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
739 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 28, 2003
MY 2001 MALIBU HAS 45,000MILES AND I NOW HAVE TO CHANGE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING COOLANT. THIS I'M TOLD IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE MALIBU 3.1 LITER MOTOR. IS THIS POSSIBLE? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING?*AK I ALSO HAVE HAD THE EGR VALVE CHANGED 3 TIMES BY THE DEALER. IT NOW SEEMS TO BE FIXED?
Exterior lighting, Nov 24, 2003
THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
Tires, Nov 20, 2003
CONSUMER NOTICED THE ORIGINAL FRONT AND REAR TIRES WERE ROTTEN FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE, AND ARE LEAKING AIR. FIRESTONE MODEL, SIZE, AND DOT# UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION. *PH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 19, 2003
FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY AT 12,000 MILES. DALER HAS REPLACED THEM THREE TIMES. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 19, 2003
THE CAR'S CHECK-SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON 14 NOVEMBER 2001. THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM OVER A DOZEN TIMES BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN ON 17 NOVEMBER 2003 AND FAILED AGAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY. *AK
Tires, Nov 19, 2003
CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS AND SPLITS AT BOTTOM OF GROOVES OF ALL FOUR TIRES. *AK ONE OF THE VEHICLES TIRES HAS A SPLIT IN THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 1 INCH LONG. *NLM
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
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Nov 5, 2003
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING BUT THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK TWO SEPARATED DEALERSHIPS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL ONE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A "HICC UP" AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS NOISY AND THE LEFT FRONT HUB WAS NOISY. *SCC THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB
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
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
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
Electrical system, Oct 15, 2003
AS AN AUTO-TECH FOR MANY YEARS, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN A VEHICLE'S STARTER NEEDS TO BE "BUMPED OVER'' OR SHORT CRANKING TIME, TO ASSIST IN TESTING. SOME OF THE NEWER GM CARS, (1999 AND NEWER), HAVE A FEATURE THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR A TECH. THAT IS TO SAY, ONCE THE START POSITION IS REACHED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE COMPUTER CONTINUES TO CRANK THE CAR, WHETHER OR NOT THE IGNITION IS HELD OVER OR RELEASED. THIS WAS UNEXPECTED AND COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR TECHNICIANS. I DO NOT KNOW THE REASON BEHIND THIS FEATURE, BUT IT WAS A RUDE AWAKENING. *LA
Tires, Oct 12, 2003
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT.*MR THE TIRE HAD A NAIL IN IT WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP PATCHED THE TIRE INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ONE PER CONSUMER. TWELVE MILES LATER, THE SAME TO BLEW AGAIN. A SHERIFF WHO WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE TOLD THE CONSUMER TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DEMAND A NEW TIRE. THE FAILED TIRE WAS IN SHRED'S. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE A NEW FIRESTONE TIRE COMPATIBLE WITH HER VEHICLE IN STOCK. CONSUMER FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AND THOUGHT SHE MAY QUALIFY FOR THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER FELT BUYERS SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT A DOUGHNUT OR A NEW TIRE AS A SPARE. *PH *JB *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 12, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES ON 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU.*MR BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH RESURFACING THE ROTORS AND REPLACING THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A METAL-TO-METAL SOUND AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED (7855 MILES) AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT. *PH *JB
Electrical system, Oct 12, 2003
CAR RAN FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. BATTERY IS GOOD, ALL LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK. STARTER IS NOT TURNING AT ALL. CAR IS 2001 MALIBU WITH 32000 MILES. *LA
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 12, 2003
THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK CONSUMER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST. THE CONSUMER'S FRIEND STATED THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. *PH *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 8, 2003
WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING ENGINE WOULD MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE. THE OWNER MADE CONTACT WITH DEALER. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 7, 2003
ENGINE PROBLEM.*AK
Electrical system, Oct 6, 2003
VEHICLE FAILED TO START. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC A COMPUTER CHIP WAS CAUSING LACK OF STARTING PROBLEM. WOULD HAVE PROBLEM CHECKED AND REPAIRED EACH TIME. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 9 TIMES FOR NON START.*AK
Suspension, Oct 6, 2003
RIGHT STRUT MOUNT FAILED, CAUSING A SQUEAKY NOISE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 6, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 6, 2003
BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK