1998 Chevrolet Malibu equipment problems

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WAS SPONGY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AC WORKED ERRATICALLY, DEPENDING ON THE BLOWER SPEED AND WOULD SOMETIMES QUIT BLOWING COLD AIR AND WOULD START TO BLOW WARM AIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. HOWEVER, TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BECAUSE THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, TO THE BRAKE LINE ISSUE, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, A FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE LEFT REAR STRUT HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10639977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AT SPORADIC TIMES AND DOES NOT ALLOW CAR TO START. YOU THEN HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO RESTART CAR. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE WHEN CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD A SMALL CHILD WITH ME ON THE WAY TO THE DOCTOR AND MADE A STOP AT THE DRUG STORE, THEN TRIED TO RESTART CAR TO PROCEED TO DOCTOR AND CAR WOULD NOT START. SINCE I ONLY RECENTLY ACQUIRED THIS CAR, I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND SEE THAT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH CHEVY MALIBUS. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS--OR, IF THERE IS ONE, PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA complaint #10449914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

THE AC CONTROL KEEPS ON JUMPING FRONT INSIDE AIR TO OUTSIDE AIR, AND THESE CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO CYCLE ON AND OFF, BOUGHT A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER COST 150.00 NO WARRANTY STILL KEEPS ON DOING THE SAME THING, GOT ANOTHER ONE FROM THE JUNK YARD STILL DOES THE SAME THING, SPENT 200.00 DOLLARS ON AC COMPRESSOR BUT AC DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEM , DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I NEED HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10280582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10127305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10127305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10118160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10065255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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

NHTSA complaint #10063708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

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

NHTSA complaint #10054931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

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

NHTSA complaint #10053978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10045707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10045707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10043404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING AND FAN FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10029141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

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

NHTSA complaint #10028656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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?

NHTSA complaint #10023662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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

NHTSA complaint #10022685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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

NHTSA complaint #10007470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10013940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10010696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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.

NHTSA complaint #9006388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

NHTSA complaint #760447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #899276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITOIN PANEL HAS GONE OUT TWICE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED NOW IT IS GOING OUT A THIRD TIME. @ HAD REPLACE BRAKES TWICE IN ONE YEAR AND ALSO REPLACE THE ROTERS, REAR SUSPENSION MAKES A NOISE A CRAKING SOUNS LIKE THE SHOCKS ARE BAD. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ,CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OR CHANGE GEAR. IT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE COMPUTER 2 TIMES AND NO CODE IS SHOWING UP IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE DAY ONE. AND I HAVE NO EXTENDED WARRENTY.

NHTSA complaint #744692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

MY MALIBU HAS HAD BOTH FRONT BRAKE SHOES REPLACED TWICE. THE ROTORS AND CALIPARS REPLACED THE ALTINATOR REPLACED. NOW THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN EVERYTIME. THE DASHBOARD IS LOOSE AND RATTLES. MY A/C LIGHT IN CAR CLICKS ON AND OFF. THE LEFT TAILIGHT BURNED OUT TWICE. THAT'S ALL THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA complaint #742460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

RADIO RECEPTION WAS BAD, DEALER REPLACED ANTENNA CABLE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR DOESN'T STAY ENGAGED. COMPRESSOR DOES COME ON BUT INDICATOR ON DASH SHOWS IT GOING OFF AND COMING ON AGAIN. WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED. HAS TO BE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #734239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITION INGCOMPRESSOR DOESN'T STAYED ENGAGED. COMPRESSOR DOES COME ON BUT INDICATOR ON DASH SHOWS IT GOING OFF AND COMING ON AGAIN. WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED. HAS TO BE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #734239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SIX FAILURES OF AIR CONDITIONING IN THIS OFFICE ALONE. DEALER HAD SWITCH IN STOCK.

NHTSA complaint #730197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #730278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.