RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Malibu Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Feb 7, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 976 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed Feb 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL HAVE A CHEVROLET MALIBU 1998 THAT I JUST BOUGHT AND FOUND OUT IT HAD A RECALL THAT WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF AND HOW WOULD I GO TO GET IT DONE

NHTSA ID
10950178
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Sep 19, 2014

I RECEIVED MY CHEV RECALL LETTER REF RECALL 14350 TODAY. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT, JUST INFO THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT IN REFERENCE TO THIS SAFETY RECALL. PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1998 CHEV MALIBU IS : ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS-SOMETIMES ENGINE WON'T START ( IGNITION KEY WILL NOT GO ALL WAY TO START POSITION)-SOMETIMES ENGINE WANT SHUTOFF (IGNITION KEY WANT TURN BACK TO OFF POSITION). AS A RETIRED TRUCK MECHANIC I KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER (TUMBLERS ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE LOCK CYLINDER TO JAM AND/OR BE COME LOOSE ALLOWING IGNITION KEY TO ROTATE OFF) . I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE REPAIR MYSELF BUT ALL PARTS OUTLETS TELL ME THAT THE LOCK CYLINDER IS NOT AVAILABLE (MUST PURCHASE $350.00 IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY) IF THIS RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE REPLACING THE LOCK CYLINDER,THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE CORRECTED. EXPERIENCED MECH/TECH CAN REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10637564
Incident
Jan 8, 2014
Mileage
180,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 6, 2009

A TOTALLY UNEXPECTED MALFUNCTION OF CRUISE CONTROL WHILE SET AT 60MPH, TRAVELING UP AND DOWN HILLY STRETCH OF US ROUTE #301 NORTHBOUND NEARING VA ROUTE #3 THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED, ENGINE ACCELERATED TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED (AS USUAL) WHEN HIGHWAY LEVELED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CONTINUED TO SPEEDUP RAPIDLY..65+70+75. DRIVER INSTANTLY APPLIED BRAKES W/ NORMAL PRESSURE THEN EVEN HARDER UNTIL SHE WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL W/ BOTH FEET. SEVERAL TIMES SHE PRESSED THE CANCEL CONTROL SELECTOR, STILL NO REAL SLOWING DOWN. AS BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE OVERHEATED RAPIDLY SMOKE AND SPARKS WERE SEEN BY OTHER MOTORIST, TWO OF WHOM TRIED TO OVERTAKE THEM AND HAND SIGNALED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHICH SHE WAS SOON ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ON A WIDE GRASS SHOULDER WHERE SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION+++STOP!! AT LONG LAST. ALL THREE (3) ADULT WOMEN WERE GREATLY STRESSED BUT RELIEVED TO BE SAFE. HER REAR SEAT PASSENGER HAD CALLED 911 ON HER CELL PHONE WHEN THEY REALIZED THE FRIGHTFUL DANGERTHEY WERE IN AND AS A RESULT THREE (3) DIFFERENT POLICE CRUISERS ARRIVED ALMOST INSTANTLY FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF AND VA STATE POLICE. SEVERAL WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED FOR MORE DETAILS. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU 4DR. V6. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD, DRIVEN ONLY 4,000 MILES BY THE DEALERS WIFE, UNTIL MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED IT. SHE CONTINUED TO HAVE IT ROUTINELY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED THERE SO THERE IS WHERE SHE REQUESTED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO HAUL IT TO THE NEXT DAY AT A COST OF $400. SUBSEQUENTLY THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANICS RAN DIAGNOSTIC SEQUENCES AS WELL AS SEVERAL ROAD TESTS AND WERE UNABLE TO REVEAL ANY ABNORMALITIES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ACCELERTORPERFORM-ANCE FUNCTIONS. HOWEVER ALL FOUR (4) WHEELS BRAKES WERE BADLY BURNED AND WARPED. REPAIRS WOULD COST AN ESTIMATED $1,100 TO $1,300. OUR QUESTIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) IS THIS EVENT AN ISOLATED RARITY? (2) WHAT CAN CAUSE SUCH A DANGEROUS FAILURE? (3) WHY HIDDEN? *TR

NHTSA ID
10279594
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
179,638 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, PREVENTING HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY OF 2007. CHEVROLET STATED THAT IT WAS A GOOD VEHICLE AND HE SHOULD NOT WORRY. THE MANUFACTURER APOLOGIZED FOR THE DEFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,780 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,138.

NHTSA ID
10195141
Incident
Feb 9, 2007
Mileage
41,138 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 22, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME SHE USED THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DEACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - THE BRALKES FAILED AT LESS THAN 2800 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143477
Incident
Sep 30, 1998
Mileage
2,800 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 18, 2005

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU ENGINE STARTED RACING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *MR THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING ON HIGH SPEED UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. *SC TPS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10134523
Incident
Jun 19, 2005
Mileage
59,820 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 19, 2005

AFTER A FEW MINUTES (MAYBE 10 TO 15 MINUTES) OF STARTING/DRIVING, GAS PEDAL "STICKS" IN THE CLOSED POSITION REQUIRING ADDITIONAL FOOT PRESSURE TO MAKE IT ADVANCE TO A REASONABLE RPM TO EITHER BREAKE INERTIA OR CONTINUING DRIVING. THIS PROCESS BECOMES DANGEROUS TO THE EXTEND THAT A HIGHER/UNWANTED ACCELARATION RESULTS DUE TO THE PEDAL NOT TRAVELING SMOOTHLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10110786
Incident
Dec 12, 2004
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Nov 22, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING UNSATISFACTORY TRANSACTION WITH GMC, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED THEN AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD BE FULLY COMPENSATED FOR HER REPAIRS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE SENT OUT. *TC

NHTSA ID
10103153
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Nov 3, 2004

UPON SETTING UP CRUISE CONTROL IT FAILED TO SET, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE AIR BAG WARNING HARNESS CONNECTION. THESE PARTS WERE CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER.*AK WRONG PART SENT. *TC

NHTSA ID
10094803
Incident
Sep 30, 2004
Mileage
117,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 28, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK SUDDENLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE AND ROLLED OVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED FIVE BROKEN RIBS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094461
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
56,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 3, 2003

I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, LIFTED MY FOOT OFF, THEN PRESSED AGAIN - THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED, THE MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - 2ND FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041172
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
77,017 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 3, 2003

I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, LIFTED MY FOOT OFF, THEN PRESSED AGAIN - THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED, THE MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041170
Incident
Nov 20, 2001
Mileage
56,742 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 2, 2003

VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP POSITION WITH FEET ON THE DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10026401
Incident
Jun 25, 2003
Mileage
32,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Jun 4, 2003

DEFECTS IN 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 TRYING TO REPAIR THE ABS SYSTEM (INCLUDING REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR WHAT GM CALL AN "UPDATED WIRING HARNESS," REPLACING LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BARONS, AND REPLACING THE ABS RELAY). THE BRAKES CONSISTENTLY HAVE TROUBLE AND PULSE WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, CREATING CODES IN THE COMPUTER, WITH NO VISIBLE REASONS FOR THE CODES. THE GAS PEDAL HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK. THE LEFT REAR STRUT MOUNTS HAVE ALSO BROKEN AND HAVE HAD TO BE REPAIRED (QUITE COSTLY). I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10021020
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Mileage
61,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Feb 4, 2002
Crash reported

MY WIFE HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON TO A HIGHWAY WHEN A TRUCK PULLED IN FRONT OF HER. SHE HIT HEADON INTO THE SIDE OF HIM. AFTER HE CLEARED THE AREA SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ACROSS 4 LANES OF ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET, AS SHE ENTERED THE LOT BOTH AIR BAGRS DEPLOYED VERY SLOWLY NEVER TOUCHING HER. THE SPEED CONTROL HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL CONTINUES TO DEACATIVE WHILE DRIVING, SOME TIMES MANY TIMES IN A ROW OTHER TRIPS NOT AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
757772
Incident
Jan 7, 2002
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Oct 3, 2000

LEFT SEAT BUCKLE INOPERABLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555535
Incident
Jan 24, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed May 9, 2000

CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE RELEASE SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE. NLM

NHTSA ID
552177
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 2, 1999

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET BETWEEN 60-70 MPH , WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE, DRIVER HAD TO REPEATEDLY APPLY BRAKES BEFORE THE FINALLY ENGAGED, RESULTING IN SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.DEFECT HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
846557
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 1, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. BRAKE PADS ARE MOVING UP AND DOWN, AND THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH, AND AS CONSUMER WAS GOING AROUND THE CORNER, CRUISE CONTROL WENT UP TO 76 MPH. WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL OR UP A HILL CRUISE CONTROL WENT UP TO A HIGHER SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID
838705
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed May 20, 1999

AT 60 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT NOT SET. IT SET ITSELF AS INDICATED BY THE "CRUISE" LIGHT ON THE DASH AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF, BUT KEPT ACCELERATING AS INDICATED BY THE GAS PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. I APPLIED BRAKES AND IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF. AFTER REACHING 80 MPH, I WAS ABLE TO START SLOWING DOWN, EVEN THOUGH I COULD FEEL THE CAR CONTINUE TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR ON THE DASH WAS STILL ON. AFTER TRAVELING 1/4 MILE, I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE RPM'S WERE PULSING BETWEEN 2500-3500 AND CONTINUING TO CLIMB. I TURNED OFF THE KEY. SMOKE WAS BOILING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. IT TOOK A FULL 15 SECONDS FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO RELEASE FROM ITS ENGAGED POSITION. I COULD HEAR A "POP" AND FEEL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SPRING BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP IS BLAMING MY FLOOR MAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
706699
Incident
May 16, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 9, 1999
Crash reported

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE TOOK OFF DUE TO GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK. VEHICLE TURNED OVER AND WENT INTO AN ENBANKMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834666
Incident
Feb 5, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 1, 1999

DESIGN LOCATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSIION HOUSING RESULTING IN CONTACT WITH HOUSING BEFORE REACHING PEDAL. YH

NHTSA ID
607390
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

THE MOTOR MAKES A HIGH PITCHED WHINE SOUND ON STARTING. YH

NHTSA ID
607105
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 31, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. DEALER STATED THAT A SMALL ROCK WAS TRAPPED BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
826131
Incident
Jun 19, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .