10th Jan 2002, 20:32

It is now January of 2002 and we still own the Malibu LS. So far (touch wood) we have not had any other difficulties with this vehicle. It is my great hope that we have ironed out all of the big ticket difficulties. Thank god for the extended warranty. We still have two years remaining on this warranty and will most certainly unload the car at that time.

13th Sep 2002, 13:48

I have a 97 malibu and it has over 120,000 miles on it. I've owned it 4 years and it's been a good car for me so far. The only bad thing is that the brakes are screwed up. Thank God I got a lifetime warranty for them, I take it in, they hook it up and every 5-10,000 they need to be replaced or something. Only other thing is that the alternator just went out on me, that's it, otherwise nice car.

4th Feb 2003, 11:17

I bought a 2002 Malibu on Feb 27th 2001. With only 1300 miles on it, it starting missing. I was told I guess because I'm a women, my lack of intelligence must have been showing because I was told that my car was going fishing not missing. I have taken it in 3 times now within the last year and it still has not been fixed. The dealer bless their heart told me that unless there were more complaints about this problem they would not fix it. Guess what, they haven't. Now I am going to court in Georgia under the Lemon Law. It all boils down to an Emission problem they say. Doesn't matter I'm still paying for a 18,000 car that the dealer knowing and willing sold me. You see, I was the third person they sold a Malibu to with the same identical problem. What does that tell you?

Wish me luck. Hope to get my money back. If they give me another car I will trade it in on something else besides a Chevrolet or GM product. I AM DONE!

10th Feb 2003, 12:27

I bought a 1998 Chev Malibu, Car of the Year, in the fall of 1998. Same problems as everyone else, especially brakes, ABS light coming on, and tire wear. I am on my 4th set of tires (147,000 km), 4th set of brakes, new water pump, A/C problems and yesterday a broken front spring on driver's side. Also have experienced the "wind squeal" when driving on the highway against the wind. Can't wait to dump this hunk of junk.

27th Jul 2004, 11:47

I bought a 1997 Malibu, brand new in 1997. As I have read in previous comments, it has an excellent ride on the highway. One evening I went out, started the vehicle and it bucked, backfired and if I pushed on the accelerator, the car cut off. When I had a mechanic look at the vehicle, I was told it had engine problems. ENGINE problems? The vehicle had 42,200+ miles. I couldn't believe it. Had to replace the engine cylinder.

I have since read that GM has had numerous complaints about engine problems in Malibu's with low mileage costing owners up wards of $1000 to have repaired, but nothing has been done about this.

I had always driven a Toyota (one for 20 yrs) but liked the Malibu when I saw it and the price. I will be buying a new vehicle shortly and getting rid of the Malibu. Might get a Ford truck, but it certainly will NOT be a GM. If not a truck, I will return to my Toyota!

1st Nov 2005, 10:29

I bought my 1998 Malibu LS in 2000, and I've had the same problems people have mentioned many times before: head gasket replaced, A/C fan switch working at setting 3 and higher, wind noise through the windshield, brakes replaced more often than normal among other things. I wrote a review earlier, but I'll give the same advice again: don't buy OEM parts unless you have no other choice. After-market parts are generally cheaper and in my experience more reliable. Now things like the alternator and serpentine belts are to me wear and tear items, and are expected to fail (in the case of the alternator at 90k+ miles). It's WHEN it fails that you should be concerned about. Right now my car did not want to start at all this morning. I suspect the fuel pump, but I hope it isn't. It rotates, but does not start by itself. It only starts when I manually move the accelerator in the engine while my wife turns the ignition key, and even then it shuts of as soon as I let the accelerator go. Anyone has this problem? If so, can you please let me know what you did to fix it, or how much the resulting repair cost? I can't afford to purchase a car right now, so I'm stuck with what I have. Thanks.

28th Nov 2005, 08:22

I bought my 98 Malibu LS with 78k on it already...well, if I had a third leg I'd kick my own butt. I've put more money in work on the thing than I have in paying it off. It's a great car when there is nothing wrong, but there is always something wrong! Bad air compressor, bad wheel bearing, bad water pump, and now... may need a new alternator. 25k miles later I think I'd get more benefit out of it by dumping it over a cliff. I still have 2 years left to pay for it! I was a happy Camry owner for 5 years. When I wake from this nightmare I'll probably go back to Toyota... but sure go ahead... buy American...but don't say I didn't warn you!