2001 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

YESTERDAY AS I WAS DRIVING, THE PASSLOCK, (ANTI THEFT SYSTEM) HAD SHUT THE CAR DOWN. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY ON SIDE STREETS AND THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT AT THE TIME. IT GOT ME LOOKING INTO WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND IT AMAZED ME HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE OF CARS DYING ON THEM WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, YET IM UNSURE OF WHY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, OR KILLS SOMEONE. *TR

CRUISE CONTROL SLIPS AS WELL AS DASHBOARD BEEPS

THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON, AND HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE CAR WILL START. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON GM'S PART TO FIX THIS. *TR

WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE ENGINE TURNED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE THEFT LIGHT IN THE DASH WOULD FLASH. I CALLED GM DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT MANY OF THE GM MODELS OF THESE YEARS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. HE SAID THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHERE THE THEFT SYSTEM WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AS BEING THE CORRECT KEY FOR MY AUTOMOBILE. HE TOLD ME TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AND THE THEFT LIGHT WOULD GO OUT, AND THEN I COULD START THE CAR. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY COULD REPAIR/REPLACE THE PROBLEM FOR AROUND $500 DOLLARS. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND HAVING THE REPAIRS MADE, AGAIN WITHIN TWO YEARS, THE THEFT LIGHT IN THE DASH STARTED FLASHING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START UNTIL I LEFT IT SITTING WITH THE KEY/IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION FOR THE 10 MINUTES IT TAKES TO RESET THE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM. I THINK GM SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE ANTI-THEFT WON'T LET ME START MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES IN THE MORNING AN OTHER TIMES. IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET STARTED AN I NEED TO GET A RECALL ON IT HOPEFULLY. I'M ONLY ONE OF MANY WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY MALIBU. THE THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON AND PREVENTS MY CAR FROM STARTING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS. THIS TIME I HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. MY DOOR LOCKS WON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THIS. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE THIS IN TO GET REPAIRED JUST FOR THIS TO GO OUT AGAIN. I HAD IT DONE WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR NOW IT NEEDS FIXED AGAIN. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND YOU WOULD THINK BY NOW THAT GM WOULD DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE REPEATED MANY TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,766.

I WENT OUTSIDE TO CRANK UP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD FLASH. RESEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WAS ADVISED TO PUT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO BYPASS THE THEFT SYSTEM. IT SEEMS AS IF THE THEFT SYSTEM KICKS IN AND KILLS THE CAR SO THAT IT WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF IT BEING IN THE ON POSITION, BUT THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRING AS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THESE CARS. *TR

I CRANK THE CAR AND IT WANTS TO CATCH BUT ACTS LIKE THERE IS NO GAS OR SOMETHING? THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON SOLID NOT BLINKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB FOR 2 DAYS. *TR

WHEN TRYING TO START HE CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL FLASH, THE CAR WILL REV, SOUND LIKE IT IS TRYING TO START BUT WON'T. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM NOT READING THE KEY AND SHUTTING THE FUEL TO THE CAR SO IT WILL NOT START. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITH ENGINE STALLING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. MOST RECENTLY, THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,117.

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PASSLOCK RANDOMLY ACTIVATES AND PREVENTS STARTING OF CAR -- MUST LEAVE KEY IN CAR FOR 10-15 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTS. FIGURED OUT IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE HAD JUST GOTTEN A NEW ONE WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. DID INTERNET SEARCH REGARDING MALIBU STARTING PROBLEMS AND SAW LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE BUT WHEN THE CARS ARE TAKEN IN THEY ARE TOLD THEY NEED IGNITION SWITCH OR SOME OTHER THING BUT AFTER REPLACEMENT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET EXPRESSED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AGREE -- HAVING A CAR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT START AT ANY GIVEN TIME IS NOT SAFE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT IF ENGINES CUTS OFF OR IS TURNED OFF AND CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED FOR AN EMERGENCY OR SAFETY REASON BUT WON'T START FOR 10-15 MINUTES?! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM WITHOUT REASON. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR THE ALARM SYSTEM TO DEACTIVE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START SPORADICALLY, AS A RESULT OF THE ANTI-THEFT PASS LOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ANTI-THEFT PASS LOCK SYSTEM AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PASSLOCK RANDOMLY ACTIVATES AND PREVENTS STARTING OF CAR -- MUST LEAVE KEY IN CAR FOR 10-15 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN. DID INTERNET SEARCH REGARDING MALIBU STARTING PROBLEMS AND SAW LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE BUT WHEN THE CARS ARE TAKEN IN THEY ARE TOLD THEY NEED IGNITION SWITCH OR SOME OTHER THING BUT AFTER REPLACEMENT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET EXPRESSED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AGREE -- HAVING A CAR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT START AT ANY GIVEN TIME IS NOT SAFE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT IF ENGINES CUTS OFF OR IS TURNED OFF AND CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED FOR AN EMERGENCY OR SAFETY REASON BUT WONT START FOR 10-15 MINUTES?! HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 12 TIMES OVER THE 10 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED IT. LOST COUNT. BOUGHT IT NEW. *TR

CHEVY MALIBU, 2001. THE THEFT SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS! I'M NOT TRYING TO STEAL MY OWN CAR, AND WOULD RATHER HAVE IT STOLEN THAN SIT IN A SCARY DARK PARKING LOT ALL ALONE WAITING FOR IT TO START BACK UP. ALSO, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SUCKS. NOONE AROUND WHERE I LIVE EVEN DEALS WITH IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT ONLY THE DEALER COULD PROVIDE HIM WITH THE ERROR CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO RESET THE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATED 04/28/11

FAILING STARTER. *TR

MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2001 MALIBU AROUND IN THE MORNING, AFTER PARKING IT IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE AFTERNOON IT WOULD NOT START. IT SAT FOR 3 DAY UNTIL I COULD RESEARCH HOW TO FIX IT. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM WAS FAILING. THE SYSTEM WILL NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR KEY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THESE VEHICLES, NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. TO BYPASS IT YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINS AND HOPE THE RESET TAKES PLACE AND A REPLACEMENT COULD COST YOU UPWARDS OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS. A TEN MINUTE WAIT TO START A CAR I OWN IS RIDICULOUS.*TR

OUR CHEVY 2001 MALIBU HAS A DEFECTIVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAIN ABOUT ALSO. IT DISABLES THE CAR AT THE MOST IN OPPORTUNE TIMES THAT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IN SOME INSTANCES. GM SHOULD RECALL THIS AND THEY HAVE NOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START HER VEHICLE THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM LOCKED HER OUT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ENTRY FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

[NOTE THAT I LIVED IN ONTARIO, CANADA] I STOPPED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT, BUT THEN COULD NOT GET STARTED. I CALLED THE GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR 20 MIN WHILE LEAVING THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION. IT WORKED. BUT WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CAR-FORUMS.COM/S9/T1545.HTML) AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. FOR EXAMPLE, 1) I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT SYSTEM DEFECTS. PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO THE NHTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/IVOQ/ GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANYMORE OF YOUR MONEY. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THIS PROBLEM. WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTS THE GOVERNMENT WILL RECALL THIS PRODUCT AND MAKE GM FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE 2) I AM THE NOT TO PROUD OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. MY LASTEST REPAIR IS THE PASSLOCK SENSOR..........A WHOLE WHOPPIN $500 PLUS THE COST OF MY RENTAL CAR AND TOW BILL. THIS LOVELY GM PRODUCT HAS BEEN THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED!! I THINK BY THE TIME IT IS PAID OFF IN ANOTHER YEAR ALMOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I WILL NEVER AGAIN OWN A GM HUNK OF JUNK.......THERE IS DEFINATELY SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT OWNING A FOREIGN CAR.....I GUESS YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! THE AMERICAN CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE QUALITY OF PRODUCT THAT IS BEING BUILT!! I AM PROUD TO BE AMERICAN BUT WILL NEVER AGAIN BE THE OWNER OF AN AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE 3) ..HI THERE, I'M A CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT WITH A 1997 CHEV MALIBU THAT HAS THAT :CUSSING: PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THAT THING DRIVES ME INSANE AND THERE IS MANY A TIME THAT I AM STUCK SITTING IN MY CAR FOR 10 MINUTES IN A DARK PARKING LOT AWAY FROM MY SCHOOL WHILE IT DOES ITS THING. I PERSONALLY FIND THAT MORE DANGEROUS THAN MY CAR BEING STOLEN

2001 CHEVY MALIBU THEFT PREVENTION PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. EVERY 5-7 STARTS IT ACTIVATES AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO RESET BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START AGAIN. *TR

2001 CHEVY MALIBU - PASSLOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AT RANDOM TIMES CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT START. LEAVING IGNITION KEY IN "ON" POSITION FOR TEN MINUTES WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START, BUT INCIDENT OCCURS REPEATEDLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE, SAYS THIS IS RATHER COMMON. *TR