NHTSA Complaint #10005788 — 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10005788
Vehicle	1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Component	SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Date of Incident	July 14, 2001
Date Filed	February 13, 2003
Mileage	50,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	Yes
State	NE

Consumer Description

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 60,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS STARTED TO RATTLE OVER CRACKS AND BUMPS AROUND JULY 2001. IT HAS STEADILY BECOME WORSE AND IS TO THE POINT I CAN HEAR A LOUD CLUNK EVEN OVER EXPANSION JOINTS OR WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FEWER MILES. IN ALL CASES CHEVROLET REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND SAYS WE HAVE TO REPLACE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED CONTROL ARMS AT OUR OWN COST. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THEM FOR FEAR THAT THE BOLTS ARE GOING TO BREAK FROM THE EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT ALLOWED BY THE INFERIOR BUSHINGS USED IN THE ORIGINAL PART, BUT I THINK GM'S DECISION TO NOT RECALL THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD BE QUESTIONED. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW BY PRODUCING A REDISIGNED PART, WHY SHOULD THEY NOT RECALL IT?

Related Complaints for the 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU

Other SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM Complaints

#10003715 — January 24, 2003 — THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE FRONT END SUSPENSION ARM NEEDS CHANGING, RACK PINION ASSEMBLY IS LEA...

#553000 — January 23, 2001 — BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING. NLM

#877384 — January 4, 2001 — VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED WHILE PUSHING ACCELERATOR FROM A COMPLETE ...

#553000 — September 11, 2000 — BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING SURFACES. NLM

#605994 — July 30, 1999 — LOWER A ARMS FAILED. NLM

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