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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Chevrolet Malibu seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1998 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments

problem #3

Oct 102022

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front seat belts come unbuckled while driving. My wife commuted to work in this car for about 12 months (37 miles one way) and mentioned that sometimes the seatbelt would come unbuckled. I suspected that she was not getting it latched in properly and did not think much of it as when I looked at the seatbelt it functioned properly. However our daughter started driving this car to and from school and also mentioned issues with the seatbelt occasionally coming unbuckled, unfortunately she was involved in a collision. When we learned that she did not have her seatbelt on it surprised us. When my aunt and uncle who owned the car visited in the hospital, my aunt mentioned that she also has had the seatbelt randomly come unbuckled multiple times in that car. I purchased seatbelts from cars of the same age and platform (1997-2004 GM N body) and have inspected them. I believe there is a design flaw that allows the seatbelt to latch in and feel secure when it is actually not locked in. In my pictures note the scratches on the release button. It is my feeling that normal debris (hair, lint, ect) may be causing the release button to partially stick down (1/8" or so). When the release button is stuck partially down the belt side can be inserted into the buckle and it will latch with a click sound, however the white plastic lock tab will not drop under the lock rod. In this latched but not locked situation the belt can be pulled on with a fair amount of force and still stay latched. When compared to other seat belt styles from other models of cars, I notice that the release button or cover have a smaller "slide surface area". Also on the other seat belt styles if the release button is stuck partially down the belt will not latch into the buckle.

- Columbus, NE, USA

problem #2

Jul 052001

(reported on)

Malibu

  • miles
The seat belt holders on both sides in the back seat broke off first time they were used.

- Parachute, CO, USA

problem #1

Aug 051998

Malibu

  • miles
Drivers side seat belt cover was loose. Nlm

- League Cit, TX, USA

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