RecallRepo

1978 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1978 Chevrolet Malibu has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 12,963,280 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 85V048000 1985-04-29 1,810,000 affected
Defect

EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF…

Remedy

ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.

POWER TRAIN 84V149000 1984-11-24 3,100,000 affected
Defect

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.

SUSPENSION 81V025000 1981-02-25 5,821,160 affected
Defect

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.

Remedy

BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

SUSPENSION 79V175000 1979-07-23 1,896,222 affected
Defect

UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE TEMPERATURES IN THE FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARING AREA WHICH CAN AFFECT THE WHEEL BEARING GREASE. THIS CAN RESULT IN INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE BEARING. THIS CONDITION MAY BE FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARINGS PACKED WITH GREASE AND THE SPINDLE WILL BE COATED WITH LUBRICANT. NEW GREASE RETAINER CAPS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO MAINTAIN GREASE IN OUTER BEARING. THIS WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 78V139000 1978-06-13 333,619 affected
Defect

THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE ENGINE. IF THE HOOD IS OPEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FRAGMENTS WOULD BE FREE TO FLY FROM…

Remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

SEATS 78V115000 1978-05-24 1,643 affected
Defect

INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS".

Remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS WITH IMPROVED HEAD RESTRAINTS.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 77V181000 1977-10-17 636 affected
Defect

THE REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED. SHOULD THE WHEEL CYLINDER RETAINER BECOME COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, THE WHEEL CYLINDER COULD MOVE OUTBOARD CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING ACTION.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPOSITION THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER RETAINERS, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
1
Total complaints2

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Nhtsa recall 85v143000 on hydraulic brake:shoe and drum wheel cylinders: consumer while applying brake pedal, it went to the floor, and vehicle continued on before stopping. Notified dealer, and manufacturer ;and neither one could inform consumer if vehicle was or not covered under this recall.…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS · reported 2002-06-08

“Engine fire.”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1997-08-22

Defect investigations

Investigation EA86006 Opened 1985-11-27 · closed 1988-11-28

BRAKE BACKING PLATE

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.