Page 9 of 12 · complaints 401–450 of 567

2002 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 30, 200638,500 milesFL

BOTH FRONT CALIPERS AND BOTH REAR CALIPERS LEAKING. PROBLEM COVERED UNDER MY FIDELITY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE NEW BRAKES THAT I HAD ON THERE WERE RUINED BY BRAKE FLUID CAUSED BY THE LEAK. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER BRAKES. I HAVE 3 FRIENDS WITH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 30, 200647,000 milesNY

CAR STARTED LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON ENGINE AT 45000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $900.00 FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE AND OVERHEATING ENGINE FAILURE. *NM

Steering
Filed May 29, 200698,000 milesLA

HEARING POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHENEVER YOU MAKE A TURN IN THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR STABILIZING BAR IS BAD. BACK END SWINGS. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 200645,000 milesNH

CAR HAS FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL US WHY. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH HAD NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. OUR WIPERS ONLY WORK ON HIGH. OUR HEAT ONLY WORKS ON NUMBER 4 AND 5. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WITH MY BABY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, THE CAR JUST DECIDED TO DIE ON ME. I HAD TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE PASSING LANE, SO THAT I COULD PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. MY RADIO AND HEAT STILL WORKED, BUT CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. MY OIL AND BATTERY AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ON (I HAD NOT EVEN USED THE CRUISE CONTROL) AND MY CAR JUST WOULD NOT START. IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO GET MY CAR TO START AGAIN, NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANY DISTANCE FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed May 11, 200650,130 milesOH

MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU LS WOULD NOT START AND NEEDED TOWED HOME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN REGULARLY TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS WITH NO RECALL FROM GM YET. I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND WIFE THAT DRIVE USE THE CAR MOSTLY AND AM WORRIED OF THEIR SAFETY IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUITTING DURING A RAINSTORM. I CONTACTED GM AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ALL REPAIRS WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed May 3, 200653,000 milesOH

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH CAR STARTING DUE TO FAILURE OF THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED A NUMBER OF TIMES UNTIL THE CAR STARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed May 1, 2006ME

I OWN A USED 2002 CHEVY MALIBU, PURCHASED IN JUNE 2005. FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, ONCE A WEEK THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE SYSTEM HAS ENGAGED NOT ALLOWING ME TO START THE CAR. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TWO TIMES THIS OCCURRED I HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR THIRTY MINUTES THEN HAVE SOME ONE JUMP START THE CAR. THUS MAKING ME LATE TO WORK ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I WENT ON LINE TO YAHOO TYPE IN ANTI THEFT SYSTEM CHEVY AND FOUND FIVE PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OTHER MALIBU OWNERS ONE WOMAN WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHAT WE ALL WANT TO KNOW IS WHY THIS MATTER HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION AND RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURED. WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND REPLY TO EITHER MY E-MAIL OR MY HOME ADDRESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WENDIE PRICE *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Apr 29, 2006WI

I BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU IN SEPT OF 2005 AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT REPAIR BILLS SINCE. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE STUFF WAS MAINTENANCE BUT I DON'T THINK ALL OF IT IS. THE LIST OF MY COMPLAINTS IS TO LONG SO I AM HOPING SOMEBODY WILL CALL ME. THANK YOU. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 25, 2006GA

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN THE CONSUMER'S 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS DEFECTIVE. *NM THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE ABOUT GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE A BULLETIN WAS ISSUED OCT 24, 2003. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Filed Apr 13, 200634,207 milesVA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHING LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, #03V327000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 10, 200674,000 miles00

I BOUGHT MY 2002 MALIBU IN 2003 AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT THE MILEAGE WAS 74000 NOW IT IS AT 109000 KL AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Apr 8, 200669,300 milesCA

3 WEEKS AGO MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU STARTED TO RUN LIKE #@$% (HESITATION BETWEEN 0- 35 MPH AND GOING UP HILL, LOSS IN POWER, AND SLOW AT CATCHING UP TO FREEWAY SPEED). I HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, COILS, AND THE EGR VALVE AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. WELL, AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE, I FOUND OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT'S WITH THEIR CAT CONVERTER. I CAN'T EVEN ORDER THE PART ONLINE BECAUSE OF STRICT EMISSION CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA, I NEED A MECHANIC TO DO IT,GET IT STRAIGHT FROM THE DEALER, OR HAVE AUTO ZONE DO A SPECIAL ORDER FOR ME (I FOUND A MECHANIC THAT WILL DO IT FOR $800). NEXT IS MY HEAD GASKET, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. ON 4-8-06 I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS OIL IN MY COOLANT RESERVOIR TANK, WHICH MEANS I HAVE AN OIL LEAK. SO NOW I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR IN AND HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED WHICH WON'T BE CHEAP EITHER. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALLS AND I CAME UPON THIS WEBSITE WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV , I REALIZED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WITH SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHY DOESN'T GM DO RECALLS. NOW I MAY NEED TO FORK OUT A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF NOT A THOUSAND OR MORE TO FIX (CORRECT) A FAULTY CAT CONVERTER AND HEAD GASKET. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 7, 200624,000 milesWI

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 3, 200611,600 milesPA

1. VEHICLE IS LOW MILEAGE GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. AN ODOR WAS NOTICEABLE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. DROVE CAR A FEW MILES AND PARKED, WHEN CAME OUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER. 2. STARTED CAR, TRIED TO TURN ON TO DRIVEWAY TO LEAVE AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. SMELLED BAD. 3. THE KEEFERS AUTO SERVICE RELATED THE AC COMPRESSOR CLUTCH HAD FROZEN UP. THEY REPLACED THIS PART AND RECHARGED THE AC SYSTEM ETC. I BELIEVE THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY 11000 MILES, IS VERY SERIOUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS REPAIR WAS JUST COMPLETED TODAY 4/3/6 SO IF YOU INTERESTED IN THE OLD PARTS OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SERVICE PLEASE CONTACT TOM KEEFER AT KEEFER'S AUTO SALES AND SERVICE (717) 334 2923. HE IS VERY NICE AND REPUTABLE. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Mar 29, 2006MI

THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING/OCCURRED IN THE 2000 AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S (OF WHICH THERE IS A RECALL) IS OCCURRING IN MY 2002 MALIBU. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Mar 23, 2006CA

FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE VEHICLE DID NOT SPEED AS USUAL AND HAD TO RETURN TO LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE STRUGGLED FROM 0 TO 25 MPH. WHEN GOING UP BRIDGE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH POWER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC AND REPLACED SENSORS BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM MECHANIC REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. I ENTERED THE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM (RECOMMENDATION FROM MECHANIC).*JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Mar 21, 2006105,000 milesCA

ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES CAR. HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER TO GET FIXED. NON-DEALER MECHANIC CANNOT FIX. ONLY GM OR CHEVY DEALER. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAD A 98 SAME MODEL THAT DID THE SAME THING AT LEAST 4 TIMES. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Mar 10, 200655,000 milesCT

MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS. THE PROBLEM TENDS TO EXHIBIT ITSELF MORE OFTEN IN WARM AND/OR HUMID CONDITIONS. *NM

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jan 30, 200646,000 milesNJ

SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT LATCH. NO MATTER HOW OFTEN THE BELT TAB IS INSERTED INTO THE BUCKLE IT WILL NOT LATCH. THE RELEASE BUTTON IS NOT STUCK IN. ATTEMPTED TO LUBRICATE BUCKLE WITH WD-40, BUT NO LUCK. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jan 29, 200642,241 milesKS

INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. AFTER BRIEFLY TURNING ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, THE TURN SIGNALS WILL SOMETIMES WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT INEVITABLY THEY FAIL AGAIN SOON AFTERWARD.

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jan 25, 2006FL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WARNING LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THERE IS A RECALL, #03V327000 CONCERNING THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE.

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Jan 19, 2006VA

HAZARD SWITCH HAS STOPPED WORKING OR WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. CAUSES THE BLINKERS AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS NOT TO WORK, CAUSING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jan 13, 200620,000 milesAZ

I PURCHASED 2002 MALIBU NEW NOV 2001. TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING ONCE IN 2002. REOCCURRED 3-4 TIMES IN 2003. 2004 OCCURRED 6-8 TIMES. 2005 OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH UNTIL OCT-DEC WHEN SIGNALS MALFUNCTION WEEKLY. JAN 2006, SIGNALS MALFUNCTION 1-3 TIME A DAY SOMETIMES. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 32,000 MILES. CYCLING THE HAZARD SWITCH USUALLY ONCE OR TWICE CURES THE PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER NOV 2005, BUT NO RECALL ON 2002 MALIBU FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jan 6, 200656,000 milesPA

DT*:THE CONTACT STATED BOTH TURN SIGNALS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME THE LIGHTS SOMETIMES TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Jan 1, 200662,492 milesIL

I FIRST PURCHASED THIS MALIBU 2002 IN FEB 2002. NOV 02 ( 9 MOS LATER) I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND THE SAME TIME MY TURN/HAZARD SIGNAL WENT OUT AND I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPLACED YET AFTER 4YRS OF HAVING THIS CAR. IF I WANT TO USE IT I HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING THE HAZARD BUTTON TO MAKE IT COME ON. NOV 2005 I TRIED TO START MY CAR, BUT IT KEPT CUTTING OFF. MY DAD STATED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP,CRANK SENSOR AND MODULE REPLACED. MY CAR STILL DIDN'T START. FINALLY MY DAD WENT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRESSED THIS BLACK BUTTON (CUT OFF SWITCH) AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD START. I HAVE TO TRAVEL 25 MILES TO WORK SO I WAS TIRED OF WORRYING ABOUT THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE THEFT SYSTEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER 11/29/2005 THEY HAD THE CAR UNTIL 12/15/2005. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH, CRANK SENSOR AND MY ALARM/AUTOMATIC STARTER. I WAS OUT OF $366.73 TO THE DEALER AND TAKING A CAB TO WORK AT 5:30AM FOR X7DY COASTED$210.00. I WAS ALSO OUT OF MONEY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR THE LAST 7YS THEY HAD MY CAR PLUS GAS ON BOTH BECAUSE THEY USED ALL GAS IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD X2 IGNITION SWITCHES PUT ON MY CAR, I HAVE TO CHANGE MY TAIL/PARK/BRAKE BULB SEEMINGLY EVERY 6MOS. I AM ONLY GETTING MY HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL REPLACED WHEN NHTSA REVIEWS IT AS BEING AN DEFECT. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE SPEED OF MY CAR ALSO ON THE E WAY. I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TAKE OFF AT 60MPH. I HAVE TO PUT

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Dec 22, 2005MO

ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU LS THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD BUTTON HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE AT RANDOM DRIVING TIMES. BASICALLY IT MIMMICKS THE EXACT RECALL OF THE 2001 MALIBUS. I HAD SOMEONE WHO PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MALIBU STATE THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MORE TIMES THAN NOT, THE SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Dec 6, 200580,000 milesFL

THE LATEST INCIDENT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AT 50-60 MPH AND STARTED LOSING POWER. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. PICKUP BECAME NON EXISTENT AND THE DEALER FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AFTER CHANGING THE FUEL FILTER AND OTHER REGULAR MAINTENANCE ITEMS. I LIMPED INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $1600. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND IT COST $150. THE AGGRAVATION WITH THIS CAR IS FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST. WARNING MALIBU OWNERS...THE CONVERTER IS A KNOWN FAILURE ITEM THEY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT!! *JB

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Dec 4, 2005FL

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 › Turn Signal
Filed Dec 4, 2005TX

TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING, HAZDARDS WORK ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK AND ALL FUSES ARE GOOD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEARS MALIBU. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Nov 28, 2005NY

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Nov 19, 2005OH

2002 MALIBU TURN SIGNAL AND FLASHER SWITCH INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Nov 18, 2005LA

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Nov 16, 2005MD

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

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 29, 200557,600 milesCA

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

Electrical System
Filed Oct 29, 200541,000 milesWA

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Oct 20, 200544,000 milesTN

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 › Cooling System
Filed Oct 18, 2005PA

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 › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 17, 200521,000 milesMO

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Oct 15, 200535,000 milesPA

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Oct 13, 200527,945 milesPA

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 › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Oct 13, 2005IL

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 › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 13, 200532,000 milesME

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION THAT LEADS TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS AND THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.*JB

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Flasher Unit
Filed Oct 13, 2005PA

2002 CHEVY MALIBU TURN SIGNAL FAILURES AS WELL AS HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE.*JB

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 11, 2005NJ

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
Filed Oct 10, 200565,330 milesOK

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 › Turn Signal › Flasher Unit
Filed Oct 7, 2005CO

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 › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Oct 6, 2005AZ

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 › Hazard Flashing Warning Lights › Switch
Filed Oct 6, 2005IL

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

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 6, 200545,000 milesMO

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

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Oct 5, 200544,690 milesTX

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

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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