10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
78,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #4

Aug 012013

Malibu

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The air bag, ABS, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 54,000.

- Vernon Rockville, CT, USA

problem #3

Nov 122006

Malibu 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
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 failure claim program. NHTSA didn't all the GM recall to Malibu's but I have notified them of the oversight. This should be corrected and compensation provided by GM. This is the exact wording on the GM recall website: The following recalls have been found for your 1998 Chevrolet Malibu results last updated: Sep 16, 2014 GM recall #: N140350 NHTSA recall #: 14V400 date issued: Aug 12, 2014 unintended ignition key rotation recall description: General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in 2000-2005 my Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2005 my Chevrolet Malibu, 1999-2004 my Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 my Oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 my Pontiac Grand Am, and 2004-2008 my Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. If the key ring is carrying added weight and the vehicle goes off road or experiences some other jarring event, it may unintentionally move the key away from the run position. If this occurs, engine power, power steering and power braking may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash. Safety risk description: The timing of the key movement out of the run position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the airbags not deploying, increasing the potential for occupant injury in certain kinds of crashes.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Jan 082014

Malibu

  • 180,000 miles
I received my chev recall letter ref recall 14350 today. This is not a complaint, just info that may be important in reference to this safety recall. Problems I have had with my 1998 chev Malibu is : engine shuts off while traveling at highway speeds-sometimes engine won't start ( ignition key will not go all way to start position)-sometimes engine want shutoff (ignition key want turn back to off position). As a retired truck mechanic I know that the problem is in the ignition switch lock cylinder (tumblers are worn excessively causing the lock cylinder to jam and/or be come loose allowing ignition key to rotate off). I have attempted to make repair myself but all parts outlets tell me that the lock cylinder is not available (must purchase $350 ignition switch assembly) if this recall does not include replacing the lock cylinder, the problem will not be corrected. Experienced mech/tech can replace the lock cylinder in about 10 minutes.

- Waycross, GA, USA

problem #1

Sep 032014

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when approaching a red light, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and the contact sustained a knee, a hip bruising and a muscle behind shoulder which required medical attention. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Morristown, TN, USA