Worst 1998 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 133 | 1 | — | 44,760 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 132 | 4 | — | 111,833 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 81 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 46 | — | 1 | 71,778 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 41 | — | — | 161,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 38 | 2 | — | 123,951 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 37 | — | — | 65,750 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 33 | — | — | 74,989 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 29 | — | — | 61,999 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 29 | — | — | 126,460 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 29 | — | — | 94,352 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 27 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 26 | — | — | 87,713 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 25 | — | — | 59,910 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 24 | — | — | 55,813 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 24 | 1 | 1 | 88,500 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 24 | 4 | — | 122,540 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 24 | — | — | 83,117 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 21 | — | — | 68,344 mi | |
| Airbags | 20 | 8 | — | 104,665 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 20 | — | — | 60,010 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 19 | — | — | 107,176 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 18 | — | — | 75,926 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 | 10 | — | 93,333 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 17 | — | — | 55,422 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 17 | — | — | 98,432 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 15 | 1 | — | 50,591 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~5,877,718 vehicles.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
1998 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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