NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEMS- FAILURE , IGNITION PROBLEMS, REPLACEMENT, FAILURE TO START. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START FOR A WEEK AND WAS TOWED. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KEPT ACTIVATING. SHE HAD TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING IT TO STALL. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ONE WEEK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 03-27-09 *BF UPDATED 03/31/09. *JB
I HAVE HAD MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2002. AFTER RUNNING FINE FOR A FEW YEARS, IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP RECURRING PROBLEMS. THE WHEEL BEARINGS (BOTH FRONT) HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE CALIPERS. *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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED SPORADICALLY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF HIS INTENTION TO TURN THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN ISSUED BY GM. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY 25% OF THE COST FOR A NEW ENGINE. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER INSTEAD OF HAVING IT TOWED, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT/PASSLOCK SYSTEM OF MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT HE REPORTED THAT ONE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. THE CAR EITHER SELECTIVELY WON'T START, AND THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TO LET THE KEY SIT IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MIN, AND THEN IT USUALLY STARTS. ONCE THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, AND THE THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF ON ME AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERS ARE GIVING ME A RUN-AROUND. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH, TOTALING OVER $1100, AND THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEN AFTER TALKING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER, I DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD THE SAME 2 THINGS REPLACED WHEN HE OWNED THE CAR, ONLY 3-4 YEARS AGO. I TALKED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY ARE GIVING ME A HARD TIME, AND I DON'T TRUST THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THIS TIME EITHER, LET ALONE FREE OF CHARGE. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY, BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE COME ACROSS SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE ON THE INTERNET AND FROM OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CARS. I'M WONDERING WHY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. PLEASE HELP!!! I'M OUT OF MONEY FOR MORE REPAIRS, AND I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT FEAR OF IT STOPPING OR NOT STARTING ON ME. *TR
PASSLOCK II THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 70,000 MILES WITH THE THEFT LIGHT ONCE IN AWHILE COMING ON AND BLINKING ON THE DASHBOARD AND NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO START, UNLESS YOU WAITED 10 MINUTES WITH THE IGNITION KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION UNTIL THE THEFT LIGHT WENT OFF. THEN AROUND 80,000 MILES "ALMOST" EVERY TIME YOU WOULD TRY TO START THE CAR YOU WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND THE FUEL PUMP TO TURN ON BEFORE STARTING THE CAR, WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY A RESULT OF THE PASSLOCK II RESISTORS NOT REGISTERING IN THE IGNITION KEY TUMBLER. THERE WAS ALSO A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND ONCE WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AFTER READING ABOUT HOW COMMON THE PASSLOCK II PROBLEM WAS ON SOME OF THE GM VEHICLES AND HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT COULD POSSIBLY RETURN ANYWAY, WE DECIDED TO JUST GET ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
THE SEAL ON THE BACK LIGHTS GETS BAD AND ALLOWS MOISTURE TO GET IN AND SHORT OUT THE BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL AND BACK UP LIGHTS. REPAIRS ARE OVER $200 AND THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE LIGHTING HOUSING IS REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, BECAUSE LIVING NEAR ATLANTA, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE WORKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. COME ON GM, MAKE DRIVERS OF YOUR VEHICLES SAFE!!!!! *TR
ANTI THEFT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF MY CAR. MY CAR SITS OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME. IT WAS -4 THIS MORNING, WENT TO START CAR AND ANTI THEFT KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM SINCE BUYING USED IN SEPT 06. *TR
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WORK INTERNITTANTLY ON THIS AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. *TR
MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU'S THEFT SYSTEM SPORADICALLY, BUT FREQUENTLY WILL START FLASHING AND MY CAR WON'T START. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND WAIT FOR THE THEFT LIGHT TO TURN OFF. I TURN THE KEY OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR STARTS. VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS BEING STRANDED FOR 10 MINUTES - ANYWHERE. *TR
PASSLOCK SENSOR ACTIVATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED FOR 10 MINUTES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD PUT SOMEONE'S LIFE AT RISK. *TR
CAR REFUSED TO START. LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IN NASHVILLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED, TWICE. IT TOOK 2 TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC BEFORE THEY REALIZED IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM,. IT LOCKED UP THE IGNITION FOR THIRTY MINUTES. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT TO WAIT UNTIL THE CAR DECIDED TO LET ME START IT. *TR
TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. HAVE HAD CAR THE DEALER - THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I FIND LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN MANY OF THESE CARS. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START DO TO ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. YOU MUST WAIT TEN MIN FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF THEN RESTART THE CAR. *TR
MY ABS SYSTEM OR BRAKES WHATEVER IT MIGHT OF BEEN MADE THE CAR EASILY HYDROPLAN. THE TIRES MADE A VIBRATING SOUND ALONG WITH VIBRATION THROUGH THE CAR. DUE TO THE FACT THAT IM A DECENT DRIVER I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CAR VERY WELL AT TIMES MOST WOULDN'T. FURTHERMORE MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AT TIMES, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE WITH WHOLE SYSTEM FAILURE LEADING UP TO THE LASTS DAY I DROVE IT. *TR
VEHICLE PREVENTED FROM STARTING DUE TO DEFECTIVE "THEFT DETERRENT" SYSTEM KNOWN AS PASS LOCK. *TR
THE TURN SIGNALS ON OUR CAR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. NO EVENT LED UP TO THIS. THEY ARE UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS. *TR
MY CHEVY MALIBU WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES WAS STARTING TO HESITATE AND NOT THE POWER UP HILLS LIKE IT WAS BEGGING FOR GAS. WELL A WEEK LATER AFTER PARKING IT IN THE MORNING AND GOING TO USE IT SOME HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL PUMP WENT AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP SINCE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. MANAGER OF REPAIR SHOP WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE PUMP WENT WITH SUCH FEW MILES. *JB
WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET OR SNOWY, AND THERE IS POSSIBLE SLICK SPOTS ON THE ROAD, THE ABS IS ENGAGED EVEN WHEN YOU ARE PULLING UP SLOWLY TO THE STOP SIGN, OR SLOWING DOWN TO ARRIVE HOME, OR EVEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY... WHAT HAPPENS, IS WHEN DOING THOSE THINGS IN WEATHER AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, IF YOU ATTEMPT TO PUT THE BREAKS ON IT MAKES AN AWFUL GRINDING SOUND AND PUSHED BACK ON YOU SO YOU CANT BREAK... THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES JUST BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY... I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN BEHIND SOMEONE THIS IS RIGHT ON MY RESIDENTIAL STREET SO I WAS NOT SPEEDING AT ALL, IT WAS A RAINY DAY BUT THE RAIN WAS LIGHT, I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES ON MY CAR TOO. AS I PULLED UP BEHIND MY NEIGHBORS CAR TO THE STOP SIGN, I WAS BARELY PUSHING DOWN MY BREAK PEDDLE WHEN IT PUSHED BACK AT ME AND MADE T HIS DEEP SOUND I COULDN'T STOP AND I ALMOST HIT MY NEIGHBOR. I WENT TO MY LONG TIME MECHANIC AND HE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE ON A CLEAR DAY.... HE TOOK IT ON SOME GRAVEL AND STOPPED HARD WELL THE BREAKS DID THE SAME THING. HE SAID IT WAS THE ABS EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T LOOK AT THEM. I THINK IT IS THE WHEEL BEARINGS. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND NON OF THEM DID THAT TO ME ON WET OR SNOWY DAYS! I KNOW IT ISN'T NORMAL AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AND IF THE ABS ARE GOING TO BE THAT STINGY THEN MY CHANCES OF CRASHING WILL BE 99% HIGHER! *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
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU 37,000MI. THE VEHICLE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM( PASSLOCK SYSTEM),FAILURE. VEHICLE WON'T START. RECENTLY GOT THE CAR STARTED BUT NOW THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY. *TR
ANTIFREEZE IS GOING BAD AT LOW MILEAGE (75,000 MILES BELOW LIFE EXPECTANCY), BECOMING CAUSTIC, AND CAUSING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS TO DISSOLVE CAUSING A LEAK, ALSO CAUSING HEAD GASKETS TO LEAK LEADING TO MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. THIS LEADS TO AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AT BEST AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT WORST. THE ANTI FREEZE IS OBVIOUSLY A BAD FORMULATION AND/OR INTERACTS WITH COMPONENTS TO BECAME CAUSTIC. THIS IS A DEFECT AND REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET HOW PREVALENT THIS PROBLEM IS. NO NOTICE TO OWNERS WAS EVER SENT TO REPLACE THE ANTIFREEZE BEFORE IT BECAME CAUSTIC. *TR
1. NORMAL USAGE OF CAR 2. ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGES ARBITRARILY CAUSING CAR NOT TO START FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL YOU DO A RESET PROCEDURE. NOTIFIED IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. IT SEEMS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE. ALSO, REPORTS SHOW THE NEW PART WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DEFECT. 3. NOTHING, TO EXPENSIVE, SHOULD BE COVERED AS A DEFECT. *TR
HAZARD LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WILL QUIT WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THEN RESTART SO THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ILLUMINATE. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,627 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 10/23/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT, HOWEVER, THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TOOK TEN MINUTES TO FINALLY START. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE THEFT LIGHT DIMMED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,900. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE IN THE COMPUTER. I REPLACED THE COMPUTER 11 MONTHS AGO AND ALREADY I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE TRICKS THE COMPUTER AND DISABLES THE ENGINE FROM IGNITING. *TR
HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE ADDITION OF THE 2002 MALIBU TO THE RECALL FOR TURNING LIGHT FAILURE BY DEALERSHIP AS OF THIS DATE .. EVEN AFTER I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS OR COVERAGE BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK
PASSLOCK SENSOR PREVENTED STARTING THE CAR ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS USED. HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR. *TR
I OWN A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE AS WELL AS MULTIPLE VISITS TO MY MECHANIC, I NOW REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM I AM ENCOUNTERING IS A COMMON ONE FOR MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM OR "PASSLOCK". MY CAR WILL FAIL TO START BECAUSE THE PASSLOCK SENSOR DETECTS WHAT IT THINKS IS AN IMPROPER KEY. A 10 MINUTE DELAY WILL ENSUE WHERE I CAN NOT START MY CAR AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH IS HAS HAPPENED UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY! I FIND IT COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT CHEVROLET HAS NOT RECALLED THE CAR FOR THIS ERROR. I CAN NO LONGER RUN THE RISK OF GETTING STUCK IN A BAD SITUATION/AREA AND MY CAR FAILING ME. *TR
2002 MALIBU WON'T START PROBABLY DUE TO THE ANTI THEFT PASS LOCK SENSOR. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE WERE ABLE TO START THE NEXT DAY. HOWEVER IT' HAPPENING AGAIN AND I CANNOT START THE CAR FROM THE LAST THREE HOURS. GET GM OF THEIR BEHINDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY MAKING THE ISSUE A RECALL.*AK
ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM ON UTES2002 MALIBU. WAIT TIME OF 10 TO 30 MINUTES TO RESET. CAR WILL NOT START. SAFTY ISSUE DUE TO NO RELIABLE SAFE WAY TO CRANK CAR. *AK
TURN SIGNALS WORKED FINE UNTIL MID 2007, THEN THEY STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET THEM TO WORK, THEN THEY ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON AGAIN. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT IT IS VERY UNSAFE! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I AM TRYING TO WAIT FOR A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IF THAT DOESN'T COME SOON, I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT MYSELF AT MY COST! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THEY BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, BUT WERE BLINKING VERY FAST. CURRENTLY, THE HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V107000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS) AND INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE05055 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BULBS AND FUSES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT EVEN WHEN THE SYSTEM IS REPAIRED, THE UNIT WILL FAIL AGAIN AT SOME POINT. THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AN OFFER TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS REMAINED AT THE SHOP SINCE THE DATE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
MY CAR HAS AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK AND I HAVE TO FILL IT ONCE A WEEK. I WENT TO CHEVY AND HAD A TEST DOWN ON IT. THE TEST SHOWED THAT MY LOW INTAKE GASKETS ARE BAD. CHEVY QUOTED ME $900.00 FOR FIX. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES USE. OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS THE CAR HAS EXHIBITED A FAILURE TO START. A LITTLE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A COMMON FAILURE OF THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE TEMPORARY FIX IS TO RESET THE SYSTEM BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND WAITING 10-15 MINUTES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND INCONVENIENT. AT THIS POINT IT DOESN'T REPRESENT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, IN THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM ISN'T SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE DOES REPRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. MY STEPSON USES THIS CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK AND TO COLLEGE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS SAFETY IF HE CAN'T START THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, E.G., TO AVOID CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. IF THIS WERE A SMALL THING TO HAVE REPAIRED, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN SO MUCH, BUT MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT WILL COST NEARLY $500. AS I SAID ABOVE, THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON--OR SO MY INTERNET RESEARCH TELLS ME. GM SHOULD RECALL THIS POORLY DESIGNED MECHANISM. THANK YOU. --TED KRINER *TR
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED FROM BEING ABLE TO START ON THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO RESET IT BY TURNING THE KEY ON AND WAIED 15 TO 20 MINUTES. ONCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING ALL THE TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. *AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE THEFTLOCK KEY PASS SENSOR KEEPS FAILING AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE VEHICLE. TO CORRECT THIS THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. I AM TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE THEFTLOCK FEATURE. *TR
MY WIFE WAS OUT DOING DAILY ERRANDS AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. THEN, AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS IT STILL WOULDN'T START. CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC, AND THE NEXT DAY BEFORE ANY WORK WAS DONE THE CAR STARTED, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN, A FEW WEEKS LATER MY WIFE AND SON WERE OUT DOING ERRANDS AGAIN AND SAME THING HAPPENED, BUT LUCKILY AFTER A HALF HOUR OF TRYING TO START THE CAR IT DID START. THE BATTERY WAS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD ,AND NO OTHER NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. I WAS AFRAID THAT MY WIFE AND 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE GOING TO END UP STRANDED. THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD BWAS THAT IT COULD BE LINKED TO THE FACTORY SECURITY CODE USED IN THE CAR, BUT NO ONE STATED THAT THEY COULD TEST FOR THAT, THEY JUST ASSUMED THATS WHAT HAPPENED. HAS ANY ONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *AK
(1) 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. 3100 V6 ENGINE. GASKET FAILURE/FACTORY DEFAULT. (2) ONLY 22,200 MILES, AND INTAKE GASKET HAS FAILED. (3) WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, IS A GM FACTORY RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
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
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FREQUENTLY PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING THE CAR.*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
TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY. I TRIED TO FIND A RECALL BUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAS A RECALL FOR CHEVY MALIBU'S UP TO THE YEAR 2001. I HAVE REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. *JB
ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I REPLACED 1/2 GALLON OF COOLANT. AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED AN ORANGE GEL ON MY OIL CAP. I FIGURED IT WAS AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK; THEREFORE, IT WAS PROBABLY A HEAD GASKET LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. IF THE GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED PROMPTLY, THE ENGINE OIL WOULD FAIL TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE RESULT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. 8JB
I HAVE OWN MY 2002 MALIBU SINCE DECEMBER 2001 HAVE CHANGED THE A/C CONTROL SWITCH 3 TIMES. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TODAY FOR THE SAME REASON. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS SINCE THE LAST NEW SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE A/C WILL CHANGE FROM BLOWING OUT AIR CONDITIONING TO JUST BLOWING AIR. MY HUSBAND TELLS ME THAT THIS LAST TIME THE AIR CIRCULATION CHANGED FROM INSIDE AIR TO OUTSIDE AIR. THIS WAS A GREAT VEHICLE, BUT AN EXTREMELY ANNOYING PROBLEM. IS THERE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OFF? *AK
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 142,000. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A DRY NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CHECKED EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WOULD WORK WERE THE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FUSE BLEW INSTANTLY. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK