general problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu

I received my chev recall letter ref recall 14350 today. This is not a complaint, just info that may be important in reference to this safety recall. Problems I have had with my 1998 chev Malibu is : engine shuts off while traveling at highway speeds-sometimes engine won't start ( ignition key will not go all way to start position)-sometimes engine want shutoff (ignition key want turn back to off position). As a retired truck mechanic I know that the problem is in the ignition switch lock cylinder (tumblers are worn excessively causing the lock cylinder to jam and/or be come loose allowing ignition key to rotate off) . I have attempted to make repair myself but all parts outlets tell me that the lock cylinder is not available (must purchase $350. 00 ignition switch assembly) if this recall does not include replacing the lock cylinder,the problem will not be corrected. Experienced mech/tech can replace the lock cylinder in about 10 minutes.

The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu LS. The contact was parked with the engine running when the steering wheel became abnormally stiff yet the contact was still able to operate the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection where the contact was advised that the high pressure hose would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

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. The airbag did not deploy, and my granddaughter's small body (98 pounds) was thrown across the seat and into the floorboard on the passenger side. When police and ambulances arrived, there was nothing they could do. My granddaughter died at the scene from head trauma and internal injuries. Her identical twin sister lost half of her identity that day; the two of them were as one. Emergency teams had to use the jaws of life to retrieve her body from the car. This accident happened within one mile from my home. I could hear the sirens in the distance but had no idea that they were sounding for my granddaughter. The memory of those sirens still haunts me.

While attempting a left turn the wheel became difficult to turn as if the power steering had gone out. Clunking noise was heard and wheel suddenly surged to the right. Wheel has become increasingly difficult to turn left accompanied by strain on the power steering. Problem has not been fixed.

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. This is the exact wording on the gm recall website: the following recalls have been found for your 1998 Chevrolet Malibu results last updated: Sep 16, 2014 gm recall #: n140350 NHTSA recall #: 14v400 date issued: Aug 12, 2014 unintended ignition key rotation recall description: general motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in 2000-2005 my Chevrolet impala and monte carlo, 1997-2005 my Chevrolet Malibu, 1999-2004 my Oldsmobile alero, 1998-2002 my Oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 my pontiac grand am, and 2004-2008 my pontiac grand prix vehicles. If the key ring is carrying added weight and the vehicle goes off road or experiences some other jarring event, it may unintentionally move the key away from the run position. If this occurs, engine power, power steering and power braking may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash. Safety risk description: the timing of the key movement out of the run position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the airbags not deploying, increasing the potential for occupant injury in certain kinds of crashes.

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 claim program. An innocent person has a been convicted of manslaughter and this should be corrected immediately and compensation provided by gm. This is the exact wording on the gm recall website: the following recalls have been found for your 1998 Chevrolet Malibu results last updated: Sep 16, 2014 gm recall #: n140350 NHTSA recall #: 14v400 date issued: Aug 12, 2014 unintended ignition key rotation recall description: general motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in 2000-2005 my Chevrolet impala and monte carlo, 1997-2005 my Chevrolet Malibu, 1999-2004 my Oldsmobile alero, 1998-2002 my Oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 my pontiac grand am, and 2004-2008 my pontiac grand prix vehicles. If the key ring is carrying added weight and the vehicle goes off road or experiences some other jarring event, it may unintentionally move the key away from the run position. If this occurs, engine power, power steering and power braking may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash. Safety risk description: the timing of the key movement out of the run position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the airbags not deploying, increasing the potential for occupant injury in certain kinds of crashes.

While driving there was a lot of play in the steering wheel. Dealership solved the problem once, but problem recurred.

Dissatisfied with the length of time it took the local dealership to perform a two and a half hour recall.

The steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle slid, hit a curb, and had gotten stuck in mud. Scc.