8.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $470
- Average Mileage:
- 72,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 13 complaints
Most common solutions:
- recall! (6 reports)
- not sure (5 reports)
- do not use factory rotor or pads (2 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.
Replaced the pads twice since we've had the car. It is paid for now, and GM refuses to acknowledge the problem, so we're not buying GM manufactured cars no matter what a great deal - can't trust the safety of their product. I am going to spend a whole lotta money to get these brakes fixed and keep this car going, but never to a repair shop - can't trust any of them to do a good job. Suggest looking up autobeef before buying a car.
- John R., Reno, NV, US
Yesterday I was just driving and this weird noise occurred it kind of sounded like something was rubbing on the ground or my tire was low so I got out and looked under my car but nothing was rubbing on the ground then I checked my tires and they were full so I called my dad and he said its most likely my brakes and rotor then he told me it sounded like my motor is going to blow i dont know what i should do to fix this problem
- Stephanie C., Janesville, WI, US
This car has awful brake and rotor issues. I have heard from owners when I am at the dealership ( as I am always there, getting things fixed ) from newer models as well.
The brake pads wear out at an alarmingly rate. This buckles and twists the rotors which leads to the pads wearing out even faster due to the warped rotor surface. I have other manufacturers like AC Delco, which actually wore out faster than the originals. How strange? GM basically hung me to dry. I wasnt surprised. The usual comment is that the driver is lead footed! Even though my wife drives the kids to a school less than 2km away.
The entire brake system is ABSOLUTELY RUBBISH. I hope my complaint acts like a warning for others interesting in buying a Malibu. Please DO NOT.
I have replaced them 12 times. I have receipts for everything. This year I am switching to performance rotors like Baer. Hopefully, the thicker, slotted rotors will finally stop this blighted issue.
Due to the low resale value of the car, I am stuck with this lemon. Anyone own a lemonade stand?
- Sujit J., Pickering, ON, Canada
The brakes go bad very fast. i had to spend 500.00 for new rotors last year.
- tootal2, St. Louis, MO, US
Wow. I'm told that I must ride my breaks hard since this is the 2nd time I've had to replace the entire break system since owning this vehicle (since Summer 2003). The first time was some time in the late fall of 2003. It was making a loud, squeaking noise for a while upon startup (1-2 min or so). I finally got that sucker fixed and it has been smooth sailing (for the most part) until now when I find myself breaking on an decline and moving a few inches forward than I thought I'd move. Took it in for a separate muffler issue and was informed my breaks need to be fixed. Along with the timing belt.
- Megan M., Austin, TX, US
we have replaced the brakes on this car countless times. It just eats them up after a couple of months. To begin with my husband complained that I was riding the brakes. Until i pulled up a different web site and this issue was discussed by several other people. Its a shame because other than this, my malibu has been a great little car
- Alice S., metairie, LA, US
Brake Pads seem to wear out extremely often. Auto Zone is tired of seeing me exchanging brake pads....
- dmains, Metairie, LA, US
I too had the warped rotors days after buying the car new. I replaced pads and turned rotors. It was not untill I replaced rotors and pads with the best lifetime warrenty parts from the auto zone that it has stoped good. I followed the breakin and rotor seasoning instuctions. So far I have 35k on this set with no problems. I was doing pads at 23 to 30 k intervals. I am not a profesional mechanic nor do I have interest in auto zone. I do all my own work as I have given up on finding repair shops that will put the time and pride in the work they do. I do not have to be profitable in my repairs so I can focus on quality and getting it right the first time. I do not have to clear my bay in 30 min for the next job.......
- Kevin K., Acworth, GA, US
I need new brake pads about every 6 months. I've had the rotors replaced once at 100,000 miles. Luckily, my father gets my brakes at AutoZone and replaces them himself. There are guaranteed forever, so it doesn't cost me anything to replace them, it's just a huge pain in the ass everytime I need new ones.
- dilbitz, Rockford, IL, US
Chevy has a very bad quality problem. I do my own mechanical work, just can't take getting ripped off by those well practiced liars called Chevy dealerships. They are a cheap globalist company, typical of what Americans can expect from this company of SATAN. What interests them most is not automobiles but getting you financed - as indicated by the financial news. The brakes are seriously flawed but since the NEW WORLD ORDER now runs the planet earth and has bought up all the politicians in the USA, like USERY LAWS erased from our books in what was once America by these bought and paid for politicians, recalls will be a thing of the past soon. Americans are at the mercy of SATAN. There is NOTHING you can do about it. So get used to it Americans, America died in Flint, Michigan.
- John R., Reno, NV, US
Every year we have had to fix the brakes!
- Laura B., Eau Claire, WI, US
My 1999 Malibu eats brake pads and the rotors constantly warp.. Rotors replaced first time at 7500 miles. Have had them turned once since then and now at 39,000, I need new rotors. I have replaced brake pads twice. Car shimmys and shudders when braking. GM will not acknowlege that there is a problem!
- sixer925, Mt. Vernon, OH, US
The rotors have been replaced several times due to chewing tires, I should be reimbursed for all the times.
- Linda C., Aspers, PA, US