1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. *TR

I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH AND THE CAR STEERS BY ITSELF IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHERE THE OTHER CAR WAS ALREADY PARKED. I MANAGED TO STEER DUE TO THE SLOW SPEED THE CAR WAS MOVING BUT I REALIZED HOW BAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEED RATES. WHEN I CHECKED WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END CRADLE THAT THE STEERING RACK MOUNTS TO, HAS RUSTED OUT AND THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION BECAME LOSE IN ONE OF THE MOUNTING POINTS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP THEY PUT IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE CAR, WHERE STEERING, SUSPENSION, IN FACT THE WHOLE POWER TRAIN SEATS ON AND IT FAILED SO EASY. THE MANUFACTURE WAS TRYING TO SAVE SOME DOLLARS AT THE COST OF PEOPLES LIVES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE SEAL ON TOP OF THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

ONLY WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE THE SHIFTER DOESN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK TILL THE CAR WARMS UP FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,924.

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY STIFF, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STEER IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,041 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

ANTI-THEFT IGNITION SYSTEM DISABLED STARTING OF CAR. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR TURNED OVER BUT WOULD NOT START, MANUAL SAYS THE FUEL PUMP IS DISABLED BY ANTI-THEFT. BY ACCIDENT WAITED IN CAR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHILE TRYING TO REACH MANUFACTURER, THE FLASHING ANTITHEFT LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT STARTED FINE. HOWEVER FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM WENT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. MY SOURCE WAS CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. CALLED CHEVROLET AND FILED A COMPLAINT WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PER SE, BUT IT COULD BE IN THE EVENT OF NEEDED TO GET SOMEONE TO AN ER, FOR EXAMPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE AND PREVENT HIM FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD LAST BETWEEN FIFTEEN MINUTES TO AN HOUR. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A DOWNPOUR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BROKE CAUSING THE WIPERS TO FLY ACROSS THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. THEY STOPPED WORKING CAUSING HER TO HAVE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT SEE. *TR