Driver's side mirror replaced.
Brake service required every 20,000 miles.
Rear sway bar bushings replaced within first 5,000 miles to stop creaking.
Premature tire wear of standard Firestone Affinity tires at 30,000 miles required total replacement.
Leaking intake manifold required replacement at 43,000 miles (coolant leak) ($700)
Heater/cooler fan assembly required replacement after 36,000 miles because settings 1 & 2 stopped functioning.
GM standard CD player replaced three times - CD head easily misaligns.
Tail end lens assembly prone to leaks and corrosion of bulb sockets. Premature bulb life on tail lights. Bulb sockets corroded requiring complete replacement of lens assembly ($250US).
Although I have nice things to say about the comfort, styling and performance of the 1998 Malibu LS, the reliability of this vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.
Plusses: V6 engine is very peppy, standard on LS. Good gas mileage. Comfortable seating, good speakers and sound. Handles very well at all speeds. Large trunk. Large windshield makes for easy viewing.
Minuses: Almost all pertain to reliability.
In reviewing hundreds of comments about the Malibu while doing research on my own car's problems, I have discovered an alarming rate of common failures on this vehicle. Some are uncannily common and are very disturbing. In order of how frequently I have noted comments about problems:
1. BRAKES. By far, this is the most common problem reported, and I have experienced it too. The factory supplied brakes, pads, and rotors are very poor and require service at least every 20,000 miles. Mine required new pads after just 8,000 miles. Brakes are often NOT a warranty matter and many will have to spend several hundred dollars dealing with this. Rotors are even more expensive.
This problem manifests itself by grinding, pulsing, or excessive vibration when applying brakes. Varnish problems are also indicated if you have trouble stopping when brakes are wet.
If you have to spend money, buy aftermarket brakes with a lifetime warranty. You'll save money over time.
2. COOLANT LEAKS. This is what my car is dealing with as I write this. It more often than not is the result of a leaking intake manifold gasket. This problem usually starts at around 35,000 miles and its earliest appearance is signified with a low coolant warning light.
If under standard warranty, INSIST on a pressure check for leaks, telling the service person to particularly check this gasket. It is very expensive to replace post-warranty, so push hard to get it dealt with under warranty.
Mine first began leaking last winter and did not appear to have a leaking gasket. After topping off DexCool coolant, car was fine until low coolant light came on this week (seven months later). This time, it turns out to be the gasket and I am paying $600 + tax to resolve it.
This is a very serious problem and is potentially a killer for your Malibu if un-addressed. If the DexCool is leaking into the engine, its corrosive nature will destroy it eventually.
I've seen at least 50 messages on this common problem alone.
3. POOR TIRE WEAR: The standard tires on the 1998 Malibu LS appeared to be the Firestone Affinity. They reduce road noise and are comfortable tires, but they are very prone to fast tire wear. By the time my car hit 30,000 miles, the tires prevented my car from passing state inspection.
You must regularly rotate, balance, and align these tires like clockwork if you want to see them last. Even though I did that, premature tread wear appeared after one winter of driving with just a slight alignment problem. Firestone reps told me they replace the Affinity's all the time. A good replacement recommended by several other messages (and by myself) are the Firestone SB-30 tires. They improve traction, but are a bit louder on the road.
4. PREMATURE BULB WEAR. The Malibu requires frequent bulb changes, usually with tail lights involved. Luckily, the bulbs are cheap, but they should be replaced in pairs. Since the bulbs are contained within a plastic lens assembly, this should be taken out of its position, opened, and checked. Is water collecting in the bottom? Bad news. Like mine, your Malibu has poor waterproofing. Once water collects in the lens assembly, corrosion often follows. If your sockets are corroded, the entire assembly must be replaced, a $250US repair. Automated car washes are bad news for the Malibu because water manages to get into all sorts of places.
5. HEATING/COOLING PROBLEMS. The most common failure on the Malibu is in the fan speed mechanism. Relays tend to fall apart quickly. The most common failure comes when you do not move the dial into the click stop position correctly. Get it slightly between settings, and failure will result quickly.
This problem is most easily identified when fan settings 1 and 2 do not operate, but 3 on up work fine.
Others report A/C fan shutting off for no reason.
Important safety tip: The Malibu's heating system was designed poorly for condensation control during winter driving. If you set the control to recirculate internal compartment air, your windows will quickly fog up. Use the external air setting during winter driving in cold climates.
6. CD PLAYER NOT THE BEST. If you use your car's CD player a lot, if your CD's begin to chatter or skip, your player is either dirty, or more likely has a misaligned laser head. This usually requires replacement. My Malibu is on its third unit.
At this time, since my car is just nearing four years and has less than 50,000 miles on it, I am considering an extended warranty. The Malibu is trouble prone and the bills add up quickly. If you are considering a used 1998 Malibu LS, you should never consider it without an extended warranty. This model year simply has an unacceptable number of common problems.
This review is right on the money. I just spent $2100 fixing all the problems described here on my 1998 Chevy Malibu. I love the car--it handles great, has a lot of "get-up-and-go," but it's had chronic problems since it hit 30,000 miles. I won't own another Chevy.
I was searching to see if anyone else has had experience with the coolant on the 98 Malibu. Mine is 4.5 years old. I had only a 3 yr, 36K miles warranty and regret not having extended it. The coolant has been leaking for awhile, but now I must get the manifold replaced. Many of the other comments in your review go along with my experiences. Many small inconveniences, but I see that they are common.
I had the dealership put in a new tape player since it did not auto rewind/play in both directions and when they replaced it, I was too quick to leave the state and well, the fan made a vibrating noise for two years. Now the a/c controls are set in a little bit and the noise has gone away, however, the A/C comes on and off with every bump in the road.
One last thing I have not read about yet, my steering wheel makes a very quiet woof-woofy noise when I am parallel parking (turning the wheel briskly with little car noise and rolling room). My email address is KSRoberts@hotmail.com in case you have experienced that too.
Kimberly.
Ditto for the intake manifold gasket, blower fan, and brakes. Additionally, I had the tensioner pulley and rollers for the serpentine belt fail. The leather seats have worn poorly. I've noticed that little noise lately coming from the steering wheel, but haven't been able to isolate the source. 66,500 miles mostly in the NY-CT area. Really surprised to hear the ads stating the JD Powers Survey giving the Malibu high marks for initial quality. Maybe they should check the later years.
Our 1998 Malibu has just turned 50,000 miles on it. I have read the other comments and agree with the problems on tire wear and brakes. I have noticed one other major problem that I cannot figure out the cause. That problem is major water on the back floor and we do not know where it is coming from. I had it to the Chevy garage twice in the last month for them to do a check. After the first visit to the Chevy body shop they could not find where the water leak was coming from, but they did dry out the carpet for me. Two weeks later, my wife notices more water on the floor and cannot figure out where the leak is. I return to the Chevy dealer and they do another test. Still unable to determine where the leak is coming from. Since it is out of warranty, I would have to pay for whatever work I have done on it. The suggestion I got from the body shop would be to possibly replace the door seals, but there would not be a guarantee that would stop the leak. The cost to me would be about $400. What do you suggest?
My Malibu has just past 66,000 miles and I have experienced everything in this review... the brakes, the tires, the head gasket and blower switch. One problem missed was the failure of an ABS sensor at 40,000 miles. This is apparently built into a piece of the suspension and will cost you $400 to replace. A failed sensor disables the ABS braking system so you have to go back to the old pump the brakes operation.
This review sounds EXACTLY like my 1999 Malibu! I guess the problems with the 98's were never addressed. I came here looking for information on the coolant light problem. I have already experienced the problems with the tires and breaks. I am also having the A/C issue (where it turns on and off randomly) but I didn't realize it was a common problem until I came here. I have printed out your review so I can know what to expect next.
Thanks.
I just turned 128,000 miles on my 98 Malibu. I am having problems with the head gasket, blower fan, brakes, tires and the side-view mirror. I go through brakes every quarter. I've had to change the serpentine belt, alternator and battery in the past year in addition to the brakes, the coolant, and back bushing. My shop bills are very high. I love the Malibu, but can't depend on it. It is nice to see that I'm not the only person with these problems.
This is exactly what has happened to my 1999 Malibu. I came here looking for any information on a strange coolant problem. I have already experienced the problems with the tires and breaks, and replacement of the intake manifold gaskets. Also the heater/AC blower motor, this was some time ago and the dealer replaced only a resistor, not the whole motor. I am also having the A/C issue (where it turns on and off randomly). It's was -2 below zero last night, temp gauge showed engine overheating, no heat coming from heater, engine not very warm at all. In the shop for same problem, did not find anything. This was a week ago. Anti-freeze good to -20, coolant level OK. Reliability is so poor I will never buy a GM made car again. I have been a loyal GM buyer for 40 years. Hello Honda / Toyota.
Ditto to the above comments. I had my 1999 Malibu LS (3.1L) checked out this past weekend. It has 40,700 miles on it. There was coolant leakage from the intake manifold (est. $550), brake repair advised (est. $155), oil ring leakage (est.$125), and the serpentine belt cracked (est. $50). In addition, we have experienced the intermittent on/off problem with the A/C and the tendency to burn taillights. I strongly recommend the extended warranty and wish I had spent the money for the warranty instead of the repair bills.
I echo the concern about the leaking intake manifold. I had to have it replaced after my warranty expired, at a very high cost ($1000 Canadian, after taxes). As well, I have had numerous problems with the low coolant light coming on when the engine is cold (even after the repair work was done). As much as we enjoy the Malibu, it has been a high maintenance vehicle.
6 months ago my Geo was totalled in an accident and I rented a Malibu for 3 weeks in the interim. What a nightmare. First time I took it for a two hour trip, the coolant hose above the transmission exploded leaving me stranded in nowheresville. I had the hose replaced at a small shop that looked like a relic from the '20s. The rental agency reimbursed the cost of repair, but that wasn't all... The second time I took it for a trip, the bearings seized up on two of the tensioning pulleys on the fan belt. The whole belt system was shredded and several electrical wires were torn loose in the mayhem. Once again, stranded in nowheresville. Once again fixed up. Once again reimbursed (thank god). I know this was a rental car, but should a 3year old vehicle be getting burst hoses and seized bearings? I'll never buy a Chevy. Never have I experienced such poor quality. Geo's don't count, they're made by Suzuki.
My 1998 Chevy Malibu is in the shop as I type this with a manifold leak. I just got a call from the dealer telling me the extended warranty will cover the work. I have less than 60,000 miles on my car and the brakes have been replaced 3 times. The first 2 times the car was under warranty. CD player stopped working to. I am so happy I got the extended warranty. It has already saved me about $2500.00.
L.T., Washington, D.C.
Help. I am going crazy. There is a whining noise coming from the front dash area of my 2002 Malibu. (The sound has almost a vibration, like a high pitched kazoo.) It happens when I hit about 70 miles per hour on the freeway. I have taken the car in and, thinking that there was a problem with the seal around the window, the dealer removed the windshield and had it resealed. This did not work. I had the same problem with a 95 Prizm and no one has ever heard of this problem. Can anyone help me?
My Malibu is 1998 LS. It runs good until last falls.
Now, there are two warning lights on when I am driving it.
1st is the theft light. I sent the car to dealer.
The answer is my key is not talking properly with the system.
So, it is OK to stay on for me (6 month already).
Now, I got oil light on and off 2 days ago and it stay on after I put a quarter oil in yesterday.
Is it another electrical problem?
I own a 99 Malibu and I have noticed, as many others, that I am not the only one having issues with reliability.
I took my car in 12/2002 to have the intake manifold gaskets replaced. Well, 3 months later I am having the same issue with the leaking coolant. The only difference this time is that I can fill it and no more than 2 days later it is empty and the coolant light is on. Luckily for me the repairs here are a bit cheaper for that service (around $250), but this is quickly adding up. I have had this car for 2 years and the Blue Book value is a lot less than what I owe on the car. So, trading it in really is not an option.
I have also heard the whooshing noise when parallel parking and recently I have noticed that my brake and ABS light comes on periodically, and as long as those lights are on my power windows, heater/ac or anything else electrical won't operate. This is becoming a nightmare. I got the Malibu because I had rented them several times and loved them. Live and learn.