Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When pulling out of a friends home on a dry 60 degree night, my son proceeded less than a block to a flashing red light. Before getting to the light, he applied the brake (the car behind him saw the brake lights) and the car would not stop. He had a total brake failure. When he realized that he would soon be in the middle of the intersection with an oncoming vehicle, he accelerated to try to get out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. However, he still was hit near the rear of the back door (on the drivers side) and the car was spun into a pole on the other side causing extensive damage - the car has been declared a total loss. Fortunately, the occupants were both uninjured, but had he not accelerated it could have been quite a different story. Right now, the insurance company is pushing for us to have it moved to a junk yard to avoid the storage fees.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The air bag, ABS, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 54,000.
I purchased the vehicle from bobb Chevy in 11/99, in April 2000 noticed a grinding noise when braking. Took car into a tuffy auto shop who indicated I needed complete brake job. They suggested warranty should cover vehicle repairs. So I took it to bobb at 7:30 am on 4/27/00, they completed brake job - rotors, calipers, fluid, pads and labor. This totalled $817.01, I paid $496.12, warranty paid the balance. On 5/17/00, coming home from work on a service road I tried to apply my brakes and found I did not have any - this was 3 wks after a total replacement. I had the option to go into an intersection, or hit a car stopped at the stop sign, but I chose to run off the road, hoping that would have stopped me. I hit a pine tree, both air bags popped out, windshield cracked, subsequently my insurance company - geico totalled the car. …
I have a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu. I have had numerous front brake problems...from them wearing out prematurely to the rotors warping. At around 5,000 miles I went to the dealer because the rotors were warped and they were subsequently resurfaced. At around 13,000 miles I had to have the rotors replaced because they were warped (the were replaced with after market rotors). Although warping did occur after the rotors were replaced with a non OEM part, it did not occur as often and as badly. About one month ago I had the front brakes resurfaced and bendix pads placed. Warping started after a few days that the breaks were done. The mechanic informed me that it was not the rotor that was at fault. It was the entire brake design of the Malibu. The brakes simply cannot hold back the weight of the car on such small rotors. …
This vehicle had a crash with fatalities in 2006. General motors never issued a unintended ignition turnoff on this vehicle until aug2014. The crash began with an uncontrollable and unexpected spinout, there was no ability to steer, brake and air bags did not deploy. These are the exact conditions listed in the GM recall. GM will not accept a filing for this make and model vehicle and should be added to the GM ignition failure claim program. NHTSA didn't all the GM recall to Malibu's but I have notified them of the oversight. This should be corrected and compensation provided by GM. …
At the beginning of this year, I bought a 1998 Chevy Malibu, 2.4 l, 4 cyl, sedan. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle I began having a problem with the ABS light commming on and my brakes were grinding really bad. I took the vehicle back to the dealer that I bought it from the day my warrenty was to run out. They supposidly reset the ABS system because it did throw them a code. The following day the same problem occured. I have had nothing but problems with the ABS since I purchased the vehicle. I've also been having a problem with the air compressor. It makes an awful noise. The dealer I purchased the vehicle from also supposidly replaced the compressor with a used one. The compressor is still making the same noise as if they never replaced it. But these repairs were done on my last day of my warrenty so the dealer will not have anything to do with the problems anymore. …
While driving, the vehicle lost its rack and pinion steering and all power of the steering wheel. Dealer notified. The power window control panel on the driver side arm rest popped out, the vehicle pulled severely to the right (dealer couldn't find the problem). The dealer finally replaced the lower control arms, brake rotors, 2 sets of tires/almost completely bald at the time only 13K miles. The rims had to be forced off, the front rotors had become rusted at 20K miles, the ignition wire harness had come apart, the power steering hoses had come loose, lost fluid and power steering while in motion, the trunk leaked, the ABS light had come on twice a week, the front end squeaked and rattled, the antenna wire was loose, the right head lamp had permanent moisture with no crack, the A/C would shut on/off intermittently, the alternator failed at 60K miles and the waning light had come on for …
I received my chev recall letter ref recall 14350 today. This is not a complaint, just info that May be important in reference to this safety recall. Problems I have had with my 1998 chev Malibu is : engine shuts off while traveling at highway speeds-sometimes engine won't start ( ignition key will not go all way to start position)-sometimes engine want shutoff (ignition key want turn back to off position). As a retired truck mechanic I know that the problem is in the ignition switch lock cylinder (tumblers are worn excessively causing the lock cylinder to jam and/or be come loose allowing ignition key to rotate off) . I have attempted to make repair myself but all parts outlets tell me that the lock cylinder is not available (must purchase $350.00 ignition switch assembly) if this recall does not include replacing the lock cylinder,the problem will not be corrected. …
1998 Chevrolet Malibu ABS light comes on. When braking, the brake pedal goes all the way down and brakes don't work correctly, making the stopping distance longer. We took the car to the dealer and they replace the front speed sensor. A few months later it started to do the same thing again. And since haven't been able to fix this problem. Also, when braking the car vibrates, I know that it's do to the front rotors, needing to be replace, but I was looking on the number of complaints that this type of cars has and don't find it to be a coincidence. Surely there is some thinking we can do to fix this problem or are we going to have to wait till someone get injured or killed. It is notably that this is a safety issue that needs to be taken care of now. We have cars on the street that have faulty brake systems, if that is not a safety issue then call me crazy. …
The ABS warning light has been going on occasionally since I bought the car new in 1998. Recently, this has been happening frequently, almost every time, shortly after starting the car and usually during the first turn. Turning off the engine and then restarting turns the ABS light off, and it then stays off. Also, in the past month or so, the car has slid forward just as it is coming to a stop. This causes me to slide about one foot beyond where I intended to stop, which could be dangerous. I have taken to stopping well behind the car in front of me to allow for this extra slide. At the time of the slide, I feel the pressure on the brake pedal suddenly drop, and then I have to push really hard to stop. This failure only seems to happen in the first few times I stop after starting the car. I brought the car today to wilkie Chevrolet in philadelphia to have this defect checked out.
Brake complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 376 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 39% of the model year's 976 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (133 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Malibu brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Malibu brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries and 1 death to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.