Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 91 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.
The 25 most recent of 91, in the owner's own words
BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXIST AS OF THIS DATE. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. A RECALL PROBLEM. HAS BEEN IN DEALERS SERV. DEPT FOR REPAIRS ABOUT 4 TIMES THIS YEAR OF 2015. THIS ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2011. IN DEALERS FOR REPAIR RIGHT NOW SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND REINSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DAY LATER, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND TURN SIGNAL RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WOULD FAIL TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION.THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. NE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN WE WOULD JUST START THE CAR IT WOULD REV UP TO BETWEEN 3000 TO 4000 RPM AND IT WOULD STAY THAT WAY. THIS WAS ONLY ONE WAY THAT IT WOULD ACT UP. THE OTHER WAYS WERE WHEN YOU WERE JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR WOULD START TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. BOTH WAYS YOU HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKE AND RIDE IT HARD IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF US. WE HAD IT IN TO ONE DEALER TWICE WITH NOTHING GETTING FIXED. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER THREE TIMES, THEY RANDOMLY REPLACED DIFFERENT THINGS (GUESSING) AT OUR COST, BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. WE EVEN TOOK IT IN WHEN IT WAS REVVING UP TO 3000 RPM, WHILE THEY WERE UNDER THE HOOD IT EVEN WENT HIGHER! WE WERE TOLD TO TURN IT OFF BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID IT WOULD BLOW, BUT WHEN WE CAME BACK TO PICK IT UP THEY SAID THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY COULDN'T FIX IT IF IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR THEM AGAIN. THEY TOLD US THAT THE BEST THING FOR US TO DO WAS TO TRADE THE CAR IN ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE, WE TOLD HIM THAT THIS THING IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND NOT JUST TRADED IN. WE CONTACTED GM AND TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM NOT ONLY TO MY WIFE AND MYSELF BUT TO OTHERS. GM DID NOTHING TO ASSIST WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IF THE DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP US. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE DEALERS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE. WE HAVE APPROX. 116,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION. WE STILL HAVE THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER AT THIS TIME, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A TIME BOMB. *TR
ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 MALIBU ON I-75 AT 70 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE SEIZED AND SHE WENT INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN, HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND RESTED FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO THE IDENTICAL THING HAPPENED ON I-275, ALSO IN THE RAIN. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT SHE SPUN TO THE RIGHT AFTER THE BRAKE SEIZED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC ONE YEAR AGO AND HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE HEAT SHRINK CONNECTOR ON ONE OF THE POWER WIRES GOING TO THE CALIPER. HE WAS CERTAIN HE HAD REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE BRAKES SINCE THE ACCIDENT 2 DAYS AGO, BUT THE CAR ACTED THE SAME WAY. WE WANT TO BE SURE SOMEONE DOES NOT GET KILLED FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT OUR DAUGHTER ONLY RECEIVED A SERIOUS FRIGHT BOTH TIMES. *TR
REAR PARKING BRAKE EQUALIZER RUSTED OUT, LEADING TO LOSS OF EMERGENCY BRAKING AND PARKING BRAKES. UNABLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT PART WITHOUT REPLACING FRONT CABLE. *TR
DANGEROUS BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE EVERY 16,000 MILES LIKE CLOCK WORK. CAUSES WEAK BRAKES AND EXTREME WARE TO FRONT END MOVING PARTS. NEW TOP OF THE LINE ROTORS AND PADS WILL NOT CURE PROBLEM. IT IS AN ENGINEERING SCREW UP. THIS IS AN ONGOING ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND WHY GM IS GOING BROKE. *TR
BOUGHT 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU NEW ON MARCH 14,2001 ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AROUND 35,000 MILES. HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE. SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. IT IS EITHER PISTON SLAP OR BAD LIFTERS. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX ISSUE AT THE TIME. CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. ALSO THIS VEHICLE HAS POOR BRAKES. REPLACE ROTORS AND SHOES AT 12,000 MILES AT DEALER. REPLACED ROTORS AGAIN AT DEALER AT 30,000 MILES. CURRENTLY HAS 111,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX ENGINE ISSUE AT LITTLE OR NO COST. BRAKE ISSUE IS BETTER WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. *TR
IN THE PAST 3 YEARS WE HAVE HAD TWO SETS OF FRONT CALIPERS LOCKE DON THE 2001 CHEVY MALIBU. BOTH OF THESE HAVE CAUSED REPLACEMENTS OF BOTH THE CALIPERS AND THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUAL FAILURES WITH THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS. WHEN BRAKING IT APPEARED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE BRAKING LOCK UPS WAS ENGAGING WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO. BRAKES WERE WEARING AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE , WHICH WAS WARPING THE ROTORS WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BRAND NEW. PULSATING NOISE WAS COMMON ALONG WITH SCRAPING AND SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL. IN RESEARCHING IT APPEARED THAT THE MALIBU HAD AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF BRAKE FAILURES IN A SHORT TIME. SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE ANY FURTHER INJURIES OR DEATH OCCUR. *AK
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ON HIS 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU (50000 FAILURE MILEAGE) HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MONTHS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO THE OIL. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SIX TIMES CONCERNING THESE ISSUES. THE BRAKE AND MANIFOLD PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN INSPECTION, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/03/06*JB
MY ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AND MY BRAKES GIVE OUT WHEN I AM TRYING TO STOP.
2001 MALIBU HAS HAD FRONT BRAKE DISC AND BATTERY REPLACED, 16804 MILES ON VEHICLE.. MECHANIC HAS NOW INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TS *JB
THIRD REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND BRAKES WITHIN 3 YEARS OF OWNING CAR. *JB
THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 8K MILES APART. *NM
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE ABS ACTIVATES WITH OUT WARNING EVEN IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED
2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING AND THE COOLING SYSTEMS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR ONE MONTH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT IT WOULDN'T START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE'S COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK AT THE BY PASS PIPE AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD WERE WORN LOOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND SET THE FRONT END. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM
CAR HAS VIBRATIONS AT HIGHER SPEEDS 60+ WAS TOLD IT WAS TIRES/WHEELS THEY WERE REPLACED FOR $280 FOR TIRES AND $200 FOR JUST STEEL RIMS. CAR STILL VIBRATED AT HIGH SPEEDS AND ALSO FELT LIKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED-THE KIND OF VIBRATING WHEN BRAKING. REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS $49 A PIECE FOR ROTORS AND $40 A PIECE FOR BRAKE PADS. CAR CONTINUED TO VIBRATE EXCEPT WHEN STOPPING. AFTER TIME NOW (3 MOS) WHEN THE CAR IS VIBRATING AND YOU GO TO SLOW DOWN IT SHAKES THE CAR EVEN WORSE. WAS THEN TOLD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS. JUST DID THAT YESTERDAY THEY COST ME $230 NOT ONLY DOES THE CAR STILL VIBRATE IT HAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN YOU TRUN TO THE RIGHT NOW. SINCE IVE BOUGHT IT IT HAS VIBRATIONS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND A "RUBBING" VV, VV, VV NOISE WHEN TURING RIGHT. AFTER REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS THE CAR STILL MAKES ALL THE NOISES AND GRINDS NOW. DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO FIX IT, BEGINNING TO THINK IM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END. REALLY USED TO TRUST CHEVY NOW IM NOT SO SURE. I HAVE HAD WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I JUST BOUGHT IT IN JULY2004- RIDICULOUS IF YOU ASK ME.
2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS, COOLING SYSTEM AND THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: A CONTINUOUS BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS, THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH. THE RIGHT SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL, THEREFORE THE INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. *SC *JB
ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED APOXIMATELY. 2003 AND JAN. 2005. *AK
AT 36,370 MILES HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET ON 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *BF THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 28,000 AND THE BLOWER ONLY WORKED ON HIGH SPEED. *JB
I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED TWICE SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2001. I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM BUTLER CHEVROLET FOR THE TURN SIGNAL/FLASHER PROBLEM WHICH WAS LATER RECALLED AND I WAS REIMBURSED. I TOOK IT TO DON DARR CHEVY WHICH FIXED A FAULTY SWITCH OPERATING THE AIR CONDITIONER/SWITCHING TO OUTSIDE AIR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DOBBS WHEN IT WOULD NOT START, THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND ASSEMBLY MODULE. TODAY,JIM BUTLER CHEVROLET REPLACED THE LOCK CYLINDER AND IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE OF THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT AND THE CAR NOT STARTING.BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NOT WORKING. OH! BUT THEY NOTICED A RECALL ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND REPLACED IT. THEY WERE THE ONE WHO REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME. I ALSO TOLD THEM OF THE OVER CRANK/GRINDING NOISE AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED, HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE, SO NO REPAIR. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS CAR OR CHEVY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND THE EXPENSE IT HAS CAUSED AND COST ME. I USED TO HOLD CHEVROLET IN HIGH REGARD, BUT CAN NO LONGER RECOMMEND ANYONE OWNING ONE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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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