Faults:

AC only worked on settings 3 and higher upon purchase (60,000 miles).

Dysfunctional rear-view adjustments upon purchase (60,000 miles).

New transmission required at about 73,000 miles.

New muffler required at about 80,000 miles.

Had to replace the alternator at about 85,000 miles.

Engine rod and cylinders cracked at about 86,000 miles, resulting in a complete engine replacement.

General Comments:

It’s a fun car to drive (very good handling, comfortable, good/standard audio), although it clearly is a high maintenance car.

Truly American made: initially economical with acceptable gas mileage (approximately 35 gal/miles).

Faults:

A/C only works on levels 3-5.

Rotors warp easily, and vibrate/pulse when stopping.

Power seats are not comfortable, and cause a sore back.

Suspension makes noises, particularly in the rear.

Both front-end springs snapped while going over a minor highway bump at approximately 140,000 miles; believed that the front end springs were not designed properly to handle the weight of the car.

Gas mileage for 3.1 litre V6 averages about 28 mpg/highway when driven under desirable conditions on dry pavement at 60 mph/1,900 rpms.

General Comments:

The car is average and the body is solid, although rust still finds a way to make itself known, especially around the very lower portion of the rear wheel wells.

The cabin is nice, and very roomy, but the center counsel pivot arm breaks easily.

The suspension on the car is too weak in proportion to the weight of the vehicle.

The air conditioning throws very cool air, but only works on levels 3-5.

Gas mileage is grim.

Faults:

Well when my room mate first bought the car it was nice. But then as it started getting a little older. The car started having some problems at 100k the manifold started leaking oil. and at 101k the transmission went out, at98k the alternator needed replaced. brakes needed done every 6 months. Very bad on gas. used a half a tank to travel 50 miles. at 104k the windshield motor burned up and then the sway bars busted. had to re4cahrge the a/c three summers out of the 4 of owning it.

General Comments:

The car was bad on steering it didn't let you feel the road.

It always had something going wrong with it.

The brakes go really quick.

The Malibu will nickel and dime you to death when it gets older.

I would never own a Malibu and my room mate never will own another one.

Just in generally a bad car!

Faults:

I have had nothing, but problems with this car. The brakes as everyone has been discussing, the ABS has been replaced twice already and the light it back on again. The Springs broke (2 of them) I have rust that has eaten right through the body of the car surrounding the gas tank and have seen numerous other 98 Malibu's with this rust problem. The dealership said I have been dripping gas on the car that caused the rust, but it started rusting there less than a month after I bought the car. I have replaced the gas tank the muffler, the carburetor, the tires, breaks, the shocks and springs, all kinds of gauges and valves etc.. the list just goes on. Never again will my money be spent on a GM product. The car is a lemon and the service was horrible at best. I bought the extended warranty just to find out there is nothing that is covered by the warranty. I am not impressed!

General Comments:

Nice looking car, lots of space, but 4 cylinder engine is not big enough to carry the car.