2001 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 739 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 37 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 29 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
111 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Nov 24, 2003
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Structure, Nov 12, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS, DOOR LOCKS AND BRAKES.*MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO SERVICE THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD FREEZE IN THE WINTER TIME AND WOULD OPEN SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP RESPONDED BY STATING THEY DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING CHECKED. THUS, THE PROBLEM WASN'T HANDLED BY THE COMPANY. APPARENTLY, THE DOOR HINGES WERE NEVER PROPERLY GREASED UNTIL THE CONSUMER'S FATHER DID IT. THIS RESOLVED THAT PROBLEM. BRAKES WERE ROUGH AND UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES. THE TURN SIGNAL WORK WHEN THEY WANTED TO OR WHEN THE A/C WAS ON MAXIMUM OUTPUT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO USE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE. *PH *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Exterior lighting, Nov 11, 2003
I HAVE A '01 CHEVROLET MALIBU, MY FUEL INJECTOR WENT OUT OF CAR, ANTIFREEZE CHAMBER LEAKING (REPLACED), TURN SIGNAL UNIT WENT OUT. ABS SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, WENT OUT..ALL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALL UNDER 60,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP (BOBB CHEVROLET) OH HAS NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LISTED AS A LEMON.*AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 29, 2003
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND NOW GM IS TELLING THERE IS NO RECALL.BUT MY HAZARD LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WONT WORK.*AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 28, 2003
I WAS HAVING INTERMITTENT TROUBLE WITH THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LAMPS. THEY WILL STOP WORKING WHEN YOU MOST NEEDED THEM. MY MECHANIC CHANGED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. AT THAT POINT I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HAZARD SWITCH PERTAINING TO SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED GM, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND REFERRED ME TO A DEALER. I WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE FIGURED OUT THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM. AS THAT IS WHERE ALL THE POWER IS DISTRIBUTED TO REST OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AND IT WILL FAIL PARTICULARLY ON A HOT DAY WHEN IT WAS HOT, AND THE AIR CONDITION WAS TURNED ON. HE REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH, AND THE CAR HAS NOT HAVE THAT TROUBLE FOR LAST ONE MONTH. CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME, HOW IS THIS PROBLEM DIFFERENT THAT THE PROBLEM EXPLAINED IN THE RECALL? ALSO, HAVING TROUBLE WITH STARTING OF THE CAR. ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAR DOESN'T START, AND THE IGNITION MAKES A WIERD NOISE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT THIS CAR CAME WITH,M WERE A JOKE. THEY WORE UNEVENLY, AND MADE THE CAR SHAKE AND RATTLE. HAVE PUT NEW MICHELINS ON, AND THAT HAS SOLVED THAT PROBLEM.*AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 21, 2003
THE TURN SIGNALS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. DEALER REPLACED THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. *AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 12, 2003
MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY DON'T. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND ON THE HIGHWAYS. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE, INCLUDING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *LA
Exterior lighting, Oct 3, 2003
TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WORK ITERMITTENTLY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUSE. WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. *LA
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2003
HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
Exterior lighting, Sep 15, 2003
THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED SPORADICALLY. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 9, 2003
AT APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES MY CAR STARTED HESITATING WHEN STARTING. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO FAULT AND I KEPT DRIVING WITH ONLY PERIODIC PROBLEMS. THEN MY GAS GAUGE, RADIO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND PASSIVE ALARM SYSTEM KEPT COMING ON. AT, 43,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER SAID THE KEY HAD LOST ITS MEMORY BUT I STILL KEPT HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. AT, 48,354 MILES THE CAR TOTALLY WENT OUT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS COVERED TO 50,000 MILES BUT THE DEALER STATED TEH IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT PART OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER WRITTING CHEVY COMPLAINT DEPT MANY TIMES I GOT NO WHERE BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS CALLL THE DEALER, THEY DO NOT GO WITH AN INDEPENDENT BODY JUST THE DEALER THAT GAVE ME THE ADVICE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAD THE DEALER RETURN THE BAD PART TO ME AND WANT TO KNOW IF THIS PART IS COVERED. I PAID 400.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE DEALER DID GIVE ME A 75.00 CREDIT BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER MY KEY MEMORY THEY STATED IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THE ENTIRE TIME.*AK NOW, THE CAR IS AT 54,000 MILES AND COOLANT IS LEAKING AROUND, IN AND NEAR THE ENGINE. I HAVE KEPT THIS CAR IN GOOD REPAIR AND HAVE ALL RECEIPTS. THESE MAJOR PARTS SHOULD NOT BE WEARING DOWN THIS FAST. THE DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE HAZARD SWITCH SHORTLY AFTER I FIRST GOT THE CAR.
Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Sep 3, 2003
THE TURNING SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE USED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED MULTI FUNCTIONING SWITCH. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CATCHES, BUT WOULDN'T RELEASE. *AK
Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2003
THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING AT TIMES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU GET INTO THE CAR WHETHER THEY WILL WORK OR NOT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FLASHER OR SOMETHING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE MALIBU ON THE INTERNET.*AK
Exterior lighting, Aug 28, 2003
A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU , 40K MILES, SPORADICALLY THE TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING, I HAVE SEARCHED YOUR SITE & SEEN WHERE THEY WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WHY NO RECALL. & IT DID NOT DISCUSS WHAT GM DID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2003
THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS IN MY 2001 MALIBU ARE FAILING OR WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I BARELY AVOIDED A COLLISION CHANGING LANDES ON A CITY HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER I OPERATE THE HAZARD LIGHTS FOR A WHILE. ALSO AFTER TURNING OFF THE MOTOR AFTER FAILURE OF TURN SIGNAL AND STARTING AGAIN THE TURN SIGNAL / HAZARD LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT START WORKING. DEALER PIN POINTS TO HAZARD RELAIS. THIS SHOULD BE A GENERAL RECALL SINCE IT IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM.*AK
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2003
THE TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR WHEN IT WORKS OR DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN WNATING TO MAKE A TURN AND NOT KNOWING IF THE TURN SIGNALS ARE FUNCTIONING.*AK
Exterior lighting, Aug 12, 2003
I PURCHASED THIS VECHILE AND WITHIN A MONTH OF THE DATE OF PURCHASE THE TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THEY CONTINUE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES SUDDENLY BEGIN WORKING ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED ON AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDING A WARNING NOISE WHICH DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL YOU TURN THE SIGNAL OFF. I WOULD SAY THAT MY TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORK 25% OF THE TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO GET A RESOLUTION/RECALL AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THEIR COST.*AK
Exterior lighting, Aug 9, 2003
FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAVE WORKED INTERMITENTLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAD TO MISS MAKING A TURN DUE TO SOMEONE TAILGATING ME AND MY TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING. I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK GETTING REAR ENDED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT IT PROBABLY WAS THE HAZARD SWITCH WHICH I HAD REPLACED. WHY ISN'T THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS SWITCH NOT COVERED BY A RECALL. I REQUESTED THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH FROM THE DEALER AND I HAVE IT IN CASE GM WANTS IT.*AK
Exterior lighting, Aug 7, 2003
THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. *AK *SCC *JB
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2003
INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE OF A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. *AK
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2003
TURN SIGNALS ON 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU QUIT WORKING AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. THRU TRIAL AND ERROR, DISCOVERED THAT BY TURNING ON HAZARD FLASHERS AND THEN OFF, THAT TURN SIGNALS WOULD THEN WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD " THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, MOST LIKELY HAZARD SWITCH". WHEN NEXT IN FOR SERVICE, (JUNE 17, 2003) HAD PROBLEM CHECKED, AND HAZARD SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AT A COST OF $119.50. IF THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM "(AS I SEE IT IS BY A NUMBER OF SERVICE BULLETINS AND DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS ON NHTSA WEB SITE) AND APPARRENTLY A KNOWN DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL, OR "UNWRITTEN EXTENDED WARRANTY" . *AK
Exterior lighting, Jun 20, 2003
FLASHERS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK.*AK
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 17, 2003
TURNING LIGHT HAS FAILED DUE TO AN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Exterior lighting, May 29, 2003
TURN SIGNAL WORKS SPARRATICLY, SOMETIMES WORKING AFTER PRESSING HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON.
Exterior lighting, May 20, 2003
INTERMITTENT OR TOTAL FAILURE OF EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. SOMETIMES TURNING ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS A FEW TIMES WILL RESTART THE TURN SIGNALS. REPLACING THE FUSE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM