2002 Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (125) · Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:control Module (52) · Exterior Lighting (42)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Malibu model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
391 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-03 · campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles
Defect: 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, 1998-200
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (391)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 391 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-15 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 105,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2002 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who reported the mileage at 105,000. the key was stuck in the ignition, but was replaced. it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a …”
2021-08-18 · Engine“the anti-theft/ passlock system fault in this generation of gm vehicles is very widespread and effects a large percentage of vehicles in this generation. i am sure there have been hundreds if not thousands of complaints about same issue and gm refuses to fix the problem. the problem causes the car to randomly shut off due to anti theft fault and ca…”
2020-09-13 · Exterior Lighting · 137,800 mi“the turn signals work sometimes and sometimes they don't work. i researched this on the internet and it seams to be a serious problem with this car make. if there are no recalls on this there should be. this is a major safety hazard. i just bought this car for my teenage son.…”
2020-09-07 · Service Brakes · 42,000 mi“the hydraulic brake lines between the front and rear of the car corroded and quickly leaked fluid out so the brakes no longer functioned. the fluid leaked out when the car was parked after driving on the highway the night before. if this happened when i was driving the results could have been catestophic my mechanic stated that this is a common p…”
2019-09-22 · Electrical System · 131,652 mi“the characteristics of the problem are as follows: the engine just dies randomly. when the engine dies, i noted the gauges all indicated the key was in the off position, even though the key had not been touched. they by turning the key to the off position and wiggling it only after bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and putting the gear shift…”
2019-06-19 · Engine · 46,786 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the engine hesitated when started. also, the instrument panel lighting became very dim and the data on the screen was not visible. also, the passenger door would not lock and the windows failed to roll down. all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the cont…”
2019-02-18 · Electrical System · 154,000 mi“passlock censor in the ignition lock cylinder failing. security relearn needed. vehicle was stationary.…”
2018-11-15 · Electrical System · 107,490 mi“car would not start, had to replace alternator. one week later same problem, had a mechanic check it now saying its the battery so replaced that. was starting ok then it wouldn't start so we wiggled key around and it started. was able to drive several days doing this but then it would not start at all. the mechanic says it is the ignition switch. w…”
2018-07-30 · Electrical System:ignition · 92,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key felt hot while in the ignition. the dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 92,000. …”
2018-07-15 · Unknown Or Other“my vehicle is messing up on me and it was shut off my vehicle is messing up on me it will shut off well driving ill pull over and wait a couple mins and i will pull out the fuel fuse and wait a couple mins and will put it back and it will start again after a week it shut off on me and would not start had to have it towed took it to a mechanic he ch…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.