NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
143 reportsClear category filter11,620 miles · Apr 29, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline
MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT AT ABOUT 104,000 MILES BUT I AM SURE THAT IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WELL BEFORE I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICE I PAID FOR IT, BUT I NEEDED A CAR BADLY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR AND USUALLY WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT ON TO MAKE SURE ALL THE LIGHTS COM…
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MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT AT ABOUT 104,000 MILES BUT I AM SURE THAT IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WELL BEFORE I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICE I PAID FOR IT, BUT I NEEDED A CAR BADLY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR AND USUALLY WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT ON TO MAKE SURE ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON, NOT JUST THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT. IF ONLY THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT COMES ON, ITS GUARANTEED TO NOT START. AT EXACTLY 111,111 MILES MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TOOK THE KEY OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN. IT KEPT FLASHING THE ANTI-THEFT AT ME! I REPLACED THE IDOL SPEED MOTOR AND FOR SOME REASON IT STARTED. A WEEK LATER IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I READ ABOUT TRICKS ONLINE TO GET THE CAR TO START BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROMINENT PROBLEM WITH 2002'S. I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS STILL ABLE TO USE MY BREAKS, THANK GOD, BUT HAD TO SIT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO START MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I KEEP THINKING WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY 2-YEAR-OLD IS WITH ME? WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS IN THE DARK AND SOMEONE REAR ENDS ME BECAUSE MY LIGHTS GO OUT? I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP CHECKED, THE FUEL INJECTORS, THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR REPLACED EVERY TIME I REPLACE SOMETHING IT WORKS FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS THEN IT STARTS TO ACT UP AGAIN. THE POINT IS THAT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK AND IT SEEMS TO GET WORST, AND HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WITH EVERY FAILURE. THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITCH IS WHAT I AM HAVING FIXED NEXT, BUT I HAVE ACQUAINTANCES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT COME BACK EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HAVING EVERYTHING DIE AGAIN WHILE I AM DRIVING BECAUSE ITS NOT JUST A INCONVENIENCE ANYMORE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS AND OR SERIOUS INJURIES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267229
74,000 miles · Mar 27, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. HAD THIS CHECKED DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND OIL WAS FOUND IN THE COOLANT. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. STARTING IN THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 2008 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORKING…
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LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. HAD THIS CHECKED DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND OIL WAS FOUND IN THE COOLANT. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. STARTING IN THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 2008 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY WORKING PART OF THE TIME. THIS WAS CHECKED AT A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE SIGNALS SEEMED TO WORK FINE FOR THEM AND THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263296
67,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Exterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED SPORADICALLY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF HIS INTENTION TO TURN THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN ISSUE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED SPORADICALLY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF HIS INTENTION TO TURN THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN ISSUED BY GM. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
NHTSA ODI #10256091
40,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER DRIVERS WOULD SWERVE AROUND HER AND ASSUME THAT SHE WAS BRAKING, WHEN IN REALITY, SHE WOULD BE IN AC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER DRIVERS WOULD SWERVE AROUND HER AND ASSUME THAT SHE WAS BRAKING, WHEN IN REALITY, SHE WOULD BE IN ACCELERATION OR DRIVE MODE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AND THE SENSOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH FOR ONE YEAR. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10254757
30,000 miles · Jan 6, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER HEAD GASKET SEAL, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER OF 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,300.
NHTSA ODI #10253988
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. ONCE I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING FOR ME, THEY WERE WORKING DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CONNECTED WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS BOX. WHENEVER IT WAS IN A CERTAIN POSITION THE BLINKERS WOULD WOR…
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I BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. ONCE I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING FOR ME, THEY WERE WORKING DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CONNECTED WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS BOX. WHENEVER IT WAS IN A CERTAIN POSITION THE BLINKERS WOULD WORK OTHERWISE THEY DID NOT. I TRIED FIXING IT WITH SOME RUBBERBANDS AND DUCT TAPE- FOR SOME REASON THAT WORKED FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT'S ACTING UP AGAIN! HELP! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250517
120,000 miles · Nov 7, 2008
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNALS WORKED FINE UNTIL MID 2007, THEN THEY STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET THEM TO WORK, THEN THEY ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON AGAIN. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT IT IS VERY UNSAFE!…
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TURN SIGNALS WORKED FINE UNTIL MID 2007, THEN THEY STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON TO GET THEM TO WORK, THEN THEY ONLY WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE I HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON AGAIN. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT IT IS VERY UNSAFE! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I AM TRYING TO WAIT FOR A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IF THAT DOESN'T COME SOON, I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT MYSELF AT MY COST! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247929
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2008
Exterior Lighting
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN 3.1 V-6 TURN SIGNAL WORK THEN THEY DON'T AT THIS TIME THEY ARE NOT WORKING .JUST CHECKED GOOGLE AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINT'S OF THE SAME ! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246585
23,000 miles · Oct 9, 2008
Exterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, WHICH WAS THE SAME FAILURE THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, WHICH WAS THE SAME FAILURE THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,000.
NHTSA ODI #10244957
75,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Exterior Lighting
MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BAD SIGNAL LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. I SEE THERE IS A BULLETIN POSTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX IT. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME? THE LAST 8 DIGITS OF THE VIN. THAT'S WHAT T…
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MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BAD SIGNAL LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. I SEE THERE IS A BULLETIN POSTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX IT. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME? THE LAST 8 DIGITS OF THE VIN. THAT'S WHAT THEY ASKED FOR TO CHECK. THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242841
Official recalls
2Jul 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Apr 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗