1998 Chevrolet MALIBU CLASSIC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10637270 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)
THIS VEHICLE HAD A CRASH WITH FATALITIES IN 2006. GENERAL MOTORS NEVER ISSUED A UNINTENDED IGNITION TURNOFF ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL AUG2014. THE CRASH BEGAN WITH AN UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNEXPECTED SPINOUT, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THESE ARE THE EXACT CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE GM RECALL. GM WILL NOT ACCEPT A FILING FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE GM IGNITION CLAIM PROGRAM. AN INNOCENT PERSON HAS A BEEN CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER AND THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND COMPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644035 · 2014-10-16 (October 16, 2014)
1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAGS AND IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMERS SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10644035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650832 · 2014-10-28 (October 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733393 · 2015-07-11 (July 11, 2015)
I COMPLETED RECALL NHTSA-14V400, GM-N140350 ON OCT 30, 2014 AT DUBLIN CHEVY WHERE THEY INSERTED THE SPACERS IN MY 2 IGNITION KEYS. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED 4 MORE TIMES TO COME IN, BY GM, CONCORD CHEVY AND DUBLIN CHEVY. . I HAVE CALLED DUBLIN CHEVY 2 TIMES AND THEY VERIFY I HAVE HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AND SAID THEY WILL SEE THAT IT IS TAKEN CARE OF AND I WILL NEVER BE CONTACTED AGAIN. AS OF JUL 11, 2015 IT IS STILL LISTED AS RECALL INCOMPLETE ON YOUR SITE. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR RECORDS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10733393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092597 · 2018-05-08 (May 8, 2018)
IGNITION WORT TURN AT TIMES, HAVE TO WIGGLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092597 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.