1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU — Owner-Reported Problems

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

• Campaign 01V068000 was reported 983 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 03V527000 was reported 1,896 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07E021000 was reported 2,981 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 14V400000 was reported 5,806 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

Safety Recalls (5)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

1. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 01V068000

   Report date

   Mar 8, 2001

   Component:

   VISIBILITY

   Consequence:

   REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

2. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 03V527000

   Report date

   Dec 11, 2003

   Component:

   STEERING

   Consequence:

   IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

3. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07E021000

   Report date

   Mar 12, 2007

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

   Consequence:

   FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

   Remedy:

   DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

4. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 09E012000

   Report date

   Apr 7, 2009

   Component:

   Not available in the source record

   Consequence:

   DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

   Remedy:

   SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

5. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 14V400000

   Report date

   Jul 3, 2014

   Component:

   ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

   Consequence:

   If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

   Remedy:

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →