1998 Chevrolet Malibu headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE COMPLAINT IS FOR THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND THE TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED TWICE, I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THIS IS A PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS OR WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE IGNITIONS SWITCH, THE KEY WON'T MOVE IN THE IGNITION, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START. AFTER READING ON LINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S AND OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM UNSURE OF THE INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10223542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TAIL LIGHTS ON ALMOST ALL CHEV. MALIBU'S ARE BAD MOSTLY ON THE RIGHT SIDES IF YOU GOING DOWN THE ROAD LOOK FOR YOURSELF ALMOST ALWAYS THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE BURNED OUT LIGHT. I OWN TWO MY KIDS DRIVE AND ALMOST EVERY TIME THEY WASH THEM OR IT STORMS I HAVE TOO REPLACE BULBS THE TAIL LIGHT FILLS WITH WATER.

NHTSA complaint #10192120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME THE BRAKES LIGHT FAIL. THE LIGHTS OVER HEAT AND SMOKE THEN EXPLODE CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10159277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

REPEATEDLY HAVE TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BECAUSE TAIL LIGHTS FILL WITH WATER EVERY STORM OR WHEN WASHED UNTIL THEY FINALLY BURN OUT. MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER WITH MALIBU'S. ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10156777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT SEEMS EVERY TWO MONTHS THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS NEED REPLACING. I KEEP REPLACING THEM BUT IT IS NOT WORKING. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONE MINUTE THEY WORK. DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND IT IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? THERE SHOULD BE.

NHTSA complaint #10149537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I PURCHASED MY 1998 MALIBU, IT'S HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WITH IN LESS THAN A WEEK OF PURCHASING I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX A PROBLEM BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BUT I DO KNOW THE CAR DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS AND IF I HAD TO PAY FOR IT, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS, I HAVE REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES ON 3 OCCASIONS, I HAVE FIXED THE LEAKING TRANSMISSION 2X, I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS ABOUT 4X, I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE LINING IS COMING OFF THE TRUNK. THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS I HAD IN LESS THEN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SINCE MARCH 2004 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WATER PUMP, 2 OF THE INJECTORS AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SMALL REPAIRS HERE AND THERE. EVERY TIME I FIX SOMETHING WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR IT UNTIL I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT MORE INTO IT. I AM CURRENTLY REPLACING THE INJECTORS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY PAID 600 DOLLARS AND HAVE 4 MORE TO GO. I AM WORRIED THAT AFTER I PUT THIS MONEY INTO IT I WILL STILL HAVE MORE PROBLEMS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE DASH BUT THEY ARE UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT. NOBODY CAN TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH BECAUSE I NEED TO FIX ONE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN BE SURE OF THE NEXT. THIS CAR WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I HAVE MADE. I WAS UNABLE TO REGISTER MY VEHICLE LAST YEAR DUE TO ALL THE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND ABOUT THIS CAR AND EVERYONE IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND PUTTING OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10132979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #10065402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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. *

NHTSA complaint #10064701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10064723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10062676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10060899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #10037883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #10028933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

NHTSA complaint #10009460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10007201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10005377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #769858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #8010713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #8010587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #758896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

RIGHT TAILIGHT COLLECTS WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS IN RELSULT THE LIGHTS GO OUT, IN RESULT THE PANEL FOR THE LIGHT HAS RUSTED AND CANNOT BE USED, THIS IS THE 2ND PANEL I HAVE PURCHASED BECUASE OF WATER LEAKING INTO TAILLIGHT. I HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER MAILIBU'S WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I WANT CHEVROLET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TO PURCHASE A NEW PANEL BECAUSE OF THE RUST, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THIS DEFECT, I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #756175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE, ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE CORRODED AND WATER IS LEAKING INTO BRAKE LIGHT COVER. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #899177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

VEHICLE COULD NOT START BECAUSE OF BAD BATTERY LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #561902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

DUE TO BAD CONNECTION THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #561902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

SHORLTY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WE HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF CONDENSATION BUILDING UP. THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER SOMONE TOLD ME THAT MY STOP LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE OUT, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULBS BUT IT WASN'T , IT WAS BECAUSE OF WATER BUILDING UP INSIDE. I CONTACTED SEVERAL ORGINIZATIONS TO SEE IF THIS WAS POSSIBLY RECALLED, IT WASN'T. SINCE THEY WANT $250 FOR THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE IF THEY WOULD RECALL THEM CONSIDERING THAT JUST IN THE CENTRAL MASS AREA I HAVE SEEN 2 - 3 DOZEN MALIBU'S WITH THAT STOP LIGHT NOT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT WORKING BY TAKING IT APART DRYING IT OUT AND CLEANING THE ELECTRODES WITH A WIRE BRUSH BUT WITHIN A WEEK OF ANY RAIN IT BLOWS OUT AGAIN. I EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TWO WEEKS AGO RESEALING THE SEAL AROUND THE HOUSING AND WHEN WE GOT RAIN THAT DAY WENT OUT AND CHECKED IT AND THERE WAS ABOUT A PINT OF WATER INSIDE.I PULLED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY OUT STILL TOGETHER, TIPPED IT EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AND COULD NOT GET THE WATER TO LEAK OUT FROM ANYWHERE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS THE STOP LIGHTS. THE OTHER LIGHTS STILL WORK(THE BACKUP, DIRECTIONAL , AND EVEN THE 2 MARKER LIGHTS ON THE SAME BULB AS THE STOP) ITS JUST THE STOP LIGHTS. NOW I'VE NOTICED A LITTLE CONDENSATION IN THE LEFT SIDE ASSEMBLY. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU JASON JEROME.

NHTSA complaint #748222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

INSIDE HEADLIGHTS FOG UP REALLY BADLY, AND IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THEY HARDLY PUT OUT ANY LIGHT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, THEY STATED IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES IN THE FALL OF 1998 AS THE WEATHER COOLED, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS, IN THE SPRING OF 2000, THE RIGHT SIDE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN AND IF REPAIRED IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #892933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.