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.
Electrical system, Oct 3, 2003
CAR HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING AND CONTINUOUSLY ACTS AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND CLEANED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ON A NORMAL BASIS WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED, CAR WON'T START, WHICH HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT FINALLY STARTS SUCCESSFULLY. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY THREE DAYS. *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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 3, 2003
AT 47,000 MILES MY BRAKES BEGAN TO PULSATE VIOLENTLY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A METAL ON METAL SOUND COULD ALSO BE HEARD. THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ROTORS WERE TURNED, NEW PADS WERE INSTALLED AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS RESET. AT 90,000 MILES THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED, NEW CALIPERS WERE INSTALLED (THEY WERE BINDING) AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS AGAIN RESET. *JB
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2003
HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 23, 2003
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE GRINDING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTION BY A DEALERSHIP OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PADS WERE WORN 50%, AND THE FRONT ROTORS HAD WARPED. OWNER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE.*AK
Exterior lighting, Sep 15, 2003
THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED SPORADICALLY. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 10, 2003
MY UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPAIRED. UNDER CA. EMSSIONS LAW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS COVERED BUT NOT THE COMPONENTS OR PARTS. THE GASKETS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THIS FAST ON A NEW CAR THAT HAS BEEN KEEP IN GOOD REPAIR. THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *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
Electrical system, Aug 29, 2003
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER LOCK PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMNED OF THE RECALL, AND HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE IGNITION SWICH CHANGED.*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
Steering, Power train, Aug 12, 2003
AT 500 MILES IT WAS FOUND THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. RACK AND PINION SYSTEM FAILED AT 48,000 MILES. AT 49,000 MILES THE FRONT AXLE SHAFTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THIS CAR.*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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 9, 2003
THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED FOR 2ND TIME , IT HAPPENED AT 40,000 MILES, AND NOW ALMOST A YEAR LATER AFTER THEY WERE TURNED THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN! I HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB SITES OF OTHER OWNERS, AND THE SAME COMPLAINT HAS BEEN THEIR! *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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 7, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S BRAKE EQUIPMENT. *MR THE BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WERE REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP, ONCE AT 13500K MILES ALONG WITH RESURFACING OF THE ROTORS AND THE REPLACING THE R/F CALIPER, AND AGAIN AT 7855K MILES LATER. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN A LOUD METAL TO METAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE BRAKES WERE DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND IN ORDER TO STOP, THE CONSUMER HAD TO CONTINUALLY PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL. *SCC
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 19, 2003
IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE SYSTEM HAVE SOME DEFECTS. I'VE HAD BRAKES REPLACES 3 TIMES SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2003). CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL, HOSES AND LINES. BRAKES FAILED ONCE AT SLOW SPEED 30 MPH. HAVEN'T HAD A FAILURE SINCE, HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM IS EATING UP BRAKE PADS MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE.*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
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 14, 2003
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Exterior lighting, Jun 20, 2003
FLASHERS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK.*AK