RecallRepo

1998 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,757,428 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,480 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V400000 2014-07-03 5,877,718 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

STEERING 03V527000 2003-12-11 750,283 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC…

VISIBILITY 01V068000 2001-03-08 129,427 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR…

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
133
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
132
4crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
81
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
46
1fires
TIRES
41
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38
2crashes3injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
37
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
33
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
29
SUSPENSION:FRONT
29
Total complaints1,480

What owners report

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

“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 sometimes the seatbelt would come unbuckled. I suspected that she was not getting it latched in properly and did not think much of it as when I looked at…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2022-10-10

“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 restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to his home. The manufacturer was notified, but was unable to assist. The dealer was not contacted. The…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-01-18

“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 restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to his home. The manufacturer was notified, but was unable to assist. The dealer was not contacted. The…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · reported 2019-01-18

“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 done”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2017-02-01

“Takata recall - while driving home from work at night my daughter (sole occupant) heard a loud explosion and windshield shattered. She looked to right and saw that the passenger airbag had deployed. She had not hit anything including bumps or pot-hole. Not sure if it's a takata but deployment…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2017-01-12

“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 cylinder shutting off in start position.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-08-02

“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 start as the anti theft warning light illuminated. The contact stated that vehicle was able to start after ten minutes. The contact also mentioned that…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-01-28

“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 following, while driving in residential area left turns became extremely difficult to make, and I noticed the steering wheel seemed to be off center. I…”

STEERING · reported 2016-01-04

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00010 Opened 2000-03-27 · closed 2001-08-09

STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY OVERHEAT

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA00019 Opened 2000-07-12 · closed 2001-03-06

WINDSHIELD WIPER

ON FEBRUARY 22, 2000, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) INITIATED PE00-009 BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 & 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU & OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO EA00-019 ON JULY 12, 2000.DURING THE COURSE OF THE…

Investigation PE00009 Opened 2000-02-22 · closed 2000-07-12

WINDSHIELD WIPER

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE99071 Opened 1999-11-17 · closed 2000-03-27

STOP LAMP

There is no summary currently available

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ04006 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2005-01-13

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN…

Investigation RQ04006 Opened 2004-07-07 · closed 2005-01-13

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN…

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 1998 Chevrolet Malibu as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.