Problems · by component

1998 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system, gasoline problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu cite fuel system, gasoline, 3% of all 999 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
3% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2014Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, EquipmentODI 10639977
“SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HOW THE FUEL IS BEING RECEIVED. WHEN ITS IN NEUTRAL IT RECEIVES THE FUEL JUST FINE BUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT TRIES TO STALL OUT OR DIE. WE USUALLY HAVE TO TAKE IT ON A DRIVE JUST TO GET THE FUEL PUMPING THROUGH. IT'S CRAZY AND SCARY BECAUSE WHEN YOU NEED TO PULL AND GO IT WILL JERK AND STALL AND THAT NOT A GOOD THING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2009Fuel system, gasolineODI 10266622
“PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY (THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK) AND CAR CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES WHILE THE SYSTEM RESETS ITSELF. THIS PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY DIFFERENT (WELL-QUALIFIED) MECHANICS AND WOUND UP COSTING OVER 1500 DOLLARS IN UNNEEDED REPAIRS TO THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE SEVERAL TIMES. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2008Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10244259
“1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE. RESULTED IN ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET CHANGED AT $2000 CANADIAN. TWO MONTHS LATER,AND LESS TAN 5,000 KMS LATER, FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 30 DAYS LATER, UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE CHANGED AT COST OF $1500 CANADIAN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10210441
“REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS (COMMON GM PROBLEM, NO GREASE NIPPLE). HAVING FUEL PROBLEM (GETTING TOO MUCH). NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END (SOUNDS LIKE COIL SPRING). *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2006Suspension, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10154643
“I PURCHASED MY 1998 MALIBU, IT'S HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 WITH IN LESS THAN A WEEK OF PURCHASING I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX A PROBLEM BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BUT I DO KNOW THE CAR DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS AND IF I HAD TO PAY FOR IT, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS, I HAVE REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES ON 3 OCCASIONS, I HAVE FIXED THE LEAKING TRANSMISSION 2X, I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS ABOUT 4X, I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE LINING IS COMING OFF THE TRUNK. THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS I HAD IN LESS THEN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SINCE MARCH 2004 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WATER PUMP, 2 OF THE INJECTORS AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SMALL REPAIRS HERE AND THERE. EVERY TIME I FIX SOMETHING WITHIN LESS THEN A WEEK OF DRIVING IT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR IT UNTIL I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT MORE INTO IT. I AM CURRENTLY REPLACING THE INJECTORS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY PAID 600 DOLLARS AND HAVE 4 MORE TO GO. I AM WORRIED THAT AFTER I PUT THIS MONEY INTO IT I WILL STILL HAVE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10132979

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.