 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *YH

FRONT ROTORS WERE GROUNDED AT 8000 MILES, WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND BRAKES SQUEALED. ROTORS HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED AND GROUNDED AGAIN 4 TIMES. DEALER STATED ROTORS NEEDED TO BE GROUNDED EVERY 6000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, AND A BUBBLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I'VE OWNED A "1997" "1998" "1999" "2000" AND OWN RIGHT NOW A 2001 MALIBU ALL THESE CARS HAVE HAD THERE A/C CONTROL HEAD FAIL EXCEPT THE 2001 I'M JUST WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN IT TAKES 2 YEARS BEFORE IT FAILS ON A NEW CAR AND JUST OVER A YEAR ON A NEW PART REPLACEMENT. CHEVROLET DOES NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT CONTINUES ON ALL THERE MALIBUS YEAR AFTER YEAR. *AK

A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO RECALL C01014-S, THE CONSUMER IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT PROVIDE THE ORIGINAL REPAIR BILL.*YH *JB

WHILE RUNNING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 2-5 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CUT THE GLASS, AND HIT CONSUMER.*AK

BACK LIGHTS/BRAKE LIGHTS MELTED OUT. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND GM CASE # C04015874 IN APRIL 01. GM TOLD ME TO SEND IN COPIES OF MY SALES CONTRACT AND OTHER PURCHASE INFO TO PROVE I PURCHASED IT IN NY I DID THAT IMMEDIATELY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT INSPECTED AND GIVE THEM THE BROKEN PIVOT PART. I THEN WAS TOLD AT THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER ALL THIS MISINFORMATION GIVEN TO ME THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO REINBURSE ME FOR THE PART I HAD TO BUY TO REPAIR THE CAR. THE RECALL SAID THE SNOW FALL CAUSES THE PART TO BREAK AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED-BUT THEY WON'T HONOR IT. CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME, THE PART COST $100. DOLLARS.*AK

WHILE PROCEEDING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, DEALER STATED THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *AK *TT

ALL 4 BACK BRAKE LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT AND APPEARED TO BE SOMEWHAT MELTED ON THE CONNECTION PART OF THE BULB. REPLACED, 4 WEEKS LATER DRIVERS SIDE BULB BURNT OUT AGAIN. FUSES ARE BLOWING IF I HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB PANEL CONNECTED.

WE HAVE TWO MALIBUS AND BOTH HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. SERVICE REPLACED GASKET, WHICH TOOK OVERNIGHT. I HAVE READ ON MALIBU WEBSITES ON THE NET THAT THIS IS ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

USED FOUR SET OF BRAKES. SENSOR HAD INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, J4355 SENSOR ,CRANKSHAFT POSITION REPLACED. RADIO HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT DESPITE RADIO SUPPOSELY SENT OFF FOR REPAIR. TWO POSITIVE BATTERY BOLT AND CABLE REPLACEMENT AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION DISCOVERED POST BROKEN OFF IN BATTERY.

WE ARE A SALVAGE YARD IN CENTRAL WEST TEXAS (NO SALT USED HERE). WE HAVE NOTICED THAT ON ALL LATE MODEL GM VEHICLES WITH ABS, IF THE PUMP IS MOUNTED BELOW THE BATTERY THEIR IS A HIGH RATE OF BRAKE LINE FAILER DUE TO CORROSION FROM BATTERY ACID. WE SELL A LOT OF GM STEEL BRAKE LINES FOR THIS REASON. *AK

THEFT PREVENTION LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER'S LOCK SENSOR/CYLINDER, AND SWITCH TWICE. AT THIS TIME LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *AK DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND OXYGEN SENSOR. *JB

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND PARKED. CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAVED INWARDS. TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT RACK AND PINION HAD SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN HALF.*AK

THIS INTAKE VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY ON MY CAR IN MARCH OF 2000, NOW LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF 650.00, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. THAT CHEVROLET IS NOW MAKING A BETTER INTAKE VALVE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE MALIBUS, IF THIS IS THE CASE THEY SHOULD HANDLE SOME OF THIS COST IF NOT ALL. THANK YOU