1998 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1998 Mazda 626
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 1998 Mazda 626 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 976 | 434 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 102 |
| Investigations | 6 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 12 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,731 mi | 89,278 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Mazda 626 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 50 | 313 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 347 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 144 | 81 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 12 |
| Suspension | 108 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 79 | 1 |
| Steering | 74 | 5 |
| Tires | 58 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 87 | 0 |
| Stalling | 37 | 58 |
| Clunking / rattling | 22 | 0 |
| Overheating | 21 | 13 |
| Brake problems | 15 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 15 |
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
1998 Mazda 626
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Mazda 626 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.