2002 Chevrolet Malibu Brakes Problems

THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR CORRODED AND QUICKLY LEAKED FLUID OUT SO THE BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE FLUID LEAKED OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE NIGHT BEFORE. IF THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATESTOPHIC MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVYS. I SAVED SOME OF THE BRAKE LINES HE HAD TO REMOVE.

PURCHASED MY 2002 CHEV MALIBU NEW! HAS 39000MILES ON IT ,GRANTED, CAR IS 14YRS OLD BUT IN MINT CONDITION . ITS GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF ROTORS ,3 SETS OF FRONT PADS, 2 SETS OF CALIPERS AND ONE SET OF BRAKE LINES, BOTH FRONT HUB & BEARINGS TWICE!! .THERE` S A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIER BRAKE SYSTEM DESIGN!!

ON SEPT. 30TH 2013 WE HAD OUR 2003 CHEVY MALIBU WORKED ON AT JUST BRAKES ON 75 IN DALLAS. THEY RECOMMENDED A LONG LIST OF ITEMS COSTING AROUND $900 IN REPAIRS. WE DECIDED TO ONLY HAVE THE REAR BAKES DONE AT THIS TIME. ON JAN 16 OF THIS YEAR WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND FRONT BRAKES FIXED. OUR LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THE REARS WERE IMPROPERLY DONE AND WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE PADS WERE INSTALLED BACKWARDS AND THE SPRINGS NOT ATTACHED. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO JUST BRAKES IN RICHARDSON SO THEY COULD PROPERLY FIX AND REDO THE WORK WE HAD PAID FOR. THE MANAGER BOBBY WAS EXTREMELY RUDE, HOSTILE AND ARGUMENTATIVE. HE BASICALLY DENIED THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM AND TOLD US TO LEAVE. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS HE SAID TO US WHEN WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY DON'T WORK?. WE HAD TESTED THE PARKING BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T HOLD THE CAR AT ALL. HE SAID, THE E-BRAKE ISN'T DESIGNED TO DO THAT. HOW DID YOU GET THE CAR HERE IF YOUR BRAKES DON'T WORK? I AM NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE ANYTHING. I AM NOT GOING TO REFUND ANY OF YOUR MONEY. WHY DON'T YOU JUST FIX THEM YOURSELF? ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP ARGUING WITH ME? YOU SHOULD JUST TAKE THE CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE. TIRED OF HIS CONDESCENDING BELLIGERENT AND INSULTING ATTITUDE, WE INSTEAD WENT TO THEIR LEMON AVE LOCATION DOWNTOWN. THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND IMMEDIATELY FIXED THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND COURTEOUSLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES WORKING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. IT ALSO COST US LESS THEN HALF OF WHAT JUST BRAKES WANTED TO REPAIR THE FRONT END AT OUR LOCAL MECHANIC. BOBBY ORIGINALLY STATED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WERE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT TURNED OUT WERE ACTUALLY NON-EXISTENT AND FRAUDULENT OVERCHARGES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING FROM THE MARKET AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN BUT HAD NO BRAKES. NO SIGN OF ME NOT HAVING ANY BRAKES BEFORE HAND.. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK ALSO.THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE CROSSING AND I WENT THROUGH AND CONTINUED HOME. I GOT HOME WHICH IS ABOUT 1.5 MILES AWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY GOING AS SLOW AS I COULD. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID THERE WAS FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAVE THE PICTURES OF THE LINES. WHEN HE LOOKED THE BRAKE AND GAS LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. IF I HAD DRIVEN OVER THE MOUNTAIN TO GET HOME FROM THE DOCTORS I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. I ALSO WAS TOLD IF A CAR HAD HIT ME GAS LINE LIKE THAT IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE.YOU NEED TO CHECK GAS AND BRAKE LINE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THE COST TO FIX THIS, AND I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK IS $2550.00. I WANT SOMETHING DONE . I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. I SHOULD BE REFUNDED SOME OR ALL OF THE COST.CHEVY OWNER SINCE 1965. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER DRIVERS WOULD SWERVE AROUND HER AND ASSUME THAT SHE WAS BRAKING, WHEN IN REALITY, SHE WOULD BE IN ACCELERATION OR DRIVE MODE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AND THE SENSOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH FOR ONE YEAR. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000.

OWN A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED IN 2006. JUST HAD TO DO IT AGAIN 12/5/08. CHEVY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THE BRAKES FREE OF CHARGE. I USE MY CAR DAILY. *TR

FROM THE FIRST DAY I HAD THIS CAR, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE COMPLETELY IN THE FIRST FEW USES OF THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY IN WET CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR MISSES OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AND SOMETIMES NOT RELEASING-A THUMPING SOUND IS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE CYLINDER PISTON RELEASES. *TR

I AM CONTINUALLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. I HAD THE THEFT SYSTEM CONTINUALLY COME ON AND PAID $700 TO FIX THAT. FUEL PUMP WENT BAD...$500. I HAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK AND PAID $800 TO FIX THAT. EVERY TIME I GET MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED, THE ROTORS NEED REPLACED TOO, UNTIL THE LAST TIME WHEN THE CALIBERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL $900. NOW I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING MY PIECE OF JUNK. *TR

THE ANTI-FREEZE HOLDING TANK KEEPS GETTING AN OIL RESIDUE IN IT AND THE ANTI-FREEZE KEEPS DISAPPEARING INTO THE ENGINE AND HAS TO KEEP BEING REFILLED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS FAILING. THE A/C SWITCH ALSO TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. ROTORS AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB

FOUND CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES AND MASTER CYLINDER, AND OTHER LINES THAT ARE LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY CORROSION PLATE. THE BATTERY CORROSION PLATE WAS A GOOD IDEA. HOWEVER, PUTTING BRAKE LINES & OTHER COMPONENTS UNDER WERE ARE NOT A GOOD DESIGN. IT'S FLAWED, FOR IF THE BATTERY PLATE BECOMES CORRODED, THEN IT LEAKS ONTO THE LINES BELOW AND CAUSES DAMAGE AS IN MY VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH CHEVROLET ON THE 2002 MALIBU I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE ONCE AT 33,378 MILES ON 5/5/2005 AND AGAIN AT 51,543 MILE ON 3/27/2007. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS REPAIR HAVE INFORMED ME THE REPLACING THE BRAKES AT 18,165 MILES ARE CONSIDERED ?ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.? FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FOUND WHEN THE CAR DID NOT ADEQUACY STOP PLACING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL INDICATOR OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM, INSTEAD I HAD TO RELY ON PERFORMANCE FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD. TO DATE THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. *TR

FIRST INCIDENT OF LEAKING HAPPENED AFTER DEALERSHIP WORKED ON CAR. ARRIVED HOME COOLANT POURED OUT ON GROUND TOWED BACK. DEALERSHIP SAID RESERVOIR CAP SEAL. 10/2006 OR 11/2006, PICKING UP AT SCHOOL AND SMELLED NOT ENGINE. PARKED SAW COOLANT ON GROUND. NO ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NEEDLE WAS PAST MIDDLE. FAMILY BROUGHT COOLANT FILLED IT UP AND WENT 5 BLOCKS TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. YESTERDAY, 1/9/2007 CAR OVERHEATED IN THE SCHOOL LINE. ADDED COOLANT. I BROUGHT IT TO A NON DEALERSHIP RADIATOR SHOP OWNER THINKS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. CAR AT DEALERSHIP. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS BUT BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED FEEL DEALERSHIP WILL TELL ME IT IS A NEW PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST EVENT SO I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE. AT LEAST TWO ROTORS REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL & 5 SETS OF PADS. REPORTED TO GM THEY CLAIM IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE! A NON DEALERSHIP TIRE COMPANY HAD THE PADS REPLACED WITH A GOOD BRAND. 1 1/2 YEARS SINCE I HAD TO HAVE PADS. PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS. CAR IS RUNNING AND THE DRIVER GETS OUT LEAVING CAR ON AND THEN THE PASSENGER TURNS OFF THE CAR AND GETS OUT, LOCKS CAR, THE RADIO STAYS ON. I WENT INSIDE THE STORE AND CAME OUT AND THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING. WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE CAR BUT ENTER ONLY THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND THEN CLOSE IT AND WALK AWAY, THE CAR LOCKS ITSELF. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD NOT PLACED THE KEYS ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT. I REPORTED THIS BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE. RADIO WAS REPLACED FOR LEFT BUTTON PAINT (NOT SURE IF IT IS PAINT OR COVER ON BUTTON) RUBS OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED.. I TRANSPORT GRANDCHILDREN AND I NEED A SAFE CAR. *JB

BRAKE ROTORS ON 2002 MALIBU FAILING EVERY 18000 TO 20000 MILES. (3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS) I HAD THE ROTORS AND BRAKES CHECKED 7 MONTHS AFTER THE LATEST REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF VIOLENT SHIMMING IN THE FRONT END AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER EVERYTHING WAS FINE WITH MY ROTORS AND BRAKES. NOW 5 MONTHS LATER(AFTER THE PARTS WARRANTY EXPIRED) I AM TOLD I NEED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES. GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT. I HAVE HAD 5 NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENT SHIM WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. ALL THE DEALERSHIP WILL SAY IS THEY CAN "SEE A PATTERN". I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY DEATHS WERE CAUSED BY THIS PATTERN! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER HUB AND SPEED SENSOR. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. THE VEHICLE IS A MALIBU. *AK

BOTH FRONT CALIPERS AND BOTH REAR CALIPERS LEAKING. PROBLEM COVERED UNDER MY FIDELITY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE NEW BRAKES THAT I HAD ON THERE WERE RUINED BY BRAKE FLUID CAUSED BY THE LEAK. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER BRAKES. I HAVE 3 FRIENDS WITH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

MY TURN SIGNALS WORK WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN HEAR THE TURN SIGNAL BUT THE LIGHT IS NOT ACTUALLY ON. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ROTORS ON THE CAR THREE TIMES ALL READY AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN THREE YEARS OLD YET. I AM QUITE UPSET BECAUSE BETWEEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE BRAKES I AM AT A HIGH RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND EVERYDAY I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE WITH HER I AM PUTTING BOTH OF OUR LIVES AT RISKS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS THREE YEARS AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON EITHER OF THESE POTENTIALLY LIFE ENDANGERING ISSUES WHEN THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON PREVIOUS MODELS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? *JB

IN 2002, I BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN GIVING ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE WATER FOUND IN BOTH TAIL LIGHTS; THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THERE WAS WATER COMING IN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, THE BRAKES, AND THE TORQUE NEEDING TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THEN IT WAS THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND I GOT THEM REPLACED AT A WALMART; MIND YOU, SINCE THE 1ST PROBLEM, NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT'S THE AIRBAG GONE BAD, COOLING SYSTEM GONE BAD, AND THE BRAKES AGAIN, ALONG WITH A FUEL PUMP. THE CALIPERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED STILL, THE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT, AND THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS WRONG WITHIN THE FUELING SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE CAR NOT START. OH! I ALMOST FORGOT, I PURCHASED A BATTERY 2 WEEKS AGO BECAUSE THAT WENT OUT. I ALWAYS STAY ON TOP OF MY SERVICE FOR THE CAR. THIS CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND I BOUGHT IT NEW OFF THE LOT. IT SUCKS!

DT: FRONT LOADED CALIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. INBOARD PADS ARE WORN AT 100 PERCENT, AND THE OUTBOARD ARE WORN AT 50 PERCENT.TIRES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THEN A CONSTANT SQUEEK WHILE DRIVING. CONTINUED DRIVING MAKES IT WORSE. CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT NOT GETTING A WARNING LIGHT TO TELL HER SHE HAS A PROBLEM. CALLER WAS TOLD A WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON FOR THE BRAKE PADS BEING WORN. IF CALIPER IS NOT FIXED THE PADS WILL BE WORN AT SAME RATE. TIRES PLUS TOLD HER THIS. DEALER TOLD CALLER THEY NEVER HEARD OF CALIPERS CAUSING BRAKE PAD PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

I JUST BOUGHT A USED MALIBU LS 2002. THREE DAYS LATER MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I HEAR SOME VIBRATING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. NOW EVERYTIME I START UP MY CAR AFTER 5 MINUTES THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON.*AK

MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU (3 YRS OLD, JUST OUR OF FACTORY WARRANTY) WITH 33,000 MILES HAD THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE SEIZE UP. I LIMPED IT TO THE DEALER, HALF A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. BY THE TIME I GOT THERE, THE FRONT LEFT BRAKES WERE SMOKING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CALIPER SEIZED UP BECAUSE THE PADS WERE TOO WORN. ALSO THAT THE PADS ON THE LEFT WERE WORN ALSO. THE CHEVY DEALER SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED ON BOTH WHEELS, CALIPERS REPLACED ON BOTH WHEELS, AND NEW PADS & CALIPER BOLTS. TOTAL COST $784 NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PAID $1250 FOR WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE WEAR INDICATORS GAVE VERY LITTLE WARNING THAT THE BRAKES WERE WARN. I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED A YEAR AGO (9000 MILES AGO) AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE. I CAN UNDERSTAND TURNING THE ROTORS. I EXPECT TO PAY FOR PADS. BUT REPLACING THE CALIPERS ON BOTH WHEELS? DID I JUST GET TAKEN FOR A RIDE BY MY CHEVY DEALER? I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF REPORTS ABOUT PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR ON MALIBU. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR. *JB