2002 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who reported the mileage at 105,000. The key was stuck in the ignition, but was replaced. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The seller provided the VIN from the title and a Carfax report that the vehicle had only two previous owners. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 49,500. Upon research, the Good Car report indicated that there were several owners of the vehicle. The contact stated the seller was possibly deceiving buyers. A Carfax report was not provided. There were no other agencies contacted.

NHTSA ID

11750609

Incident

Jun 23, 2023

Mileage

105,000 mi

The anti-theft/ passlock system fault in this generation of GM vehicles is very widespread and effects a large percentage of vehicles in this generation. I am sure there have been hundreds if not thousands of complaints about same issue and GM refuses to fix the problem. The problem causes the car to randomly shut off due to anti theft fault and can happen on interstate, highway or in town driving. This is a very dangerous fault and very expensive for owners especially when dealerships themselves don't even know what they are dealing with. They will throw parts at the problem with no real knowledge. GM needs to be held accountable. Currently the ignition the BCM have been replaced and now the car will not start at all and I have no lights or gauges on my cluster.

NHTSA ID

11429635

Incident

Aug 18, 2021

THE TURN SIGNALS WORK SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEAMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MAKE. IF THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS THERE SHOULD BE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE SON.

NHTSA ID

11354759

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

137,800 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11353599

Incident

Aug 23, 2020

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWS: THE ENGINE JUST DIES RANDOMLY. WHEN THE ENGINE DIES, I NOTED THE GAUGES ALL INDICATED THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED. THEY BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND WIGGLING IT ONLY AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUTTING THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE PARK POSITION, COULD I GET THE CAR TO START AND BE ON MY WAY. THIS SAME CONDITION HAPPENS AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY; AT 0 MPH; 5 MPH; APPROACHING A STOP SIGN; SLOWING THE VEHICLE, AND OTHER CONDITION WHILE DRIVING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF TYPE DRIVING CONDITIONS . I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACE TWICE AND THAT HAS NOT CURED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11257249

Incident

Sep 22, 2019

Mileage

131,652 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HESITATED WHEN STARTED. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING BECAME VERY DIM AND THE DATA ON THE SCREEN WAS NOT VISIBLE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT JUMPED THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. LATER, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MECHANIC WAS CURRENTLY PERFORMING A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,786.

NHTSA ID

11221215

Incident

Apr 9, 2019

Mileage

46,786 mi

PASSLOCK CENSOR IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILING. SECURITY RELEARN NEEDED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11180974

Incident

Jan 18, 2019

Mileage

154,000 mi

CAR WOULD NOT START, HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR. ONE WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM, HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT NOW SAYING ITS THE BATTERY SO REPLACED THAT. WAS STARTING OK THEN IT WOULDN'T START SO WE WIGGLED KEY AROUND AND IT STARTED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SEVERAL DAYS DOING THIS BUT THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP I SEE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. GM CARS ARE CRAP!!! I CANT AFFORD TO FIX THIS I AM ON VERY LIMITED BUDGET SO MY CAR BEEN SITING FOR OVER MONTH NOW. GM NEEDS TO FIX FOR FREE.

NHTSA ID

11151860

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

107,490 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY FELT HOT WHILE IN THE IGNITION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11114471

Incident

Jul 23, 2018

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY VEHICLE IS MESSING UP ON ME AND IT WAS SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE IS MESSING UP ON ME IT WILL SHUT OFF WELL DRIVING ILL PULL OVER AND WAIT A COUPLE MINS AND I WILL PULL OUT THE FUEL FUSE AND WAIT A COUPLE MINS AND WILL PUT IT BACK AND IT WILL START AGAIN AFTER A WEEK IT SHUT OFF ON ME AND WOULD NOT START HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AND MARJORAM WORKED FOR 5DAYS THEN THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN CHANGED THE SENSORS WORKED OK FOR 2DAYS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN SO I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS FUEL FILTER ALL FUSES STILL NOTHING ITS BEEN SITTING FOR 3 TO 4 MONTHS NOW I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM I CHANGED EVERYTHING U CAN THING OF NOW THE CHECK ENGINE AND TEST SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11111379

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

MY CAR CUTS OFF AND GOES INTO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WHILE I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY CAR HAS TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THEN I HAVE TO SIT WITH MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN AND MY KEY TURNED ON FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESETS ITSELF THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 150 IN DANVILLE KENTUCKY. PLUSMY HEATING SYSTEM IS MESSED UP I CAN'T GET IT TO BLEED OUT THE AIR IN THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11090133

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

Mileage

155,263 mi

KEY DOES NOT SHUT OFF CAR CAN NOT SHIFT GEARS

NHTSA ID

11064944

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

ANTI-THEFT LOCKING DEVICE MAKE CAR STOP AND CAN'T START EVEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAD GONE TO BANK AND WHEN TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND WOULDN'T START. CLIENT IS 88 YEARS OLD AND HAD TO GO OUT ON STREET SEEKING HELP TO GET CAR FIXED. (FORGOT CELL PHONE AT HOME) WALKED SOME DISTANCE AND WAS HAVING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS WHEN SHE REACHED AN AUTO SHOP. MECHANIC WENT TO CAR TO HELP AND FIXED PROBLEM. SAID IT WAS ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM. THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS ANTI-THEFT LOCKING DEVICE. RESEARCHING MATTER ON INTERNET AND FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHEVROLETS EXHIBITING THE SAME DEFECT. WHY ISN'T CHEVROLET REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME DIES AS A RESULT. WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL CIRCUMSTANCES OF BEING STRANDED, WHERE WHEN HOW ETC., AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE ON FIXED INCOME THEY CAN'T KEEP GOING TO DEALER AND HAVE $108 DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE PROBLEM (WHEN THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS) AND THEN CHARGING BIG BUCKS TO FIX A MINOR FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

NHTSA ID

11044823

Incident

Nov 5, 2017

Mileage

46,000 mi

ANTI THEFT DEVICE CAUSED CAR TO BE UNABLE TO START EVEN WITH CORRECT KEY. STATIONARY. COMPUTER HAD TO.BE REPROGRAMMED.

NHTSA ID

11033204

Incident

Oct 12, 2017

CAR WILL NOT START

NHTSA ID

11000336

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

MY CAR DIES RUNNING AND IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T WANTS TO START DUE TO A SWITCH PROBLEM THE SAME I HAD IN OTHER MALIBU THAT I HAD AND THE DEALER FIXED FOR ME

NHTSA ID

10995274

Incident

Jun 7, 2017

Mileage

39,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/06/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10995174

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE OURISMAN CHEVROLET DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,333.

NHTSA ID

10992730

Incident

May 23, 2017

Mileage

10,333 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHERVOLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10971580

Incident

Sep 22, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

:TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED AND NEXT DAY WENT BY DEALERSHIP AS THE TAILLIGHTS WERE INOPERATABLE. HE SAID BRING IT WHEN IT WASN'T RAINING OR WIFE WAS THERE. I WENT TO CRANK IT TO GO TO DR. AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK. I THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL PUMP. AFTER A WEEK OF NOT CRANKING I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE WOULD CHECK IT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. DROVE THE DAY WAS FIXED AND DROVE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE DIDN'T TURN OFF BUT DROVE BACK TO WHERE WE GOT IT RUNNING. HE PUT THE LIGHT TO IT AGAIN AND STILL SHOWED IGINITION SWITCH. HE TOLD US TO BE CAREFUL UNTIL YOU GET IT FIXED. I CALLED CHEV DEALER AND SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN STOCK WOULD HAVE TO ORDER FOR RECALL. I FOUND OUT THEN THE RECALL WAS FOR 2 KEYS. I STOPPED BY GRO STORE ON WAY HOME FROM CHURCH AND WENT GOT IN CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. BRAKE LIGHT, FUEL LIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FULL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY, AND THEY ALL STAYED ON UNTIL I GOT HOME ABOUT 2 MILES.THIS IS NOT JUST A COMPLAINT, IT IS FOR MY SAFETY AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S. WHAT IF WE ENDED UP WRECKING BECAUSE OF THIS IGINATION SWITCH. ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND ONLY HAD IT LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AND ONLY 100,000. I AM NOT ABLE TO WALK ANY DISTANCE BCAUSE OF BREATHING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ONE OF THESE CARS ENDS UP KILLING SOMEONE. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS IN MOTION BUT 2ND IT WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, IT ALSO MADE A METAL SCRUBBING SOUND AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I GOT IT COMPLETELY OFF. .

NHTSA ID

10968235

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

99,500 mi

HAVE A 2002 MALIBU, AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE RADIO, TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO ACC, WAIT 10 - 15 MINUTES FOR THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING AND "DISAPPEAR", THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, WAIT ANOTHER 5 - 10 MINUTES. THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE START POSITION FOR THE CAR TO CRANK. THE WHOLE PROCESS CAN TAKE APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. I NEVER KNOW WHEN I GET IN MY CAR IF THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR, WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN OR WHERE I WILL BE WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS YESTERDAY 3/22/17.

NHTSA ID

10968140

Incident

Mar 22, 2017

HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO NEGOTIATE TURNS. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE VISIBILITY IS COMPROMISED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. IT IS VERY EASY TO MISS TURNS, EXIT RAMPS, AND ROAD SIGNS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO GM SERVICE CENTER, AND WAS TOLD THIS OPERATION IS NORMAL. BATTERY, AND CHARGING SYSTEM NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS INSTALLED NO DIFFERENCE. VEHICLE IS LIKE NEW CONDITION; ALWAYS GARAGED. NO DAMAGE, RUST, OR MODIFICATIONS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE IS A TSB #02-06-03-008A CONCERNING THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10960123

Incident

Mar 10, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

INTERMITTEN ON RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURNS THE CAR WILL STALL AND STOP. REPLACED MODULE ASMELEK/IGNITION CONTROL AND MY SAME PROBLEM PERSISTED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND SWTICH AND MY PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW AS OF JAN. 26, 2017.

NHTSA ID

10954194

Incident

Nov 30, 2016

Mileage

10,112 mi

TURN SIGNALS WORK ON OCCASION THIS CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT AND TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM BEGAN AT 36,000

NHTSA ID

10906774

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF POSITION. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

10894436

Incident

Jul 19, 2016

Mileage

168,000 mi