1998 Chevrolet Malibu Exterior lighting Problems

THE COMPLAINT IS FOR THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND THE TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED TWICE, I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THIS IS A PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS OR WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE IGNITIONS SWITCH, THE KEY WON'T MOVE IN THE IGNITION, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START. AFTER READING ON LINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S AND OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM UNSURE OF THE INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223542

Incident

Feb 14, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

TAIL LIGHTS ON ALMOST ALL CHEV. MALIBU'S ARE BAD MOSTLY ON THE RIGHT SIDES IF YOU GOING DOWN THE ROAD LOOK FOR YOURSELF ALMOST ALWAYS THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE BURNED OUT LIGHT. I OWN TWO MY KIDS DRIVE AND ALMOST EVERY TIME THEY WASH THEM OR IT STORMS I HAVE TOO REPLACE BULBS THE TAIL LIGHT FILLS WITH WATER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192120

Incident

May 31, 2007

Mileage

100 mi

REPEATEDLY HAVE TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BECAUSE TAIL LIGHTS FILL WITH WATER EVERY STORM OR WHEN WASHED UNTIL THEY FINALLY BURN OUT. MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER WITH MALIBU'S. ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB

NHTSA ID

10156777

Incident

May 1, 1999

Mileage

5,000 mi

ON AUG. 10,2005 MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, WHILE PARKED WITH IGNITION OFF CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE EXITING CAR BEFORE THE FIRE, I SMELLED NO SMOKE OR "HOT" SMELLS, I STOOD THERE APPROX. 3 MIN. WHILE TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER. 10 MIN. LATER THE LEBANON, TENNESSEE FIRE DEPT. WAS THERE EXTINGUISHING A FIRE THAT WAS MOSTLY CONTAINED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AREA, THEY DEEMED THE CAR "TOTALED" . I CONTACTED GM THE SAME DAY, AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CONVERSATIONS , ON SEPT.13, 2005, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. MIKE DEMARE, CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, THAT "GENERAL MOTORS IS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES AND WE SUGGEST THAT YOU RESOLVE THIS MATTER THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER." SO I AM STILL WITHOUT A CAR, AND I AM DISABLED, WITH A MINOR CHILD LIVING WITH ME. I CAN NOT AFFORD FULL COVERAGE , AND ONLY HAD LIABILITY ON THE VEHICLE. *NM SEPT.

NHTSA ID

10138279

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

119,000 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

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

WHILE BRAKING TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIPS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065402

Incident

Feb 22, 2004

Mileage

107,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. TAIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD NOT BE FOUND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064723

Incident

Mar 23, 2004

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TAIL LIGHTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WOULD NOT COME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD NOT BEEN FOUND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. **AK

NHTSA ID

10064701

Incident

Mar 23, 2004

MY TURN SIGNAL WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. I NOTICE ESPECIALLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE IT DOES NOT WORK FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. I TRY AND TRY TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS, BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, I CANNOT PREDICT IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT. THE BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN, IT IS THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER SWITCH WHEN TRYING TO USE IT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET A RESPONSE, THEREFORE I CAN'T ALERT OTHER DRIVERS AND CYCLIST THAT I WANT TO TURN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062676

Incident

Apr 16, 2000

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ITS RACK AND PINION STEERING AND ALL POWER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE ARM REST POPPED OUT, THE VEHICLE PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT (DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM). THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BRAKE ROTORS, 2 SETS OF TIRES/ALMOST COMPLETELY BALD AT THE TIME ONLY 13K MILES. THE RIMS HAD TO BE FORCED OFF, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD BECOME RUSTED AT 20K MILES, THE IGNITION WIRE HARNESS HAD COME APART, THE POWER STEERING HOSES HAD COME LOOSE, LOST FLUID AND POWER STEERING WHILE IN MOTION, THE TRUNK LEAKED, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON TWICE A WEEK, THE FRONT END SQUEAKED AND RATTLED, THE ANTENNA WIRE WAS LOOSE, THE RIGHT HEAD LAMP HAD PERMANENT MOISTURE WITH NO CRACK, THE A/C WOULD SHUT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 60K MILES AND THE WANING LIGHT HAD COME ON FOR ONLY FIVE MINUTES, THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL, AND THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING HAD BROKEN. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022685

Incident

Jun 9, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND CAUSED LEFT BACK TAIL LIGHT TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037883

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED AT 65,000 MILES, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED (LAST TIME WAS AT 40,000). THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS 6 TIMES AND HAS EXPERIENCED ALL OTHER MALIBU PROBLEMS SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL FAILURE, TAIL LIGHT MELTING, ETC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010696

Incident

Mar 17, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE MELTED THE LIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10009460

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

IN JULY OF 2002 MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN I TOOK APART THE LIGHTING SECTION I SMELT BURNING . I WENT TO THE AUTO ZONE TO BUY A REPLACEMENT BUT COULDN'T REMOVE THE BULB. I THAN TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE TO BE FIXED. THEY SAID THAT THE BULB WAS WRONG IN THE BOARD. NOW (11-18-02) MY TAIL LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN AND WHEN I CHECKED THE OTHER BULBS WERE ALSO APPEARING TO BE MELTED IN THE BOARD ALSO. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY CHEVY GARAGE TO BE FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE BOARD ON THE RIGHT AND THE BULBS. UPON CHECKING THE LEFT SIDE REAR LIGHTS WERE OUT NOW. THEY REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE TAIL LIGHTS BOARD AND BULBS TOO. THEY ARE WORKING NOW BUT NEXT? THIS IS TOO FAMILIAR OF A COINCEDENCE TO BE HAPPENING I THINK THIS IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR ITSELF. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN I'LL BE BACK TO COMPLAIN AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN JUST MY MALIBU! DT

NHTSA ID

769858

Incident

Nov 18, 2002

RIGHT TAILIGHT COLLECTS WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS IN RELSULT THE LIGHTS GO OUT, IN RESULT THE PANEL FOR THE LIGHT HAS RUSTED AND CANNOT BE USED, THIS IS THE 2ND PANEL I HAVE PURCHASED BECUASE OF WATER LEAKING INTO TAILLIGHT. I HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER MAILIBU'S WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I WANT CHEVROLET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TO PURCHASE A NEW PANEL BECAUSE OF THE RUST, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THIS DEFECT, I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

756175

Incident

Dec 23, 2001

INSIDE HEADLIGHTS FOG UP REALLY BADLY, AND IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THEY HARDLY PUT OUT ANY LIGHT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, THEY STATED IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES IN THE FALL OF 1998 AS THE WEATHER COOLED, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS, IN THE SPRING OF 2000, THE RIGHT SIDE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN AND IF REPAIRED IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892933

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

I HAVE OWNED MY CHEVY MALIBU FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND SINCE I'VE HAD IT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT THREE TIMES. AFTER I TOOK THE BULB OUT THE THIRD TIME I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE UNIT IS MELTED. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO PUT ANOTHER BULB IN FOR THE FEAR OF A FIRE. I KNOW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT OWN MALIBU'S AND I KNOW OF 2 OTHERS WITH THE SAME YEAR THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I DO THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POSSIBLE DEFECT. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH ONE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS OUT, BUT I FEEL I HAVE NO CHOICE.*AK

NHTSA ID

745993

Incident

Jan 20, 2000

PASSENGER STOP LIGHT GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT TO BE STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY OVERHEATING. *AK

NHTSA ID

884079

Incident

Feb 25, 2001

SQUEAKING NOISE CAME FROM STEERING, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING HOSES. RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT ADJUST UP OR DOWN, SEATBELT STOP BUTTON WAS MISSING, LEFT SIDE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT RETRACTS SLOWLY, RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTS SLOWLY AND JAMS AT TIMES. REAR BUMPER COVER AT LEFT SIDE AT TAIL LIGHT OPENING HAS POOR FIT. EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE AT THE LEFT FRONT DOOR GLASS OPENING WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING SHIMMIES WHILE BRAKING, DEALER FOUND WARPED ROTORS. IDLE QUALITY IN GEAR AT STOP IS POOR, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE WEAK, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AT TIMES. FRONT HEAD LIGHT FOGGED UP, DELAER FOUND INSIDE LENS CRACKED. RATTLE NOISE HEARD UNDER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUGH ROADS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

881160

Incident

Feb 9, 2001

VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS OF TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON. SLOW CRANK AND BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM WHENEVER YOU SLOW DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE STALLING ISSUE, MECHANIC STATES IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND WILL AND TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. MOTOR MOUNTS ARE ALSO CORRODED WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUALLY DUE TO CAR ONLY BEING 3 YEARS. I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE VIN # DUE TO NOT HAVING ACCESS TO VEHICLE AT THE MOMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP UNDERGOING REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

740822

ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. CAR COMPLETELY DIED. COULD NOT JUMP START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THIS WAS THE FOURTH ALTERNATOR HE HAD REPLACED ON THIS YEAR OF CHEVY MALIBU IN THE LAST MONTH AND FOR ME TO INQUIRE AS TO A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THESE PARTS. ALSO HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LIGHT BULBS IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND BACK UP LIGHTS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY OTHER MONTH SINCE PURCHASE. BRAKES WERE SERVICED WITH NEW PADS AND EVERYTHING FROM THE DEALER 4 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS COMMING ON AND GOING OFF AND INTERVALS. AIR CONDITIONER SHUTS ITSELF OFF FREQUENTLY. THE LITTLE GREEN LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE SYSTEM BLOWS HOT AIR. I HAVE TO TURN THE POWER DOWN ON IT TO GET THE LITTLE GREEN LIGHT TO COME BACK ON AGAIN AND FOR THE AIR TO COOL OFF AGAIN. I HAVE NOTICED AIR DRAFTS COMMING FROM THE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

731981

Incident

May 31, 2000

PLEASE SEE COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS ENTRY (FORGOT TO ADD STOP/TAIL LIGHTS) TO LIST. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

731037

Incident

Sep 8, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

730278

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

WATER IS LEAKING INTO HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION, AND RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

866127