1998 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1998 Nissan Maxima
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 Chevrolet Malibu | 1998 Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 976 | 113 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 74 |
| Investigations | 6 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,731 mi | 110,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 347 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 24 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 144 | 5 |
| Suspension | 108 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 79 | 1 |
| Steering | 74 | 4 |
| Visibility | 63 | 6 |
| Tires | 58 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 87 | 0 |
| Stalling | 37 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 22 | 0 |
| Overheating | 21 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 15 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 6 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
1998 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Maxima 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.