2002 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical Problems

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 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

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 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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASS LOCK SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10888771

Incident

Jul 21, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

I TURNED ON MY AC AND THE TEMP AND FUEL GUAGE FUSE BLOWED WHILE HAVING THE AIR ON STILL CHANGING OUT FUSES AND THE AUTOMATIC CAR LOCKS ON IT OWN WHEN YOU CLOSES THE DOORS GETTING OUT OR IT WILL LOCK WHEN SOME ONE GETS OUT OF THE CAR ALL BY ITSELF WITHOUT HITTING THE DOOR LOCK ON THE KEYLESS ENTRY.

NHTSA ID

10870307

Incident

May 18, 2016

Mileage

170 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SECURITY THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RESET BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10853248

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10845725

Incident

Jan 3, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL AND EXHIBITED ISSUES STARTING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10837798

Incident

Feb 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE WAS 78,400.

NHTSA ID

10808049

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

78,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,567.

NHTSA ID

10807154

Incident

Nov 16, 2015

Mileage

93,567 mi

GM HAS A RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH (GM#14350). WE HAD THE WORK DONE AT A GM DEALER FOR THE RECALL. (DEALER PROVIDES 2 KEY RINGS AND A KEY COVER AND CALLS IT FIXED.) APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T WORK. CAR CURRENTLY IN MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DURING INSPECTION, MECHANIC FOUND THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO SOLVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MECHANIC SAYS CAR EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS REPLACED. HE TOOK A VIDEO OF MY IGNITION SHOWING THAT JUST TOUCHING THE KEY WHILE IN IGNITION CAUSES CAR TO TURN OFF. (HAVE 20 YR RELATIONSHIP WITH MECHANIC - VERY RELIABLE.) PLEASE INVESTIGATE IF GM IS REALLY DOING THE PROPER WORK FOR THE RECALL OR JUST SUGAR COATING A DANGEROUS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10806455

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND HAD TO BE CHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,419. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN *CN

NHTSA ID

10784443

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

238,419 mi