1998 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
749 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
80,461 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 223 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 749 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 256 | 34.2% |
| Steering behavior | 83 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 97 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 88 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 53 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 42 |
| Electrical System | 37 |
| Tires | 35 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 29 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 27 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 97; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 88; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 53; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 42; Electrical System: 37; Tires: 35; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 29; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 59 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 55 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 27 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 59; 75,000 to 99,999: 55; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 27
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 526 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 181 |
| 2001 | 154 |
| 2002 | 73 |
| 2003 | 86 |
| 2004 | 91 |
| 2005 | 43 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 181; 2001: 154; 2002: 73; 2003: 86; 2004: 91; 2005: 43; 2006: 19; 2007: 25; 2008: 18; 2009: 10; 2010: 11; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2014: 13; 2015: 6; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 256 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 83 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005377 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONTINUEING TO NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS ETC. THE ISSUE IS THE BULB SOCKETS ARE OVER HEATING AND THE RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET IS BEGINNING TO MELT DUE TO EXCESS HEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007201 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003204 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
AFTER HEARING A "CLICKING/CREAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING (ON FULL LOCK)WHEN MANEUVERING AT SLOW SPEEDS, I.E. PARKING, I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD RH LOWER CONTROL ARM AND A LOOSE LH LOWER CONTROL ARM.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010224 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE STEERING RACK & PINION AND THE ENGINE INTAKE GASKETS IN THIS 1998 MODEL ARE FAULTY. THE SHODDY RACK & PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH NUMEROUS TIRES OVER THE YEARS. THE INTAKE GASKETS ARE LEAKING FLUIDS AND AN ENGINE BLOW OUT IS IMMINENT. WITH THE LEAKAGES, THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE MAINTAINED ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND THE CAR IS STILL UNDER 50,000 MILES BUT I AM LOOKING AT A HUGE MECHANIC'S BILL DUE TO A SHODDY RACK & PINION AND INTAKE GASKET LEAKS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010350 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
I HAVE REPLACED A BATTERY TWICE. I BOUGHT MY 1998 MALIBU USED. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP JUMPING IT, TO GET IT WERE I NEEDED TO GO. FOUND OUT THE POSITIVE CHARGE WAS BROKEN FROM BATTERY. SIX MONTH'S LATER ON JANUARY 19. MY ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOSE ALL POWER ON SNOW AND ICE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF MY CAR AND GET IT STOPPED. IF THERE WOULD BE A BEEN ANOTHER CAR COMING TOWARDS ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM HEAD ON. I HAD IT TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID AND MY TIMING BELT WAS BR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013940 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
I OWN A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU. THIS VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JUNE 1998 AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT MONTH. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SHAVER MOTORS HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING IN CHICAGO ON 80 90 TOLL ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE STOPPED FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DOING 55 MILES PER HOUR. I LISTED ONE INCIDENT DATE BUT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011169 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A DIP STICK, THEREFORE THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO POUR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017570 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ALL THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010696 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED AT 65,000 MILES, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED (LAST TIME WAS AT 40,000). THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS 6 TIMES AND HAS EXPERIENCED ALL OTHER MALIBU PROBLEMS SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL FAILURE, TAIL LIGHT MELTING, ETC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064729 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053978 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY AND WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS EMPTY THE GAS GAUGE READ FULL. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISES, THE A/C LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON AND THE A/C BLEW HOT AIR WHEN THE BUTTON WAS NOT ACTIVATED, THE KEY WOULD COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT STAY IN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL DRIVE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, THE ANTENNA DID NOT PICK UP AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF STATIONS, (CASE EFFICIENCY DECREASED FROM 350 TO 250 TO REFILL THE CAN),…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070602 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
AIR COMPRESSER AND WIRE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED FAN DID NOT WORK ON SETTING 1 AND 2 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2000. AIRCONDITIONING PROBLEM CAUSED THE FUSES THAT CONTROL GAS TANK, TEMP GAGE AND LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD TO GO OUT ALL FUSSES REPLACED
Owner-reported narrative. 68,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070602 at NHTSA ↗