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1978 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu, covering service brakes, hydraulic, power train and suspension, and 2 consumer complaints received since 1997.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 500 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 64.3 per 1,000 across all 1978 model-year vehicles and against 46.5 per 1,000 for the Chevrolet Malibu line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 336.0 complaints per model year across the 42 Chevrolet Malibu model years on this register; 0 complaints reported a crash and 1 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 1997 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 13 Jun 2002.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 24 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
- 85V048000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERSReported 29 Apr 1985 · 1,810,000 units
Defect, as filed: Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.
Remedy: Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Defect, as filed: Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Defect, as filed: The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.
Remedy: Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Defect, as filed: Under certain driving conditions, these vehicles can experience temperatures in the front wheel outer bearing area which can affect the wheel bearing grease. This can result in inadequate lubrication of the bearing. This condition may be further aggravated by improper adjustment of the front wheel spindle nut.
Remedy: The dealer will install new front wheel outer bearings packed with grease and the spindle will be coated with lubricant. New grease retainer caps will also be installed to maintain grease in outer bearing. This will be done free of charge.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Defect, as filed: The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions. Eventually, the blade could break apart at the hub and blade pieces could be propelled into the engine. If the hood is open while the engine is running, the fragments would be free to fly from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Defect, as filed: Incorrect head restraints may have been installed on the involved vehicles. This fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impacts".
Remedy: Dealer will replace incorrect head restraints with improved head restraints.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
- 77V181000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERSReported 17 Oct 1977 · 636 units
Defect, as filed: The rear brake wheel cylinder retainer on the involved vehicles may not have been properly installed. Should the wheel cylinder retainer become completely disengaged, the wheel cylinder could move outboard causing a loss of brake fluid and a loss of rear braking action.
Remedy: The dealer will reposition the rear wheel brake cylinder retainers, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu (black) against all 1978 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1978 | Malibu line | All 1978 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 500 | 46.5 | 64.3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 500 | 75.8 | 93.6 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 500 | 46.5 | 64.3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 500 | 75.8 | 93.6 |
2 unique complaints, 2 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA86006 | Engineering analysis | BRAKE BACKING PLATE | service brakes, hydraulic | 27 Nov 1985 | 28 Nov 1988 | — |
Other Chevrolet Malibu model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1973 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 3,094 |
| 1974 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1975 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1977 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 265,068 |
| 1978 | 7 | 2 | 12,963,280 |
| 1979 | 5 | 4 | 10,799,001 |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 | 10,817,618 |
| 1981 | 2 | 3 | 5,840,268 |
| 1982 | 2 | 2 | 98,794 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 | 23,775 |
| 1986 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1989 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 436 | 6,773,527 |
| 1998 | 3 | 974 | 6,757,428 |
| 1999 | 1 | 786 | 5,877,718 |
| 2000 | 3 | 914 | 6,591,676 |
| 2001 | 2 | 714 | 6,548,458 |
| 2002 | 2 | 561 | 5,887,886 |
| 2003 | 2 | 549 | 5,970,581 |
| 2004 | 6 | 1,097 | 5,146,442 |
| 2005 | 3 | 895 | 4,944,814 |
| 2006 | 6 | 979 | 5,017,592 |
| 2007 | 3 | 871 | 3,641,270 |
| 2008 | 4 | 832 | 5,371,054 |
| 2009 | 5 | 1,085 | 4,516,747 |
| 2010 | 3 | 1,048 | 2,867,909 |
| 2011 | 3 | 697 | 2,878,714 |
| 2012 | 2 | 589 | 2,877,569 |
| 2013 | 9 | 448 | 500,178 |
| 2014 | 6 | 142 | 286,756 |
| 2015 | 3 | 103 | 95,825 |
| 2016 | 9 | 227 | 14,669 |
| 2017 | 4 | 113 | 1,476 |
| 2018 | 6 | 24 | 583,378 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 3 | 402 |
| 2020 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 402 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 623 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 2,108 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 278,987 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 276,901 |
| 2025 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 276,879 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Chevrolet Malibu model years · Chevrolet: 177 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu have?
7 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 85V048000, was reported to NHTSA on 29 Apr 1985 and concerns service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:drum:wheel cylinders. Across all model years the Chevrolet Malibu line has 66 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 1978 Chevrolet Malibu complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 1 of 2 component mentions (500 per 1,000). Next is service brakes, hydraulic with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 24 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 24 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.