1998 Chevrolet Malibu Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 4%of 976 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 88,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 4% of the 976 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,500 miles. 18 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My granddaughter was 18 years old and had recently graduated high school. She was driving to work on a tuesday morning, the weather was clear and the road was dry. As she rounded a small curve, her steering went out. The car's right front wheel went off the road, sending the car out of control. When my granddaughter tried to steer back onto the road, the car slid on the pavement, spun around, was thrown over a ditch, hit a tree and landed back on the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #10643381, filed 2014-10, 100,000 miles“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 could of cost her life.”
NHTSA complaint #10944959, filed 2017-01, 313,000 miles“This vehicle had a crash with fatalities in 2006. General motors never issued a unintended ignition turnoff on this vehicle until aug2014. The crash began with an uncontrollable and unexpected spinout, there was no ability to steer, brake and air bags did not deploy. These are the exact conditions listed in the GM recall. Gm will not accept a filing for this make and model vehicle and should be added to the GM ignition failure claim program. Nhtsa didn't all the GM recall to Malibu's but I have notified them of the oversight. This should be corrected and compensation provided by GM. …”
NHTSA complaint #10639070, filed 2014-09, 80,000 miles“Upon setting up cruise control it failed to set, and the air bag warning light came on. Dealership indicated that this was due to a failure in the air bag warning harness connection. These parts were currently on back order. Wrong part sent.”
NHTSA complaint #10094803, filed 2004-11, 117,000 miles“When applying brakes front end pulsates which produces a grinding noise. Dealer notified. The vehicle experienced vibration in the front end when braking. The vehicle has numerous brake rotor repairs. The calipers locked up and the piston seals leaked. The brake light was inoperative because the circuit lost it's contact. The horn was inoperative. The dealer replaced the air bag and repaired the horn power wire from the horn pad to the horn contact ring.”
NHTSA complaint #10022730, filed 2003-06, 90,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10022923Aug 1, 2007Sdm reprogram - class action settlement (u.s. Only).
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 6 | 7% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% |
| 2015 | 49 | 18% |
| 2014 | 16 | 5% |
| 2013 | 59 | 7% |
| 2012 | 101 | 11% |
| 2011 | 93 | 10% |
| 2010 | 144 | 11% |
| 2009 | 63 | 4% |
| 2008 | 64 | 6% |
| 2007 | 75 | 8% |
| 2006 | 34 | 3% |
| 2005 | 25 | 3% |
| 2004 | 26 | 2% |
| 2003 | 27 | 5% |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% |
| 2001 | 21 | 3% |
| 2000 | 31 | 3% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% |
| 1997 | 25 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
376 complaintsEngine cooling
144 complaintsElectrical system
130 complaintsSuspension
108 complaintsExterior lighting
79 complaintsSteering
74 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
63 complaintsTires
58 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 complaintsEquipment
38 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsSeat belts
24 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology