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.
Steering, Feb 27, 2003
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, AND IT MADE A NOISE.*JB
Power train, Feb 21, 2003
THE PCM LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 12, 2003
THE CALIPERS ON THE VEHICLE FLEXED, THE CASTING BENDED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHICH CAUSED MISALIGNMENT OF THE GUIDE PINS. *JG *JB
Exterior lighting, Feb 11, 2003
LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON CAUSING STOP LAMP ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BURN. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FUSE BOX. *JB *TS
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 13, 2003
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING WATER TO LEAK IN TO OIL.*JB..*AK
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
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 27, 2002
I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN APRIL 2001 VIN [XXX] AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING WORK/PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRED AT CAPITAL CHEVROLET WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. DATEPROBLEM/REPAIRSMILEAGE NOV 2001ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS 7,754 JAN 2002FRONT SUSPENSION9,080 MAR 2002FRONT SUSPENSION12,000 MAY 2002BRAKE PADS & ROTORS14,555 JULY 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON17,170 OCT 2002BRAKE PADS & HUB21,055 NOV 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, ROTOR, HUB KIT22,005 OCT 2002ROTORS21,310 DEC 2002CALIPER & BRAKE PADS24,066 FROM THE INFORMATION ABOVE, I CAN GENERALLY GET ABOUT 7,000 MILES ON THE BRAKE PADS. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT (REQUEST # [XXX]) AND WAS ABLE TO GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2002 AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, HOWEVER THE BRAKES HAVE NEEDED REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MY ORIGINAL CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE? MY RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN LESS THAN CORDIAL. I HAVE CONSIDERED TRADING IN THE MALIBU AND PURCHASING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE TRADE IN VALUE OFFERED FOR THE MALIBU IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. MY QUESTION IS: WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE DOES YOUR OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OFFER? I FIRMLY BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE AND GENERAL MOTORS BEARS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING THE DEFECT OR REPLACING THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Seat belts, Dec 11, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT NOT LOCKING THE PASSENGER WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHEILD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
Tires, Dec 9, 2002
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAME FLAT AT 75 MPH ON I-15 IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND EXAMINED THE TIRE, I FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE METAL RIM. THE ONLY TIRE RESIDUE WERE THE TIRE BEADS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL-WELL HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ALL THE MUD SHIELDS, INDICATIVE OF THE TIRE THREAD SEPERATING FROM THE TIRE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 81 DEGREES. DROVE 30 MILES INTO THE NEXT TOWN ON THE "DOUGHNUT" TIRE, AND FOUND A TIRE DEALER. BOUGHT 4 NEW NON-FIRESTONE TIRES. WHILE THE CAR WAS UP ON THE RACK, I EXAMINED THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THEY ALL SHOWED THE THREAD WEAR INDICATORS. MILEAGE ON THE TIRES AT THIS TIME WAS 14,750 MILES. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FIRESTONE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMPENSE ME BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE. I TOLD THEM IT WAS IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES ON THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE ME SATISFACTION. NOR WOULD GENERAL MOTORS GIVE ME SATISFACTION FOR THE SAME REASON. DT
Tires, Nov 19, 2002
THE CONSUMER TWO FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARTION FROM THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NAME OF TIRE,THE SIZE AND SERIAL NUMBER. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 19, 2002
WHILE APPLYING HER BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THERE WERE VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2002
NO SUMMARY. DT
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 29, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IF VEHICLE RIDES OVER A BUMP, ENGINE STALLS. DLR CAN NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. TS
Steering, Oct 24, 2002
ELBOW RIGHT ARM/ELBOW BECAME SORE AFTER DRIVING A CHEVROLET MALIBU FOR A WEEK. THE STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. HAVE A BAD CASE OF ELBOW NOW. INFO SUPLLIED BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311. DT
Air bags, Oct 22, 2002, crash
CONSUMER STATES OF BEEN ON A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. MR
Service brakes, Air, Oct 16, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSATE,HEARD A METAL TOO METAL NOISE.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED.THE ROTORS WENT BAD,HAD THEM REPLACED,PROBLEM REACCURED 3 TIMES AGAIN.HAD REPLACED AGAIN ON EACH OCCASION. MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 9, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 18000 MILES. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS SOMETHING CAUSING BRAKE AND ROTORS TO WEAR SO EARLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 9, 2002
CONSUMERHEARS A WIERD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Exterior lighting, Oct 2, 2002
CONSUMER NOTICE TURN SIGNAL WOULD WORK INTIMATELY AFTER REPEATED USE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 30, 2002
AT 20000, IF THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR A DISFIGURE IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN NO MATTER WHAT SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WHICH ONE CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE OTHER CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER. VEHICLE IS STILL EXEMPLIFYING SAME FAILURE. NLM
Tires, Sep 30, 2002
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD BELT BLOWN OUT, WHILE REMAINING THREE TIRES WERE ON THE VERGE OF HAVING BELTS BLOW OUT AS WELL. BOTH INFLATION AND TREAD WEAR WERE INDICATIVE OF THOSE FACTS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. MR
Exterior lighting, Sep 30, 2002
THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL ON VEHICLE. YOU WILL GO TO CHANGE LANES , THEY WILL BE WORKING THEN THEY STOP WORKING. I CONTACTED MILLER CHEVROLET WHO SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. I THEN CONTACTED PHALEN CHEVROLET WHO STATED THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE HAZARD SWITCH FAILURES CAUSING THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE KNEW WHY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR A LOT OF CARS ON THE STREET TO HAVE , AND MAY BE A ITEM THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE SOME DEATHS. MR
Power train, Sep 16, 2002
THE TRANSAXLE WAS STUCK IN PARK. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TORQUE LOCK IF YOU HAPPEN TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK INCORRECTLY, THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY GETTING IT OUT. THIS LOCKING OF THE TORQUE HAPPEND TWO MORE TIMES DURING CONSUMERS TRIP. *JG *SCC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Sep 10, 2002
WHILE TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK