Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 146 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.
The 25 most recent of 146, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,000.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPLACED MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT CHEVY WILL NOT FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED USED CAR FROM BILL HEARD IN PLANT CITY BEFORE THEY CLOSED DOWN,FROM DAY 1 I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IGNITION NOT STARTING AND THE ANTI THEFT,I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED SEVERAL TIME S CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM,I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THEM TWICE AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG ALTHOUGH AT TIMES THERE IS THEN THEY TOLD ME IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN JUST LET THE CAR SET FOR 10MINS AND IT WILL BE OK, WELL IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE,THEN AFTER ALMOST FLIPPING THE CAR I FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE TOTALLY SHOT AND WHEN I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKES ONE CAUGHT BEFORE THE OTHER CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO A SKID,THEN THE IGNITION AND THE ANTI THEFT ACT UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE HORN IS STUCK SO I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO STOP THE HORN TESTED THE RELAY AND IT WAS FINE THE SWITCH IS STUCK SOMEWHERE AND KNOW ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE,SO NOW I HAVE A USED CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH NO HORN AND WORN OUT ROTORS FAULTY IGNITION AND OH I FORGOT THAT EVERY NOW AND THEN I WILL GET SHOCKED GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND A BROKE MOTOR MOUNT THAT I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FIX OWN MY OWN DUE TO IT WAS AWARE AND TEAR APART THAT THEY WON'T COVER, WELL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BEFORE THE CAR WAS EVEN SOLD. SO NOW I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 OTHER DEALERS TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WELL I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT DUE TO THE FACT THAT ALL OF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND FIXED BEFORE THE CAR WAS EVER SOLD AND I GUESS SINCE I WAS A FIRST TIME BUYER WITH NO CREDIT THAT IT WAS OK FOR THEM TO STICK IT TO ME WHICH IN TURN I SEE WHY BILL HEARD WENT OUT OF BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE LIKE THAT WORKING FOR THEM,SO NOW I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS SO CALLED CERTIFIED USED PIECE OF DEATH TRAP I WAS SOLD? *TR
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU IS LEAKING FOR A SECOND TIME. THE FIRST OCCURRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIME IS NOW AT 120,000 MILES. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS GASKET LEAKING BUT NO RECALL BY GM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO MIX WITH THE OIL, CAUSING FAILURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO INTERNAL MOTOR PARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING AND THE CONTACT PAID $195, PLUS $470 FOR LABOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE CONTACT CALLED GM IN APRIL OF 2002 AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. WHEN HE INFORMED GM THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE SHOP, GM CHANGED THEIR MIND AND NEVER PROVIDED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,114. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AS WELL. UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR
1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE. RESULTED IN ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET CHANGED AT $2000 CANADIAN. TWO MONTHS LATER,AND LESS TAN 5,000 KMS LATER, FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 30 DAYS LATER, UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE CHANGED AT COST OF $1500 CANADIAN. *TR
MY CAR HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT, PLENINUM GASKET, INTAKE GASKET, EGR GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKETS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT IS USED IN THESE CARS WARPS THE GASKETS AND SEALS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPLACING THESE GASKETS TWICE. I WOULD LIKE GM TO REIMBURSE ME SOME OF MY FINANCES THAT HAVE COST TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME IT COST ME $222.00 FOR A RENTAL CAR AND $976.00 FOR REPAIRS. *JB
I BOUGHT MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 51,133 MILES ON IT. IT STARTED TO LEAK ANTI FREEZE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (73,753 MILES). IT ENDED UP BEING A REPLACEMENT OF THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, REPLACE WATER PUMP, REPLACE RT.C.V SHAFT AND REPLACE SEAL SLEEVE. THE EGR GASKET WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS 874.52 LABOR AND PARTS INCLUDED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ADD COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED COOLANT TO THE RESEVOIR. A WEEK LATER MORE COOLANT WAS ADDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED AND THE LEAKING BECAME WORSE AS ANOTHER LEAK WAS NOTICED FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE THAT ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK. WATER CAN MIX WITH OIL OR CAN GENERATE OVERHEAT OF THE ENGINE. *JB
1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK, GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 100,000 MILES (MAY BE RELATED TO MANDATED USAGE OF DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE IN VEHICLE PER MANUFACTURER). *NM
THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON ONE MINUTE THE NEXT MINUTE THE CAR CUT OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CURTIS CHEVROLET IN WASHINGTON, DC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO THE OIL REGULATOR AND FILTER EXPLODED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 57500 ORIGINAL MILES, SERVICED MAINLY BY CURTIS CHEVROLET...OIL RECENTLY CHANGED BY CURTIS YET I WAS TOLD THAT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WOULD BE $6,000. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERED TOTALED. *JB
1. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS NEEDED. I PUT WATER INTO THE RESERVOIR (CAR WAS ON) AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 10 MILES. I STOPPED TO PUT GAS IN AND NOTICED WATER/COOLANT COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I REPLACED THE WATER AND DROVE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HE SHOWED ME THE LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE ALSO STATED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. SIMILAR COMMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO ME IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO THE INTAKE GASKET; MECHANICS, AUTO PART SALES MEN AND THE DEALER WHERE I GET MY CAR SERVICED HAD ALL BEEN CONCERNED IN THE PAST FOR THIS AREA OF MY CAR, BUT UNTIL NOW EVERYTHING HAD BEEN FINE; 2. FAILURE OF THE INTAKE GASKET PREVENTED THE ENGINE COOLANT FROM MAINTAINING THE PROPER COOLANT LEVEL, THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE TIME OUT OF MY DAY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS MATTER AND SEEK ADVICE IN PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE; 3. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON TUESDAY (9/6/05). I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR FOR A FULL DAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THE CAR WAS 550.00 TO 600.00 DOLLARS. *JB
I PURCHASED MY 1998 MALIBU, IT'S HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WITH IN LESS THAN A WEEK OF PURCHASING I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX A PROBLEM BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BUT I DO KNOW THE CAR DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS AND IF I HAD TO PAY FOR IT, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS, I HAVE REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES ON 3 OCCASIONS, I HAVE FIXED THE LEAKING TRANSMISSION 2X, I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS ABOUT 4X, I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE LINING IS COMING OFF THE TRUNK. THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS I HAD IN LESS THEN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SINCE MARCH 2004 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WATER PUMP, 2 OF THE INJECTORS AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SMALL REPAIRS HERE AND THERE. EVERY TIME I FIX SOMETHING WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR IT UNTIL I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT MORE INTO IT. I AM CURRENTLY REPLACING THE INJECTORS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY PAID 600 DOLLARS AND HAVE 4 MORE TO GO. I AM WORRIED THAT AFTER I PUT THIS MONEY INTO IT I WILL STILL HAVE MORE PROBLEMS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE DASH BUT THEY ARE UNSURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT. NOBODY CAN TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH BECAUSE I NEED TO FIX ONE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN BE SURE OF THE NEXT. THIS CAR WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I HAVE MADE. I WAS UNABLE TO REGISTER MY VEHICLE LAST YEAR DUE TO ALL THE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND ABOUT THIS CAR AND EVERYONE IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND PUTTING OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. *NM
THE ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT AND OIL FROM THE BLOCK, WHICH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. MY CAR THEN OVERHEATED ON THE ROAD WHICH LED TO MY COOLANT BURSTING OUT OF THE OVERFILL TANK. THE ENGINE THEN STARTED TO STEAM, AND ALL THE COOLANT LAID THERE ON THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST ME $1000 IN PARTS AND LABOR.
IN MARCH OF '05 TOOK CAR IN FOR SEVICE ENGINE WAS TICKING WHILE IDLE AT ONE POINT ONCE CAR WAS WARMED UP THE TICKING STOPED BUT NOW THE TICKING IS STILL HEARD WHILE DRIVING AND AT ACCELEARTION. TOOK CAR IN THE BOB MCGUIRE CHEVROLET IN BORDENTOWN, NJ WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK THAT HAD ALREADY MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. HAD EVERYTHING FIXED AND THEY EVEN PUT IN HEAVY DUTY LIFTER CLEANER TO CLEAN THE LIFTERS ACCORDING TO MECANIC THAT WAS WERE THE TICK WAS COMING FROM BUT WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS STILL TICKING WHEN IDLE AND THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN WORSE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX THE TICKING I WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE JOB THAT WAS JUST PERFORMED ON THE CAR HAD TO BE PERFORMED AGAIN IN ORDER TO FIX THE LIFTERS THAT IS CAUSING THE TICKING.
FUEL PUMP, DISCONTINUED, BUT NOT RECALLED. *AK
NUMBER OF PROBLEMS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS A LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND NUMEROUS OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE I TALK TO OR READ ABOUT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
1. VEHICLE LOSING COOLANT. 2. PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. 3. INTAKE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED(70MPH) DUE TO FAILED INTAKE GASKET ON 1998 MALIBU 3.1 . ONE FLICKER OF OIL LIGHT (OIL HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED THAT MORNING BY MYSELF (EXPERIENCED AUTO TECHNICIAN) .ENGINE HAD 52,000 MILES, WAS 600 MILES FROM HOME(APPR), COST $750 TO TOW HOME, UPON DISASEMBLY FOUND FAILED INTAKE GASKET, PURCHASED USED ENGINE,$600, $800 TO HAVE INSTALLED. GM CONTACTED IN EVERY FORUM AVAIL. REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. INSTALLED NEW GASKET ON USED ENGINE BEFORE INSTALLING, GM PARTS, NOW 37,000 MILES LATER HAVE INTAKE GASKET LEAK AGAIN.*AK
COOLANT LEAK .. AGAIN IN MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU! I HAD MY INTAKE GASKET REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO DUE TO CAR OVER HEATING AND A COOLANT LEAK. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED IT AT THAT TIME BUT NOT WITHOUT A STRUGGLE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST MONTH THAT THIS SAME REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN AND THAT I'M LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM $600.00 - $1000.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND THIS WILL COME OUT OF MY POCKET. FROM THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET AND THE SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM, GM OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS IN ISSUE. WHY AREN'T THEY FORCED TO PUT OUT A RECALL? THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
RADIATOR FLUID LEEKS BECAUSE OF BAD MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK
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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