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.
Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2005
MY 2002 MALIBU HAS A PROBLEM... WHEN MY SIGNAL LIGHTS DON'T WORK I HAVE TO TURN THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON & OFF THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND THEN THEY WORK AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE... I THINK GM SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SINCE SEEMS LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM... *NM
Exterior lighting, Nov 28, 2005
2002 CHEVY MALIBU TURN AND HAZARD SIGNAL FAILURE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND I NOTICED THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP (A GM DEALERSHIP) AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I DID A "GOOGLE" SEARCH OF THE ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS PROBLEM UNDER INVESTIGATION. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY ISSUE TO THE NUMBER OF REPORTS REGISTERED. *JB
Exterior lighting, Nov 19, 2005
2002 MALIBU TURN SIGNAL AND FLASHER SWITCH INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 18, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT COMPLETELY STOP. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING STOPPING PROBLEMS. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION TO HAVE THE PADS REPLACED. THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS. THUS FAR, THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TEN TIMES. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED OR DIAGNOSED. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB
Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2005
TURN SIGNALS AND EMERGENCY FLASHER DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. TURN SIGNALS MAY WORK FINE FOR DAYS THEN SUDDENLY NOT WORK. OR, TURN SIGNALS MAY WORK FOR AWHILE WHILE DRIVING, THEN STOP WORKING SUDDENLY. *JB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 29, 2005
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I BEGAN TO NOTICE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE TURN INDICATORS ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE TIME, THEY FUNCTION NORMALLY BUT THEY RANDOMLY FAIL AND JUST AS RANDOMLY BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS UNRELATED TO POWER ON/OFF CYCLES OF THE TURN INDICATOR SYSTEM OR VEHICLE. LIKEWISE, ROAD VIBRATION INTENSITY DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE CONDITION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE FOUR WAY HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM STILL FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. THE FAILURE AFFECTS BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. NEITHER DASHBOARD INDICATORS NOR TURN INDICATOR LAMPS FUNCTION DURING THE FAILURE. THE SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE FLASHER UNIT IS ALSO MISSING DURING FAILURES. I HAVE REPLACED THE FLASHER UNIT AND THE PROBLEM WAS UNAFFECTED. I REINSTALLED THE ORIGINAL FLASHER. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 29, 2005
MALIBU 2002 TURN SIGNALS AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR DO NOT WORK AND WILL COME ON EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS BUT CHEVY HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2002 MODEL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY OR JUST AROUND TOWN. DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CAR IN AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IF THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE CORRECTED LIKE I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE SAY THEY HAVE TRIED TO DO. *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 20, 2005
THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO WORK CAUSING THE NEED TO USE HAND SIGNALS. WHEN IT WORKS OR NOT IS UNPREDICTABLE. I SAW THAT THE NHTSA HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 18, 2005
TWO WEEKS AGO MY WATER LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON. I ADDED DEXCOOL COOLANT PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND GO OFF FOR APPROX 1 WEEK. I ADDED DEXCOOL COOLANT EACH TIME. AFTER APPROX. 1 WEEK OF DOING THIS, THE LIGHT STOPPED COMING ON. YESTERDAY, WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE AFTER WORK, THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE LOT UNDER MY VEHICLE. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR UP AGAIN AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR GARAGE WHO INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND THERMOSTAT GASKET AND VALVE COVER GASKET AT A COST OF $890.00. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT GM HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THEY FIXED FOUR OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE USE OF THE GM-RECOMMENDED DEXCOOL WHICH GM HAS SINCE DISCONTINUED USE OF. *NM
Exterior lighting, Oct 17, 2005
DT: THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. CONSUMERTR CONTACTED CHEVROLET CORPORATION, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN. BUT, NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS INCIDENT H HAPPEN AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH.*AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 15, 2005
TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK AND INDICATOR DOES NOT FLASH ON DASHBOARD. FAILURE BEGAN AS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE, BUT IS NOW CONSTANT. THERE IS NO RECALL ON FOR THIS ISSUE. REPLACEMENT PARTS WORK FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN FAIL. *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 13, 2005
2002 CHEVY MALIBU TURN SIGNAL FAILURES AS WELL AS HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE.*JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 13, 2005
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION THAT LEADS TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS AND THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Exterior lighting, Oct 13, 2005
MY TURN SIGNALS WORK WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN HEAR THE TURN SIGNAL BUT THE LIGHT IS NOT ACTUALLY ON. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY ROTORS ON THE CAR THREE TIMES ALL READY AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN THREE YEARS OLD YET. I AM QUITE UPSET BECAUSE BETWEEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE BRAKES I AM AT A HIGH RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND EVERYDAY I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE WITH HER I AM PUTTING BOTH OF OUR LIVES AT RISKS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS THREE YEARS AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON EITHER OF THESE POTENTIALLY LIFE ENDANGERING ISSUES WHEN THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON PREVIOUS MODELS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 13, 2005
I HAVE HEARD RECENTLY ABOUT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE SAME CONDITION. SOMETIMES THE WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. IF THEY DON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY YOU PUSH THE HAZARD BUTTON AND THE SIGNALS WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THEN YOU HAVE START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. I'VE READ THAT CHEVY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH EARLIER MODELS. LET ME TELL YOU THE PROBLEMS IS CONTINUING.*JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 11, 2005
DT THE CONTACT STATED THE BLINKERS WORKED POORLY. SOMETIMES THEY WILL WORK AND THEY WILL CLICK AT A FAST PACE, FASTER THAN WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE BLINKING. OTHER TIMES THE BLINKERS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, AND THEN THERE WAS NO CLICKING, NO NOISE, AND NO LIGHTS. NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON AUGUST 1, 2005. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS RECALL , BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 11/17/2005. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 10, 2005
BCM CODE AND ECM CODE FAILURE. ONLY 65000 MILE ON CAR AND THE MAIN COMPUTER OF MALIBU 2002 IS GOING OUT. EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE KEPT. OUT 7,000 DOLLARS BECAUSE OF PROBLEM. *NM
Exterior lighting, Oct 7, 2005
MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 MALIBU 1. EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP EVEN THOUGHT THE DASH SIGNAL IS INDICATING THAT THEY ARE BLINKING AND DASHBOARD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP AT ALL 2. HAD NO IDEA IF I WAS SIGNALING TO OTHER MOTORISTS MY INTENTION TO TURN - STILL DO NOT KNOW IF SIGNALS ARE WORKING 3. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET SERVICE - THEY WORKED ON IT FOR HOURS CHARGING ME BY THE HOUR AND COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *NM
Exterior lighting, Oct 6, 2005
TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK-SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FLASHER. STARTED JUST OCCASIONALLY, BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. WILL WORK SOMETIMES, BUT USUALLY NOT. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Oct 6, 2005
I OWN AN '02 CHEVY MALIBU (SINCE 2/28/02). I HAD THE SAME HAZARD SWITCH PROBLEM W/MY '02 MALIBU THAT THE '00 & '01 MODEL YEARS HAD, AND I HAD TO PAY FOR ITS REPLACEMENT (ROUGHLY $130). I HAD NO TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD BLINKERS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED. GIBSON CHEVY OF SOUTH HOLLAND, IL DID THE REPLACEMENT (IT'S IN THEIR REPAIR SYSTEM). MY CAR PRESENTLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 45K MILES. GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I WAS FORCED TO PAY, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THIS DEFECT WITH PRIOR MODEL YEARS AND THE FACT THIS SITUATION HAS NOT SEEMINGLY BEEN REPLACED WITH THE '02 MODEL YEAR, EITHER. I GOT NO NOTIFICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS SWITCH OR A RECALL ON IT, EITHER. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A MODULATOR REPLACED LAST WEEK (10/5/05) WHICH AFFECTS THE BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS IN MY VEHICLE'S VENTILATION SYSTEM ($152.00). AT SPEEDS 1, 2 AND 3, THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL. EACH SPEED STARTING WITH THE LOWEST TO THE HIGHER SPEEDS WAS GOING OUT-THE ONLY SPEEDS WORKING WERE #4, #5 & DEFROST. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THIS REPLACED OR I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THE VENTS OR DEFROSTER OR THE BLOWER ITSELF (& THE DEFROSTER), WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE AT BRACH AUTO REPAIR (103RD & WESTERN AVE., CHICAGO IL -- THIS REPAIR DETAIL IS IN THEIR SYSTEM). BRACH AUTO ALSO REPLACED SOME PARTS IN MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING/ABOUT TO GO OUT). THE AMT I PAID FOR THIS IS ALSO IN THEIR SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME, TOM BEAULIEU INFORMED ME THAT GM HAS DISTRIBUTED A TSB RE: THIS SITUATION (WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED OF UNTIL I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE MODULATOR REPAIR), & HOW I MUST RUN MY CAR W/ ONLY SHELL OR BP'S 93 OCTANE GASOLINE (EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IT SHOULD/CAN RUN ON 87 OCTANE). NOW, DUE TO A POOR FUEL INJECTOR DESIGN, RUNNING ANYTHING LESS THAN 93 OCTANE IN MY '02 MALIBU WILL RESULT IN MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. (3 SEPARATE FAILURES / 3 SEPARATE PARTS ON THE SAME CAR). I WANT GM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I'VE SPENT FOR THESE REPAIRS.*JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 6, 2005
DT: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONSUMER FOUND AN INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THIS, PE05055. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN THIS TIME TO BE FIXED. *AK
Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2005
THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONS ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, WHICH LEADS TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. THEY DO NOT FLICKER. THEY JUST STOP WORKING AND THEN WORK WITHOUT PROBLEM. THE INCIDENTS ARE RANDOM. I WILL BE REPLACING THE TURN SIGNAL WHEN I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED LATER THIS MONTH . *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2005
WITHOUT WARNING THE TURN SIGNALS STOP OPERATING. BY HITTING THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH NUMEROUS TIME THE TURN FUNCTION RETURNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY DURING THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. *JB
Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2005
THE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2002 MALIBU FAIL TO WORK ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO (EARLY-OCTOBER). THE SIGNALS HAVE FAILED TWICE DURING THAT TIME THE DASH INDICATORS DO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN I SIGNAL BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. I HAVE LESS THAN 45K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IF I MOVE THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK AND FORTH, THE SIGNALS WILL BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN. *NM
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2005
AT APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK. IT WAS VERY SPORADIC IN NATURE AT FIRST. HOWEVER, OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 3,000 MILES WE HAVE NOTICED THAT IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE AT THE 81,000 MILE SERVICE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE THERE WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NATURALLY, ON THE SERVICE DATE THE SIGNALS WERE WORKING. SOME DAYS THE SIGNALS WORK AND SOME DAYS THEY DON'T. WE HAVE NOTICED THE FREQUENCY OF FAILURE IS MORE DURING DAMP, HUMID OR RAINY WEATHER. THE FAILURE CAN BE AS SHORT AS FIVE MINUTES OR AS LONG AS ONE HOUR. WE WILL BE TAKING OUR VEHICLE IN FOR THE 84,000 MILE SERVICE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WE WILL BE SHOWING THEM THE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ORGANIZATIONS INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT DURING ONE OF THESE FAILURES AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR. *NM