1998 Buick Century vs 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Buick Century | 1998 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 218 | 976 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 87 | 115 |
| Investigations | 4 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 34 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 21–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,972 mi | 80,731 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Century | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 347 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 144 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 130 |
| Suspension | 8 | 108 |
| Exterior Lighting | 21 | 79 |
| Steering | 24 | 74 |
| Visibility | 24 | 63 |
| Power Train | 26 | 50 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 9 | 37 |
| Steering problems | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 87 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 22 |
| Overheating | 0 | 21 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 15 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 15 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 14 |
1998 Buick Century
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Buick Century vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.