2002 Chevrolet Malibu

MY 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE WHICH LEADS TO A ROTARY. ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY WERE LOST. THE CAR KEPT GAINING SPEED AS IT DROVE DOWN THE INCLINE. I HAD TO FORCE THE CAR INTO PARK AND USE THE FOOT EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT AFTER IT ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND UNTO THE ROTARY. *JB

ON JULY 28 2006 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, WITH THE A/C RUNNING, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE SAT OVER NIGHT IN OUR GARAGE, AND THE NEXT MORNING MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO WORK. AS SOON AS SHE GOT TO WORK SHE CALLED ME SAYING THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. WE CALLED THE AUTO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAD US BRING THE CAR TO THEM. AFTER DRIVING MY VAN FOR 45 MINUTES, WITH NO WORKING A/C, I ARRIVED AT HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY KEPT IT OVER NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THEY CALLED AND SAID THE CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP. I AGAIN DROVE 45 MINUTES IN 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURE TO PICKUP THE CAR. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. SO I AGAIN DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME. THIS TIME WITH NO A/C. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE TURN TO MY STREET I MOVED THE TURN INDICATION LEVER DOWN FOR A LEFT HAND TURN. NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK AGAIN. A LARGE TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME AND ALMOST SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I MADE THE TURN, ONLY TO BE PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER. THE OFFICER ASKED WHY I DID NOT USE MY SIGNAL. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING AGAIN. THE OFFICER DID NOT CITE ME, BUT TOLD ME IF IT WAS NOT CORRECTED I WOULD FACE A CITATION THE NEXT TIME. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND DID SOME INVESTIGATION OF MY OWN ON THE INTERNET. I HAVE READ OVER 300 DIFFERENT REPORTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER 2002 MALIBU OWNERS. THE TURN LIGHTS AND HAZARD INDICATOR BUTTON HAVE NOT WORKED CORRECTLY SINCE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED. CHEVROLET DID A RECALL ON THE 2001 MODEL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE SOLDERING OF THE CIRCUIT IN THE HAZARD INDICATOR BUTTON ON THE 2001 MODEL WAS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF OR FOUND A RECALL FOR THE 2002 MODEL. *JB

MALIBU 2002 PURCHASED ON MAY 18, 2003 WITH 33,000 MILES . ON JULY 15, 2003 THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND CAR OVERHEATED. ACCORDING TO DEALER CAR WAS FIXED. ON JUNE 1, 2004 THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JUNE 27, 2006 WITH 72, 000 MILES, THERE IS OIL IN COOLANT RESERVOIR AND A COOLANT LEAK. THERE WAS A LOWER INTAKE LEAK AND LEAK AT WATER PUMP. THE LOWER INTAKE AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT ON JULY 17, 2006 THE SAME PROBLEM CAME AGAIN. JULY 17, 2006 ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE PROBLEM WITH OIL IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST 6 TIMES, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. ON THE SEVENTH VISIT, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A GAS LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED AND BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER DETACHED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE DETACHMENT ALSO BROKE THE TIE ROD AND THE STRUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE DETACHMENT WAS DUE TO HITTING A POTHOLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY POTHOLES IN THE VICINITY. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM

PURCHASED THIS 2002 MALIBU USED FROM LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. FIRST INCIDENT, AFTER A BRIEF STOP AT A GAS STATION THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. TURNED OVER BUT NO FIRE. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE THEFT-DETERRENT SYSTEM WAS STOPPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. THEY EXPLAINED THAT ONLY A DEALER CAN PROCESS OR RECYCLE THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID A TEMPORARY "RECYCLE" OF THE SYSTEM AND THE CAR STARTED BACK UP. I PLANNED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO FOLLOW UP, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AT A STORE, CRANKED NO FIRE, THEFT LIGHT FLASHING, SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. I WAS TOLD AT THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. THEY CHARGED ME $70.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TIME SPENT, AND I WAS THANKFUL THAT THE CAR WOULD AT LEAST START. NOW IT'S STUCK IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS TOWN AND I CAN'T EVEN GET IT TOWED (NO TOW COVERAGE). MY FEAR IS THIS HAPPENING REPEATEDLY. FIRST EVENT WAS ON JUNE 19, SECOND ON JUNE 30. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT "TRICKS" I AM HEARING ABOUT TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM AND GET THE CAR TO START. ONE SAID I SHOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY SIDE TO SIDE WHILE APPLYING MY FOOT TO THE ACCELERATOR, AND TURN THE IGNITION, ANOTHER SAID TO TRY SWITCHING KEYS, (WHICH I DID TRY BUT IT DIDN'T WORK). ANY OTHER IDEAS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! IF I COULD GET IT TO START THEN I COULD AT LEAST GET IT TO THE DEALER - I AM A SINGLE MOM, VERY BROKE, NO RESOURCES TO FALL BACK ON FOR THIS REPEAT EVENT SO SOON. I HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED THE CONSTANT BURNED OUT BRAKE LIGHTS- I REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY BLOW WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS...NO VISIBLE ELECTRICAL LINE DAMAGE, EITHER...*NM

MY FAMILY'S 2002 CHEVY MALIBU'S TURN SIGNAL FLASHERS ARE INTERMITENTLY FAILING. THE PROBLEM BEGAN YESTERDAY, 7 JUNE 2006, AND REOCCURED TODAY, THE 8TH OF JUNE, 2006. I NOTICE THAT NHTSA HAD A RECALL PENDING ON THIS EXACT ISSUE, BUT IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CLOSED. WHY, AND WHAT IS NHTSA DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN LIEU THEREOF? *NM