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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 739

Of the 2001 reports, 37 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 29 people were injured and 2 people died.

Primary concernElectrical system297 reports · 40% of complaints
Owner complaints739Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system297
  2. Engine and engine cooling149
  3. Exterior lighting111
  4. Service brakes88
  5. Hydraulic78
  6. Steering43
  7. Fuel system32
  8. Engine27

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

Representative owner complaints: fuel system

31 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Fuel system, Other, Oct 25, 2003

    FALSE FUEL GAUGE READING; NHTSA TSB #031103, 3/11/2003. MY 2001 MALIBU RAN OUT OF GAS WITH FUEL GAUGE SHOWING 1/2 FULL. THE ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING & POWER BRAKES WERE LOST WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH. LIGHT TRAFFIC VOLUMES PREVENTED THIS FROM BEING A POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION. THE FUEL GAUGE CONTINUES TO GIVE FALSE READINGS, CHEVROLET HAS DECLINED TO CORRECT THE FAILED FUEL GAUGE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OVER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY LIMITATIONS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS FUEL GAUGE FAILURE TO GM/CHEVROLET (CASE #1-151341797). GM/CHEVROLET HAS ISSUED A TSB #01-06-04-008D TITLED "FUEL SYSTEM - INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE READINGS" ON APRIL 2003 DUE TO THE HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THEIR FUEL GAUGES. I FEEL THAT A RECALL MAY BE WARRANTED DUE TO FALSE FUEL GAUGE READINGS WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE NET RESULT OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAUSES THE SEVERE REDUCTION OF STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THANK YOU RAYMOND E KEATON KEATONR@YAHOO.COM *LA

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment, May 12, 2003

    1) LEAKING COOLANT FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO ENGINE, REQUIRED GASKET REPLACEMENT AND COOLANT / OIL CHANGE 2) TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, HAD TO REPLACE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH 3) A/C DOES NOT WORK, BLOWS HOT AIR, DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR 4) BRAKES WEAK, VIBRATE. REPLACED WITH AFTER MARKET COMPONENTS (POWERSLOT ROTORS AND PERFORMANCE FRICTION CARBON METALLIC PADS) 5) AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS INOPERATIVE, DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR 6) POOR FUEL MILEAGE, BEST IS 28 MPG HIGHWAY (CAFE VIOLATION??) 7) STARTER FAILED, REPLACED WITH REBUILT UNIT. *NLM

  3. Fuel system, Gasoline, May 5, 2003

    IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD, MY 2001 CHEV. MALIBU HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. I HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER PICK IT UP BOTH TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES I HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD IT IS OUT OF GAS. IT WAS SHOWING HAVING PLENTY OF GAS. THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS THE 15TH ONE IN TWO WEEKS TIME. HE STATED THAT IT IS THE FUEL SENSOR MODULE.!!!!! *JB

  4. Fuel system, Other, Dec 31, 2002

    THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU BOTH REGISTER FUEL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS EMPTY CAUSING BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THE GAUGES SHOULD WARN DRIVER WHEN TANK IS LOW ON GAS. THIS WAS AND IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND OUT IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG OWNERS. CHEVROLET TSB 01-06-045-008C TS

  5. Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 30, 2002

    DEFECTIVE"O" RING AT FUEL LINE/INJECTOR PUMP CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPILL ON ENGINE BLOCK. THE CAR WOULD STILL RUN BUT STEADY STREAM OF GAS POURING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. GAS FUMES WERE PICKED UP BY AIR/HEATER INTAKE FILLING CABIN WITH GAS VAPOR. ENGINE FIRE OR CABIN FLASH FIRE PROBABLE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. HOPEFULLY, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU. I REQUESTED THE "O" RING FROM DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE SENT BACK TO GMC. ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THANKS A MAURO LANZISEVE. ********DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770797. *AK *JB

  6. Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jul 1, 2002

    VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AS THROTTLE LOST PRESSURE AND ENGINE WAS HESITATING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ALREADY BEEN IN TO DEALER 6 TIMES. FUEL PUMP/ GROUND WIRES, AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT WAS STILL PROGRESSING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK