Faults:

Not much. Have replaced brakes once, alternator once, as well as the starter. It has been a great little car.

General Comments:

This has been a great little car. Bought it new, and still drive it about 80 miles a day.

Faults:

I have had to replace the fuel filter, throttle position sensor, and brake caliper. The car sat up for two years and was never driven. It was only cranked up about four times during the two years. I went to get the car and drove it an hour and a half and had no problems out of it. I fix the car myself, so maybe it is your repair people. It is a pain in the butt to work on.

General Comments:

The best car I have ever owned!!! (and I have owned several different kinds)

Faults:

Right tail light works when it wants to.

Check engine light comes on for no reason and goes off.

Right after getting it, the alternator went out.

Changed brakes and rotors many times.

A/C compressor cuts off for no reason.

I had to replace water pump, timing chain and guides.

A/C and heater fan won't work on first two settings.

Radio won't pick up stations over 10 miles away.

Sitting in the back seat is noisy beyond belief.

Seat belt clips broke off before I bought it, and dealer promised to repair them, but never did.

Plastic sun visor clips broke, and had to replace whole visor.

General Comments:

The car looks OK still, and I have made many trips in it. It has always got me home so far, and that to me is what counts.

I count everything as problems I can live with, although I admit that some of the minor things grate on my nerves.

Chevy could (with a little testing) have found most of the minor stuff, and fixed before selling, but they didn't.

Faults:

Rear sway bar bushings sprayed with teflon to stop creaking at around 75,000 miles.

Leaking intake manifold required replacement at around 50,000 and 80,000 miles (coolant leak)

Heater/cooler fan assembly required replacement twice - 45,000 miles and 90,000 miles because settings 1 & 2 stopped functioning properly (about $100 each). For me I get about 5 years use.

General Comments:

My only real major issue with my Malibu has been the need to replace the intake manifold gasket twice. Apparently this is a common concern on this model. Fortunately, I have relatives who replaced the gasket twice for no more than $100 each time.

My 1998 Malibu still astounds me with great gas mileage. I remember for the first couple of years, my Malibu would consistently get over 33 mpg on the highway, and as recently as this past October (Oct 2009), I recorded 30 mpg. I have consistently averaged 28 mpg for well over 12 years.

My Malibu has never let me down, and has been a very good car for the value. I've owned it for almost 13 years now, and hope to get at least 5 more years out of it!

Faults:

Not a lot actually. Very low maintenance.

Brake rotors changed at 130k.

Alternator replaced at 138k. Very recent.

Water pump changed around 134k.

These are all from wear and tear... nothing major.

General Comments:

This car is a very reliable car. Never gave problems and never left me stranded. Engine is very good, at 139 it's still strong.. GOOD HORSEPOWER.

Love your car and it will love you back...

Regular oil changes kept the car healthy...

I only gave it one tune up, and that was at 137k... I don't know if the previous owner ever gave it a tune up or not...

Oh yeah, the car's been through 2 accidents... and the first one was major... half of the front was basically gone... got it repaired for around 1200, this was in 2005... then another one in 2008, it was a hit and run, the other front side got hit, not much damage, but had to get the frame fixed and the front bumper... after all that, the Malibu was still running strong.

I wouldn't buy another Chevy tho... it's just not my style... maybe the new ones 2009 and up.. they are hot... but only if the price is good...

OVERALL, A VERY RELIABLE CAR.