1998 Chevrolet Malibu suspension problems

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · PA

1998 chevrolet malibu. Consumer writes to express discontent with local dealership. *tgw the consumer stated the brake was spongy, the ABS light illuminated and the AC worked erratically, depending on the blower speed and would sometimes quit blowing cold air and would start to blow warm air. The consumer stated the brake fluid was very low. The dealer was unable to find any brake fluid leaks. However, two months later while driving, the brake pedal went to the floor, because the fluid had leaked out again. The brake lines were replaced. In addition, to the brake line issue, the sway bar was broken, a fuel line was leaking and the left rear strut had failed.

Filed Dec 27, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · 76,900 miles · MI

I was parking the car in my drive way and all of sudden a loud noise comes from underneath and the car steers by itself in the wrong direction where the other car was already parked. I managed to steer due to the slow speed the car was moving but I realized how bad this could have been while driving the car in traffic and at high speed rates. When I checked what happened, I noticed that the front end cradle that the steering rack mounts to, has rusted out and the whole rack and pinion became lose in one of the mounting points. I am very disappointed with the quality and workmanship they put in one of the most important parts of the car, where steering, suspension, in fact the whole power train seats on and it failed so easy. The manufacture was trying to save some dollars at the cost of peoples lives.

Filed Jun 22, 2012 · Suspension · 53,924 miles · MD

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.

Filed Jul 20, 2010 · Suspension · 160,000 miles · IA

I have a 1998 chevy malibu, and the spring strut snapped in half and popped a hole in my tire, I had no control of the vehicle and almost had a head on collision with another car going 45 MPH. Luckily the car moved just in time, I am very scared for other people who own this car. It just happened tonight, so I am not quite sure what is going to be done about the car, but im begging you to please make this issue public! Something needs to be done about this issue, people need to know because it can cost lives by not saying anything.

Filed Aug 17, 2008 · Suspension · 81,000 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Suspension · 112,222 miles · WI

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.

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Suspension · 102,619 miles · WI

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.

Filed Jul 14, 2008 · Suspension · 131,000 miles · WV

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.

Filed Feb 29, 2008 · Suspension · 124,830 miles · IL

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.

Filed Jan 24, 2008 · Suspension · 135,000 miles · MN

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.