NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
259 reportsClear category filter146,000 miles · Mar 18, 2014
Electrical System
PURCHASED 2002 CHEVY MALIBU BACK IN 2005 WITH 26000 MILES ON IT .WE HAD IT SERVICED TWICE A YEAR AND FOR MINOR ISSUES ,2009 MANIFOLD GASKET STARTED LEAKING REPLACED AND WAS REPAIRED.IN 2010 STARTED NOTICING WHEN STARTING ABS AND THEFT LIGHT CAME ON TURNING KEY OFF AND TURNING KEY ON AND NOT STARTING LETTING ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUE…
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PURCHASED 2002 CHEVY MALIBU BACK IN 2005 WITH 26000 MILES ON IT .WE HAD IT SERVICED TWICE A YEAR AND FOR MINOR ISSUES ,2009 MANIFOLD GASKET STARTED LEAKING REPLACED AND WAS REPAIRED.IN 2010 STARTED NOTICING WHEN STARTING ABS AND THEFT LIGHT CAME ON TURNING KEY OFF AND TURNING KEY ON AND NOT STARTING LETTING ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUETS THAN TURNING OFF AND STARTING CAR LIGHTS WENT OFF. THIS NEEDED DONE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPEN .ASKED AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN MY SWITCH BUT NO ONE STEPPED UP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.THIS CAR LEFT ME SIT FIVE TIMES FROM SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT START. HAD IT TOWED AND THEY DID WORK ON EVERY THING ELSE THINKING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM .HAD CAR STOP RUNNING ALL LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING .I THINK THIS ISSUE STARTED BACK IN 2001 AND ALL THESE YEARS THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT .NOW THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT IN THEIR RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10573100
57,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
MY HANDICAPPED MOTHER HAS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT IGNITION RELATED ISSUES AS THOSE IN THE CURRENT MASSIVE GM RECALL. ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO SIGNIFICANT REPEAT REPAIRS, ONE IN 20…
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MY HANDICAPPED MOTHER HAS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT IGNITION RELATED ISSUES AS THOSE IN THE CURRENT MASSIVE GM RECALL. ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO SIGNIFICANT REPEAT REPAIRS, ONE IN 2010 AND ONE THIS WEEK. IN BOTH CASES THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP DESCRIBES THE ISSUE AS AN IGNITION PASS LOCK SENSOR THAT FAILS DUE TO KEY POSITIONING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. LUCKILY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN INJURY BUT EASILY COULD HAVE IN THE VERY CONGESTED METRO DC AREA THAT SHE LIVES IN. WHY IS THE MALIBU NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND RECALLS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10569015
172,711 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Electrical System
CAR SHOWS THEFT LIGHT COMES ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MOTOR SHUT OFF, GAS GAUGE SAID EMPTY ALL LIGHTS SHOWS UP ON DASH , AAA TOW TO PEP BOYS LANCASTER PA. FRUITVILLE PIKE STORE .THEY INSTALLED NEW ALTERNATOR AND NEW SERPENTINE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER . ALSO EIGHT MONTH PRIER SAME ISSUE ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED AND NE…
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CAR SHOWS THEFT LIGHT COMES ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MOTOR SHUT OFF, GAS GAUGE SAID EMPTY ALL LIGHTS SHOWS UP ON DASH , AAA TOW TO PEP BOYS LANCASTER PA. FRUITVILLE PIKE STORE .THEY INSTALLED NEW ALTERNATOR AND NEW SERPENTINE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER . ALSO EIGHT MONTH PRIER SAME ISSUE ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED AND NEEDED TOWED THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP . I HAVE SEEN DOCUMENTS THAT POINTED OUT THAT KEY NEEDS PUSHED IN BEFORE TURNING ON TRIED IT AND STILL LIGHTS ABS, THEFT LIGHT ,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL KEEPS COMING ON . THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND TAKEN CARE OF .TODAY 03/13/2014 TAKEN WIFE TO TRAIN STATION LIGHTS CAME ON ONCE MORE.IN THE PASS TWO YEARS INVESTED OVER $ 1500.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR AND STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYSTEMS. READ ON RECALL AND FEEL THIS IS WHAT PROBLEM IS . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568968
109,500 miles · Feb 28, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. DID ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND SAME INCIDENTS. NO RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH/THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT. GM KNOWS OF AN ISSUE AND WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566423
130,000 miles · Feb 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE, BUT THEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND REVERSE THINGS SEEM TO BE NORMAL. AT THE POINT THE CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FUEL IN THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR WILL EITHER STALL OUT, WHILE DRIVING…
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WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE, BUT THEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND REVERSE THINGS SEEM TO BE NORMAL. AT THE POINT THE CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FUEL IN THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR WILL EITHER STALL OUT, WHILE DRIVING OR WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IF WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THE CAR REPEATEDLY SHUTS OFF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, ALL GAUGES ARE MAXED OUT AND SPEED SAYS 60MPH. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY THE WHOLE TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, BUT THE CAR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL AND STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IF THE CAR SYSTEM COMES BACK ON, THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS EMPTY AND EVEN THE TRUNK POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR MANY REASONS. IF THIS HAPPENS AT NIGHT, THERE ARE NO HEADLIGHTS OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS OR THEY'RE FLICKERING ON AND OFF THE WHOLE TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563570
80,000 miles · Oct 25, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
BOTH PART OF MY GAS TANK AND MY COMPUTER HAVE SAME ISSUES AS THOUSANDS MORE WHERE THE ALARM SHUTS THE CAR OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10549513
104,100 miles · Sep 1, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TURN SIGNALS JUST RANDOMLY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. HAD IT TO THE GARAGE RECENTLY AND ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T WORK RIGHT, DIDN'T GET MUCH OF AN ANSWER. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND IN DOING MY RESEARCH, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10538310
150 miles · Jul 8, 2013
Electrical System
MY CAR STARTED SHUTTING OFF OUT OF NOWHERE. THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND IT LOCKS ME OUT FOR TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. I BACKED OUT OF A ONE WAY STREET, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE THEFT LIGHT LOCKED ME OUT FOR TEN MINUTES ON A ONE WAY STREET WHERE TRAFFIC COULD NOT GET AROUND ME. SINCE, THERE HAS BEEN A C…
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MY CAR STARTED SHUTTING OFF OUT OF NOWHERE. THE THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AND IT LOCKS ME OUT FOR TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. I BACKED OUT OF A ONE WAY STREET, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE THEFT LIGHT LOCKED ME OUT FOR TEN MINUTES ON A ONE WAY STREET WHERE TRAFFIC COULD NOT GET AROUND ME. SINCE, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT DING IN MY DASH. I CHANGED THE EMERGENCY RELAY SWITCH IN THE DASH WITH NO LUCK. NOW IT CONSTANTLY HAS A DINGING NOISE AND LOCKS ME OUT ABOUT EVERY 4-5 STARTS. THIS IS VERY AGGRAVATING AND WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED, I'M SURPRISED IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT I KNOW THAT CHEVY DOESN'T CLAIM THEIR MISTAKES SO MAYBE MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE SAME THOUGHT THAT I HAVE NEVER TO BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET. VERY BAD FOR BUSINESS. REVIEWS SAID THAT EVEN PAYING TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WILL ONLY DELAY IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CHEVROLET, OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES. THIS IS DANGEROUS. OTHER THAN THIS I HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW K FRAME AND MY GAS TANK IS RUSTING OUT DUE TO NO GUARDS BEING PUT ON THE VEHICLE TO PROTECT IT AND WHILE I'M VENTING THE MANUFACTURES OVER-TORQUED A SEAL UPON MANUFACTURING TO CAUSE THE OIL AND COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ONE ANOTHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10523694
77,235 miles · Jan 11, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine
1.CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING. PUT ANTIFREEZE IT AND RUN FOR A WHILE AND IT WILL OVERHEAT AGAIN. NO ANTIFREEZE ON GROUND BUT KEEPS LOSING THE ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS MIXING WITH THE OIL THAT IT HAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD GASKET. RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACE ENGINE. 2.TOOK VEHICLE TO THE…
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1.CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING. PUT ANTIFREEZE IT AND RUN FOR A WHILE AND IT WILL OVERHEAT AGAIN. NO ANTIFREEZE ON GROUND BUT KEEPS LOSING THE ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS MIXING WITH THE OIL THAT IT HAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD GASKET. RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACE ENGINE. 2.TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER CHIP THING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BUT NO RECALL IS IN PLACE AS OF YET. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER 1300.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10492205
110,000 miles · Nov 1, 2012
Electrical System
CAR WONT START DUE TO PASSLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTION,I MUST LET CAR SIT FOR 10 MINUTES WITH IGNITION SWITCH IN ON POSITION THEN TURN KEY OFF FOR 20 SECONDS THEN RESTART,THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 4 TO 5 STARTS, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND GM WILL NOT RECALL AND FIX. PLEASE SEARCH INTERNET TO VERIFY PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482835
Official recalls
2Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Apr 10, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A LEFT LOW-BEAM HEADLAMP THAT DOES NOT MEET THE PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LIGHT INTENSITIES BELOW THE MINIMUM INTENSITY REQUIREMENTS CAUSE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND INTENSITIES ABOVE THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY REQUIREMENTS CAUSE INCREASE IN GLARE FOR DRIVERS AHEAD OF, OR APPROACHING, THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LEFT LOW-BEAM HEADLAMP AND REPLACE IT IF IT DOES NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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