1998 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: THE FRONT END/LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS NEED CHANGING, THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING CONSTANTLY AND HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE, AND THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL IS LEAKING OIL. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 2,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002109 at NHTSA ↗

MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU DEVELOPED A INTAKE MANIFOULD COOLENT LEAK AT 33,XXX MILES. IT COST ME & MY EXTENDED WARRANTEE COMPANY OVER $400.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT CONTINUES TO SELL VEHICLES ANYWAY. THIS IS FRAUD!

Owner-reported narrative. 33,311 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002824 at NHTSA ↗

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET / COOLANT REACTION. ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING ON BUSY TWO LANE ROAD LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A TRAFFIC LANE. I HAD TO WALK A HALF A MILE AND BACK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO USE A TELEPHONE TO SUMMON HELP. DIAGNOSIS BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS FOUND COOLANT WATER HAD INFILTRATED THE ENGINE, TWO VALVES WERE BENT WHEN THE PISTONS HIT THEM. SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1L GM ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 54,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002857 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER HEARING A "CLICKING/CREAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING (ON FULL LOCK)WHEN MANEUVERING AT SLOW SPEEDS, I.E. PARKING, I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD RH LOWER CONTROL ARM AND A LOOSE LH LOWER CONTROL ARM.

Owner-reported narrative. 73,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003204 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 2,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003715 at NHTSA ↗

OUR 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A 3.1 LITER V-6 ENGINE HAS STARTED LOSING ENGINE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. WE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE AT LEAST 1996. OTHERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT MECHANICS ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM IN CARS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE FLUIDS ARE LOST THOUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND DO NOT LEAVE A TELLTALE STAIN OR RESIDUE UNDER A PARKED CAR. A REPAIR AT A CHEVROLET DEALER WAS QUOTED TO US AT $900. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAG…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004931 at NHTSA ↗

ON MY 1998 MAILBU (3100 ENGINE) WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM OR THE DEALER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005227 at NHTSA ↗

COOLANT LEAK IN MY 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU - 3.1 LITER ENGINE. 55,800 MILES. THIS DEFECT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. $800 REPAIR. LOST ONE WEEK'S WORK

Owner-reported narrative. 55,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005326 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.

Consequence: REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.