1998 Model Year

Chevrolet Malibu

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
998
Recalls
2
Crashes
39
Severe
70

Active Recalls

Manufacturer safety recalls

03V527000 Dec 2003

Other

No consequence data available

01V068000 Mar 2001

Other

No consequence data available

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

Seat Belts Crash
Apr 2023

Front seat belts come unbuckled while driving. My wife commuted to work in this car for about 12 months (37 miles one way) and mentioned that someti...

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 2020

I WAS A AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS REP AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THESE RECALLS COMPLETED. I HAVE HAD MY 2 KEYS RETROFITTED WITH THE INS...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Jan 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO R...

Electrical System
Aug 2018

IGNITION WORT TURN AT TIMES, HAVE TO WIGGLE.

Air Bags
Dec 2017

TAKATA RECALL - WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT MY DAUGHTER (SOLE OCCUPANT) HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. SHE LOOKED TO RIGHT...

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Jul 2017

TAKATA RECALL HAVE A CHEVROLET MALIBU 1998 THAT I JUST BOUGHT AND FOUND OUT IT HAD A RECALL THAT WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF AND HOW WOULD I GO TO GET IT DO...

Electrical System
Jan 2017

IGNITION SWITCH NOT SHUTTING OFF AND AT TIMES NOT TURNING TO START CAR. SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE WIGGLED TO ALLOW KEY TO TURN TO OFF POSITION. KEY CYLIND...

Steering
Jun 2016

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT I HEARD LOUD CLUNKING AND THEN FINALLY A POP AS I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE LEFT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWIN...

Electrical System
Jan 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STAR...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Nov 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 HA...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 4, 2026

Summary

The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu has 998 complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. 39 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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