Rotors and pads failed at 22,000 and again at 30,000 miles. Dealer advised not covered by warranty. Reported this date to gm. Was advised no recalls of warranty work authorized. Will contact dealer to request a hearing with factory rep. I consider this a safety defect. Many complaints have been reported to your org for same defect. Please advise if recall or other action being investigated or is forthcoming. Thanks.
1998 Chevrolet Malibu brakes complaints
Page 8 of 14: complaints 191 to 220 of 376, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I had the car serviced each 3000 miles as recommended by the owners manual by chevrolet dealers in the area I was in at the time service ws required. Tom bannen chevrolet , 2340 gallatin pike north, madison, tn. Has been that dealer since september 1999. I was charged for service which was to include inspection of the various parts of the car. Scheduled tire rotatation was done every six thousand miles as directed in the owners manual and brake wear was never reported to me . With out warning both front brake assemblies went out and both rotors were so warped and scored as to be unserviceable. I wonder if the rotors used in this model is defective.
There is evidentally a design defect on all 1998 malibu front rotor brake system componets. In 37,000 miles I have had three sets of rotors replaced on the front of my malibu. I have just received written correspondence from the service manager at the dealer noted that general motors is aaware of this problem. My dealer tells me that they will cover any future rotor/brake problems up to 60,000 miles and/or up to five years that the vehicle was put in to service. The serious concern is why has general motors failed to issue a nationwide consumer alert to all malibu owners of this serious, and very costly, problem? It seems obvious that this is a manufacturer/design type defect that, for some reasson, is being kept very quiet. I don't appreciate having to dig to find out information that should have been freely dispensed to me ass well as all other malibu owners. I wonder how many consumers have paid hard earned money out of thier pockets because they were unaware that this is a gm problem? I am fully prepared to follow this issue through in a more formal matter if you so advise. I appreciate your help and guidance. Thank you for looking into this serious safety related matter. Please note..... The second time I took my vehicle in for brake problems....the situation was so critical that when applying brakes the front shook so bad like it had run over a washboard. Every 10,000 miles rotors and components should not have to be replaced. I need help very badly....thank you for your time and assistance. I will look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, troy m. Curnutte.
This is the second time we had to replace brakes and rotors. Vehicle makes a grinding sound.
Vehicle experiencing severe vibration and shimmy of the steering wheel whenever applying brakes. Problem was caused by continuous warpage of the front rotors. Rotors have been replaced five times within every 10,000 miles. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that replacing is the only thing they can do at this time. Please provide any further details.
Brake rotors warp under normal driving conditions and must be replaced every 8,000 to 12,000 miles. Manufacturer refused to cover replacement cost for these defective parts on 6/26/2000. Rotors were examined and replaced by dealer (dean patterson, altoona, pa) at 9,821 miles, 16,434 miles, 26,673 miles, 35,604 miles and 50,320 miles. This car was purchased new, but has been through five sets of rotors in approximately two years. The car that was traded in when purchasing this vehicle had over 120,000 and still had the original rotors and drums on it, providing clear evidence that this is a chevrolet design flaw. Dealer charged consumer $441.99 for replacement of these rotors at 50,320 miles because of warranty expiration.
I have replaced, brake pads, rotors, 6 times since the purchase of this car. Have also replaced ABS brakes 1 time. When traveling on the highway and you hit the brakes, it will shudder and shake (even after the brakes have been changed) someone is going to get killed in this car unless gm does something about this. I have informed gm of this problem, they said they would keep a record. No action has been taken on this! Please help! As I can not sell or trade the car in. I am afraid to drive it!
Vehicle experienced front rotor failure and is having difficulty with vibration.
Purchased 1998 chevrolet malibu from coleman autoplex in gatesville tx. Of which I have had a repeated problem with the rotors warping and the brake shoes wearing out every 6000 to 9000 miles repeatedly. This started in february of 1998 while the car was yet under manufactory warranty and is yet an on going problem. The dealer is not concerned with solving this problem! They only want tou to keep bringing the car back to them for repairs so that the keep getting the money to make their business flourish. The service manager the malibu "has brakes wich are made of lesser durable mateerial than the more expensive general motors cars thus they wear out fast,the can't withstand being driven ack and forth to austin, tx. Which is 140 miles round trip, on a daily basis because of their poor quality". That is an awful statement to make about a gm product not to say even about a product that you beg people to buy from you!! There are numerous complaints such as mine on the web site so I am hoping that soneone that is in a position to help us will be exposed to this data and will choose to aide in a solution to our many complaints that will benefit those of us who are victims! Thanking you in advance for your concern and support, arvella e. Calhoun.
Both lower control arms failed causing noise in the front suspension while driving surfaces. Nlm
Rotors have been resurfaced twice, replaced once; now causing the car to shimmy again at speeds over 35 MPH. This is a recurring problem that's not being fixed properly. I can't put up with the downtime caused by this inexcusable defect. I am very concerned about the safety of those that travel with me. Air conditioner switch has failed leading to a complete lack of air.
I am experiencing repeated problems with the brakes on this vehicle. I have had 05 brake repair jobs on this car within the last year and a half of which is not normal. There must be a manufacturing defect with my breaking system. Coleman autoplex tells me that this car is not designed to be driven highway for an hour and fifteen minutes one way twice a day because the brakes will get hot and cause the rotors to warp. I do not believe this is true because gmc/ chevrolet would not produce such poor quality/ workmanship for its customers. I have a 1988 delta88 oldsmobille which I have put 250,000 miles on and I have never had such a problem with the brakes. Will you please help me? Dates of brake jobs are 26 february 1999 invoice 121441, sop both front rotors, coleman autoplex, 18 june 1999, resurface rotors, new brake pads, invoice 125540 coleman autoplex,9 october replace both front rotors,invoice 129844 ,coleman autoplex,10-february 2000 surface rotors new brake pads, invoice 199448 patriot pontiac gmc buick oldsmobille,and 03 july 2000 new brake shoes ,resurface rotors. Please help me?
I have had repeated problems with the brakes and rotors wearing out ai 11000 miles since purchasing this vehicle, every 10000 to 11000 miles when applying the brakes the steering wheel vibrates fiercely and the car pulls to the right. I have carriesthe car to coleman autoplex repeatedly for the problem while under warranty and since the warranty expired to no good effect. They care less now that they have sold the car!I have tried to get them to let me speak with the area rep, but they refuse me that priviledge also. I would like for both general motors and chevrolet to be aware of my problem. I desperately need assistance. I have a 1988 delta 88 oldsmobille with 250000 plus miles on it and I have never had such brake/ rotor problems with it and I drove it back and forth to work as I do this vehicle with out barke problems. Thus my driving habits have not changed. I do not drive in stop and go traffic to and from work, I choose to work noghts to avoid that problem. Coleman tells me that the brakes wearout at 10000 miles because they are getting hot from my drive to and from austin tx which is 70miles one way. I disagree for gm products should be able to withstand such a short distance on a daily basis. Besides there are many people driving the same distance which find it ironic that I am having this problem! Please help me?
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.
While driving consumer applied brakes, and pedal went all the way to the floor . Also, there was a rattling/knocking noise coming from underneath the hood. Consumer took vehicle to repair shop twice for rattling/knocking noise, and it came back without improvement.
Since the lease of this vehicle I have encountered numerous front-end related problems. The car hard 6,441 miles when I leased it. Currently I am in themiddle of trying to fix by braking system. I brought my car to a personal mechanic because the ABS light was coming on and the brakes were not releasing. He removed the code and verified that my brakes were indeed not releasing. He instructed me to go back to the dealership because it could have beenm related to the replacement of my brakes pads. I made an appointment went to the dealership and was told they took it for a test run (10miles) and detected nothing. They contacted my mechanic and he reported what he had found and what was on the ABS code. Dealership informed that brakes handled as expected and that no codes appeared therefore they could do nothing. The brakes still grab and the car shimmies and feels as though its dragging when stepping on the gas. I was told when the ABS light comes on again to call and make another appointment.
Braking system malfunctioned. Also, brakes shimmied and shook, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash. Dealer replaced pads 3 times/turned rotors 2 twice, and replaced rotors once. Dealer could not determine the cause.
When car reached 9000 miles there was pulsation in the brakes which made it difficult to stop. Rotors have been replaced twice since consumer has owned vehicle.
I purchased the vehicle from bobb chevy in 11/99, in april 2000 noticed a grinding noise when braking. Took car into a tuffy auto shop who indicated I needed complete brake job. They suggested warranty should cover vehicle repairs. So I took it to bobb at 7:30 am on 4/27/00, they completed brake job - rotors, calipers, fluid, pads and labor. This totalled $817.01, I paid $496.12, warranty paid the balance. On 5/17/00, coming home from work on a service road I tried to apply my brakes and found I did not have any - this was 3 wks after a total replacement. I had the option to go into an intersection, or hit a car stopped at the stop sign, but I chose to run off the road, hoping that would have stopped me. I hit a pine tree, both air bags popped out, windshield cracked, subsequently my insurance company - geico totalled the car. I suffered severe bruises, ended up in emergency, ordered to take 2 days off work for bruises, severely sprained ankle, bruises on chest & stomach from seatbelt and airbag. I have contacted the dealership, given them geico's report and police report. They suggested I contact product liability dept of chevrolet. At this time someone from gm product asst is to contact me.
Warped rotors, bad pads, had pads replaced twice in 1998 and 1999 at n/c since bought the car. Need another set of rotors and pads at estimated cost of $600.00. Average is every 10,000 miles.
When traveling about 44to45 MPH or higher applied brakes and vehicle statrted to shake.
Upon making a stop consumer noticed pulsation in the brake pedal which made it difficult to stop. Also, excessive wear of front brake rotors. Consumer has contaced dealer. *ak
Brake problems once again. Supposedly fixed 3 different times. Have had rotors shaved, realigned, replaced, brake pads replaced, have had brake problems within the first 10000 miles the car was driven up until now.
Premature rotor wear , dealer has replaced rotors three times, car vibrates violently at speeds over 50 when brakes are apllied.
When applying brakes, the vehicle vibrates & shudders, the steering wheel also shakes. Had front brake pads replaced/resurfaces rotors in 3/99 and 10,000 miles later problem is back again.
Consumer was traveling about 44mph on the highway, applied brakes, and vehicle shook, and vibration came through wheels and steering wheel.
Rattle noise comes from right front of the vehicle due to strut failure. Yh
Front brakes needed replacment of pads and turning of rotors at 17000 and 24000 miles, no ususual use, just lousy parts.
Brakes pulsating, due to warped rotors
When driving at highway speed consumer noticed shimmying coming from front end., also, excessive wear of brake rotors and pads, causing improper braking. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has replaced the rotors on a number of occasions. Please provide any further details.
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