Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 010308003A | 02/01/2002 | 010308003 | 629407 | Some customers may comment on a squawk noise from the front and/or rear suspension while driving. *tt | 04/02/2002 |
| 010308003 | 10/01/2001 | 627662 | Information regarding squawk noise from front and/or rear suspension. *yh | 02/13/2002 | |
| 050901 | 09/05/2001 | 626054 | Some customers may comment of a squawk noise from the front or rear suspension area. *slc | 12/12/2001 | |
| 290601 | 06/29/2001 | 623599 | Concerns with suspension noise.*jb | 10/29/2001 | |
| 990308004 | 08/01/1999 | 607580 | Subject pertaining to front and / or rear stabilizer shaft squawk / squeak noise. *tt | 09/29/1999 | |
| 98733210 | 04/01/1998 | 601113 | Low pitch rattle, clunk and/or squeak noise coming from front end of vehicle during low speeds. *yc | 07/01/1998 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 010308002 | 08/01/2001 | 624058 | Information regarding front suspension clunk / rattle noise diagnosis. *tt | 11/01/2001 | |
| 010308002 | 08/01/2001 | 624042 | Subject regarding front suspension clunk / rattle noise diagnosis. *tt | 10/31/2001 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 32 | 02/01/2001 | 623586 | Customers may complain of a creak or pop noise from the rear of the vehicle, this may occur on turns, on acceleration or deceleration, or on maneuvers that twist the suspension. *slc | 10/29/2001 | |
| 000309003 | 11/01/2000 | 617720 | Some vehicles built prior to vin breakpoint 1m531582 or 16145701 may exhibit a creak / pop noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. *tt | 03/24/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 06/21/2012 | 53924 | ||
| 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. kmj | |||
| 06/21/2012 | 53924 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the driver front spring failed and caused the damaged to the 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. li | |||
| 02/13/2008 | 81000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 01/14/2008 | 135000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/04/2004 | 12 | ||
| When driving 10 mph consumer turned the steering wheel towards the left and steering wheel made a grinding noise. also, brakes were difficult to depress. consumer was able to control the vehicle, and towed it to dealership for inspection. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 61000 | 10/15/2001 | |
| Defects in 1998 chevrolet malibu. i have spent over $1000 trying to repair the abs system (including replacing the wiring harness for what gm call an updated wiring harness, replacing left and right wheel barons, and replacing the abs relay). the brakes consistently have trouble and pulse when trying to stop the vehicle. i am also experiencing considerable trouble with the computer system in the car. the anti theft light and air bag lights come on and stay on, creating codes in the computer, with no visible reasons for the codes. the gas pedal has also been repaired twice as it has a tendency to stick. the left rear strut mounts have also broken and have had to be repaired (quite costly). i am becoming increasingly concerned for safety while driving this car. *nlm | |||
| 04/09/1999 | 1 | 11/28/1997 | |
| Brake pads, rotors, and calipers continually failed on chevrolet malibu. this has been going on since car was new. pads, rotors, calipers, and ball joints have all been replaced - pads and rotors as often as every 6000 to 12000 miles. dealers and independents have worked on it with the same result: more failures. there are hundreds of complaints about these problems for malibu's just from this year's model and many more for other years. nhtsa has never investigated even though brake failure would seem to be significant. my tax money is not working hard enough. *jb | |||
| 2241 | 2 | 10/14/1997 | |
| 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 | |||
| 02/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| Front and rear suspension make loud squeaky noises. the noise is consistant while driving over rough and bumpy roads. dealer confirms that suspension is bad. dealer was notified. *ak *slc | |||
| 08/01/2000 | |||
| I bought in august of 2000 four monts after i have had this car my problems began since then the car has been in the shop at least 10 times for the same problem the engine light comes on and the car shakes and stalls out.paddock chevrolet has given me false hope about the car they said they fixed the problem from fuel filters fuel injectors but the problem still occurs they had even after time admitted they can not fix the problem. recently the problem has gotten worse i have a daughter who just turned a year and all i want is to feel safe on the road i have missed work a couple of time because of the problem and nothing is being done. *ak | |||
| There is a knocking noise in steering wheel. dealer has replaced rack and pinion steering and problem still exists. manufacturer has been notified. *ak | |||
| 10/23/2000 | 8 | ||
| While driving about 55 mph vehicle will vibrate highly. vibration will be felt on passenger's side as well as on driver's side, dealer has rotated the tires, replaced tires (no brand or size given), replaced plug wires placed a bolt in the suspension, and replaced rotors, the problems still exists. *ak *slc | |||
| 04/10/2000 | 5 | 04/16/1998 | |
| While driving on road over 45mph vehicle will sway/won't stay in its lane. also, factory battery had started melting through the plate/abs light came on when starting vehicle/ upon applying brakes they squeaked, and vehicle won't go in reverse.*ak the transmission failed. the a/c is inoperable. brakes failed four times. *yh | |||
| When applying brakes at high speed heard loud and shaking noise and vibration throughout vehicle. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 1 | 10/23/1997 | ||
| Possibly due to poor suspension vehicle makes noise while driving over rough roads. yh | |||
| 11/01/1999 | 0 | ||
| While at 60mph car starts to shutter and it won't slow down properly. also, within 30, 000 miles had to have brakes done. dealer didn't help. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The front of the car and steering wheel vibrates at speed of 50 mph. yh | |||
| 06/24/1999 | |||
| While driving at any spee and , making a turn, there is some a grinding noise coming from the steering. also, when applying the brakes they are vibrating. *ak | |||
| 04/20/1998 | |||
| Vehicle has an unknown jiggle sound coming from it. has been in/out of dealer's shop more then six occasions, and the problem cannot be resolved. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 07/21/2008 | 112222 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/11/2007 | 102619 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/07/2008 | 131000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that while driving the vehicle and no warning the front suspension collapsed. dealer notified.*ak | |||
| 02/14/2002 | 1 | 01/01/2098 | |
| Right front coil sprint broke. a broken end gouged the inside sidewall of the tire, making a potentially dangerous situation.*ak | |||
| 02/02/2002 | 2 | 01/01/2098 | |
| Bushings on both lower front control arms on front suspension wor out at 16k miles, causing thumping and banging noise that gets increasing worst with more miles put on the car--dealer says it is safe to drive the car. *ak | |||
| 2 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| Any small bump or acceleration at about 55mph produces loud clunking noises from front. *ak | |||
| 2 | 09/01/1998 | ||
| Firestone said allignment problem. it was alligned at 23,139 miles. first noticed irragular wear on both rear tires on 9/29/2000 when rotating tires. the vehicle has also been towed about 24,000 miles. *ak (dot number: w2mwaaa168 tiresize: p215/60r15) | |||
| 03/26/2001 | 08/01/1999 | ||
| The strut and shocks damaged, and vehicle nocks and wobbles cause of looseness in front right drive shaft. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 0 | ||
| Front end was defective. all of parts had to be replaced by the dealership. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 2 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Bushings on control arms defective and battery accid leaks | |||
| 2 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| The car was delivered with a noisy brake pedal, improper steering wheel, alignemtn, and very poor wheel alignment. the dealer was unable to resolve the noisy pedal without dismantling the entire braking system, which i declined. the steering wheel and front wheels were aligned, however, the rear wheels were not aligned. i ony learned of this because of a twitchiness when driving and premature rear tire failure, even though the tires were rotated regularly. the front brake rotors have been almost constantly warped, and most importantly, front caliper retaining pins have flown completely out while driving at about seventy (70) miles per hour on the interstate. in the first instance, the car was able to be driven to the dealership, where they replaced the pin and re-tourqed all other pins. about a month later, another pin flew out, this time resulting in an undrivable car, leaving my wife and infant child stranded on the side of the interstate at night. the car was towed in, and the dealer's fix was to replace all of the caliper pins, ignoring the fact that there is certainly another problem, such as component design causing the pins to fly out. this is a major safety issue. after reviewing the complaint log at the nhtsa web site and through personal contact with other malibu owners with similar problems, it is quite apparent that my problems are not isolated events. please take some action on behalf of malibu owners everywhere. the primary issue of serious and constant brake problems should certainly be viewed as a national safety issue. i have filed a complaint with the bbb auto line and am in the process of attempting to rsolve my problems with gm. | |||
| 06/12/2000 | 11/01/1998 | ||
| When i press the brake pedal to slow down on the highway the sterring wheel shakes, like it is going out of control | |||
| 01/01/1998 | 1 | 09/19/1997 | |
| Front suspension has excessive noise. yh | |||
| 06/01/1999 | 1 | 01/01/1999 | |
| Had nothing but front end problems, seems like dealer is not beleiving, may think its the operator. *ak | |||
| When applying brakes entire front end shakes excessively. also, dealer has seen vehicle twice, and replaced rotors once and has turned them once. problem still exists. *ak | |||
| 10/09/1998 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Malibu suspension is unsafe. front control arms , rear struts, brake lights, rear turn signal , rear tires worn because of struts, headlamps failures make it obvious chevy is marketing unsafe malibu's . chevy should buy back these defective cars especially mine it's an unsafe piece of junk!( dot number: tire size: 215-60r15 ) | |||
| The front end is loose. please provide further detail. *ak | |||
| 09/01/1997 | |||
| This car has a directional stability problem on the highway. it wanders back and forth across the driving lane and you constantly have to correct the steering wheel. if you relax or look away for a moment, such as at a highway sign, you never know where the car will be in the lane. on long trips it fatigues you terribly. the dealer has tried to remedy the situation with a new tire, new alignment, tire rotation, tire pressure, etc., but nothing works. i noticed this problem driving the car home after picking it up new. the dealer had me drive another malibu with approx the same mileage, and it drove the same. the local chevy dealer service mgr. says his drives the same way. i have contacted chevrolet and they noted the problem, but offered no solutions. i retired from the auto collision business where i specialized in heavy collision repair and driveability. i have worked for every gm car line at a dealership. i know what i am talking about, when i say this car has a design problem. it is the worst driving gm car i have ever driven. it is my wifes car and i worry about her on the highway. people should be warned about this problem. it is the perfect commuter car around town, but i am afraid this problem will contribute to highway crashes and deaths. for my wifes safety, i think i will be forced to get rid of this car. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 2 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Radio has been replaced, still will not pick up local stations, and a thumping noise is comming from my car. it's most noticeable at 35mph and under. dealer replaced parts of suspension, diidn't help, and now they say thats all they can do. they have not bothered to see where the sound is coming from. *ak | |||
| 06/05/1999 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| A frame in process of being replaced again june 9, 1999 for the second time. major vibrations in front end of car. bezels replaced. cup holder replaced. bumper peeling - dealer will not fix. front of dash plastic had to be replaced-broke. console lid cover replaced. i would not recommend this car to any person. even the general motors technicians state this is the worst car for problems. it took almost six months to get the a/c switch replaced. it kept turning itself off and could not get back on. finally 06/05/99 it quit all together. they put in a relay switch. this car is a big disappointment for the people who remember the old malibus. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1999 | |||
| I bought my chevrolet malibu used and have had it about 2 months. days after the 36,000 mile warranty runs out i have major brake problems. replaced front brakes, pads, right rotor and right caliper. every mechanic i've seen is amazed that a car a year old needs a new caliper. called the dealer and they told me they couldn't do anything about it. also had problem with front end rattling noise like the front end is loose or something; dealer did put new control arms on, but noise still persists. *ak | |||
| Brakes are wearing out prematurley . pads/calipers and the rotors needed to be replaced at 35,000 miles.there was no indictation of a problem, causing a safety hazard. 2. the vehicle shakes at speeds less than 20 mph ,and dealer replaced control arm, but defect is still occurring. *ak | |||
| 07/24/1998 | 5 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Car has been in shop 11 times, dealer found problems 10 times. car has been in shop overnight 16 days since 9-2-98. on one visit, dealer drove car 187 miles and had car 6 days, actually fixing car, finding another front suspension problem, and fixing again. | |||
| 03/01/1998 | |||
| Front end suspension rough,clunk, feels loose, brakes/rotors prematurely wearing out, and instrument panel very hot when heater or a/c being used. radio am already malfunctioned once. am concerned re: brakes, front end and fire hazard of this vehicle. *ak | |||
| 3 | 05/22/1998 | ||
| Car sounds like the front end is all going to fall from underneath the car!!! | |||
| 09/28/1998 | 9 | ||
| Driver's window switch/exhaust system/windshield/headlights and front end malfunctioned. | |||
| Front end problems after 40mph speed, vehicle jerks and float over rough roads, handles like front end is loose. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 04/05/2001 | 58000 | 11/08/1999 | |
| Water is leaking into engine from the head gasket. water pump started seeping after head gasket was replaced. the front brakes was replaced several times with finally the ones mentioned on the bulletin. first the left side wheel bearing/ speed sensor assembly changed then a couple of thousand of miles later the right side. air condition was going on and off intermittently. *la | |||
| 05/25/2001 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| Took car in for routine 48,000 mile service and estimate is $1500 for coolant leakage into engine, serpentine belt, suspension arm (front) and pcv valve | |||
| 07/01/1998 | 2 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Small arms failed. yh | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front control arms failed. yh | |||
| 03/23/1999 | 05/31/1998 | ||
| While driving 45 mph the control arm broke, vehicle lost control, causing a spin-out and came to rest at a curb. *ak | |||
| 1 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| Both front control arms failed. | |||
| 04/05/1998 | 3 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Front rotors have been cut at 9000, 19,000 and are to be replaced on 4/12/99 at 22,300. also, front control arms have been replaced. | |||
| 06/29/1998 | 3 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Bought as demo. rotors warped at 8000mi, 17,000mi, starting again at 19,500. just had front control arm assembly replaced, dealer says it was the wrong part! also coolant leak at 14,500mi. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 07/14/2001 | 50000 | 08/01/1998 | |
| I have a 1998 chevy malibu with 60,000 miles. the problem started at about 50,000 miles. both front lower control arms started to rattle over cracks and bumps around july 2001. it has steadily become worse and is to the point i can hear a loud clunk even over expansion joints or when it shifts gears during acceleration. i have heard from several other owners who have experienced the same problem, some with fewer miles. in all cases chevrolet refuses to take any responsibility and says we have to replace with newly designed control arms at our own cost. i am going to replace them for fear that the bolts are going to break from the excessive movement allowed by the inferior bushings used in the original part, but i think gm's decision to not recall this obvious safety hazard should be questioned. they have admitted there was a design flaw by producing a redisigned part, why should they not recall it? | |||
| 2241 | 3 | 12/04/1997 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/01/1998 | 1 | ||
| Both lower control arms failed causing noise in the front suspension while driving. nlm | |||
| 07/20/2000 | 50 | 03/16/1998 | |
| Vehicle experienced several transmission related problems, consumer stated while pushing accelerator from a complete stop, engine would rev up but vehicle would not move, after a couple of seconds, the transmission would engage, this would also happen while driving, transmission experienced slipping, dealer rebuilt transmission, also, left front axle boot was torn, dealer replaced the left inner tripod joint boot. gas cap tether broke, dealer replaced gas cap. vehicle would vibrate while braking, dealer replaced warped rotors and front brakes, the right front caliper was later replaced due to a torn piston boot. oil was leaking from the front crankshaft seal, dealer replaced seal. steering column tilt housing bowl assembly machined improperly from factory causing tilt wobble, also caused a popping noise. consumer heard a clunk noise from rear when going over bumps, dealer replaced both lower control arms. *slc | |||
| 09/01/1998 | 1 | ||
| Both lower control arms failed causing noise in the front suspension while driving surfaces. nlm | |||
| 1 | 12/23/1997 | ||
| Lower a arms failed. nlm | |||
| 1 | |||
| Lower control arm failed. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 02/08/2004 | 85000 | 4 | |
| I have replaced my entire braking system at least 4 times. i was told by chevrolet that due to a problem with the ball joints, the brake rotors would wear unusually fast. i am currently waiting to see if with over $4,000 spent in parts, service, and labor, the problem is solved. *la | |||
| 10/07/1998 | 1 | 10/10/1997 | |
| Steering--steering rack, gear assembly, gear kit, ball joint and both lower control arms. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 02/08/2004 | 85000 | 4 | |
| I have replaced my entire braking system at least 4 times. i was told by chevrolet that due to a problem with the ball joints, the brake rotors would wear unusually fast. i am currently waiting to see if with over $4,000 spent in parts, service, and labor, the problem is solved. *la | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 08/17/2006 | 84800 | 1 | |
| 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. | |||
| 12/28/2001 | |||
| Front end rattles. took vehicle to dealer, and dealer indicated that strut mounts were bad. called gmc to check on recall. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2000 | 1 | 01/01/2000 | |
| Rattle noise comes from right front of the vehicle due to strut failure. yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 02/24/2008 | 124830 | 1 | 03/03/2007 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/14/2008 | 135000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/23/2007 | 87727 | 1 | 08/14/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/16/2007 | 180000 | 1 | 09/09/1999 |
| Front suspension coil spring broke, puncturing the tire causing blowout. *jb | |||
| 05/28/2007 | 104400 | 1 | 08/01/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/03/2007 | 98000 | 1 | 05/03/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/04/2007 | 161000 | 2 | |
| 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 | |||
| 03/22/2006 | 171000 | 1 | 05/10/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/10/2005 | 108755 | 1 | 07/27/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 1 | ||
| Sudden failure of right front spring causing punctured tire sidewall and sudden deflation of tire. *jb | |||
| 06/14/2005 | 11300 | 1 | 12/19/1999 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/17/2005 | 50722 | 1 | 01/27/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/01/2005 | 137000 | 2 | 04/22/1998 |
| (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 | |||
| 06/20/2005 | 65600 | 1 | 07/18/1998 |
| 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. | |||
| 06/10/2005 | 1 | 06/15/2001 | |
| Dt: the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet, malibu. the front coil spring broke. there was no shield guard, and it caused the right front cv shaft to break. also, had to do other repairs. according to the mechanic vehicle could have been involved in serious accident if she drove the vehicle after the coil spring broke. the coil spring could have gone through the front tire, causing consumer to lose control of the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/28/2005 | |||
| I pulled out into the street when i heard a pop. thinking it was my power steering i drove on and within a mile my tire blew. upon removal of the tire, the coil spring on the front right side had snapped. there was no rust, only a complete break in the coil spring. | |||
| 05/20/2005 | 2 | ||
| Both coil springs failed within a 2 month period. | |||
| 05/13/2005 | 79303 | 1 | 02/23/2002 |
| Dt consumer stated her son was driving the vehicle when he heard a grinding noise coming from the right front of the vehicle. there was a loud bang. when the vehicle was inspected it was found that the coil spring snapped, the front right strut broke and caused the coil spring to slit the tire which lead to a blow out of the tire. *jb | |||
| 04/30/2005 | 1 | 07/01/2004 | |
| Dt: the consumer indicated that he heard a loud thud while driving about 20 mph. a couple minutes later after going probably 50 ft he heard something rolling under his vehicle. he pulled over and exited the vehicle. he saw what looked like a piece of coil spring and picked it up. he looked under the car and saw were the coil spring slipped off from the drivers side of the vehicle. he called the mechanic but has not had any work done to the vehicle. he also took the actual piece of the coil spring to his dealer. the dealer indicated that he had sold several coil springs to different people. the road was brick paved road and there was no warning prior to the failure except for the noise. *nm | |||
| 03/21/2005 | 83000 | 2 | 03/21/2005 |
| Consumer has two separate issues which involved both front coil springs breaking. the first time consumer noticed a rubbing noise coming from the front wheel. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that the left front coil spring broke, and rubbed against the tire. the second time was after the consumer drove 50 miles to take a friend to the local hospital. after getting into the vehicle to return home consumer felt tension on the right tire. vehicle was towed to the repair shop, and mechanic determined found that right coil spring broke. dealer was notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not covered under a recall.*ak | |||
| 04/11/2005 | 82000 | 1 | 11/25/2003 |
| While parked in the driveway coil spring broke and went inside of the front left tire of consumer's vehicle. also, rear coil spring broke, but did no damage to tire. called dealer to inquiry about the tire and did not get an answer.*ak | |||
| 02/03/2005 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| The front driver's side spring broke on the consumer's 1998 chevrolet malibu. ***nar** *nm the consumer turned the key in the ignition when she experienced sudden noise and feeling that the vehicle had gone down on the left front side. the consumer found that the left front tire blew out. it was noticed that the spring had snapped and tore up the tire. they could see no reason why the spring had snapped with no wear or rust. *sc *jb | |||
| 02/11/2005 | 34916 | 2 | 07/24/1998 |
| In less than than 8 months two springs has broken. dealer claims rusted coating, that they have not seen this on any other car. is there anyone else with this problem? the car has less than 35,000 miles on it..*ak | |||
| 09/13/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 30 mph front driver's coil spring broke. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both frontal coil springs needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 09/08/2004 | 85721 | 1 | 06/30/1999 |
| Right front spring broke, causing tire damage and loss of control.*ak | |||
| 06/29/2004 | 30234 | 1 | |
| Vehicle's front springs broke.*mr both front spring broke in exactly the same spot. the consumer has the broken parts in her possesion. *nm | |||
| 06/17/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 20 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. then vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic determined that both front coil springs needed to be replaced. *ak the passenger side spring broke and punctured the tire. *nm | |||
| 1 | |||
| While standing outside of vehicle and without any indication vcoil spring broke. dealer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 06/01/1998 | |||
| The car makes a horrible creeking noise in the suspension when going over speed bumps or turning into a driveway. this noise happened 4 days after we got car. allegedly it occcurs because of dry and rusty stabilizer bars. the correction is to lubricatebushings. this stops problem about 8 -10 months at a time. the noise is so bad that i'm asshamed to bring people in the car when this happens. this happens in this make and model only. this is what customer service told me. they say it happens in this part of country more. the car was brought back at least 3times until problem was solved. car has been brouht in for this problem 5 times so far. this is a design defect in car. what happens after warrenty runs out. how could chevrolet say this happens here more, when it happened 4 days after car was delivered. hl chevrolet at 2519 hylan blvd staten island ny 10306 phone 718-351-4200 now services car and they knew problem right away. thank you for any help in getting chevrolet to admit design flaw and making sure i will be covered after warranty expires. even if this does happen what a travesty that this car must go in every year and that it wastes alot of time. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 1 | |||
| The vehicle vibrated all the time. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who repaired the motor mounts and the transmission mounts. the wheel bearings needed to be replaced, but the parts were on back order. *jb | |||
| When riding over bumps or using brakes, there was a vibration noise present. this was due to faulty wheel bearings and hubs.*ak | |||
| 1 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| Wheel bearing failed. nlm | |||
| 03/18/2001 | |||
| While driving consumer heard grinding noise coming from front of vehicle, dealer found wheel bearings needed to be replaced on right front. *ak | |||
| 10/28/1998 | 1 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Bearing wheel-bushings failed. *yc | |||
| SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE | |||
| 08/31/2000 | 3 | 10/27/1997 | |
| Battery has failed within 3 years, and will not start on its own..*ak squeak in left rear when getting in and out due to rear stabilizer shaft bushing failure. *yh | |||
| 1 | |||
| Rear bushings failed. yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 01/24/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| Car sounded like an airplane propeller and squealing and squeaking in the back end. *ak | |||
| 06/29/1998 | 10 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Repairs to vehicle started 6-29-98 and continue to present. dealership service dept. can repair rear suspension per gm tech. notes but problem noise in rear suspension reoccurs within 50-300 miles. gm has stated that they will repair vehcile under original warranty agreement, but after 10 repairs i feel this is a defect in the vehicle and not just the parts. *ak | |||
| 10/09/1998 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Malibu suspension is unsafe. front control arms , rear struts, brake lights, rear turn signal , rear tires worn because of struts, headlamps failures make it obvious chevy is marketing unsafe malibu's . chevy should buy back these defective cars especially mine it's an unsafe piece of junk!( dot number: tire size: 215-60r15 ) | |||
| 05/01/1998 | 10 | 10/01/1997 | |
| No summary | |||
| 07/24/1998 | 5 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Car has been in shop 11 times, dealer found problems 10 times. car has been in shop overnight 16 days since 9-2-98. on one visit, dealer drove car 187 miles and had car 6 days, actually fixing car, finding another front suspension problem, and fixing again. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 07/01/1999 | 02/01/1998 | ||
| Air conditoin panel has gone out twice and has been replaced now it is going out a third time. @ had replace brakes twice in one year and also replace the roters, rear suspension makes a noise a craking souns like the shocks are bad. transmission problems ,car will not shift out or change gear. it has been put on the computer 2 times and no code is showing up in the transmission. please help i have had problems with this car since day one. and i have no extended warrenty.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 2 | ||
| 1998 malibu rear spring broke off. consumer drove vehicle to dealer and mechanic determined that the struts and springs needed replacing. *ts ***nar****jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 05/28/2007 | 104400 | 1 | 08/01/1998 |
| 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 | |||
| 02/11/2005 | 34916 | 2 | 07/24/1998 |
| In less than than 8 months two springs has broken. dealer claims rusted coating, that they have not seen this on any other car. is there anyone else with this problem? the car has less than 35,000 miles on it..*ak | |||