56 of the 1,480 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu are about the transmission — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.
56
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
ONLY WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE THE SHIFTER DOESN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK TILL THE CAR WARMS UP FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES.
NHTSA complaint #10464188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 GOING HOME WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I STARTED LOSING HORSEPOWER UNTIL I COMPLETELY STOPPED!. SO THERE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE STOPPED!, WITH CARS SWERVING AROUND ME AT HIGH SPEEDS!... NOT TO MENTION THE CARS STOPPED BEHIND ME TRYING TO GET AROUND!. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE BADLY REAR ENDED FOR SURE!!. LUCKILY, A TOW TRUCK HAPPENED TO BE PASSING...AND STOPPED TO HELP. SOMEONE COULD OF BEEN KILLED!!!!!. AND FROM ALL THE TESTIMONIALS I'VE HEARD...I THINK GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD MAIL EVERYONE WHO OWNS A CHEVY MALIBU A BIG FAT CHECK!.
NHTSA complaint #10371648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WOULD BE RUNNING STEPPED ON GAS AND WOULDN'T MOVE, HAD IT BACK WHEN IT WAS NEW, BUT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WHEN BONNER CHEVROLET IN KINGSTON, PA MECHANICS WOULD TEST DRIVE IT. VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK, THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2003. ITWAS A 1998 LS CHEVY MALIBU FULLY LOADED, BOUGHT NEW. MY SON HAD THE SAME CAR AND IT HAD DONE THE SAME.
NHTSA complaint #10195000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CAR WOULD BE RUNNING STEPPED ON GAS AND WOULDN'T MOVE, HAD IT BACK WHEN IT WAS NEW, BUT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WHEN BONNER CHEVROLET IN KINGSTON, PA MECHANICS WOULD TEST DRIVE IT. VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK, THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2003. ITWAS A 1998 LS CHEVY MALIBU FULLY LOADED, BOUGHT NEW. MY SON HAD THE SAME CAR AND IT HAD DONE THE SAME.
NHTSA complaint #10195000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR IS A 1998 MALIBU LS. IT HAS 49,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. IN 2006 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT DIDN'T WANT TO SWITCH GEARS RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK IT TO OUR GM DEALER AS I HAD A WARRANTY. THEY PUT IT ON A COMPUTER, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, THEY STATED IT WAS DOING THE THINGS I SAID, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GLICH AND WOULD GO AWAY. 5-17-07, SOMETHING FINALLY HAPPENED TO THE TRANSMISSION,THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. I COASTED MY CAR TO THE GM DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CALLED AND STATED THEY OPENED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND IT WAS A STUCK BODY VALVE. I TOLD THEM TO FIX IT AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION OPENED UP, THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THE WARRANTY COMPANY SAID MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 1-14-07. CAN'T BE, I HAD TILL AUGUST. I CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY. I BOUGHT MY CAR 8-8-98, I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (5 YEARS) I HAD TILL 8-8-93. IN JANUARY OF 93, I GOT CALLS FROM MVP (MOTOR VEHICLE PROTECTION CORP) TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT A NEW WARRANTY AS MINE WAS TO EXPIRE THAT YEAR. I TOLD THEM I WAS OKAY TILL AUGUST. A GAL NAMED ABBEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD SIGN UP FOR THE WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOTE MY ACCOUNT, PUT ON HOLD TILL AUGUST WHEN MY WARRANTY WITH GMAC RAN OUT. I NOW COULD MAKE PAYMENTS ON THE NEW WARRANTY, IT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY AUGUST. I AGREED. NOW THIS COMPANY IS DENYING ME COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIRS TO MY CAR. THEY STATE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 YEARS FROM THE DAY I MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT TO THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THAT WAS NOT WHAT ABBEY TOLD ME. SHE SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL MY GMAC WARRANTY WAS DONE. NOW I HAVE TO PAY $1,300 FOR AN REM VALVE THAT WENT BAD IN MY TRANSMISSION PLUS LABOR. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE DEALERSHIP AND WARRANTY COMPANY AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. I'VE TRIED TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, I HAVE TO PAY IT. THE WARRANTY COMPANY IS RUDE TO ME & I FEEL THIS IS FRAUD.
NHTSA complaint #10191694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET, MALIBU. THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. THERE WAS NO SHIELD GUARD, AND IT CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT TO BREAK. ALSO, HAD TO DO OTHER REPAIRS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE COIL SPRING COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE FRONT TIRE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10125964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
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.
POWER TRAIN
WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WHICH HAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000 MILES ON IT, HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE THAT INDICATED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WHILE MOVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THERE WAS A LOT OF RATTLING AND VIBRATIONS. UPON HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE REPAIR COMPANY STATES THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED WHICH IN TURNED MESSED UP THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THE ENGINE. THIS WILL COST US APPROXIMATELY $3600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10093899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT 80,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10073019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10064729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AND A/C CONTROLS.
NHTSA complaint #10063708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10041485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING. *JB BAD AXLES IN FRONT DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10022467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10017570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A DIP STICK, THEREFORE THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO POUR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10011169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #769976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #8015397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEALER DECLARES CAR " UNSAFE TO DRIVE ". I FEEL TRANSMISSION MOUNTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 40,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #763148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
IN POURING RAIN THE W/S/W TRANSMISSION BROKE, TWO DAYS AFTER RECIEVED A RECALL LETTER, REIMBURSEMENT REFUSED.
NHTSA complaint #9005180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR,MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALMOST OUT OF ITS CASE. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAD 2 OTHER MALIBUS,SAME YEAR, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY BY LEN STOLER. THEY WERE ALSO SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, BUT IT HAS SINCE REOCCURRED.THEY ROBBED ME OF ABOUT $900 AND WERE VERY RUDE ABOUT THE SITUATION. THEREFORE I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE STEERING PROBLEM FIXED YET.
NHTSA complaint #755978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ALTHOUGH MY CHEVORLET MALIBU IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. MY TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. I HAVE REPORTED BRAKE PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THEY CHECKED IT TWICE, TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I CAN HARDLY STOP MY CAR. THE REAR [R] BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS DUE TO A LEAK AND WIRE SHORTS. HOWEVER THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #753622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER RAN OVER A PIECE OF RUBBER LEFT ON THE HIGHWAY FROM A BLOWN TRUCK TIRE DENTED THE TRANSMISSION PAN.
NHTSA complaint #561902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PIVOT DRIVE ASSEMBLY SEIZED CAUSING THE WIPERS/ TRANSMISSION TO FAIL BUT THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V068000.
NHTSA complaint #746419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #886990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE STRUT AND SHOCKS DAMAGED, AND VEHICLE NOCKS AND WOBBLES CAUSE OF LOOSENESS IN FRONT RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT.
NHTSA complaint #743355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
CAR STILL MADE NOISE AFTER HUB/BEARINGS REPLACED. 2ND TIME HUB/BEARING REPLACED NOISE WAS LOUDER. GOT 2ND OPINION, WAS BACK PLATE RUBBING AGAINST ROTOR. DID I EVEN NEED MY HUB/BEARING REPLACED. 3/23/01 SAID I NEED ROTORS RESURFACED, 2ND OPINION - ROTORS FINE. CHEVY IS RIPPING ME OFF. CHARGED ME FOR NEW SERPENTINE BELT & NEVER REPLACED IT. MOISTURE IN HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #743136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
CAR STILL MADE NOISE AFTER HUB/BEARINGS REPLACED. 2ND TIME HUB/BEARING REPLACED NOISE WAS LOUDER. GOT 2ND OPINION, WAS BACK PLATE RUBBING AGAINST ROTOR. DID I EVEN NEED MY HUB/BEARING REPLACED. 3/23/01 SAID I NEED ROTORS RESURFACED, 2ND OPINION - ROTORS FINE. CHEVY IS RIPPING ME OFF. CHARGED ME FOR NEW SERPENTINE BELT & NEVER REPLACED IT. MOISTURE IN HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #743136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED DEALER COUDN'T REMAKE PROBLEM, ROUGH ENGINE VIBRATIONS WHEN CAR IS AT IDLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON NUMERUSE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #739331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.