Front brakes & rotors continuously need replacing (5 times in 4 years).
1998 Chevrolet Malibu brakes complaints
Page 3 of 14: complaints 41 to 70 of 376, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Brake pulsation continues after several sets of rotors and pads. Also have replaced calipers, master cylinder and hoses. Rear brakes not functional.
Brake problem, ABS faulty as well, transmission slippage. Electrical system faulty I.e.; AC fan does not turn on until turned to 3, theft system intermittent. Many people have posted these same problems. Is it going to have to take a death before something is done?
While driving at any speed and with no warning brake rotors wore out, causing extended stopping distance. Dealer notified.
Anti lock brakes not working or releasing causing to replace brake pads and rotors 4 times on the drivers side ABS light coming on and going off. First time about a month after purchase of car.
When applying brakes front end pulsates which produces a grinding noise. Dealer notified. *ak the vehicle experienced vibration in the front end when braking. The vehicle has numerous brake rotor repairs. The calipers locked up and the piston seals leaked. The brake light was inoperative because the circuit lost it's contact. The horn was inoperative. The dealer replaced the air bag and repaired the horn power wire from the horn pad to the horn contact ring. *scc
Defects in 1998 chevrolet malibu. I have spent over $1000 trying to repair the ABS system (including replacing the wiring harness for what gm call an "updated wiring harness," replacing left and right wheel barons, and replacing the ABS relay). The brakes consistently have trouble and pulse when trying to stop the vehicle. I am also experiencing considerable trouble with the computer system in the car. The anti theft light and air bag lights come on and stay on, creating codes in the computer, with no visible reasons for the codes. The gas pedal has also been repaired twice as it has a tendency to stick. The left rear strut mounts have also broken and have had to be repaired (quite costly). I am becoming increasingly concerned for safety while driving this car.
Brakes failed.
I bought a 98 chevy malibu about 3 months ago.it onlyhad 69,000 miles on it at the time.since that time I have had to replace the brakesand buy a new battery.my ABS light pops on and off,my airconditioner cuts on and off by itself, and my car clucks all the time. My friend has the same car and we ride together we recognize the fact that both of our cars are giving us the same problems.
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. Because of the relatively small surface area of such small rotors, they tend to heat up way to early causing severe brake fading....the reason why I brought the car to the mechanic to have the brakes done to begin with. Today, as I was driving in light traffic, as I applied the brakes at around 25 miles an hour, it felt as if I wasn't pressing the brake at all and I rear ended a vehicle causing a lot of damage to my vehicle...somewhere around $2,500 worth. After allowing the car to sit for about a half hour I decided to test the brakes by applying them in the same manner as before...and the vehicle stopped as it should. The only possible explanation is brake fade do to the rotors overheating. I'm extremely upset at chevrolet and at the federal safety agency because they have not done anything to remedy this major well known issue with this vehicle. These vehicles need to recalled immediately in order to prevent serious accidents from occurring. What if the object in front of my vehicle was a person and not just another car.
The brakes performed erratically even after the brake system was replaced. The owner was informed that the vehicle needed new brake calipers.
Abs brake light illuminates on left turn. Have to stop, turn off engine and restart to turn off the ABS light. Service review indicated that faulty light, would cost 600$ to repair.
Front brake rotor failed twice. Have had to replace them twice. Anti lock brake light also comes on periodically.
Brake pads, rotors, and calipers continually failed on chevrolet malibu. This has been going on since car was new. Pads, rotors, calipers, and ball joints have all been replaced - pads and rotors as often as every 6000 to 12000 miles. Dealers and independents have worked on it with the same result: more failures. There are hundreds of complaints about these problems for malibu's just from this year's model and many more for other years. The federal safety agency has never investigated even though brake failure would seem to be significant. My tax money is not working hard enough.
Rack and pinion steering gear failed at 65,000 miles, causing a loss of power steering and a near accident. This is the second time this has happened (last time was at 40,000). This vehicle has also had front brakes and rotors 6 times and has experienced all other malibu problems such as air conditioner control failure, tail light melting, etc.
Abs sensors constantly turning off ABS system.
Consumer states that while driving at any speed and no warning the brake rotors are worn causing extended stopping distance. Ts
Consumer states that while driving at over 30 MPH and applying the brakes the vehicle will start to shake. Contacted dealer and the dealer replaced the rotors on the vheicle but the problem still occurs. Nlm
Brakes have gone out completely as soon as consumer pulled into driveway. Contacted dealer. Please provide further information.
Anti-lock brake light comes on frequently when depressing brake pedal with certain pressure. Owner is concerned not knowing if brakes are going to perform as necessary. *ak
Both the front and rear brakes keep wearing out and have been replaced three times. The consumer believes it is unsafe to drive the vehicle.
There was a vibration in the steering wheel when driving, dealer resurfaced front rotors, then replaced them at 20000 miles. At this time rotors need to be replaced again.*ak
Intake manifold gasket failed, causing coolant to leak. A known problem on this car, chevrolet should recall it. Mine was replaced under warranty luckily. Rotors replaced one week after purchase, again, a common problem with this car.
Dear ms. Radley and chevy, I am quite sure that you are aware of the numerous consumer complaints and problems associated with the brake system of the 1998 chevrolet malibu, but just in case I will expounded on the issue. My wife purchased the vehicle from your dealership on 22 aug 98. Shortly thereafter we noted several significant problems with the brakes grinding and squeaking. The following are dates that the vehicle was brought in for brakes problems: 02/04/99 - 8k milesms. Radley, that makes a grand total of ten times the car has had noted brake problems with no resolution to the problem. There is a definite manufacturing problem with these brakes that I expect fixed. I had expressed concern over this issue when the brakes and rotors had to be replaced at 20k miles, apparently no one cared then as now. I have spoken with chevrolet consumer complaint division, jeff merritt and ike chris about this problem at length and I must say the total lack of responsibility grows more evident. I have been told everything from driving habits to lack of service. This patronization is infuriating. The bottom line is chevrolet knows full well that they placed a braking system designed for a chevy cavalier on the malibu. Do not try and tell me that it is normal for rotors to warp and go bad every 20k miles; I do not accept that answer. When I called several garages and ask what vehicle requires the most brakes service and replacement rotors the answer was malibu and alero. I called seven different shops in the area and two other chevy dealerships and received the same answer at each place. You may want to note the following complaints files at the federal safety agency, office of defects investigation, consumer complaints database. As of when I researched the database I discovered 865 consumer complaints 365 of which are brake related.
Rotors "defective". "out of round". First reported 7/5/99, "pulsation" noted when bakes applied,(first noted about 3-4 months previous?) dealership did not replace, "cut rotors"..2nd incident, "pulsation " in brakes when braking at high speeds?, 16,090 mi..5/23/00.."rotors replaced"...3rd incident noted in june 2001, 26,000 ("no work done" dealership did not find "problem") brakes pulsating..rotors cut again! At 32,969, 5/21/02, "would not replace"..cost $83.00..reported to gmac..800 222 1020.
While driving, applied brakes and without warning brakes failed. Consumer had to repair brakes twice under 15000 miles.*ak
Brakes were not operating properly, and vehicle pulsated when applying brakes. Took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced front rotors. Eight thousand miles later same problem occurred. Dealer replaced rotors again. Consumer indicated that just yesterday same problem started again. Took vehicle to dealer, and dealer stated that wheels needed to be taken off the rear, and brakes needed cleaning and adjusting. Consumer felt this should had been done in the beginning. Currently there is a charge. Please provide any further information.
Front brake rotors have been replaced on four occasions and turned once from 12,000 miles to present mileage by dealer, problem has reoccurred.*ak
5 months after I purchased this vehicle, the brakes would "squeal" when any pressure was applied. Took the car to dealer to be checked out. The pads were worn and the rotors were at/below min. Thickness. Rt 25.04 & lt 24.66 mm. Minimum thickness being 25.0mm. Pads & rotors were changed and now here it is a little over a year later and I'm now getting a grinding noise and when I get to a complete stop, the whole car feels like its just going to fall out from under me. Will be taking it in again to be checked out but will be placing complaint with manufacturer, dealership, & state dcca.
I have gotten my pads,rotors/calipers fixed and cleaned twice at over 700 dollars and my ABS light is constantly on and I have only had the car six months I have taken it to 2 mechanics and now I can hardly stop the car. Please get back with me asap I don't know what to do. Thank you.
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