1998 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

Owners reported brakes problems in 469 complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 32% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 469 32% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 58,000 miles 38 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 11 and 0
Injuries and deaths: 5 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When brakes problems show up

Based on 38 complaints that include mileage. 55% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.

View the numbers

Mileage	Complaints
0k to 20k miles	4
20k to 40k miles	3
40k to 60k miles	14
60k to 80k miles	6
80k to 100k miles	8
100k to 120k miles	0
120k to 140k miles	0
140k to 160k miles	0
160k to 180k miles	0
180k to 200k miles	1
200k+ miles	2

What the data shows

Of the 38 brakes complaints that report mileage, the median is about 58,000 miles, and 55% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 11 crashes, 5 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

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.

Reported at 80,000 miles, November 2006 CrashInjuryDeath

Number of problems since the car was purchased new in 1998. The front brakes have been an ongoing problem, the cooling system has a leak at the intake manifold and numerous other major problems that everyone I talk to or read about is having the same problems with this car. Chevy will not do anything about it.

Reported at 12,000 miles, May 2001

Brakes problems in other years

Brakes problems across all Chevrolet models