1998 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews
Review Summary
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
We bought this in 2004 brand new. It takes a beating in the New England winters but hardly any rust over all. Put a new Catalytic Converter on at 145,000 miles due to a clog. Most maintence I do myself per the Manufactures suggestions. I have switched to all synthetic oils and fluids at 100,000 miles still runs the same. I have had very few issues with this car and I do love the style and minimal computer controls so I can buy OEM parts from Amazon and replace them myself. I must say for the money spent, over 12 years I have enjoyed more comfortable safe driving than I have spent on loan and repairs. I have made a few upgrades by pulling from the large amount of this model found in junk yards around my area. Power seat upgrade, replace rug, replace interior roof liner replacement warn parts like power window units all from Junk yard.
VS
Critical Review
When I first got the car it ran great! Then it started to act quirky. The turn signals would work every now and then. The radio would just shut off and then turn back on. Took it and had it tested and the guy told me it all came back to the ignition switch. Never had the $ to get it replaced. In the meantime, had to have the intake manifold replaced. Fast forward 5 years, heat not working properly, turn signals still acting quirky. Fast forward 1 more year, antifreeze/water disappearing and having to add every single day. Intake manifold needs replaced again. There is a recall on the ignition switch that would possibly fix the quirky turn signal issue but not going to worry about it now. Not fixing intake manifold when that would cost more than what the car is worth. Later found out that Chevy's have a lot of issues with their intake manifolds. Just something to look into if you are thinking of purchasing one!
1998 Malibu Reviews
Showing 8 of 985 reviews.
Reliable, Comfortable, Better mileage than stated
Thermostat is in a ridiculous place, no transmission dipstick
Got my '02 Malibu LS in 2008 from a Used lot and it had a lot of miles, but the price was very reasonable! Had a few issues along the way but nothing too hideously expensive to fix; the worst was a sudden failure of the timing cover gasket that caused a huge flood of antifreeze-- and I know what you're thinking, that the timing cover should be separate from the cooling system but in the Malibu that's the case! That was a cool $500 to fix but when you consider that I've owned the car from 2008-2026 and that was the most major repair.. not bad! As another review said, the car tends to run hot but that may be a delay in the fan coming on? The ABS light comes on frequently, but just get a code reader and clear it.. I had the entire brake system checked and it was fine. I'm reluctantly selling the car now because the rear electric windows are going to cost too much to fix; one mechanism broke completely even though the motor works -the other's glass came detached from the rail it's connected to (it's a long story)... and it's starting to get a leak in the transmission to where it won't engage in first gear.. that seems to have been fixed by adding some fluid BUT needing to replace fluid indicates a leak somewhere and I can't afford to replace the transmission! To sum it up, it's starting to nickel and dime me except that with '26 inflation it's more like dollar and credit card LOL Has a KILLER sound system, though, that came factory installed.. perhaps the original buyer customized it? All I know is, it's far superior to what a standard factory installed system usually is.
I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu and I'm having the toughest time with the anti theft light since I changed the battery in the car I've been working on trying to bypass the anti theft with a toggle switch and so far I'm not having any luck
This car has been an exceptional car There are not many V6 And it was a special did not fit regular model classification The approximate mileage hi is 117000 km
On excellent shape. Well maintained. Good tires and runs very good. No smell the r distress on interior. Low miles
I drove a 2003 Chevy Malibu for 5 years and I loved it. It was my first car so maybe I'm biased. It was older by the time I got it so I spent probably $800 a year to maintain it, but it was certainly worth it.
I love this car. Mine has 408,000 miles on in . Regular maintenance is all. Still has original engine . I replaced the transmission once but didn't need to. It was an axle seal . Got lied to.
Worse engineering ever. Overheating issues wrapping aluminum over aluminum for exhaust need I say more
It has been a very dependable car
Nothing wrong
The miles on it is highway miles. I have kept it serviced about every 3-4000 miles. It is a very dependable car.
