1998 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

136 complaints about engine have been filed for the 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, which is 9% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 136 9% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 59,000 miles 49 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 0 and 1
Injuries and deaths: 0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Based on 49 complaints that include mileage. 51% 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	3
20k to 40k miles	5
40k to 60k miles	17
60k to 80k miles	10
80k to 100k miles	7
100k to 120k miles	3
120k to 140k miles	2
140k to 160k miles	0
160k to 180k miles	1
180k to 200k miles	0
200k+ miles	1

What the data shows

Of the 49 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 59,000 miles, and 51% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 fire.

What owners wrote

The oil light came on one minute the next minute the car cut off. I had the car towed to curtis chevrolet in washington, dc and was told that the engine seized due to the oil regulator and filter exploded. The car has only 57500 original miles, serviced mainly by curtis chevrolet...oil recently changed by curtis yet I was told that to replace the engine would be $6,000. The car is currently considered totaled.

Reported at 57,500 miles, October 2005 Fire

I do not have any accidents or incidents to report, but I am concerned that one could occur, if not to me, to somebody else who may have the same problem. No problem stated or component listed in the summary. I have a 1998 chevy malibu, with a 3.1l v6 engine. I have been recently diagnosed with a leaking lower intake manifold gasket. My mechanic says this is a very common problem with this engine, in the 50k to 80k mile range. I have 89,500 miles on my malibu. Repair cost is $600-800.

Reported at 89,000 miles, April 2004

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Chevrolet models