RoadVitals

2000 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Oct 7, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 922 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
21
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
16

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Oct 7, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE AIR BAGS AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10643118
Incident
Jan 17, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Oct 2, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEW UP AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE ROOF RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID
10640930
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
190,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 19, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. DJR

NHTSA ID
10637472
Incident
Apr 21, 2014
Mileage
168,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Sep 17, 2014

I AM APPALLED THAT I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, AND WHEN I GO TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE, NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID OCTOBER. THE RECALL NOTICE STATES WE SHOULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2014. HOWEVER, WHAT'S THE POINT? THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10637078
Incident
Sep 17, 2014
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2014
Crash reported

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I 40 DOING 65MPH CROSS OVER THE MEDIA LUCKLY THEIR WERE NO OTHER CAR BESIDE ME OR COMING AFTER I CROSS THE MEDIA ALL I KNOW IT PICKED UP SPEED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL HAD STUCK AND IT JUKE LIKE BUT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T COME OUT IT TORE THE FRONT END OF THE BODY UP THE IT ACCELERATE BY IT SELF SOMETIME JUST SEATING STILL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10633598
Incident
Jun 17, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED,ENGINE POWER WAS LOST, BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE,I HIT A POLED,BORKE BOTH LEGS, HAVE A ROD IN FEMUR AND MESSED UP MY KNEE,STILL RECOVERING AND IN AWHEEL CHAIR FOR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622221
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Mileage
129,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 8, 2010

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 4 MPH, TURN SIGNS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348032
Incident
Aug 7, 2010
Mileage
85,210 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Dec 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE COOLANT IS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,600.

NHTSA ID
10252198
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
Mileage
93,600 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 4, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONTAL ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236946
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
61,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 2, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

HAD A SPIN OUT ACCIDENT TRAVELING 55 MPH - 60 MPH, HIT A GUARD RAIL FRONT ENDED, SPUN AND HIT THE REAR END OF CAR ON THE SAME GUARD RAIL, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169719
Incident
Sep 21, 2006
Mileage
42,315 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2005

MY 2000 MALIBU RECENTLY DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND ENGINE OFF. I CONTACTED POLICE THINKING THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT, ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE WAS VISIBLE. THE POLICE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE AT ALL THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. I THEN CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE BLACK BOX AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED THE USE OF THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I WAS TREATED VERY RUDELY WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE GM NATIONAL OFFICE REGARDING THE EXPENSE I WOULD INCUR FOR RENTAL CAR BECAUSE LOCAL DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE LOANER. BASICALLY, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THEN WAS TALKING TO A MECHANIC AT A DIFFERENT SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT IMPACT OF ANY KIND. HE TOLD ME ABOUT A RECENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN OKLAHOMA OVER THIS ISSUE. BEFORE I SPEND THE $100'S OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144871
Incident
Dec 7, 2005
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2005

DT: AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDES WHILE CALLER WAS TURNING A CORNER AT 10 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10130763
Incident
Jul 31, 2005
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT: CONTACT STATES HER DAUGHTER WAS IN A 4 VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT AND THE REAR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10122128
Incident
Apr 25, 2005
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2005
1 injury reported

BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE REVERSING. THIS RESULTED IN LOWER FACE AND NECK INJURIES TO THE DRIVER UPON IMPACT. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT INDICATE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT JUST WANTED TO REPAIR IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10113657
Incident
Mar 6, 2005
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 3, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE ENTERING A ON RAMP AT 25-40 MPH CONSUMER COLLIDED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE STALLED AT THE END OF RAMP. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN BY THE CONSUMER, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES. POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10038087
Incident
Aug 11, 2003
Mileage
52,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE APPRAISER STOPPED WHEN REPAIRS ESTIMATED EXCEEDED $6700.00. *AK *CB

NHTSA ID
10026471
Incident
Feb 6, 2003
Mileage
35,456 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2003

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK THE VEHICLES FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012319
Airbags
Filed Dec 11, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY INDICATOR AIR BAG LIGHT BECOME INOPERABLE. DUE TO A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. DEALER INSPECTED AND NOTANY LONGER UNDER GUARANTEE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8024231
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHEN VEHICLE FISHTAILED IT WAS HIT IN FRONT END ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL TWICE, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES AND VEHICLE WAS DECALRED A TOTAL LOSS.*JB

NHTSA ID
8017210
Incident
Aug 16, 2002
AirbagsSteeringTires & wheels
Filed Aug 8, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH OWNER SUDDENLY HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND FROM REAR. REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED FROM SPINDLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT. VEHICLE DID STRIKE CENTER DIVIDER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8015827
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Apr 7, 2002
Crash reported

PUT 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS & ROTORS (AT 16,000, 33,000, 42,000) ON THIS CAR & NOW NEEDS REPAIRING AGAIN. HAD FRONT END COLLISION, HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR WAS COMPLETELY CRUSHED. BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES. WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A WRECK IF SOMETHING HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER REPAIRS FROM WRECK, LEAKING COOLANT - RESULTED IN BLOWN HEAD GASKET. EDWARDS CHEV & ADJUSTER SAID WAS NOT FROM WRECK - PROBLEM PROBABLY STARTED BEFORE WRECK. CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER WHEN PARKING. FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.*AK

NHTSA ID
760375
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 29, 2001
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE DAYS PREVIOUS TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GAVE SIGNS THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE ALARM WAS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
895449
Incident
Jul 24, 2001
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

2000, CHEVROLET, MALIBU BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL.*AK THE ENTIRE FRONT HOOD WAS KNOCKED TO WINDSHIELD, CONSUMER IS STILL UNDERGOING PYSICAL THERAPY FOR INJURIES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
894614
Incident
Jun 10, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 21, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE THAT RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT HURT HER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
890851
Incident
May 21, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 20, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONT END IMPACT AND CAR ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE AND STEERING WHEEL BROKEN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
747103
Incident
Jun 15, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .