2000 Chevrolet Malibu

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Service brakes is the leading concern among 944 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 944

Of the 2000 reports, 47 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 37 people were injured and 3 people died.

Primary concernService brakes252 reports · 27% of complaints
Owner complaints944Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Service brakes252
  2. Exterior lighting241
  3. Hydraulic230
  4. Electrical system207
  5. Engine and engine cooling174
  6. Fuel system67
  7. Gasoline56
  8. Steering44

Recalls and investigations

  1. Electrical system, ignitionJul 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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 14V400000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

    SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

    Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Fuel system, other, storage, tank assembly, pressure relief devicesMar 12, 2007

    CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

    FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

    DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

    Campaign 07E021000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Exterior lighting, hazard flashing warning lights, switchAug 28, 2003

    CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.

    WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

    Campaign 03V327000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, filler pipe and capOct 29, 1999

    CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL FILL FITTING IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FUEL TANK. IN THAT CONDITION, FUEL LEAKAGE WOULD EXCEED THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT IN AN FMVSS TEST. FUEL LEAKS MAY OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AFTER REFUELING OR WHEN THE TANK IS MORE THAN HALF FULL.

    IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.

    Campaign 99V302000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

944 reports, newest first.

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2001

    VEHICLE WILL STALL AT SPEEDS OF 50-65 MPH, TO DEALER 5-6 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 2, 2001

    WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MI/HR CAR STOPE RUNNING THIS HAPPENED ON 4 SEPARET OCCASIONS. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF TH ROAD WITHOUT BEING REARENDED, TRIED TO RESTART THE CARE ONLY TO HAVE IT STALL AGAIN AND EACH OF THE THREE TIMES THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD IT 2 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THE SECOND TIME THEY HAD IT 2 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME THEY HAD IT 2 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THIS TIME THE FOURTH TIME THEY HAVE HAD IT TO DATE 8 DAYS AND STILL COUNTING. THEY THINK IT IS THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR. I THINK I WANT THEM TO KEEP THIS CAR. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I FEEL AS IF MY LUCK MAY RUN OUT SOON. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP US TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR AND INTO ANOTHER. ALSO THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE HEATING AND AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. I'M MAKING CARPAYMENTS ON A NEW CAR AND FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A JUNK.*AK

  3. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 2, 2001

    CAR BRAKE APPLY THEY TEND NOT TO WORK WHEN IT WET OR RAIN AND HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY TO AVOID OTHER CAR THE CAR START TO SLIDE WHEN APPLY BRAKES. *AK

  4. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 29, 2001

    BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 14,614 MILES WITH GM'S "NEW DESIGN". THEN AGAIN 5 MONTHS LATER, AT 22,679 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT GMC HAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND HAS YET TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL VERY LIKELY OCCUR AGAIN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY DID REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE TWICE ALREADY NOW, AND SO THE NEXT TIME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM CONTINUES TO SELL A KNOWN DEFECTED PRODUCT, AND SURELY I'M NOT EXPECTED TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE BRAKES AS THE DEALERSHIP SAYS.*AK

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 28, 2001

    WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WAS A PULSATING FEELING THROUGH PEDAL ALL WAY UP TO STEERING WHEEL. THEN, A GRINDING SOUND. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS 5 TIMES. CONSUMER MANAGED TO HAVE CHEVROLET TAKE VEHICLE BACK. *AK

  6. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 28, 2001

    ROTORS REPLACED AT 20000 MILES. ROTORS DEFECTIVE. 4 MONTHS LATER ROTORS WORN DOWN AGAIN ADDITIONAL BRAKE DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT. SAY NORM WEAR & TEAR. *AK

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 27, 2001

    WHOLE FRONT OF CAR WAS VIBRATING TO A POINT OF ALMOST LOSING CONTROL. DUE TO ROTORS BEING DEFECTIVE. CONTACT ME.(469)384-4595. *AK

  8. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 26, 2001

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

  9. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 26, 2001

    EARLIER BRAKE PAD FAILURE; SHOULD GET BETTER THAN ~9100MI PER SET OF FRONT PADS. *AK

  10. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 22, 2001

    AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE UNTIL VEHICLE WARMED UP. MANUFACTURER HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM ,AND SAID THAT IT WAS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT IT WAS NORMAL. DEFECT WAS IN THE PISTONS.*AK

  11. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 21, 2001

    PROBLEM WITH FRONT ROTORS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED,IN MY CASE ABOUT EVERY 8500 MILE,I DONT AGREE ON CHEVROLETS STATEMENT ,WHICH IS WEAR AND TEAR.THE MANUFACTURER NEW CAR WARRANTY ON BRAKES IS 12.000.I TRIED MY BEST TO CUMMUNICATE WITH OUT ANY POSITIVE RESULTS.THIS PRODUCT WHICH IS MY CAR DEVELOPED A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE,WHICH TO STALL AT HIGH SPEED ,NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING AND WILL NOT START UP AGAIN .COULD CAUSE A PILE UP .WAS IN SHOP 4 TIMES AND DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG ,TOLD US TO REMOVE CAR FROM LOT 18 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT TIED ,AND IT TOOK 20 DAYS TO FINNALLY FIX IT,DEALER RECEIVED TBS FUEL STRAINER HAS PRODUCTION FLAWS.I HOPE THAT PERSONS DONT HAVE TO DIE,JUST TO LOOK IN TO THE ROTOR ISSUE ,I DID WROTE BEFORE AND WAS NEVER CONTACTED,PERHAPS IT WAS INGNORED.I HOPE THIS WILL NOT .IT BE A SAD SITUATION ,NOT TO HEAR A CRY FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS TO PAY FOR BRAKES.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK

  12. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 12, 2001

    THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BRAKE SHIMMY DUE TO WARPED ROTORS, ALSO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR. NLM

  13. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 10, 2001

    THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS (ROTORS WARPED) AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES NOW BUT DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER FOR CHERVOLET SEEMS TO THINK THAT "THE BRAKES ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". I THINK DIFFERENTLY. THE FRONT OF THE CAR STARTS SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING (WORSE THEN IT NORMALLY DOES), I HAVE ALSO HEARD CLICKING NOISES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES.

  14. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 7, 2001

    IN THE 10 MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THAT CAR, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS THREE TIMES. EACH TIME THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT THE 2000 MALIBU'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM, YET GM HASN'T RECALLED THEM. I'VE HAD TWO OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT THE LATEST SET AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS SO MUCH PLAY IN THE ROTORS. THE ROTORS , THEY SAY, DON'T FIT ON THE WHEEL STUDS RIGHT. THE STUDS ARE NOT IN THE CENTER OF THE HOLES ON THE ROTORS. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT AT STADIUM ABOUT THIS BUT THEY HAVE YET TO RETURN MY CALL.*AK

  15. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 6, 2001

    WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND STARTED PASSING, HAD APPLY BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A SEVERE SHAKING. WOULD ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT ROTORS WERE WARPED. HAD ROTORS REPLACED TWICE. *AK

  16. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Mar 5, 2001

    REPLACED ROTORS AND PADS10/26/2000 AND02/09/2001.REPLACED FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT 03/02/2001 REPLACING PISTONS IN ENGINE 03/05/2001

  17. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 5, 2001

    I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE SYSTEM AND HAVE HAD MY FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED 4 TIMES - I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. THEY TELL ME THIS A PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S AND PLACE NEW PARTS ON MY CAR BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. I GET A PULSATION/VIBRATION WHEN I BRAKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FROM TIME TO TIME MY BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. EACH TIME THEY SAY MY ROTORS ARE WARPED AND REPLACE THEM.*AK

  18. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 2, 2001

    WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, JUST KEEPS GOING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

  19. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 1, 2001

    WHEN IN ON POSITION THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

  20. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 1, 2001

    THE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AND THE PADS WERE FAULTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND MAKE NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NLM

  21. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 27, 2001

    ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. DEALERR HAS CHECKED AND SAID IT MAY BE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. *AK ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BRAKES MAKE NOISE. FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES MAKE NOISE IN THE FRONT, 15 INCH. *SLC

  22. Structure, Feb 27, 2001

    POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES WHILE PARKED AND AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOTIFIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NONE OF WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. A LEATHER TRIM ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS COMING UNDONE AND THE DEALERSHIP FOOLISHLY TRIED TO FIX IT WITH SILICON. I SHOULD OF STUCK WITH JAPANESE CARS.

  23. Air bags, Feb 26, 2001, crash

    WHILE TRAVELING OVER 35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

  24. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 24, 2001

    AT 6,499 MILES ODOMETER READING, THE DEALER ROTATED TIRES. AT THAT POINT THE CAR FRONT VIBRATED, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, AND BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE DEALER ROTATING THE TIRES WHEELS; SERVICE REP INDICATED MOST LIKELY ROTORS WERE DAMAGED WITH AIR TORQUE TIGHTENED LUGS TOO TIGHT; DAMAGED ROTORS. SPRINGS IN REAR CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. FACTORY DEFAULTS? BULLETINS ? HOW TO OBTAIN?

  25. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 23, 2001

    IN BOTH FAILURES THE SERVICE SUPPORT WAS NOT IN EXCISTING,OR VERY INSULTING,BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE INJURY OR DEATH POSSIBILITYS,ROTOR WARRANTY ONLY 12.000 MILES,BUT THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT WHICH IS IN ALL MODELS STARTING IN 1998 TILL NOW.IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE,EVERY 7000 MILES NEW ROTORS OR DIE?? ENGINE LOSING POWER AT HIGH SPEED AND GROUDED FREEWAY,NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES,NO WARNING. DEALER TELLS ME THERE ARE NO CODES AND IT RUNS WELL,AFTER DEALER TOLD WIFE TO REMOVE VEHICLE,18 MILES LATER ,CAR IS STUCK AGAIN,CHEVROLET ASSISTANT SERVICE SAID PERHAPS WIFE CAN PUSH THE CAR TO THE RIGHT.MUST WE TOLERATE THIS,AND A SALES PERSON KNOWS ABOUT THE BULLITINS,AND WILL SAY THAT THERE IS NO ROTOR PROBLEM,BRAND NEW VEHICLE,NEVER MISS WORK ,LOSING JOB ,HOME AND WIFE BECAUSE OF NO ERROR CODES.SO MUCH FOR EMPTY PROMISES.SERVICE MANAGER DONT CARE IF YOU DIE OR LIVE ,DEALER HAS HIS 22.000.00 AND TELLS YOU TO REMOVE YOUR JUNK.CHEVYS IMAGE IS CLOUDED AND NOT HONEST. *AK