NHTSA Complaint #709002 — 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THIS CAR HAS A DIRECTIONAL STABILITY PROBLEM ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WANDERS BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE DRIVING LANE AND YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU RELAX OR LOOK AWAY FOR A MOMENT, SUCH AS AT A HIGHWAY SIGN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE CAR WILL BE IN THE LANE. ON LONG TRIPS IT FATIGUES YOU TERRIBLY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION WITH A NEW TIRE, NEW ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATION, TIRE PRESSURE, ETC., BUT NOTHING WORKS. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER PICKING IT UP NEW. THE DEALER HAD ME DRIVE ANOTHER MALIBU WITH APPROX THE SAME MILEAGE, AND IT DROVE THE SAME. THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER SERVICE MGR. SAYS HIS DRIVES THE SAME WAY. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY NOTED THE PROBLEM, BUT OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS. I RETIRED FROM THE AUTO COLLISION BUSINESS WHERE I SPECIALIZED IN HEAVY COLLISION REPAIR AND DRIVEABILITY. I HAVE WORKED FOR EVERY GM CAR LINE AT A DEALERSHIP. I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, WHEN I SAY THIS CAR HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. IT IS THE WORST DRIVING GM CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. IT IS MY WIFES CAR AND I WORRY ABOUT HER ON THE HIGHWAY. PEOPLE SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS THE PERFECT COMMUTER CAR AROUND TOWN, BUT I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHWAY CRASHES AND DEATHS. FOR MY WIFES SAFETY, I THINK I WILL BE FORCED TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. *AK