2002 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 596 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 20 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
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, headlightsApr 10, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A LEFT LOW-BEAM HEADLAMP THAT DOES NOT MEET THE PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
LIGHT INTENSITIES BELOW THE MINIMUM INTENSITY REQUIREMENTS CAUSE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND INTENSITIES ABOVE THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY REQUIREMENTS CAUSE INCREASE IN GLARE FOR DRIVERS AHEAD OF, OR APPROACHING, THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LEFT LOW-BEAM HEADLAMP AND REPLACE IT IF IT DOES NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.
Campaign 02V107000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
596 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Oct 30, 2007
1. NORMAL USAGE OF CAR 2. ANTI THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGES ARBITRARILY CAUSING CAR NOT TO START FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL YOU DO A RESET PROCEDURE. NOTIFIED IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. IT SEEMS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE. ALSO, REPORTS SHOW THE NEW PART WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DEFECT. 3. NOTHING, TO EXPENSIVE, SHOULD BE COVERED AS A DEFECT. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 23, 2007
MY CHEVY MALIBU WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES WAS STARTING TO HESITATE AND NOT THE POWER UP HILLS LIKE IT WAS BEGGING FOR GAS. WELL A WEEK LATER AFTER PARKING IT IN THE MORNING AND GOING TO USE IT SOME HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL PUMP WENT AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP SINCE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. MANAGER OF REPAIR SHOP WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE PUMP WENT WITH SUCH FEW MILES. *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 9, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THEN RESTART SO THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ILLUMINATE. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,627 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 10/23/07 *TR
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2007
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU 37,000MI. THE VEHICLE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM( PASSLOCK SYSTEM),FAILURE. VEHICLE WON'T START. RECENTLY GOT THE CAR STARTED BUT NOW THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 27, 2007
THE ANTI-FREEZE HOLDING TANK KEEPS GETTING AN OIL RESIDUE IN IT AND THE ANTI-FREEZE KEEPS DISAPPEARING INTO THE ENGINE AND HAS TO KEEP BEING REFILLED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS FAILING. THE A/C SWITCH ALSO TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. ROTORS AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2007
HAZARD LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WILL QUIT WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL. *JB
Electrical system, Aug 21, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT, HOWEVER, THE THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TOOK TEN MINUTES TO FINALLY START. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE THEFT LIGHT DIMMED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,900. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2007
CAR FAILS TO START DUE TO FAULTY ANTI THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. COMPONENTS OF SYSTEM INCLUDING IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND HOUSING, BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND KEY REPLACED IN 11/06. SAME SYMPTOMS RECURRED IN 07/07. *AK
Electrical system, Jul 16, 2007
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE IN THE COMPUTER. I REPLACED THE COMPUTER 11 MONTHS AGO AND ALREADY I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE TRICKS THE COMPUTER AND DISABLES THE ENGINE FROM IGNITING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Jul 11, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE USED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES WERE NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 34 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Exterior lighting, Jul 11, 2007
HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE ADDITION OF THE 2002 MALIBU TO THE RECALL FOR TURNING LIGHT FAILURE BY DEALERSHIP AS OF THIS DATE .. EVEN AFTER I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS OR COVERAGE BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 8, 2007
CHEVROLET MALIBU INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS" BEGINS TO LEAK ANYWHERE AROUND 80,000 MILES OF DRIVING. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LEAK COOLANT, TO OVERHEAT, AND MOTOR WILL LOCK, BURN OUT. THIS CAR WAS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS WHO HAD THIS WORK DONE OF THEIR CARS COSTING $500.00 TO $700.00 I FELT AS THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO IMPROVE THIS GASKET AND REPLACE THE CARS THAT ALREADY HAD THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *AK
Electrical system, Jul 6, 2007
PASSLOCK SENSOR PREVENTED STARTING THE CAR ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL KEY WAS USED. HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 2, 2007
I OWN A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE AS WELL AS MULTIPLE VISITS TO MY MECHANIC, I NOW REALIZE THAT THE PROBLEM I AM ENCOUNTERING IS A COMMON ONE FOR MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM OR "PASSLOCK". MY CAR WILL FAIL TO START BECAUSE THE PASSLOCK SENSOR DETECTS WHAT IT THINKS IS AN IMPROPER KEY. A 10 MINUTE DELAY WILL ENSUE WHERE I CAN NOT START MY CAR AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH IS HAS HAPPENED UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY! I FIND IT COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT CHEVROLET HAS NOT RECALLED THE CAR FOR THIS ERROR. I CAN NO LONGER RUN THE RISK OF GETTING STUCK IN A BAD SITUATION/AREA AND MY CAR FAILING ME. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 26, 2007
2002 MALIBU WON'T START PROBABLY DUE TO THE ANTI THEFT PASS LOCK SENSOR. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE WERE ABLE TO START THE NEXT DAY. HOWEVER IT' HAPPENING AGAIN AND I CANNOT START THE CAR FROM THE LAST THREE HOURS. GET GM OF THEIR BEHINDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY MAKING THE ISSUE A RECALL.*AK
Parking brake, Jun 24, 2007
THE 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.. IT WAS COMPLETELY USELESS. IT DIDN'T WORK. WHY I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE INSPECTION PLACE STATED THAT THEY HAD FAILED NUMEROUS TAHOES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FELT THAT IT WAS UNSAFE AND CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL THE FEW THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE AN INNOCENT PARTY CONCERNING SEVERAL DEATHS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPORTING IT BEFORE IT IS RECALLED. I DIDN''T EVEN USE THE BRAKE HOW COULD IT NOT WORK ANYMORE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 23, 2007
I HAVE FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH CHEVROLET ON THE 2002 MALIBU I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE ONCE AT 33,378 MILES ON 5/5/2005 AND AGAIN AT 51,543 MILE ON 3/27/2007. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS REPAIR HAVE INFORMED ME THE REPLACING THE BRAKES AT 18,165 MILES ARE CONSIDERED ?ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.? FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FOUND WHEN THE CAR DID NOT ADEQUACY STOP PLACING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL INDICATOR OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM, INSTEAD I HAD TO RELY ON PERFORMANCE FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD. TO DATE THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 19, 2007
ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM ON UTES2002 MALIBU. WAIT TIME OF 10 TO 30 MINUTES TO RESET. CAR WILL NOT START. SAFTY ISSUE DUE TO NO RELIABLE SAFE WAY TO CRANK CAR. *AK
Electrical system, Jun 17, 2007
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTED FROM BEING ABLE TO START ON THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO RESET IT BY TURNING THE KEY ON AND WAIED 15 TO 20 MINUTES. ONCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING ALL THE TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION. *AK
Electrical system, Jun 14, 2007
ANTI THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEM IN MALIBU. CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS KEY IS LEFT IN THE IGNITION FOR 10 MINS. HAPPENS ABOUT 3 TIMES A DAY. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 12, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT EVEN WHEN THE SYSTEM IS REPAIRED, THE UNIT WILL FAIL AGAIN AT SOME POINT. THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AN OFFER TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS REMAINED AT THE SHOP SINCE THE DATE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2007, crash
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE FLOOR MAT CURLED ON THE TOP OF THE GAS PEDAL AND AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD AND HIT THE GARAGE**NAR**CC *JB
Electrical system, May 26, 2007
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES USE. OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS THE CAR HAS EXHIBITED A FAILURE TO START. A LITTLE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A COMMON FAILURE OF THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE TEMPORARY FIX IS TO RESET THE SYSTEM BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND WAITING 10-15 MINUTES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND INCONVENIENT. AT THIS POINT IT DOESN'T REPRESENT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, IN THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM ISN'T SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE DOES REPRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. MY STEPSON USES THIS CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK AND TO COLLEGE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS SAFETY IF HE CAN'T START THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, E.G., TO AVOID CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. IF THIS WERE A SMALL THING TO HAVE REPAIRED, I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN SO MUCH, BUT MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT WILL COST NEARLY $500. AS I SAID ABOVE, THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON--OR SO MY INTERNET RESEARCH TELLS ME. GM SHOULD RECALL THIS POORLY DESIGNED MECHANISM. THANK YOU. --TED KRINER *TR
Electrical system, May 14, 2007
MY WIFE WAS OUT DOING DAILY ERRANDS AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. THEN, AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS IT STILL WOULDN'T START. CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO A AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC, AND THE NEXT DAY BEFORE ANY WORK WAS DONE THE CAR STARTED, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN, A FEW WEEKS LATER MY WIFE AND SON WERE OUT DOING ERRANDS AGAIN AND SAME THING HAPPENED, BUT LUCKILY AFTER A HALF HOUR OF TRYING TO START THE CAR IT DID START. THE BATTERY WAS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD ,AND NO OTHER NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. I WAS AFRAID THAT MY WIFE AND 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE GOING TO END UP STRANDED. THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD BWAS THAT IT COULD BE LINKED TO THE FACTORY SECURITY CODE USED IN THE CAR, BUT NO ONE STATED THAT THEY COULD TEST FOR THAT, THEY JUST ASSUMED THATS WHAT HAPPENED. HAS ANY ONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Structure, May 12, 2007
I HAVE OWN MY 2002 MALIBU SINCE DECEMBER 2001 HAVE CHANGED THE A/C CONTROL SWITCH 3 TIMES. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TODAY FOR THE SAME REASON. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS SINCE THE LAST NEW SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, THE A/C WILL CHANGE FROM BLOWING OUT AIR CONDITIONING TO JUST BLOWING AIR. MY HUSBAND TELLS ME THAT THIS LAST TIME THE AIR CIRCULATION CHANGED FROM INSIDE AIR TO OUTSIDE AIR. THIS WAS A GREAT VEHICLE, BUT AN EXTREMELY ANNOYING PROBLEM. IS THERE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OFF? *AK