NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
22 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 18, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine
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 ant…
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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 ODI #11429635
46,786 miles · Jun 19, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine
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 INSTRU…
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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 ODI #11221215
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
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…
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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 ODI #11111379
155,263 miles · Apr 25, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other
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 HIGHW…
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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 ODI #11090133
10,333 miles · Jun 1, 2017
Engine
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…
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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 ODI #10992730
140,000 miles · Jun 3, 2016
Engine
PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. OVER HEATING ISSUES BEGAN WITHIN 3 MONTHS. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED. ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE TO BE ADDING WATER AS THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW OR THE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. 18 MONTHS LATER OVER HEATING ISSUES RETURNED WHILE DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY. WHEN VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER RUN, W…
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PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. OVER HEATING ISSUES BEGAN WITHIN 3 MONTHS. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED. ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE TO BE ADDING WATER AS THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW OR THE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. 18 MONTHS LATER OVER HEATING ISSUES RETURNED WHILE DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY. WHEN VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER RUN, WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. HAVE NOW REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. ISSUE REMAINS, BUT WORSE. LOW WATER AND NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. ALL INDICATIONS SUGGEST HEAD GASKET ISSUES WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. AS SUCH, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN AND REMAINS PARKED. NO SUCH ISSUES WERE DISCLOSED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ONLY LEARNED EXTENT OF PROBLEM AFTER RESEARCHING ISSUE ONLINE TO FIND MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. CHEVROLET SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN WHEN CONTACTED. REPRESENTATIVE APOLOGIZED, BUT AS THERE IS NO RECALL WOULD ONLY SUGGEST TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. OWNER IS A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME. CHEVROLET'S SUGGESTION IS SIMPLY NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND LEAVES THE OWNER WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS. HE CANNOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. FURTHERMORE, ONLINE REPORTS ALSO SUGGEST THE PROBLEM REMAINS OR RETURNS EVEN AFTER LENGTHY AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS ARE MADE. ONCE AGAIN, CREATING CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP TO THIS OWNER WHO NOW FEELS AS THOUGH HE WAS ROBBED FIRST BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR THEIR NONDISCLOSURE AND NOW BY CHEVROLET FOR THEIR NEGLIGENT DESIGN, QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP AS WELL AS THEIR COMPLETE LACK OF DESIRE TO REMEDY THIS YEARS OLD DEFECT. INSTEAD SHIFTING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM ONE UNSUSPECTING OWNER TO THE NEXT AND THE NEXT AFTER THAT.
NHTSA ODI #10872461
111,800 miles · Mar 22, 2016
Engine
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. PARKED CAR FOR 1 HOUR WENT TO START CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES AND FUEL PUMP I WAS ADVISED IT COULD BE AN ANTI THEFT MALFUNCTION. I FOLLOWED A PROCEDURE TO RELEARN THE SYSTEM AND THE CAR STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND I FEAR THE CAR WILL LEAVE ME ST…
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VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. PARKED CAR FOR 1 HOUR WENT TO START CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES AND FUEL PUMP I WAS ADVISED IT COULD BE AN ANTI THEFT MALFUNCTION. I FOLLOWED A PROCEDURE TO RELEARN THE SYSTEM AND THE CAR STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND I FEAR THE CAR WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED OR MALFUNCTION WHILE OPERATING WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY
NHTSA ODI #10850938
83,000 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Engine
THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN, OF THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS, CAUSED BY THE DEX COOLANT, AND POOR ENGINE DESIGN. COOLANT GOT INTO MY ENGINE, AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE REPLACED. SENDING A PICTURE OF THE OIL CAP WITH FOAM ON IT, AND ITS LIKE THIS INSIDE THE ENGINE AS WELL.
NHTSA ODI #10788396
126,000 miles · Jul 4, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
I HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY A DEALER (DIMMITT CHEVROLET, CLEARWATER, FL) BECAUSE MY KEY WAS STUCK IN IT. THE SAME DEALER ALSO REPLACED MY KEY AND KEY CASING BECAUSE OF A RECALL. AFTER THAT I STARTING NOTICING THAT MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CUT OFF FORCING ME TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A CLOG…
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I HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY A DEALER (DIMMITT CHEVROLET, CLEARWATER, FL) BECAUSE MY KEY WAS STUCK IN IT. THE SAME DEALER ALSO REPLACED MY KEY AND KEY CASING BECAUSE OF A RECALL. AFTER THAT I STARTING NOTICING THAT MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CUT OFF FORCING ME TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER AND HAD THAT REPLACED. THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS AND IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO ME AND MY FAMILY NOT KNOWING WHEN MY CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I CHECKED AND DO NOT SEE A GM RECALL ON MY MODEL FOR SOME REASON.
NHTSA ODI #10731943
84,000 miles · May 18, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM START WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM GOING OFF AND HAVING TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR LIGHT TO GO OUT AND START VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10717120
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 ↗