Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-88
I have read and read about the negative things said about the Malibu's in this article. I do agree with a great deal of what is said here. I myself own a 98 m
Malibu 6 cylinder I have done the brakes once replaced a worn out rotor due to miles it had on it replaced both front rotors. Sure my ABS light stays on all the time, but it doesn't affect the stopping of the vehicle. All the the ABS is for is when you are on ice it keeps you from locking up the brakes. I have to say though something good about the car I deliver pizzas for a living and I probably put at least 500 to 600 miles a week on a car stopping and starting constantly. And I have to say its been a dandy car for me I do my own mechanical work I have been doing this a long time and the parts do and will wear out. Yes I replaced the resistor for the heater control considering the car is now 8 years old it is expected and yes I bypassed my pass lock system as well it's a simple procedure with a resistor now soldered in no more pass lock problems so in my conclusion I give the car praise as it has held up for me very well with the 146000 miles on it still running strong and yes sooner or later something will have to be replaced not due to crappy car building, but to part use and using them to perform day in and day out and it does help to do some of the repairs your self or have a close friend who does so if there are some people out there who has had some good things to say about their Malibu's by all means post them Thanks.
I also have a 98 Malibu with a V6. My family and I have enjoyed it tremendously. It was purchased used back in 1999 and currently has about 140K on it. The two most common problems I've had on it were the front brakes and ABS light.
I've taken the car to various local shops to have the ABS looked at and all of them just ended up resetting it for little or no cost. As for the front brakes, I've replaced the pads when needed and have done the rotors twice, once at around 90K and just recently at 140K.
My Malibu has taken my family (all 5 of us) coast to coast and back (with a trailer) and up and down the east coast. Maybe I got a good one. I hope you find your gem too.
I have a 1998 Chevy Malibu. I purchased it in Jan. 2001 and it only had 8900 miles on it, so I feel like I got a new car for a used car price. Lately (the past year or so), I have heard strange creaks and pops coming from the front end of the car. This usually happens when it is really hot out or I have been driving the car a lot. I have taken it to the mechanic (very trustworthy) and they don't even charge me because they can't figure it out (they often don't hear the noise because it isn't making the sound at that time). Even thought they don't hear the noise, they have taken the tires off and inspected the bushings, lower control arms, and other things that I can't remember and they don't see anything wrong. I also have a problem with the ABS light coming on.
The other things are normal wear and tear activities, but it can't be normal for so much noise to come from a car that is pretty much driven around town. I am scared to take a trip with the car as I feel like the wheel might come flying off. If anyone else has experienced this and knows what it is please post a comment.
I own a 97 malibu LS and a 98, sure the ABS light comes on, but it is just the sensor not the brakes. Coolant leak from Intake gasket easily fixed 99cent bottle of radiator stop leak, as for the brakes I bought some aftermarket performance pads and rotors and they havn't worn or warped in over 3 years.Don't take your car to a dealer they are expensive and will only try to add things to the list to be replaced. as far as the car shaking at highway speeds. check your wheel bearings or even your tires, the stock tires on a malibu will break the belts in them easily. Malibu's are really good cars.
My car is a nightmare. Malibu Chevy 98 puke purple? Wine? Eggplant? Lame colour.
I hate it. Same as everyone else. Horn is long gone. Leaking like a catheter: both engine oil and coolant. Brake lights and signals are done.
Brakes make me wish I would just die in a car crash and get it all over with. Seriously, slips when I'm parking all the time! ABS light - thanks for the heads up light while I'm driving, not braking.
Someone broke into the back window a year ago: that tiny goddamn one in the back passenger. That's going to cost 500 bucks to fix and that's why I'm never fixing it. Got some ghetto masonite duct taped there. I WANT someone to steal it. Let them have it. Let them die in it.
What am I going to do with this thing? Sell it? Good luck. That would mean I would have to sink 1500 bucks into it first. Is it worth it? Back on the bus for me when this thing gets totalled. Only I'll probably be drooling and wearing a snappy helmet. Thanks GM!
I also own a 1998 Malibu. The ABS light comes on while driving, it seems to be when I hit any bump in the road. This makes me think GM used a cheap sensor, which becomes faulty in time. I have had the A/C switch replaced, the tank replaced, of course rotors and brakes. I am currently replacing the fuel line from the pump to the filter, it is near unaccessible and the fittings have rusted through due to salt corrosion and acid rain.
I have a 98 Malibu V6 with many of the nuisance problems above. Brakes 3 times, leaking coolant fixed with a bottle of leak stop, AC cut on and off - replaced switch twice, alternator (replaced 4 times - cheap Autozone replacements- finally went to dealer), new power window master switch (spilled coke in itt), ABS light, tail lights, glove compartment doesn't shut completely, HVAC fan (just died again - will check resistor), rear window defroster...
Lots of nuisance problems, but no major repairs - 100k miles.
I have a 99 Malibu LS with all the same problems as mentioned above..ABS, rotors, a/c switch.. the fog lights work when they get ready.. I have always owned a Chevrolet, but I will never buy another. If they had stood behind this Malibu, I would feel differently.. Dealership tried to blame the brakes on my driving.. I have been driving the same for 36 yrs.. never had this problem before.
Okay so I'm not saying anything new or earth shattering. My 98 Malibu was great at the beginning and I have to say it cost a lot less than my Dynasty to keep it on the road, but I to have experienced many of the same problems as my fellow Malibu owners.
ABS light, Coolant light, engine light.
Replace the alternator numerous times, replaced the engine once, blower only works on 3,4, and 5.
Had to replace the gas tank, now the fuel gauge is faulty, I gas up when the low fuel light goes on, I hope that doesn't go faulty now or I'll be stranded on the highway.
Even with all these problems it still doesn't add up to the agony my Dynasty gave me, so I'll continue to buy Chevy product, I'll just be a bit more careful and check the Internet first. Thanks for info, now I don't feel alone.
Oh, by the way, never had brake problems. Maybe the brake are different in Canada?
I just bought my '98 Malibu. replaced a couple things like the hub bearings, calipers, rotors... in the front only. I like my new car, but I'm having problems with that pass-lock. Can someone tell me how to bypass that crap? I can't even start my car. it worked fine until yesterday. I read up on the Internet that to fix my problem I have to get a remote starter. Does anyone know how I can start my car to get it to the place and have remote installed???
Sqeeky front end 19 sep 2006
check the front struts the top washer may be cracked sometimes this noise can be fixed by a drop of brake fluid.
I have a 1998 malibu. I have had a lot of problems with it. Well here the list goes. Replaced the front pad and rotors fore times in the past three years, replaced the water pump, coils, plugs, wires, injectors, all the gaskets, new belt, and fuel filter. I know a lot of this is just ware and tare, but after I replaced all of that it starts leaking coolant three days later. My daytime running lights won't dim they just stay on, the rear defogger does not work, the ABS light comes on for no reason. Just a reminder if you disconnect your battery make sure you disable your anti theft system from your radio because I forgot and now I have to spend fifty dollars at the dealer for them to unlock the raido what a ripoff. I guess its just another way for chevy make money off of you. I would never tell family or friends to buy a chevy malibu or any chevy for that matter. Its just one problem after another. Wonder whats going to go wrong next week.
I own a 1998 Malibu and when I got it, it had 1930 miles on it. I ran very good for the next 3,000 miles. I had bad front brakes and my ABS light came on. I got it fixed and about 1,000 miles later the ABS light came on again. The mechanic said this was normal for the 1998 Malibu. Wow! I never thought that anything like this was normal. My A/C compressor started going off and on by itself. The mechanic said it was the switch. I have repaced the switch 6 times. I put in a toggle switch, it works now. I changed out both CV joints at 41,238 miles and at 94,980 miles. They are starting to make noise again at 120,786 miles. Back light sockets have melted, inside light socket melted, (over head) A/C fan plug melted, and the left head light socket melted. I do not want to go on and on about this rotten lemon of a car, because I don"t know how much more room I have, but I can tell you that this car is the worse car I have ever owned.
Daniel
Damn, some of you must've bought one that was poorly used.
I have a 98 Malibu and it runs great. I haven't had any major problems with it. The only problems I've had with it were usually my fault.
The ABS light is on, but it happened when I ran over a huge bump that hit the underside of my car. Plus I got a new battery put in cuz the old one died.
Now besides your typical tune up, oil change, and tire change/rotation, I haven't had any problems. I've been thinking of hooking mine up and making it look nicer.
Oh, and I guess I should point out that the mechanic that installed my battery said that I had the nicest looking 98 Malibu he's seen, since most of the ones he's seen were in real poor condition and dirty, like the owners just couldn't care less.
Do I dare say my Malibu is a 2000 and I have 450,000 km on it. Knock on wood,, working well.