Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-88
I just bought a 1998 chevy Malibu LS with 100K on it. The previous owner just replaced brakes. All the brake light went out except for the one in the window. The car revs up tp over 4KRPM before shifting into 2nd, but then it runs well. I think the transmission is going. I have 2 weeks left on a 30 day warranty that covers the engine and transmission. Is the previous owner (a used car dealer) responsible for transmission work if needed?
1998 malibu.
The parking light is not working on the passenger side, but the brake light work what a crape car that my mom has do not buy one.
It's crap because the parking light doesn't work?! Wow that means about a third of the cars I see driving on the road are complete crap heh.
My 98 Malibu was pretty reliable until it reached 9 years and 125,000 km. Oil and lube every 3 months, regardless of mileage, and the total maintenance was 2 serpentine belts, and a leak in the transmission cooling line, plus front brakes at 60,000 and 125,000km, which is pretty normal. Yes, the ABS light came on every couple of months, but turning off and restarting the car cleared that up. And I am on my 4th blower motor ballast resistor. My Cavalier has gone through 3 as well.
It required an alternator at 125,000 km, but I think that was due to me trying to squeeze another year from an 8 year old battery.
However, in the past 8 months I have put $4000 into this car, including:
1 tail light circuit board
driver's door check assembly
power steering pump and lines
water pump
the infamous intake manifold gasket
both tie rod ends plus alignment
the entire rear suspension (broken spring, new struts, springs and control arm bushings).
The garage guys tell me to expect front wheel hub assemblies soon. $400 per side.
Terrible rust around the fuel filler door on the right rear quarter panel (anyone know where to get a patch panel for that?)
Conclusion...
This was the lowest maintenance car I ever owned until year 9. It is now the highest maintenance car I have ever owned. I wish I had taken an offer of $2500 for it 2 years ago. As Kenny Rogers would say, you've got to know when to walk away.
Well I just bought a 98 Malibu about 2 months ago.
Tail light sockets were melted a bit, but I just used a knife to bring the contacts back in range (no cost).
My ABS light does not come on ever.
There's a little bit of a noise when I start it. Kinda mysterious.
Another noise like a pulley or something is loose, but no costly repairs yet. Knock on wood.
A lot of these comments don't sound to good, but I know that all those people that have these cars that are very satisfied with it, will not be looking on the Internet for sites like this.
Not all the Malibu's are complete lemons. I have had lots of friends with a Malibu and have heard nothing but good about it. I am hoping that I have a good one.
I've had almost all of the issues stated, including brake lights, shaking going faster then 60mph, alternator, and fuel pump... but I've just had one recently in the past year or so that I've not seen anywhere.
I can't gas in my gas tank 3 out of 4 times I try. I pull into the gas station, begin to fill my tank, and the pump acts like it's full, shutting off the gas. It happens after a few drops are pumped in, almost as though there is an air bubble in the tank. Anyone else have this problem?
I bought a '98 Malibu and it works fine. However, I have a couple of minor problems; my air conditioner was working when I bought it, but last summer it went out. I now need an A/C condenser, and my ABS light does come on, but only when I hit something in the road. Other than those little problems mine works fine. A word to the wise: sometimes you have to check the history on a car before you buy it, because not everyone is honest. My car currently has 185,000 miles on it, but it runs fine.
I am the title holder of a 1998 Chevy Malibu v6, the only problems I had was of course the engine manifold gaskets, but of course GM has repaired that part with a better one now and I hope that the dex cool issue is no longer an issue I paid for it to get fixed for 700 something dollars back in 2003 I need to get it fixed again and found it for as cheap as 500 with the new part. the brakes wear easily in the front, but besides that it has 220,000 miles on it now and I had it since 0 so what can I say no car note. Its been very reliable for me the only issue I have now is the coolant leak and the turn signal failure. But I would rate this car a 9 out of 10 due to its reliability.
The car has 20 inch rims
Television
Sound System
Auto Start
and many other features
I love it.
We bought a '98 Malibu in January of 2005. Since then we have had to replace both front suspension struts (one broke after hitting a pothole and the mechanic said we needed to replace both), the power steering pump and the O2 sensor in the engine, along with other minor repairs.
We have also experienced the problem with the heating fan control (we currently have two settings - 'full blast' and 'off') and the 'Theft System' thing is a nightmare - it tends to go off at random, especially when you're in a hurry or in the middle of winter when it's -40 C and you stand a good chance of freezing to death before you get another chance to start your car.
This morning the (!) (P) warning light came on ('Brake' in the US - we're in Canada) along with the ABS light, but we've had instances in the past where just the ABS light has come on when snow had packed behind the tire, and knocking it out made the light switch off.
I'm going to get it checked out, but I'm hoping there's nothing wrong with it apart from bad sensors, although the ABS seems to have been kicking in a lot lately - even for just gentle braking - so we may have the warped rotor problem.
(The muffler is also shot, but that's just by-the-by.)
We paid Can.$7500 for the car (up to $9000 with the loan interest) and have only just finished paying it off. We've spent an additional $2500-$3000 in repairs on the thing in the space of 2 years and we've pretty much had enough.
We're going to get any obvious minor glitches fixed and see what we can get for a trade-in against a Toyota or Suzuki. We're never buying another GM Vehicle.
I've had my Malibu for a bit now... my grandma had it before me, and I've put the majority of the mileage on it.
Two alternators (and a couple of batteries)
New-used side-view mirror after the glass fell off.
Brakes.
Water pump.
Idle pulley and fan belt.
And now:
Gear shift button won't go in (it's been sticking a bit for a while), so I can't shift from park to reverse.
Yay. New car soon.
..well I wasn`t going to say I thing..but...I`ll never own another 3.1L eng.. period yes I`ve got a 98 LS Mailbu... hey my mother has a `01..been ticking sense it was new.. lite wrist pins/piston noise.. now her trans is begining to slip.. today is its last day around here...byebye..new Honda tomorrow... now my junk.. first rain we had when we got our brand new 98..the taillights filled with water.. took two more sets to get that fixed.. about a month later the turn signals started.. took five signal stat/controlers to get through that one.oh and while they where working through that they muffed up the ac switch.. OK OK stuff happens they fixed it.. no crime no foul.. they tried...but they fixed it no charge.. then the brakes.. lord where do I start, 36,000 miles they where going to soak me for a rotor/pads labor 600+...nope I said.. and after MUCH H/raising they fixed it no charge.. they should have caught the seized caliber the last major service/outside pad looked OK.. but the inside was basicly gone... and the brakes went down from there until I did as someone above;went with aftermarket ceremic pads and quality rotors and keep never-seaze on the caliber pins... two alternators;after chev replaced the first one, a month later.. the replacement failed while we were on vaction...stranded...on a sunday.. needless to say that 1-800 number got one heck of a workout... yeap that intake manifold is thing too..ya`ll do know about the dexi-cool lawsuit, if not there is one.. the manifold gasket silicone o rig seal deteroiates over time from it... of course there is a new more improved seal.. so if you replace one ask or the new gasket... water pump..yeap..hey how about those pastic pulleys... yeap been there done that.. all the pullies at least once even the dang power steering pully cracked at the hub yeap you guessed it plastic... well as luck would have this little gem broke that roller camshaft... yeap you heard me this engine has roller rockers and lifters... and it broke half into... made a boat anchor of block... so I was lucky a good used eng 600...radio wire too short, if someone in the pass. seat with long legs mashs the floor too hard it can pull the ant wire loose where it splices in that area...twice...nothing, but mobil 1 and slick 50 was ever in this eng after about 60000...AC TG filters... AND THIS CAR WAS BABBBBBYED... dang I almost forgot its on its 4th fuel pump... but other than that its cherry... nope never again Chevolet... one piece of junk...
I've owned my 1998 Malibu since 2001 and wow... I think I got a good one. It's a very heavy & great riding car so that is why it goes through brakes (also why it doesn't blow around in 100 km winds). I've had mine done once (& the previous owner did once). I've had the intake manifold gasket done, a new water pump and a new battery and my husband fixed my AC when I could only get speeds 3 & 4 to operate (he said it was a simple connector). Otherwise I am very happy with my fully loaded V6 Malibu and other than the usual things that happen in 10 years to a car, it doesn't owe me anything.
All I can say is that I have had all the same problems with the ABS and all that good stuff and I just found out the other day that my coolent on my intake module is leaking and I want to cry. It is my first car and it is the worst night mare I can think of. Thank god I am getting a new one after I get out of high school! Then it will be someone else's problem and I am sorry they should just destroy all of the cars that they made in 1998 because they made a bad lemon!
I own a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, and I must say, I haven't experienced a car quite like it, a lot of you are having these reoccurring problem because of improper care, I've taken excellent care of mine, and of course your going to have problems with a car, every car has its problems, buy a 1995 neon, or a cavalier/sunfire, and you'll experience more than your fair share of problems and expenses, but as for my car, as I said I took very good care of it, oil changes every 5000k, I too, went aftermarket with a few parts, and haven't experienced many problems since, I bought this car used in 2001, and have loved it ever since. P. s I was told by many many people that the ABS light comes on quite frequently, and it shouldn't cause any problems.
I own a 99 Chevy Malibu which I believe is almost exactly the same as the 98.
I have had problems with the brakes since purchasing the car a year and half ago. I've replaced the rotors and pads 3 times in a 1 year, and the last time I did it the caliper froze on me. Lucky for me I didn't drive very far because I know how easilly this car warps rotors.
The engine ticks when it runs. I've been told this isn't a major problem at first but will eventually become one.
Had to replace the blower resistor, the fan would only work on 5. Wheel bearings are in need of replacement, but this is due to putting it in the ditch while driving in an ice storm.
I have experienced a sound on dry pavement that very much reminded me of what your ABS sounds like when you hit a patch of ice, and upon hearing this sound I noticed that I could not slow the car effectively.
ABS light is on periodically
SERVICE light is on when it wants to be.
This car is, in my opinion, NOT ENTIRELY a POS. But I must say it has it's annoyingly prominent and apparently common repairs. I would say that what WILL happen to your Malibu is enough for me to know I should not have bought mine... phooey.