RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
10
Latest Jun 23, 2010
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.
1%
of 721 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 10 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 transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Jun 23, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. HER THREE YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL AWAY INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,500.

NHTSA ID
10339763
Incident
Jun 22, 2010
Mileage
28,500 mi
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Oct 23, 2006

5 MOS AFTER PURCHASING CAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED: IGNITION MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, FAN BELT, WATER PUMP, KNOCK SENSOR, CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171608
Incident
Dec 15, 2005
Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2003

I PURCHASED MY CAR AT ROBBINS CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TX IN 2001. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD BEEN HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FROM THE START. LAST MONTH THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TOOK IT TO ROBBINS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PCM MODULE, WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THE PCM THAT WAS IN MY VEHICLE WAS NOT FOR A CHEVY MALIBU. ROBBINS SAID THE PCM WAS FOR A PONTIAC, WHICH IS A GM PRODUCT. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT ROBBINS & LANDMARK CHEVY. ROBBINS WANTS US TO PAY FOR THE PCM WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PART THAT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PART COULD HAVE CAME FROM THE FACTORY OR SWITCHED AT THE DEALERSHIP. DO I NEED TO TAKE LEAGAL ACTION TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED??? THE SERVICE DIRECTOR IS TOMMY MORTON

NHTSA ID
10051346
Incident
Dec 10, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Sep 9, 2003

AT APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES MY CAR STARTED HESITATING WHEN STARTING. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO FAULT AND I KEPT DRIVING WITH ONLY PERIODIC PROBLEMS. THEN MY GAS GAUGE, RADIO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND PASSIVE ALARM SYSTEM KEPT COMING ON. AT, 43,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER SAID THE KEY HAD LOST ITS MEMORY BUT I STILL KEPT HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. AT, 48,354 MILES THE CAR TOTALLY WENT OUT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS COVERED TO 50,000 MILES BUT THE DEALER STATED TEH IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT PART OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER WRITTING CHEVY COMPLAINT DEPT MANY TIMES I GOT NO WHERE BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS CALLL THE DEALER, THEY DO NOT GO WITH AN INDEPENDENT BODY JUST THE DEALER THAT GAVE ME THE ADVICE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAD THE DEALER RETURN THE BAD PART TO ME AND WANT TO KNOW IF THIS PART IS COVERED. I PAID 400.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE DEALER DID GIVE ME A 75.00 CREDIT BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER MY KEY MEMORY THEY STATED IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THE ENTIRE TIME.*AK NOW, THE CAR IS AT 54,000 MILES AND COOLANT IS LEAKING AROUND, IN AND NEAR THE ENGINE. I HAVE KEPT THIS CAR IN GOOD REPAIR AND HAVE ALL RECEIPTS. THESE MAJOR PARTS SHOULD NOT BE WEARING DOWN THIS FAST. THE DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE HAZARD SWITCH SHORTLY AFTER I FIRST GOT THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10037538
Incident
Apr 11, 2003
Mileage
43,478 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Apr 15, 2003

AFTER RESEARCHING THE SERVICE BULLETINS SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED/HAD SERVICED ABOUT 85% OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON YOUR DATABASE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, FROM EVERETT CHEVROLET, WA IN 2000. SINCE THE PURCHASE. DATE, I HAD CHEVY DO THE FOLLOWING: NEW BRAKES (ALL THE WAY AROUND - ONCE, FRONT ROTORS/PADS - TWICE), ALL NEW PISTONS, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, MISS ON #1 CYLINDER - REPLACED 1 FAILED SPARK PLUG, LEFT REAR DOOR SQUEAKS WHEN OPEN/SHUT - LUBED (HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW), FRONT LEFT NOISE FROM STRUTS/BRAKES - NOT ABLE TO VERIFY AS OF YET (POSSIBLE STRUT PROBLEM/LUBE), FAN IN DASHBOARD HAS A SOUND IN THE MIDDLE (JUST ABOVE THE CD PLAYER/RADIO) LIKE THERE IS A PIECE OF PAPER CAUGHT IN THE HOUSING (CONFIRMED AFTER 4 COMPLAINTS, FAULTY FAN MOTOR), PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SQUEAKS WHEN OCCUPIED (DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE./FIX), REARVIEW MIRROR RATTLES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (TIGHTENED, STILL DOES IT IN HOT WEATHER). BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS MY FIRST NEW CAR PURCHASE AND I AM HAVING SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT KEEPING THE CAR - AS IT ONLY HAS 21,405 MILES ON IT. WITH THE 3/30 WARRANTY. COMING UP IN OCT. 2003, I AM VERY MUCH AFRAID THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON AND NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING ANYMORE TIME/$$$ ON THIS VEHICLE. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *JB

NHTSA ID
10014436
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 2003

THE PCM LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008999
Incident
Feb 19, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 26, 2002

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WITH NO WARNING GEARS JUMP INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017200
Incident
Aug 16, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

AUTOMATIC WENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE AS I WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. DRAGGED ME SOME 30 FEET BEFORE CROSSING I-8 EAST OF SAN DIEGO, CA. I HAD A CHEST CONTUSION, BROKEN TOE ON RIGHT FOOT, AND SEVERE BRUISING WITH BLEEDING.*AK

NHTSA ID
748537
Transmission
Filed Jun 23, 2001

PROBLEM FIRST REPORTED ON 5 JUNE. CAR SPENT ALL DAY 6 JUNE AT THE DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.JUNE 9 TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING. JUNE 14 TRANSMISSON AT LOW SPEEDS IN HEAVY SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF GEAR.JUNE 14 CAR WENT TO THE DEALER AND AT THIS TIME IT IS STILL AT STAN ROBERTS CHEVROLET. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
747285
Incident
Jun 14, 2001
Transmission
Filed Mar 9, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
882547

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .