1998 Chevrolet Malibu Seat belts Problems

Front seat belts come unbuckled while driving. My wife commuted to work in this car for about 12 months (37 miles one way) and mentioned that sometimes the seatbelt would come unbuckled. I suspected that she was not getting it latched in properly and did not think much of it as when I looked at the seatbelt it functioned properly. However our daughter started driving this car to and from school and also mentioned issues with the seatbelt occasionally coming unbuckled, unfortunately she was involved in a collision. When we learned that she did not have her seatbelt on it surprised us. When my aunt and uncle who owned the car visited in the hospital, my aunt mentioned that she also has had the seatbelt randomly come unbuckled multiple times in that car. I purchased seatbelts from cars of the same age and platform (1997-2004 GM N body) and have inspected them. I believe there is a design flaw that allows the seatbelt to latch in and feel secure when it is actually not locked in. In my pictures note the scratches on the release button. It is my feeling that normal debris (hair, lint, ect) may be causing the release button to partially stick down (1/8" or so). When the release button is stuck partially down the belt side can be inserted into the buckle and it will latch with a click sound, however the white plastic lock tab will not drop under the lock rod. In this latched but not locked situation the belt can be pulled on with a fair amount of force and still stay latched. When compared to other seat belt styles from other models of cars, I notice that the release button or cover have a smaller "slide surface area". Also on the other seat belt styles if the release button is stuck partially down the belt will not latch into the buckle.

NHTSA ID

11525299

Incident

Oct 10, 2022

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ALSO OWNS A 2007 GRACO COMFORT SPORT CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 80C02MG12 (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON AUGUST 24, 2007. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY SECURED IN A FORWARD FACING RESTRAINT SEAT. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE CHILD RELEASED THE PLASTIC HARNESS CLASP WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HARNESS STRAPS WERE TIGHTENED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT WAS INSTALLED USING THE VEHICLE SAFETY BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10279213

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS AN EVENFLO DISCOVERY CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE CONTACT SAW A REPORT ON CBS TODAY RE: SAFETY RECALL ON THE EVENFLO DISCOVERY. ALSO, THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EVENFLO CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER DATE FOR THE EVENFLO CHILD SAFETY SEAT WASJULY 8, 2003. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT LOOSENED AND DIDN'T SECURE THE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURREDS IN BOTH OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDED CAB, AND A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *AK

NHTSA ID

10178221

Incident

Jan 9, 2007

Mileage

207,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT CRASH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED UPON INITIAL IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10175219

Incident

Dec 2, 2006

Mileage

11,900 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN IGNITION PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH, TURN AND HOLD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER. SECONDLY, SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DID NOT RETRACT. HAD TO PUT THE SEAT BELT ON MANUALLY. ALSO, BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061204

Mileage

45,000 mi

FRONT FENDER WHERE FRONT SENSOR WAS LOCATED WAS CRACKED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED CHEST AND KNEE INJURIES FROM STEERING AND DASHBOARD BECAUSE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONSULTED MANUFACTURER OR DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

897680

Incident

Sep 28, 2001

PLASTIC LOCKING MECHANISM ON SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE SPLIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

751690

Incident

Sep 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, TWO TIRES BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING, P215/60R15, CLAIM 14-1326-688. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900313

Incident

Oct 14, 2000

VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO ROTORS FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

561902

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

WHEN TRAVELING AND APPLYING BRAKES, THEY MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. SAFETY BELT FIXED 2 TIMES. POWER STEERING HOSES AND LINES REPLACED, PARTS WERE MISSING FROM STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

885562

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT IS JAMMED WITHIN RETRACTING MECHANISM AND WILL NOT RELEASE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK THE SEAT BELT BECAME INOPERABLE AT LOW MILAGE AND THE CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSMENT OF COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID

885212

Incident

Mar 1, 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

LEFT SEAT BUCKLE INOPERABLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555535

Incident

Jan 24, 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

THE MILEAGE PROVIDED IS ONLY ESTIMATES, REPORTED ONLY THE SEAT BELT LIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID

731036

Incident

Sep 8, 2000

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BOBB CHEVY IN 11/99, IN APRIL 2000 NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. TOOK CAR INTO A TUFFY AUTO SHOP WHO INDICATED I NEEDED COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THEY SUGGESTED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER VEHICLE REPAIRS. SO I TOOK IT TO BOBB AT 7:30 AM ON 4/27/00, THEY COMPLETED BRAKE JOB - ROTORS, CALIPERS, FLUID, PADS AND LABOR. THIS TOTALLED $817.01, I PAID $496.12, WARRANTY PAID THE BALANCE. ON 5/17/00, COMING HOME FROM WORK ON A SERVICE ROAD I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND FOUND I DID NOT HAVE ANY - THIS WAS 3 WKS AFTER A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I HAD THE OPTION TO GO INTO AN INTERSECTION, OR HIT A CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, BUT I CHOSE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, HOPING THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME. I HIT A PINE TREE, BOTH AIR BAGS POPPED OUT, WINDSHIELD CRACKED, SUBSEQUENTLY MY INSURANCE COMPANY - GEICO TOTALLED THE CAR. I SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISES, ENDED UP IN EMERGENCY, ORDERED TO TAKE 2 DAYS OFF WORK FOR BRUISES, SEVERELY SPRAINED ANKLE, BRUISES ON CHEST & STOMACH FROM SEATBELT AND AIRBAG. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, GIVEN THEM GEICO'S REPORT AND POLICE REPORT. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT PRODUCT LIABILITY DEPT OF CHEVROLET. AT THIS TIME SOMEONE FROM GM PRODUCT ASST IS TO CONTACT ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

723770

Incident

May 17, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS CRACKING. PLASTIC PART CRACKED IN 2 PARTS WHERE THE BELTS IS PULLED & LOCKED. CONUSMER IS AFRAID THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE SEATBELT. WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

862584

Incident

May 15, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTS TOO SLOWLY, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO HANG ON TO FLOOR OR GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

859898

Incident

Apr 7, 1999

ENGINE IDLING ROUGHLY DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE MOUNT. NLM

NHTSA ID

551405

Incident

Sep 23, 1998

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED, AND ALL DOORS JAMMED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

852700

THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILS TO RETRACT. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE IN JUNE, DUE TO BEING WORN OUT. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE NEEDS REPLACMENT DUE TO THE THREADS COMING OFF. *YC

NHTSA ID

851487

Incident

Aug 9, 1999

FEMALE SEATBELT PART BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

706163

Incident

Apr 15, 1999

THE SAFTEY BELTS ARE HARD TO FASTEN AND COME UNDONE,TICKING NOISE WHEN COLD THEN DIMINISHES,HEADLIGHTS FOGGING UP INSIDE,LOW SPEED BRAKING, CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. *AK

NHTSA ID

705486

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

608559

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, REPLACEMENT LOCKED UP ALSO.

NHTSA ID

542529

Incident

Jul 10, 1998