Seven problems related to tail light have been reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Tail lights on almost all chev. Malibu's are bad mostly on the right sides if you going down the road look for yourself almost always they have at least one burned out light. I own two my kids drive and almost every time they wash them or it storms I have too replace bulbs the tail light fills with water.
While applying brakes tail light malfunctioned. Tail light would come on and off on its own. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that an electrical short could not be found inside of the vehicle.
While applying brakes tail lights on driver and passenger sides would not come on. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that a electrical short could not been found inside of the vehicle. *.
While braking tail lights failed. Dealerships repaired the problem eight times, but the consumer was still having the same problem.
In July of 2002 my right tail light went out. When I took apart the lighting section I smelt burning . I went to the auto zone to buy a replacement but couldn't remove the bulb. I than took it to the chevy garage to be fixed. They said that the bulb was wrong in the board. Now (11-18-02) my tail light is out again and when I checked the other bulbs were also appearing to be melted in the board also. I took it back to my chevy garage to be fixed. They replaced the board on the right and the bulbs. Upon checking the left side rear lights were out now. They replaced the left side tail lights board and bulbs too. They are working now but next? this is too familiar of a coincedence to be happening I think this is a malfunction in the car itself. If this happens again I'll be back to complain and try to find out why this is happening to more than just my Malibu! dt.
Right tailight collects water everytime it rains in relsult the lights go out, in result the panel for the light has rusted and cannot be used, this is the 2nd panel I have purchased becuase of water leaking into taillight. I have seen 3 other mailibu's with the same situation. I want Chevrolet to fix this problem I have to keep paying to purchase a new panel because of the rust, my vehicle will not pass inspection due to this defect, I feel it is a manufacturers defect.
Rotor probems: 1st@10,333 2nd@17,914 and again @26,000. Also problems with door chime-would not stop chiming with keys out and lights off. Was taken in 6 times before resolved. Also taken in for tailight seal coming loose and now must go in again bc the driver rear passenger door will not open from the inside, door latch does not work. Car is a lemon. I have wasted too much of my time by continually going back for warranty work. A new car should not have this many problems. Have filed a complaint with gm directly on 3-24-00 bc this is not getting resolved.