NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
567 reports142,000 miles · Apr 11, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 142,000. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A DRY NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CHECKED EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WOULD WORK WERE THE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT REP…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 142,000. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON A DRY NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CHECKED EXTERIOR LIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WOULD WORK WERE THE TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FUSE BLEW INSTANTLY. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10187614
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
GM V6 DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO DISAPPEAR THROUGH ENGINE OR INTO ENGINE OIL. CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND POSSIBLE SEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE. LAST FAILURE WAS ON 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT 39000 MILES,IT FAILED 2 TIMES ON 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA UNDER 80000 MILES, FAILED 2 TIMES ON 2000 CHEVROLET VENT…
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GM V6 DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO DISAPPEAR THROUGH ENGINE OR INTO ENGINE OIL. CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND POSSIBLE SEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE. LAST FAILURE WAS ON 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT 39000 MILES,IT FAILED 2 TIMES ON 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA UNDER 80000 MILES, FAILED 2 TIMES ON 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE UNDER 80000 MILES. FAILED 1 TIME ON 2002 MALIBU. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECT, BUT DID NOT TELL CUSTOMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10187299
54,700 miles · Apr 2, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON 02/28/2007, AND WORKED WELL UNTIL 03/16/2007 WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. ON 03/23/2007 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN ON SINCE THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THER…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON 02/28/2007, AND WORKED WELL UNTIL 03/16/2007 WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. ON 03/23/2007 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN ON SINCE THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A 3 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,667. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10186728
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2007
Electrical System
I OWN A CAR RENTAL COMPANY AND THE PRIMARY VEHICLE IN MY FLEET IS THE 01-03 CHEVY MALIBU. OVER THE PAST 14 MONTHS THE IGNITION ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS LEFT MY CUSTOMERS STRANDED AND FRUSTRATED. ONE CUSTOMER WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT IN A WAL-MART PARKING LOT WITH HER SMALL KID WHILE SITTING THROUGH A HEAVY RAIN STORM. ALL OF OUR KE…
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I OWN A CAR RENTAL COMPANY AND THE PRIMARY VEHICLE IN MY FLEET IS THE 01-03 CHEVY MALIBU. OVER THE PAST 14 MONTHS THE IGNITION ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS LEFT MY CUSTOMERS STRANDED AND FRUSTRATED. ONE CUSTOMER WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT IN A WAL-MART PARKING LOT WITH HER SMALL KID WHILE SITTING THROUGH A HEAVY RAIN STORM. ALL OF OUR KEYS/SPARES ARE ORIGINAL AND PURCHASED FROM GM DEALERS BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAINS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10186610
30,000 miles · Mar 21, 2007
Electrical System
DRIVING CAR AND IT WOULD DIE. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND REPLACED PUMP. SAME PROBLEM OCURRED OUT OF WARRANTY. NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE GAGES AND LIGHTS ON DASH ALSO QUIT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I COULD HIT THE KEY AND THEY WOULD COME BACK ON, AND THE CAR WOULD RESTART. …
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DRIVING CAR AND IT WOULD DIE. FIRST OCCURANCE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND REPLACED PUMP. SAME PROBLEM OCURRED OUT OF WARRANTY. NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE GAGES AND LIGHTS ON DASH ALSO QUIT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I COULD HIT THE KEY AND THEY WOULD COME BACK ON, AND THE CAR WOULD RESTART. DEALT WITH THIS FOR ABOUT 2 YRS BECAUSE THE COST OF A NEW SWITCH WAS MORE THAN I COULD AFFORD AT THE TIME.FINNALLY DISSASSEMBLED THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN PROBLEM GOT TOO BAD. DISCOVERED THAT GM HAD NOT USED THE NORMAL HEAVY WIPER STYLE CONTACTS THAT MOST IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE. THEY USED A PLASTIC CAM THAT PUSHES PINS THAT OPERATE VERY LIGHT SPRING STYLE CONTACTS. I FOUND THAT THE CONTACTS HAD ARCED AND WERE NOT MAKING GOOD CONTACT. USED VERY FINE EMERY CLOTH TO CLEAN CONTACTS, REASSEMBLED SWITCH, AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED.CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE FOR NOW, BUT AS SOON AS CONTACTS ARC ENOUGH, PROBLEM WILL RETURN. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THEM THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. WELL ITS NOT. ANYONE WHO HAS A MINOR AMOUNT OF MECHANICAL ABILITY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM IN ABOUT AN HOUR. BE SURE AND CONSULT A REPAIR MANUAL ON THE PROPER REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM THE DASH. ITS NOT HARD, BUT THERE IS A TRCK TO IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10185722
79,843 miles · Mar 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I REPLACED 1/2 GALLON OF COOLANT. AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED AN ORANGE GEL ON MY OIL CAP. I FIGURED IT WAS AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK; THEREFORE, IT WAS PROBABLY A HEAD GASKET LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTAKE M…
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ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I REPLACED 1/2 GALLON OF COOLANT. AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED AN ORANGE GEL ON MY OIL CAP. I FIGURED IT WAS AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK; THEREFORE, IT WAS PROBABLY A HEAD GASKET LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. IF THE GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED PROMPTLY, THE ENGINE OIL WOULD FAIL TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE RESULT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. 8JB
NHTSA ODI #10185123
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2007
Exterior Lighting
MY BLINKERS ON MY CHEVY MALIBU 2002 WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEED TO TURN THE BLINKER TO THE LEFT TO TURN ON MY CAR AS A SAFETY PROCEDURE INSTALLED BY THE PRODUCER. IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I DRIVE I HAVE TO CHANGE LANES AND EVEN THOUGH I TURN MY BLINKERS ON THEY DO NOT WORK SO I AM CUTTING PEOPL…
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MY BLINKERS ON MY CHEVY MALIBU 2002 WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEED TO TURN THE BLINKER TO THE LEFT TO TURN ON MY CAR AS A SAFETY PROCEDURE INSTALLED BY THE PRODUCER. IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I DRIVE I HAVE TO CHANGE LANES AND EVEN THOUGH I TURN MY BLINKERS ON THEY DO NOT WORK SO I AM CUTTING PEOPLE OFF ALL THE TIME. I TRIED TAKING IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. IT IS GETTING VERY ANNOYING AND TODAY I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO TURN MY CAR ON WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY FROM THE ATM. IT IS ANNOYING BECAUSE IF THE LEFT BLINKER DOES NOT TURN ON AND I START MY CAR IT DOES NOT START AND THE HORN SOUNDS. PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT ME FUNNY BECAUSE THE HORN SOUNDED LIKE 30 TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183867
65,265 miles · Feb 20, 2007
Electrical System
ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. BOUGHT THE CAR 1 YEAR AGO. FIRST HAPPENED IN AUGUST 06. HAPPENED AGAIN IN JANUARY. NOW IN FEBRUARY IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO RESET THE KEY AND I HAVE FOUND NO ONE WHO HAS TAKEN THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER HAVE IT COMPLETELY FIXED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CO…
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ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. BOUGHT THE CAR 1 YEAR AGO. FIRST HAPPENED IN AUGUST 06. HAPPENED AGAIN IN JANUARY. NOW IN FEBRUARY IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO RESET THE KEY AND I HAVE FOUND NO ONE WHO HAS TAKEN THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER HAVE IT COMPLETELY FIXED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MALIBU'S STARTING WITH 99-04 MODELS. NOW LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY, MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS, BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVE. "QUICK FIX" SOLUTIONS ARE NOW GOING AROUND THE INTERNET TELLING PEOPLE TO CUT WIRES IN THEIR DASH TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE CUTS THE WRONG WIRE AND KILLS SOMEONE IN RESULT TO FIXING GM SCREW UP. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183072
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2007
Electrical System
CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE "THEFT DETERRENT" SYSTEM, RESULTING IN FAILURE TO START. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SAME PART THREE TIMES. LAST TIME THEY REPLACED IT AGAIN, AND CHARGED ME FOR THE TOW TO GET THE CAR BACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES NOW IN THE PAST YEAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10182307
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
FIRST INCIDENT OF LEAKING HAPPENED AFTER DEALERSHIP WORKED ON CAR. ARRIVED HOME COOLANT POURED OUT ON GROUND TOWED BACK. DEALERSHIP SAID RESERVOIR CAP SEAL. 10/2006 OR 11/2006, PICKING UP AT SCHOOL AND SMELLED NOT ENGINE. PARKED SAW COOLANT ON GROUND. NO ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NEEDLE WAS PAST MIDDLE. FAMILY BROUGHT COOLANT FI…
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FIRST INCIDENT OF LEAKING HAPPENED AFTER DEALERSHIP WORKED ON CAR. ARRIVED HOME COOLANT POURED OUT ON GROUND TOWED BACK. DEALERSHIP SAID RESERVOIR CAP SEAL. 10/2006 OR 11/2006, PICKING UP AT SCHOOL AND SMELLED NOT ENGINE. PARKED SAW COOLANT ON GROUND. NO ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NEEDLE WAS PAST MIDDLE. FAMILY BROUGHT COOLANT FILLED IT UP AND WENT 5 BLOCKS TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. YESTERDAY, 1/9/2007 CAR OVERHEATED IN THE SCHOOL LINE. ADDED COOLANT. I BROUGHT IT TO A NON DEALERSHIP RADIATOR SHOP OWNER THINKS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. CAR AT DEALERSHIP. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS BUT BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED FEEL DEALERSHIP WILL TELL ME IT IS A NEW PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST EVENT SO I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE. AT LEAST TWO ROTORS REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL & 5 SETS OF PADS. REPORTED TO GM THEY CLAIM IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE! A NON DEALERSHIP TIRE COMPANY HAD THE PADS REPLACED WITH A GOOD BRAND. 1 1/2 YEARS SINCE I HAD TO HAVE PADS. PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS. CAR IS RUNNING AND THE DRIVER GETS OUT LEAVING CAR ON AND THEN THE PASSENGER TURNS OFF THE CAR AND GETS OUT, LOCKS CAR, THE RADIO STAYS ON. I WENT INSIDE THE STORE AND CAME OUT AND THE RADIO WAS STILL PLAYING. WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE CAR BUT ENTER ONLY THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND THEN CLOSE IT AND WALK AWAY, THE CAR LOCKS ITSELF. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD NOT PLACED THE KEYS ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT. I REPORTED THIS BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE. RADIO WAS REPLACED FOR LEFT BUTTON PAINT (NOT SURE IF IT IS PAINT OR COVER ON BUTTON) RUBS OFF. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED.. I TRANSPORT GRANDCHILDREN AND I NEED A SAFE CAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10178381
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 ↗