1998 Chevrolet Malibu LS from North America - Comments

Brake rotors replaced 13,000, 36,000, 50,000 miles.

Air conditioner turning on & off by itself.

Water pump replaced after 2 years.

Hub bearing replaced after 66,000 miles.

Camshaft sensor shorted and replaced after 63,000 miles.

This car STINKS. DO NOT BUY IT!!!

I purchased the car 4/98. After 8,000 miles the brakes started to pulsate.

At 13,000 the rotors were replaced. I also had problems with the A/C vents getting stuck. The dealer ended up replacing the vent.

The brakes stared to pulsate again by 20,000 miles and by 36,000 miles they needed to be cut.

The A/C control head needed to be replaced after 43,000 miles. The A/C cycled on and off. Let me tell you that GM/Chevy knows there are problems and still require you to pay for the parts until they find a solution. Anyway, two days after I had the A/C control head replaced, the A/C started to blow out hot air. Brought the car back to the dealer (Royal Chevrolet in New Jersey) to find out what happened. They stated there was a hole in the condenser and it would cost $1200 for the part. I found it hard to believe that something could fit thru the grille without damaging the grille and put a hole in the condenser. When I picked the car up, he threw the keys across the counter, said it was in the back and walked away. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

9 months past until I had my regular dealer look at the car. He tightened a hose and replaced a seal and freon at a cost of $80. A big difference. I recommend them. (Lynn Chevrolet).

I had the water pump replaced.

A camshaft sensor was shorted and had to be replaced (The check engine light kept coming on).

I also replaced the hub bearing on both front wheels after 60,000 miles.

Recently the A/C started to have the same problem. I called Chevy because I feel I should not have to pay for re-occurring problems. They couldn't care less about the consumer. They have your money already. Chevy told me the only dealer that could repair it on good faith was the dealer that installed the part the first time. The ones the tried to rip me off. Chevy just don't get it. They lost me as a customer. DON'T BUY THIS CAR UNLESS YOU WANT POOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS.

I think it's the reoccuring problems that is keeping Chevrolet in business, if not they have been very slow at trying to fix them.

Brakes rotors needing to be turned or replaced that frequently is hardly the fault of the manufacturer. Pulsating brakes is, most times, a sign of brake abuse by the driver. Repeatedly subjecting the car to hard or even extreme braking conditions, frequent sudden and severe application of the brakes as when the driver is known to tailgate frequently, which usually requires constant switching from brakes to gas, and back again, especially in stop-and-go city traffic, or even heavy highway traffic. Rotors warp over time when the brakes are abused in such ways, particularly in a family sedan such as the Malibu. This is NOT a Ferrari. As for the wheel bearing problem, that can also be caused by abusive driving conditions, such as constantly cornering it around intersections too fast, which, over time, can overstress a front hub assembly and cause its bearings to fail. The camshaft sensor issue? Well, hey... Things happen once in a while. Regardless, that's a $40 part. Replace it yourself in 5 minutes instead of hassling with the dealer... Not to mention paying their prices. With the AC system coming on and off by itself... Well, what can I say? Once in a while something will go wrong. HOWEVER, this particular problem, along with other electrical "gremlins", can sometimes be attributed to such problems as the diode pack in the alternator failing -- This is one of those parts that is designed to be replaced periodically. No car's alternator or charging system components will last forever.

I purchased a 1999 base Malibu with the V6 on December 29th of 2000. I got it at almost $5000 BELOW the blue-book value at the time with 44,997 miles on it when I returned to the dealer from my test drive. (It was owned by Enterprise Rent-A-Car until I purchased it, which explains the high miles.) As of today, roughly 13 months later, the car has over 71,000 miles on it. Thusly, I've put over 26,000 miles on it in a year, and had only one significant problem. That was a head gasket that went out at about the 70,000 mile mark. The dealer service was excellent as well. I must commend Casey Auto Group and Casey Chevrolet in Newport News, Virginia, for their outstanding work ethic and devotion to quality and customer satisfaction. When I bought the vehicle, the miles were so high that the factory warranty had long since run out, but I purchased a very good 36 month, 36,000 mile warranty by AUL from the dealer and have not had any hassles with this company in the way of getting the coverage I needed for the head gasket. Also worth noting is the very same type of customer service I got from the used vehicle department at Priority Chevrolet in Chesapeake, Virginia, where I originally purchased the vehicle.

Overall, the Malibu has far exceeded my expectations of it, even despite the fact that I have been a lifelong proponent of General Motors vehicles (until they released the Pontiac Aztec and, now, the Buick Rendezvous). I expected "fair" quality, decent service, and good reliability. I ended up with excellent quality, flawless service, and outstanding reliability, all for a very undermarked price. In my personal opinion, I could not have asked for a better value. Not to mention that, in keeping up with the import segment, performance parts (body kits, ECU upgrades, forced-induction, etc.) have begun making their way into the automotive aftermarket arena. Upgrade potential to go along with that value and reliability? I'll gladly buy another one.

I purchased a 1999 Malibu LS and have had many problems with the brakes and rotors. It eats up brake pads every 10,000 miles. I do mostly freeway driving and drive conservatively. Never had a driving ticket in the last 27 years of driving. Safety is my concern whenever I drive so I do not ride the brakes or drive like a Indy 500 racer. After the 4th set of pads, I now was told that the intake manifold gasket need to be replace at a cost of $700. I will no longer buy Chevy cars.

My wife had the same problem that every one else had with the brake rotor's on our 1998 Malibu LS. We went to Car X to get the rotor resurfaced. They lasted oh a good 6 months till the the front brakes started to vibrate. I said that is it we went and bought cross drilled rotors for the front they are called Power Stop cross drilled rotors. They are great for every day driving. We put them on and it will take a good 3 months till the rotors break in. That is the best money we have ever spent on the car. No more brake problems. The Malibu even stops faster, less brake dust. It is great.