1998 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “windshield wiper” (33% of reports).
- 63visibility complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Windshield wiper: mentioned in 21 of 63 complaints (33%)
- Pivot housing: mentioned in 7 of 63 complaints (11%)
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 19 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 63 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Chevrolet Malibu visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 21,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 87,000 |
| 2016 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 40,000 |
| 2015 Malibu | 5 | 2% | 23,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 11 | 3% | 70,500 |
| 2013 Malibu | 15 | 2% | 76,967 |
| 2012 Malibu | 4 | 0% | 33,500 |
| 2011 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 36,000 |
| 2010 Malibu | 5 | 0% | 58,000 |
| 2009 Malibu | 11 | 1% | 8,405 |
| 2008 Malibu | 7 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 50 |
| 2006 Malibu | 4 | 0% | 65,250 |
| 2005 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2004 Malibu | 8 | 1% | 5,750 |
| 2003 Malibu | 3 | 1% | 51,645 |
| 2002 Malibu | 12 | 2% | 52,290 |
| 2001 Malibu | 12 | 2% | 59,148 |
| 2000 Malibu | 10 | 1% | 51,000 |
| 1999 Malibu | 29 | 4% | 41,695 |
| 1998 Malibu | 63 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 41 | 9% | 96,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the "salt belt" states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and wyoming. If a buildup of snow or ice restricts the movement of the passenger side windshield wiper arm, the pivot housing can crack and the wipers will not operate.
Risk: Reduced visibility in inclement weather could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side windshield wiper pivot housing. Owner notification began august 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Daughter was driving the car in a downpour and the passenger side windshield wiper linkage broke causing the wipers to fly across the driver side of the car. They stopped working causing her to have to get off the road because she could not see. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the windshield wipers on the vehicle stopped working during a rain storm. The contact observed that the linkage on the motor for both windshield wipers were broken. The contact was unable to purchase the part from the dealer and…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet malibu. The passenger-side pivot housing has cracked, and the windshield wipers will not operate. He contacted the dealer and manufacturer in reference to recall # 01v068000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages). Upon contact he was advised that his…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Chevrolet Malibus have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about visibility for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu (6% of the 976 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu visibility?
Yes: 1 safety recall list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do visibility problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield wiper”, in 21 of 63 complaints, followed by “pivot housing” (7).
Other 1998 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 1998 Chevrolet Malibu problems or visibility problems across all Malibu years.