Alternator/generator/regulator problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu

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 more problems, I have been told that there is some electrical problem in the dash but they are unsure exactly what it is because the car will not run long enough to figure out. Nobody can tell me everything that is wrong with because I need to fix one problem before they can be sure of the next. This car was the worst purchase I have made. I was unable to register my vehicle last year due to all the problems. I have been on several web sites and about this car and everyone is having similar problems and putting out thousands of dollars in repairs.

While driving, the vehicle lost its rack and pinion steering and all power of the steering wheel. Dealer notified. The power window control panel on the driver side arm rest popped out, the vehicle pulled severely to the right (dealer couldn't find the problem). The dealer finally replaced the lower control arms, brake rotors, 2 sets of tires/almost completely bald at the time only 13k miles. The rims had to be forced off, the front rotors had become rusted at 20k miles, the ignition wire harness had come apart, the power steering hoses had come loose, lost fluid and power steering while in motion, the trunk leaked, the abs light had come on twice a week, the front end squeaked and rattled, the antenna wire was loose, the right head lamp had permanent moisture with no crack, the a/c would shut on/off intermittently, the alternator failed at 60k miles and the waning light had come on for only five minutes, the engine leaked oil, and the right windshield wiper pivot housing had broken.

The odometer read incorrectly. The water pump and belt failed. The wiper regulator failed. The tensioner pulley failed. The vehicles rotors warped and the master cylinder failed.

Water is leaking into engine from the head gasket. Water pump started seeping after head gasket was replaced. The front brakes was replaced several times with finally the ones mentioned on the bulletin. First the left side wheel bearing/ speed sensor assembly changed then a couple of thousand of miles later the right side. Air condition was going on and off intermittently.

Alternator went out while I was driving down a busy highway in rush hour traffic. Car completely died. Could not jump start. Had to have it towed to a mechanic who stated this was the fourth alternator he had replaced on this year of chevy Malibu in the last month and for me to inquire as to a possible recall on these parts. Also have had to change the light bulbs in the brake lights and back up lights at least once every other month since purchase. Brakes were serviced with new pads and everything from the dealer 4 months ago and now the abs light is comming on and going off and intervals. Air conditioner shuts itself off frequently. The little green light goes out and the system blows hot air. I have to turn the power down on it to get the little green light to come back on again and for the air to cool off again. I have noticed air drafts comming from the door handles on the inside of the vehicle while driving on the highway.

Rotors replaced twice before 20,000 miles and alternator replaced at 25,000. This car is a real lemon. Will never buy gm product again.

Air conditoin panel has gone out twice and has been replaced now it is going out a third time. @ had replace brakes twice in one year and also replace the roters, rear suspension makes a noise a craking souns like the shocks are bad. Transmission problems ,car will not shift out or change gear. It has been put on the computer 2 times and no code is showing up in the transmission. Please help I have had problems with this car since day one. And I have no extended warrenty.

While applying brakes, the car pulsates and jumps when coming to a stop. The car was taken in several times to have the rotars turned, then later replaced, then replaced again with 99 model rotars, the brakes are still pulsating to current date. The alternator went out while driving, lost all power to brakes, abs system, and air bags. The alternator was replaced. Later had to have battery replaced due to alternator killing it. The a/c light would blink on and off, the compressor would cut on and off. Had to eventually replace the panel on the inside of the car after having a new compressor put on. The a/c panel seemed to have done the trick, though is has some new problems from the beginning. The bushings squeak and sqwauk while driving over bumps, they have now started in the rear of the car.

When I am driving the car, all the lights on the dash(panel) light up and the speedometer starts going crazy. One minute it shows that I am traveling 10 miles an hours then in a split second it shows that I am going 110 miles an hour. All the other gauges start going back and forth as well. I have no idea how fast I am going or if my car is about to just quit completely. When I first brought my car, about a year later or so (and I am just estimating) the dash board started acting crazy but I just blue it off. Then I was traveling to dallas to look for a place to live and the lights all come on and the speed went crazy then the car started to die. I made it to the dealership before it died. They stated it was the altnerator, that was replaced. It worked fine for a while then it happened again. I took it to the dealership in san angelo and they said there was an electrical short. That was fixed and it didn't happen for a while then it happened again yesterday (10/3/99). I am a single parent and I travel a lot back and forth from dallas to san angelo. I am absolutely a neverous wreck when driving my car. I never know when it's going to act up and leave my daugther and I stranded along the highway. Pleas help me. . . . . . . Has this happened to other Malibu owners???????.

Almost as soon as I bought the car, rear lights began to go out sporadically, I've already had to replace the brake shoes twice (at 18,000 and about 44,000 miles), I had to replace the alternator at 37,000 miles, one seat belt clip plastic handle protector broke off, and I've had radiator leakage and air condition problems as well as radio reception being sporadic at best.

At around 40 thousand miles the alternator went out on the car causing the car to completely stop in a turning lane in traffic. The rubber lining going all the way around the car has begun to fall off. The brake pads and shoes had to be replaced long before they were due. The tires, which supposedly had a 70,000 mile warranty on them had to be replaced at 40,000 miles. That cost us 300 dollars to replace. After looking on message boards I don't seem to be the only one with problems with the Malibu and I really think someone ought to be looking into this. Seems like these cars are made to fall apart after the warranty has expired. (tiresize: 16)( dot number: tire size: 16 ).

Alternator, engine cooling system, main computer, grounding wirtes, engine, and the glove compartment has failed.