1998 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel system Problems

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WAS SPONGY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AC WORKED ERRATICALLY, DEPENDING ON THE BLOWER SPEED AND WOULD SOMETIMES QUIT BLOWING COLD AIR AND WOULD START TO BLOW WARM AIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. HOWEVER, TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BECAUSE THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, TO THE BRAKE LINE ISSUE, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, A FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE LEFT REAR STRUT HAD FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10639977

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

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.

NHTSA ID

10483166

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

81,000 mi

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HOW THE FUEL IS BEING RECEIVED. WHEN ITS IN NEUTRAL IT RECEIVES THE FUEL JUST FINE BUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT TRIES TO STALL OUT OR DIE. WE USUALLY HAVE TO TAKE IT ON A DRIVE JUST TO GET THE FUEL PUMPING THROUGH. IT'S CRAZY AND SCARY BECAUSE WHEN YOU NEED TO PULL AND GO IT WILL JERK AND STALL AND THAT NOT A GOOD THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266622

Incident

Mar 5, 2009

Mileage

200,000 mi

PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY (THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK) AND CAR CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES WHILE THE SYSTEM RESETS ITSELF. THIS PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY DIFFERENT (WELL-QUALIFIED) MECHANICS AND WOUND UP COSTING OVER 1500 DOLLARS IN UNNEEDED REPAIRS TO THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE SEVERAL TIMES. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244259

Incident

Sep 12, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10210441

Incident

Nov 28, 2007

REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS (COMMON GM PROBLEM, NO GREASE NIPPLE). HAVING FUEL PROBLEM (GETTING TOO MUCH). NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END (SOUNDS LIKE COIL SPRING). *JB

NHTSA ID

10154643

Incident

Mar 22, 2006

Mileage

171,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10132979

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN FIXED FOUR TIMES BUT THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10117566

Incident

Apr 6, 2005

FUEL PUMP, DISCONTINUED, BUT NOT RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114356

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

CLOGGED FUIL INJECTORS P0300 CODE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS GM CAME OUT WITH A BULLETIN TO CLEAN THE INJECTORS SHORT TERM FIX I HAVE SEEN MANY VEHICLES DAILY WITH THIS PROBLEM MANY INJECTORS REPLACED.SOME GM CARS DONT HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORVETTE PRIZM BOTH CARS USE A DIFFERENT STYLE INJECTOR THEY DONT CLOGGE GM SAYS GAS IS THE PROBLEM WELL CORVETTE AND PRIZM USES THE SAME GAS.THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COME OUT WITH A BETTER INJECTOR AND RECALL THE CARS.I HAD MY INJECTORS CLEAND MANY TIMES AND ALL THE INJECTORS REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098432

Incident

Nov 8, 2004

Mileage

56,770 mi

CAR REPEATEDLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074795

Incident

Jun 2, 2004

Mileage

69,400 mi

GAS GAUGE IN DASH SET DOES NOT REGISTER AND THE ENTIRE DASH COMPONENT MUST BE REPLACED. TANK IS FULL, BUT GAUGE REGISTERS E, SENDING UNIT ALRIGHT, PROBLEM IS IN THE DASH SET UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073215

Incident

May 26, 2004

WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY AND WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS EMPTY THE GAS GAUGE READ FULL. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISES, THE A/C LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON AND THE A/C BLEW HOT AIR WHEN THE BUTTON WAS NOT ACTIVATED, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL DRIVE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, THE ANTENNA DID NOT PICK UP AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF STATIONS, (CASE EFFICIENCY DECREASED FROM 350 TO 250 TO REFILL THE CAN), WHEN TWO BATTERIES WERE REPLACED, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK, AND CONDENSATION WOULD SET IN THE REAR LIGHTS AND BURNED THEM OUT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10053978

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

DRIVING ON I-95 FOR SEVERAL HOURS, CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS ON CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT ISN'T. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR IS IS STILL DOING 65, TACKOMETER SAYS I'M AT 2,000 RPMS. I PULL OFF HIGHWAY AT A REST STOP AND HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I PUT IT IN PARK AT A GAS STATION AND THE ENGINE REVS. TACK STILL AT 2,000 (IN PARK). MECHANIC TELLS ME COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS (MOTOR IDLE GUMMED UP AND GETTING STUCK). I HAD BOTH KIDS IN THE CAR. IF THE BRAKES HAD GIVEN OUT, WE'D ALL BE DEAD NOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10023856

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE FRONT END SUSPENSION ARM NEEDS CHANGING, RACK PINION ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING OIL AND INTERNAL NOISES, THE PUMP CAP HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE (THE PRESSURE OIL RETURNS TO THE CAP), AND THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING. SCC

NHTSA ID

10003715

Mileage

2,241 mi

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHICH WILL BE IT'S THIRD ONE IN FIVE YEARS--CAR ACTS LIKE IT 'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS TO GO--PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE

NHTSA ID

566355

Incident

May 21, 2002

WHILE DRIVING BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, AND A BUBBLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007218

WHILE PROCEEDING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, DEALER STATED THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8005175

Incident

Jul 21, 2001

THIS INTAKE VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY ON MY CAR IN MARCH OF 2000, NOW LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF 650.00, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. THAT CHEVROLET IS NOW MAKING A BETTER INTAKE VALVE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE MALIBUS, IF THIS IS THE CASE THEY SHOULD HANDLE SOME OF THIS COST IF NOT ALL. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

758390

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

I BOUGHT IN AUGUST OF 2000 FOUR MONTS AFTER I HAVE HAD THIS CAR MY PROBLEMS BEGAN SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR SHAKES AND STALLS OUT.PADDOCK CHEVROLET HAS GIVEN ME FALSE HOPE ABOUT THE CAR THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FROM FUEL FILTERS FUEL INJECTORS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS THEY HAD EVEN AFTER TIME ADMITTED THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO JUST TURNED A YEAR AND ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD I HAVE MISSED WORK A COUPLE OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758347

COOLING FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE FROM A FAILED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 52000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 YEARS ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE THE GASKET SHOULD HAVE A MUCH LONGER LIFE. THE SERVICE AGENTS AT THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT SAID THE $699 REPAIR BILL WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED OR COVERED BY GM UNLESS I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS AND SOME HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM OR HAVE NOTICED SIGNIFCANT AND 'UNEXPLAINED' (I.E., NO VISIBLE LEAKS FROM HOSES OR RADIATOR) COOLANT LOSS, EVEN AT LOWER MILEAGE THAN MY CAR. THESE 'UNEXPLAINED' LOSSES HAVE THE SAME SYMPTON AS I NOTICED WITH MY CAR, WHICH IS A BUILD UP OF A GREENISH-BROWN GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE OF THE OIL FILL CAP AND VALVE COVER, WHICH INDICATES COOLING FLUID LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

758021

Incident

Jan 28, 2002

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 57000 ON MY 1998 MALIBU LS...IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR...THANKS...MY ROTOORS WERE BAD FROM DAY ONE AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE WHEELS NEEDING BALANCED....THE FAULTY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE A SCARY SITUATION...THE CAR IS RIDDLED WITH DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

757387

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE DRAGS. ALSO, FUEL INJECTOR BLEWOUT. HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

881492

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED WHILE PUSHING ACCELERATOR FROM A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE, THIS WOULD ALSO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SLIPPING, DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION, ALSO, LEFT FRONT AXLE BOOT WAS TORN, DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT. GAS CAP TETHER BROKE, DEALER REPLACED GAS CAP. VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE BRAKING, DEALER REPLACED WARPED ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES, THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS LATER REPLACED DUE TO A TORN PISTON BOOT. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, DEALER REPLACED SEAL. STEERING COLUMN TILT HOUSING BOWL ASSEMBLY MACHINED IMPROPERLY FROM FACTORY CAUSING TILT WOBBLE, ALSO CAUSED A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK NOISE FROM REAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

877384

Incident

Jul 20, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE OR ALMOST STOP WHILE DRIVING. ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. IN DECEMBER 1999, REPROGRAMMED PCM(POWER CONTROL MODULE)/CLR CODES. REFERENCED BULLETIN 99-0604032. IN JANUARY 2000, PROBLEM RECURRED, REPLACED IGNITION COIL. IN JULY 2000, PROBLEM RECURRED, ROADTESTS CONDUCTED. TECHNICIAN CONTACTED "TANS" AND DETERMINED THAT FUEL PRESSURE BELOW SPECS. REPLACED SENDING UNIT (SENDER) AND FILTER.

NHTSA ID

733586

Incident

Jul 17, 2000