ChevroletMalibu1998Overview/chevrolet/malibu/1998/base/

1998 Chevrolet Malibu

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Malibu.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1998 Chevrolet Malibu is a passenger car equipped with a 5-quart oil capacity requiring 5W-30 viscosity oil, and it stands out in the model’s reliability history with 1,084 total owner complaints—the most common being issues with the service brakes hydraulic system—along with five recalls. In the broader complaint history covering 1997 through 2025, this model year falls in the earlier, more problematic period, with complaints significantly higher than the near-zero levels seen in later years like 2025, indicating a less reliable phase for the Malibu line.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ; 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 12731172
Engine air filter25161977
Fuel filter25166285 alt 25121293
Spark plug19301813 alt 19158037
Front wiper blades19120758 alt 22700263
Serpentine belt12588408 alt 88984195
Thermostat24507563 alt 24577288

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3051 lb
Track (front / rear)58.7 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Malibu of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.2–9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 1997 LS V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1997LS V6 3.1L V68.20 sec16.20 sec155 hpFWD
1997LS V6 3.1L V68.30 sec16.40 sec155 hpFWD
1997LS V6 3.1L V69.00 sec16.60 sec155 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)52 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)103 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts129 ft-lbs, 90 degrees ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts75 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)18.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5000-8000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-940
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type150
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40.5-47
RPM30.5-44 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40.5-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket85 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0015 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.031 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.031 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.98 in / 0.388 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
1bolts 1-840 ft. lbs
2turn 90
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
295

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 model year registers 1,084 federal complaints, more than doubling the 514 logged for 1997 and exceeding the 848 filed for 1999, making it the highest point in the 1997–2003 dataset. While recalls held relatively steady at five versus six the prior year, complaint volumes generally moderated after 1998, suggesting the 1998 model attracted disproportionate owner reports during this period. The data identifies Service Brakes, Hydraulic as the top complaint area with 275 entries, though the federal record does not specify a root cause; crash and fire complaints totaled 39 and 5 respectively. Given that 1998 carries the peak complaint volume of its cohort and leads that model year in brake-related reports, it presents a riskier prospect than the adjacent 1997 and 1999 models, making it a less favorable year to buy.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
136
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,084
Owner complaints
39 involved a crash · 5 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,084 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic275
Engine & Engine Cooling92
Suspension77
Electrical System75
Tires54
Visibility53
Exterior Lighting50
Steering46

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V400000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 03/07/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 136 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3227S2023-05-09StructureThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIT3227R2022-04-13StructureThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT3227Q2021-04-01EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Malibu. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Malibu take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Malibu have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.