1998 Chevrolet Malibu Suspension 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

I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH AND THE CAR STEERS BY ITSELF IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHERE THE OTHER CAR WAS ALREADY PARKED. I MANAGED TO STEER DUE TO THE SLOW SPEED THE CAR WAS MOVING BUT I REALIZED HOW BAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEED RATES. WHEN I CHECKED WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END CRADLE THAT THE STEERING RACK MOUNTS TO, HAS RUSTED OUT AND THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION BECAME LOSE IN ONE OF THE MOUNTING POINTS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP THEY PUT IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE CAR, WHERE STEERING, SUSPENSION, IN FACT THE WHOLE POWER TRAIN SEATS ON AND IT FAILED SO EASY. THE MANUFACTURE WAS TRYING TO SAVE SOME DOLLARS AT THE COST OF PEOPLES LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490238

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

Mileage

76,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,924.

NHTSA ID

10462684

Incident

Jun 21, 2012

Mileage

53,924 mi

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU, AND THE SPRING STRUT SNAPPED IN HALF AND POPPED A HOLE IN MY TIRE, I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR GOING 45 MPH. LUCKILY THE CAR MOVED JUST IN TIME, I AM VERY SCARED FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS CAR. IT JUST HAPPENED TONIGHT, SO I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE CAR, BUT IM BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE MAKE THIS ISSUE PUBLIC! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE IT CAN COST LIVES BY NOT SAYING ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344135

Incident

Jul 19, 2010

Mileage

160,000 mi

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, I WENT INTO CAR TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS LOUD BANG! I WALKED AROUND THE CAR TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS, COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I THEN SAT IN CAR AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO ONE SIDE, WENT OUT TO CHECK TIRES, BOTH TIRES TURNED. DID THE SAME FOR THE OTHER SIDE, ALL OKAY. GOT IN CAR, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THEN ANOTHER LOUD BANG. BACKED THE CAR UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY. HAD IT FLAT BEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. AS THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE NOTED IT WAS THE SPRING - THE REPAIR MAN SAID THANK GOD YOU WEREN'T DRIVING THE CAR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE SPRING, STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED. AT THAT POINT I WAS SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH. I CALLED CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS TO ASK IF THIS IS ON A RECALL OR IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS FILED, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY HAVE NO RECALLS AND NOTHING ON RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238554

Incident

Feb 13, 2008

Mileage

81,000 mi

THE FRONT LEFT, DRIVER SIDE, SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A SMOOTH PAVED ROAD. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE SAME CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. I WAS DRIVING SLOWER SO THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW FROM THE SHARP BROKEN SPRING END RUBBING ON IT. THE SPRING WAS REPLACED WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I DECIDED TO SUMIT COMPLAINTS HOPING WE CAN PREVENT ANY INJURIES OR DEATHS. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS AND HOW MANY ACCIDENTS GO UNREPORTED WITH THIS THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236497

Incident

Jul 21, 2008

Mileage

112,222 mi

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SMOOTH DRY ROAD SUDDENLY THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE SPRING BROKE DAMAGING THE STRUT AND TIRE. THANKFULLY, THIS WAS AT A SLOW SPEED OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE TIRE, SPRING AND STRUT WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236489

Incident

Sep 11, 2007

Mileage

102,619 mi

THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT SNAPPED INTO CAUSING A LARGE GOUGE IN THE TIRE DEFLATING IT IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY, I HAD PULLED OFF INTERSTATE I-77 AND WAS IN A LARGE LEVEL PARKING SPACE. MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR TO PULL UP AND PICK ME UP. AS THE CAR WENT LESS THAN A FOOT FORWARD A LARGE BANG WAS HEARD AND JOURNEY BEGAN TO GET HELP. TO AVOID RANDOM DETAILS OF 88 DEGREE HEAT AND HARDSHIP EVENTS, THE RESULT WAS A NEW TIRE, A NEW SPARE TIRE (DONUT), AN OVERNIGHT STAY AND EXPENSES AND A REPAIR BILL. THE STRUT WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD NO TIME TO WAIT FOR A NEW ONE TO BE ORDERED. WHAT REALLY DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBLE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IN A SMALL REPAIR SHOP WITH ONLY 4 BAYS (SHEPARD'S REPAIR, PARKERSBURG, WV) THERE SAT ANOTHER MALIBU OF POSSIBLY THE EXACT MODEL WAITING FOR A NEW STRUT TO BE SHIPPED IN. THE ODDS ARE RATHER STAGGERING THAT THIS EVENT COULD BE SO RANDOM AS TO NOT IN SOME WAY POINT TO A MUCH LARGER SCALED PROBLEM WITH THESE COILS. BOTH SNAPPED IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME PLACE (EXCEPT HIS WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE) AND NEITHER OF THE STRUTS THEMSELVES WERE LEAKING OR WEAK. NOW HOW DO I TRUST THE CAR FOR FEAR THE OTHER STRUT WILL BREAK OR EVEN THE REPLACEMENT FOR WHICH I KNOW NOT WHAT MODEL CAR IT WAS DISASSEMBLED FROM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234213

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

131,000 mi

WHILE MOVING THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. I FOUND THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS JAMBED AGAINST THE TIRE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WE WERE LUCKY WE WERE NOT TRAVELING FAST ASUREDLY WE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO ONCOMOING TRAFFIC. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HAD A RASH OF SPRING FAILURES WITH MANY GM MODEL CARS HE ATIBUTES IT TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL IN THE SPRINGS. HE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AND BOTH SHOCK STRUTS. I HAPPENED TO DROP BY THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE ASKED HOW IT WAS WORKING I INFORMED HIM ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE WAS VERY SURPISED, AND THEN TOLD ME HE HAD A 2000 CHEV MALIBU ON THE LOT THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WHILE STANDING. OF COURSE HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. OUT OF WARRANTY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $847.59 BUT WE ARE GLAD TO BE ALIVE. NO MORE GM CARS MADE WITH INFERIOR CHINESE METAL. AMERICANS TAKE HEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219711

Incident

Feb 24, 2008

Mileage

124,830 mi

THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE I WAS IN MY CAR AND POPPED MY TIRE. I WAS TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. I REPLACED IT WITH A JUNK YARD SPRING AND STRUT SINCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURE THERE WAS A LOW SQUEAK OR RUB COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS SNOW BUILD UP, BUT NOW I KNOW BETTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215875

Incident

Jan 14, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS THAT HOLD UP THE VEHICLE WITH THE COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. HE STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE STRUTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS MUST COME FROM ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,742 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,727. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB

NHTSA ID

10197915

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

Mileage

87,727 mi

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE CAUSING BLOWOUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197168

Incident

Jul 16, 2007

Mileage

180,000 mi

LEFT SIDE, REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN. ONE MONTH LATER, RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS CAUSING COIL SPRING TO RUB ON INSIDE OF TIRE RESULTING IN TIRE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191909

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

104,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS WHEN A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED AND CUT THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BATCH OF COIL SPRINGS THAT WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THERE WAS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR THIS FAILURE , PE 03031. THE CONTACT STILL POSSESSED THE FAILED COIL SPRING AND TIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR UPDATED 06/20/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188017

Incident

Apr 3, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, FOLLOWED BY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING. PASSENGER SIDE SPRING BEGAN RUBBING INTO TIRE, MELTED SIDE WALL OF TIRE. TIRE DESTROYED. REPLACED SPRINGS AND TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187645

Incident

Apr 4, 2007

Mileage

161,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THERE WAS A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, AND NOTED THAT THE SPRING FROM THE MACPHERSON STRUT HAD DETACHED AND DUG A GROOVE INTO THE SIDEWALL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRUT.

NHTSA ID

10166561

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

Mileage

84,800 mi

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

1998 MALIBU REAR SPRING BROKE OFF. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS NEEDED REPLACING. *TS ***NAR****JB

NHTSA ID

10154127

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE I WAS BACKING UP ON MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION UNITS WHICH INCLUDED THE STRUT, COIL SPRING AND MOUNTING PLATE. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, IT'S SAFER TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. I AGREED WITH HIM, WHO KNOWS IF I DID NOT REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE IT COULD HAVE BROKEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE RESULTS COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS LESS THAN 57,000 MILES ON IT AND THE COIL SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK IN HALF IN SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THAT SAID, I AM THINKING IF THERE''S ANY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND/OR BUILD MATERIAL OF THE COIL SPRING. I SPENT $634 TO FIX IT AND IT COULD HAVE COST MUCH MORE, INCLUDING MY LIFE, LOVED ONES AND OTHERS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO TAKE ACTIONS, INFORM GM AND BEGIN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. REGARDS, SCOTT SHYU [email protected]. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147083

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

56,523 mi

FRONT PASSENGER COIL STRUT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. RUBBED UP AGAINST TIRE. LEFT MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIXED MY CAR. FRONT PASSENGER COIL WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TWO FRONT STRUTS. ALSO TWO NEW TIRES WERE REPLACED UP FRONT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139226

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

108,755 mi

DT: ONE OF THE COIL SPRINGS ON FRONT DRIVER' S SIDE PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A BIG BOOM SOUND. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 14, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT THE RESPONSE SHE HOPED FOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131960

Incident

Jun 14, 2005

Mileage

11,300 mi

SUDDEN FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT SPRING CAUSING PUNCTURED TIRE SIDEWALL AND SUDDEN DEFLATION OF TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136456

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

WE DROVE OUR CAR TO OUR CAMP WHICH IS 60 MILES AWAY. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO MOVE OUR CAR WHEN THE FRONT END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT DOWN WITH A HARD AND LOUD BANG. AT FIRST, WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE SINCE IT WAS FLAT, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE CAR IT LOOKED LIKE THE SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THAT THE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE STRUT AND THE MOUNT WERE ALSO BLOWN OUT. THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT, MOUNT AND THE SPRING. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT SPRING TO THE VEHICLE TO EVEN IT OUT. BOTH FRONT TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1171.43 WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD TAKEN OUR TWO GRANDSONS TO CAMP WITH US. (AGES 2 & 4) IT IS SCARY TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM, IF WE HAD BEEN IN A CRASH. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE JUST MOVING THE CAR A FEW FEET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131804

Incident

Jul 17, 2005

Mileage

50,722 mi

(1) FRONT PASSENGER SHOCK SPRING BROKE IN TWO PLACES, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE (2) SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING THE TIRE AND FORCING THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR ON THE FRAME AND TIRE RIM (3) CAR WAS TOWED TO A GM DEALER, THE SPRING WAS REPLACED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER ADVISED THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT FOR THIS DEFECT THAT HE HAS SEEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131381

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

Mileage

137,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN WITH A HARD BANG. IT FELT LIKE THE WHEEL FELL OFF. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE. I LEFT THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED FOR A FLAT BED TOW TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND DAMAGE THE STRUT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE BOTH SPRINGS AND BOTH STRUTS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1391.64 WHICH WAS PAID TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP ON JUNE 24, 2005. ON JUNE 22, 2005 I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS. I CONTENDED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY WHICH IS WHERE I WAS GOING AT THE TIME. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. I EXPLAINED TO GENERAL MOTORS REP. THAT THE SPRINGS SHOULD NEVER BREAK IN HALF AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. AFTER 2 WEEKS, GENERAL MOTORS WOULD ONLY GIVE ME A $500 CREDIT TOWARDS A NEW CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT I AM NOT PLANNING TO BUY A NEW CAR AND THAT I WOULD LIKE SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR THE COSTS OF THE REPAIRS. THEY REFUSED.

NHTSA ID

10128496

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

65,600 mi