204 complaints reported

2002 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
204
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2019

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 IN THE PARK POSITION, COULD I GET THE CAR TO START AND BE ON MY WAY. THIS SAME CONDITION HAPPENS AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY; AT 0 MPH; 5 MPH; APPROACHING A STOP SIGN; SLOWING THE VEHICLE, AND OTHER CONDITION WHILE DRIVING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF TYPE DRIVING CONDITIONS . I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACE TWICE AND THAT HAS NOT CURED THE PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2019
Feb 2019

PASSLOCK CENSOR IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILING. SECURITY RELEARN NEEDED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2019
Nov 2018

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. WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP I SEE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. GM CARS ARE CRAP!!! I CANT AFFORD TO FIX THIS I AM ON VERY LIMITED BUDGET SO MY CAR BEEN SITING FOR OVER MONTH NOW. GM NEEDS TO FIX FOR FREE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2018
Jul 2018

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2018
Oct 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHERVOLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2016
Jun 2017

CAR WILL NOT START

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Jun 2017

MY CAR DIES RUNNING AND IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T WANTS TO START DUE TO A SWITCH PROBLEM THE SAME I HAD IN OTHER MALIBU THAT I HAD AND THE DEALER FIXED FOR ME

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2017
Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/06/17*LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2017
Mar 2017

:TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED AND NEXT DAY WENT BY DEALERSHIP AS THE TAILLIGHTS WERE INOPERATABLE. HE SAID BRING IT WHEN IT WASN'T RAINING OR WIFE WAS THERE. I WENT TO CRANK IT TO GO TO DR. AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK. I THOUGHT IT WAS FUEL PUMP. AFTER A WEEK OF NOT CRANKING I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE WOULD CHECK IT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. DROVE THE DAY WAS FIXED AND DROVE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE DIDN'T TURN OFF BUT DROVE BACK TO WHERE WE GOT IT RUNNING. HE PUT THE LIGHT TO IT AGAIN AND STILL SHOWED IGINITION SWITCH. HE TOLD US TO BE CAREFUL UNTIL YOU GET IT FIXED. I CALLED CHEV DEALER AND SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN STOCK WOULD HAVE TO ORDER FOR RECALL. I FOUND OUT THEN THE RECALL WAS FOR 2 KEYS. I STOPPED BY GRO STORE ON WAY HOME FROM CHURCH AND WENT GOT IN CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. BRAKE LIGHT, FUEL LIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FULL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY, AND THEY ALL STAYED ON UNTIL I GOT HOME ABOUT 2 MILES.THIS IS NOT JUST A COMPLAINT, IT IS FOR MY SAFETY AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S. WHAT IF WE ENDED UP WRECKING BECAUSE OF THIS IGINATION SWITCH. ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND ONLY HAD IT LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AND ONLY 100,000. I AM NOT ABLE TO WALK ANY DISTANCE BCAUSE OF BREATHING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ONE OF THESE CARS ENDS UP KILLING SOMEONE. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS IN MOTION BUT 2ND IT WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, IT ALSO MADE A METAL SCRUBBING SOUND AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I GOT IT COMPLETELY OFF. .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2017
Feb 2017

INTERMITTEN ON RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURNS THE CAR WILL STALL AND STOP. REPLACED MODULE ASMELEK/IGNITION CONTROL AND MY SAME PROBLEM PERSISTED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND SWTICH AND MY PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW AS OF JAN. 26, 2017.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2016
Sep 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF POSITION. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2016
Sep 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2016
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE SECURITY THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RESET BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2016
Feb 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL AND EXHIBITED ISSUES STARTING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,567.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2015
Nov 2015

GM HAS A RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH (GM#14350). WE HAD THE WORK DONE AT A GM DEALER FOR THE RECALL. (DEALER PROVIDES 2 KEY RINGS AND A KEY COVER AND CALLS IT FIXED.) APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T WORK. CAR CURRENTLY IN MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DURING INSPECTION, MECHANIC FOUND THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO SOLVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MECHANIC SAYS CAR EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS REPLACED. HE TOOK A VIDEO OF MY IGNITION SHOWING THAT JUST TOUCHING THE KEY WHILE IN IGNITION CAUSES CAR TO TURN OFF. (HAVE 20 YR RELATIONSHIP WITH MECHANIC - VERY RELIABLE.) PLEASE INVESTIGATE IF GM IS REALLY DOING THE PROPER WORK FOR THE RECALL OR JUST SUGAR COATING A DANGEROUS DEFECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2015
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE ENGINE REMAINED ON WHILE THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THEY KEY HAD TO BE JIGGLE SEVERAL TIMES TO BE ABLE TO START THE ENGINE UP, AND ONCE THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE REMAINED ON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Nov 2015

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2014. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, TO KEEP THE IGNITION ON A RING BY ITSELF. ON NOVEMBER 28, 2014 WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS DETERMINED THE IGNITION KEY CAUSED THE STARTER TO JAM. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014
Oct 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND HAD TO BE CHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,419. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2015
Oct 2015

WENT TO FAULKNER LANCASTER PA. FOR INSPECTION TELLING ME I NEED A IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER IN THIS VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION . THEY DID OVERALL TEST AND CHARGED ME $ 298.00 FOR THIS INFO .I HAVE BEEN CHEATED FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS EVERY TIME I WOULD TAKE THIS IN FOR INSPECTION. THREE CATALYTIC CONVERTER LATER OVER A THREE YEAR STRETCH .THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP THEY JUST TAKE MY MONEY AND SAY THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ON THIS VEHICLE. BUT NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE IT AT MY EXPENSES. I HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF AND FEEL THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY CAR. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2004 WITH 30000 MILES AND KEPT IT SERVICED .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2015
Sep 2015

AFTER 10 MINS CAR WAS DRIVEN, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. WENT INSIDE SHOP, AND AFTER 15MINS, CAME BACK AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, AND CAR DID NOT STARTED. ANTI-THEFT SYMBOL WAS BLINKING. TRIED TO JUMP START, DID NOT WORK. TOOK BATTERY TO AUTO ZONE, AND THEN MENTIONED THAT BATTERY IS NOT GOOD. PURCHASED BATTERY, AND INSTALLED. TURNED CAR KEY IN ON POSITION. ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS BLINKING. AFTER ~10MINS, ANTI-SYSTEM STOPPED BLINKING. TURNED KEY TO OFF POSITION, AND TURNED TO ON AND START POSITION, AND CAR STARTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2015
Sep 2015

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, THE DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE KEY RING. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Sep 2015

ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONE WAY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IS TO TURN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR 10-15 MINUTES, MAY HAVE TO REPEAT THIS PROCEDURE THREE TIMES AND IT STILL MAY NOT START. LOOKING AT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT UP TO $1500 FOR REPAIRS THAT DON'T ALWAYS FIX THE ISSUE. BEING STRANDED IN A VEHICLE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES COULD BE LIFE THREATING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS 1998-2012 MALIBUS AND POSSIBLY SOME OTHER MODELS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2014
Sep 2015

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN GOODLATTE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2002 MALIBU RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 04/08/15, *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2010
Aug 2015

VERY OFTEN MY CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO THE ANTI LOCK DEFECT WHICH IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE AND DANGEROUS IN PERSONAL SITUATIONS. I'M SEARCHING ON HOW TO LOOK UP THE RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I'M SEARCHING FOR HELP HOW TO GET THIS FIXED AND RESOLVED PLEASE I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP THANK YOU *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2010

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Quick Summary

The 2002 Chevrolet Malibu has 204 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.