NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
567 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 6, 2012
Electrical System
I PURCHASED MY CHEVROLET MALIBU FROM A PRIVATE PART AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WANT TO START. BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STILL HAVE THE STARTING PROBLEM. SEEMS THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEMS I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO …
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I PURCHASED MY CHEVROLET MALIBU FROM A PRIVATE PART AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WANT TO START. BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STILL HAVE THE STARTING PROBLEM. SEEMS THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEMS I CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD I NEED TO TAKE IT IN AT A COST OF 80.00 DOLLARS TO CHECK IT PLUS TOWING FEES. I DON'T FEEL IT IS RIGHT THAT THEY DO KNOW THE PROBLEM BUT STILL TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF CUSTOMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10450430
160,000 miles · Jan 22, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
I BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO GO INTO THE STORE, GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD, HAD TO GET A TOW TO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, COST ME $347.00. ON 12/29/11 SAME ISSUE, CAR WOULD NOT START THIS TIME LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME.…
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I BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO GO INTO THE STORE, GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD, HAD TO GET A TOW TO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, COST ME $347.00. ON 12/29/11 SAME ISSUE, CAR WOULD NOT START THIS TIME LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME. I HAD TO GET A TOW TO THE REPAIR ANOTHER $51.00 AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST HAVE HAD A DEFAULT AND I RECEIVED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, AT NO CHARGE. TWO DAYS AGO, ALMOST 2 WEEKS AFTER LAST REPAIR, IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME IN THE PARKING LOT 12 DEGREES OUTSIDE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER CALLED A TOW TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD ALL THIS TIME IT WAS THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM WAS BAD AND CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START AND ALSO WAS THE CAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO NOT START THE CAR. I WAS CHARGED 388.00, PLUS A TOW FEE, FOR THE REPAIR OF A NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER( THE PART USED A THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM). BASICALLY , THIS AUTO THEFT SYSTEM HAS CAUSED ME OVER 700 IN A MONTH TIME AND LEFT ME IN DANGEROUS AREAS WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. THIS NEEDS TO REIMBURSED BY GM BECAUSE IF THIS AUTO THEFT SYSTEM WAS PLACED ON THE CAR AS A BENEFIT AND PROTECTION TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR TO STOP THEFT IT IS NOT HELPING THE OWNER AT ALL ONLY PUTTING THE OWNER IN MORE HARM BECAUSE IT IS CAUSING THE OWNER TO NOT BE ABLE TO START THE CAR WITH THE KEY. HOW MUCH SINCE DOES THAT MAKE? THIS IS SOMETHING EXTRA ADDED TO THE CAR THAT IS NOT NEEDED; THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CAR ALARMS. I DON'T NEED THEM TO ADD AN AUTO THEFT SYSTEM TO MY CAR AND IT STOPS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR AND DRIVE. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH, I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOME. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WOULDN'T START IT WAS ONLY 12 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND FREEZING COLD. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET A PETITION OF A RECALL FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS UNSAFE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10444794
150,384 miles · Nov 18, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingCrash
1. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. JUST STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. LIGHTS WERE NOT BURNED OUT. THEN THEY MYSTERIOUSLY STARTED WORKING JUST AS THEY HAD STOPPED. FOR NO REASON. INCIDENTS BECAME MORE FREQUENT WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. NOT WEATHER RELATED. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I FOUND THAT IF I TURN…
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1. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. JUST STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. LIGHTS WERE NOT BURNED OUT. THEN THEY MYSTERIOUSLY STARTED WORKING JUST AS THEY HAD STOPPED. FOR NO REASON. INCIDENTS BECAME MORE FREQUENT WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. NOT WEATHER RELATED. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I FOUND THAT IF I TURNED ON MY HAZARD FLASHERS, THE BLINKERS WOULD WORK AGAIN. 2. I WAS REAR ENDED ON 11/4/11 THOUGH AND COULD NOT GET THE FLASHERS TO WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING OR NOT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. 3. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER ONLY WORK ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL. 4. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. 5. THE KEY FOB WILL WORK SOMETIMES, MOST TIMES NOT LATELY. 6. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WILL HONK THE HORN SOMETIMES WHEN THE KEY FOB DOES LOCK THE DOORS, MOST TIMES IT DOES NOT HONK THOUGH. 7. THE CAR OVERHEATS AS THE COOLANT CONTAINER IS LOOSE AND THE RADIATOR CAP DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED A NEW ONE. THE GAUGE FOR THE TEMPERATURE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ACCURATE. 8. SOMETIMES THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK, JUST AS THE A/C DIDN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME IN THE SUMMER. 9. ANYTIME I TRY TO USE THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, IT BLOWS THE FUSE, LEAVING THAT FEATURE TOTALLY USELESS. THIS CAR IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND FOR A SINGLE WOMAN, I FEEL IT CREATES POTENTIAL TO BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS CAR AND I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE USED CAR SINCE IT IS A CHEVROLET MALIBU. WAS I EVER WRONG AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT CHEVROLET, IT WILL NOT BE MY PREFERENCE IN THE FUTURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436321
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2011
Electrical System
THE CAR DIES WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD . WHEN YOU SHUT IT OFF TO GET GAS OR ANYTHING IT WONT START THE GAUGES GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND GM NEEDS TO RECALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILL FROM THE CAR WITH NO WARNING JUST SHUTS DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436181
60,000 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Electrical System
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU SECURITY/ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY DISABLES THE CAR - EVERY 20 OR STARTS, FOR NO REASON, REQUIRING A LENGTHY PROCESS TO RE-ENABLE THE IGNITION SYSTEM. CAR IS LOW MILEAGE AND HAS ORIGINAL KEYS & KEY FOB. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10419308
65,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO START THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE KEY; HOWEVER, THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD STILL ACTIVATE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO START THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE KEY; HOWEVER, THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WOULD STILL ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN
NHTSA ODI #10410542
50,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011
Air BagsEquipmentExterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR WOULD ONLY FUNCTION WHEN SET ON HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR WOULD ONLY FUNCTION WHEN SET ON HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10407466
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2011
Electrical System
I OWN A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. THE "FIX" IS TO SIT WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THE PERMANENT FIX IS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHICH IS EXPEN…
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I OWN A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU AND THE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. THE "FIX" IS TO SIT WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THE PERMANENT FIX IS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHICH IS EXPENSIVE AND DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10407065
41,000 miles · May 24, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A COMPUTER FAILURE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY THAT TIME. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A COMPUTER FAILURE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BY THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AND THE KEY HAD TO BE MANEUVERED A CERTAIN WAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE OTHER COPIES OF THE KEY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
NHTSA ODI #10402555
52,000 miles · Apr 21, 2011
Electrical System
CAR FAILS TO START AFTER SHUTTING OFF. THEFT SYSTEM HAS TO BE RESET BY LEAVING THE KEY ON FOR 9 MINUTES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAR DOES THIS ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. CAR STARTED DOING THIS AT 52000 MILES IN 2005. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10397016
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 ↗