Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic347
- Engine and engine cooling144
- Electrical system130
- Suspension108
- Exterior lighting79
- Steering74
- Visibility63
- Tires58
- Power train50
- Air bags40
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 24 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 1998 Malibu vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu failed the safety check 2.44% of the time — 42% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 95,409 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.9–11.8 L/100 km (about 20–22 mpg US), CO₂ 251–271 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 8.6 | 10.9 |
| Malibu · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.3 | 11.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu.
| 2014284 3 Jul 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could allow the switch to move out of the "run" position if the key ring is carrying added weight or the ve… |
| 2003336 16 Dec 2003 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower pinion bearings retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers may fail and permit the ball bearings to escape. If th… |
| 2001060 9 Mar 2001 | Visual System On certain vehicles, if a buildup of snow or ice restricts the movement of the passenger side wiper arm, the pivot housing can crack and the wipe will not opera… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637253 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE BRAKE ALIGN KIT. *TT |
| 637248 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT A STOP AND / OR TAIL LAMP MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY OR THAT THE LAMP ASSEMBLY HAS WATER IN IT. *TT |
| 636679 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REPEAT BRAKE PULSATION AFTER AN INITIAL BRAKE REPAIR. *TT |
| 634995 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT A STOP AND / OR TAIL LAMP MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY, OR THAT THE TAIL LAMP HAS WATER IN IT. TO INCLUDE CHEVROLET CLASSIC 2005. *TT |
| 634845 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING REVISED BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 634780 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. WITH STORED CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 634710 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0140. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634661 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 634317 | SOME ONWERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 631229 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION OR SERIAL DATA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED IN HISTORY. *SLC |
| 629836 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH STORED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 629749 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LIGHT AND/OR AN ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF WHICH MAY ILLUMINATE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. *TT |
| 629407 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUAWK NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND/OR REAR SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 628890 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON LEAKAGE OF A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT AFTER PARKING THEIR VEHICLE. *TT |
| 628102 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR ON THE FRONT FLOOR. *TT |
| 627662 | INFORMATION REGARDING SQUAWK NOISE FROM FRONT AND/OR REAR SUSPENSION. *YH |
| 626054 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A SQUAWK NOISE FROM THE FRONT OR REAR SUSPENSION AREA. *SLC |
| 624745 | ALL GMC DEALERS PLEASE DISREGARD ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE WIA20010111 TRANSMITTED 8/7/2001. *YD |
| 624632 | INFORMATION ON INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPARTMENT LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE *JG |
| 624058 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNK / RATTLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 624042 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION CLUNK / RATTLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 624025 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE PASSENGER RIGHT FRONT SEAT RATTLES WHEN UNOCCUPIED. *TT |
| 623599 | CONCERNS WITH SUSPENSION NOISE.*JB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER
STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY OVERHEAT
WINDSHIELD WIPER
STOP LAMP
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation