1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints

I HAVE REPORTED TO THE DEALER OF MY R/F CALIPER PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS ON THE R/F SIDE ARE ALL THE WAY TO THE WARNING TAB OF THE BRAKES. I FEEL THE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACE BECAUSE THE CALIPER WORE THEM DOWN PREMATURLLY.*AK

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS JAMMED WITHIN RETRACTING MECHANISM AND WILL NOT RELEASE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK THE SEAT BELT BECAME INOPERABLE AT LOW MILAGE AND THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSMENT OF COST OF REPAIR. *YH

RECURRING WARPED ROTORS AFTER TIRE ROTATIONS; ONLY ~38,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES ALREADY; FIRST 2 TIMES, DEALERS REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS; 3RD TIME (VEHICLE OUT OF WARRENTY) DEALER SAYS BAD TIRES ARE THE CAUSE, BUT RESURFACES ROTORS ANYWAY- SYMPTOMS DISAPPEAR WITH NO CHANGE TO TIRES (ONLY DIFFERENCE IS RESURFACED ROTORS), SO HOW CAN IT BE BAD TIRES. PROBLEM SYMPTOMS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME; SEVERE PULSATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABOVE ~60-65MPH, AND SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. BRAKES ARE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENT ON AUTOMOBILES. PLEASE TAKE SOME ACTION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM -- OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS, AND AT LEAST SOME DEALERS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST HERE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, RECALL ANNOUNCED IN MARCH 2001, NO NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE YET. *AK CONSUMER STATED AN ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST CAUSED DUE TO THE FAULTY WIPERS. *SLC

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE IN A 3 YEAR OLD, 52000 MILE CAR---SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS--APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. WHY NO RECALL?*AK

THE ABS SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO MODULATE AFTER APPROX 5 MILES OF DRIVING. THIS MODULATION LASTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS AND HAPPENS ONLY WHILE BRAKING. THIS CREATES A PERIOD OF POOR BRAKING AND EXTENDED BREAKING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. AFTER THE EXTENDED MODULATION, THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED. ONCE THE VEHICLE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF THE SYSTEM CLEARS AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THIS HAS HAPPEND 10-15 TIMES WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY.SED. *AK

THE STRUT AND SHOCKS DAMAGED, AND VEHICLE NOCKS AND WOBBLES CAUSE OF LOOSENESS IN FRONT RIGHT DRIVE SHAFT. *AK

ENGINE TICKS AT COLD STARTS THEN ENDS ONCE WARMED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, HAS NO EXPLANATION, NO IDEA WHAT REPAIRS WILL COST IF EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. *AK

FOUND COOLANT LEAKING FROM CAR CHECKED OUT AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT. DEALER TO PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TIRES WOULD GO FLAT EVERY 3 DAYS. HAD THEM CHECKED FOR HOLES OR CUTS, NOTHING WAS FOUND. ENGINE HAD STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS.*AK