NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
567 reports90,000 miles · Nov 14, 2010
EquipmentExterior Lighting
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE 2003. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS (STARTING AROUND APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES) I'VE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT INDICATORS. THE MALFUNCTION LEADS TO TOTAL FAILURE OR FLICKERING OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE INDI…
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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE 2003. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS (STARTING AROUND APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES) I'VE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT INDICATORS. THE MALFUNCTION LEADS TO TOTAL FAILURE OR FLICKERING OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MALFUNCTION WILL OCCUR AT ANY TIME - SUNNY, RAINY, DRY, HUMID, SNOWY, HOT OR COLD WEATHER; DAYTIME OR NIGHTTIME; WHETHER THE ENGINE IS HOT OR COLD. OCCASIONALLY THE INDICATORS WILL WORK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN THE MALFUNCTION WILL OCCUR AGAIN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION TO BEGIN. THE ORIGINAL MALFUNCTIONING PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY STILL INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER SWITCH IN MY CAR. A RATTLE TYPE NOISE IN THE HEATER FAN ASSEMBLY WAS THE FIRST INDICATION THAT I NOTICED AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. THAT STOPPED WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AFTER I RAN OVER A TRUCK TIRE TREAD THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE SWITCH WORKED FOR A WHILE THEN I LOST THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO SPEEDS. EVENTUALLY THE NUMBER THREE SPEED WENT OUT. I CURRENTLY CAN RUN THE HEATER ON SPEEDS NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE; HOWEVER, THE OUTPUT IS LESS THAT WHAT IT SHOULD BE FOR THE TWO HIGHEST FAN SPEEDS. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS CURRENTLY STILL INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365639
87,000 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Electrical System
2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU - ENGINE WILL CRANK - NO START, THEFT SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING. PREVIOUS FIXES PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN REPLACING IGNITION TUMBLERS AND BCM. ISSUE BEEN RECURRING EVERY 12-16 MONTHS FOR PAST 3 YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358547
29,000 miles · Sep 17, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA ODI #10356171
66,000 miles · Sep 17, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE UPON THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKING BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE UPON THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKING BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
NHTSA ODI #10356101
72,000 miles · Sep 8, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION, AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT COMPLETELY TURN OVER. SUDDENLY, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN A FLASHING MOTION FOR TEN MINUTES AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AND WOULD REQUI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION, AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT COMPLETELY TURN OVER. SUDDENLY, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN A FLASHING MOTION FOR TEN MINUTES AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AND WOULD REQUIRE A TEN MINUTE WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD START. ALSO, SHE STATED THERE HAD BEEN OCCASIONS WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER THE TEN MINUTES WAITING PERIOD; AND RECOMMENDED DISENGAGING THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
NHTSA ODI #10354500
165,976 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2002 CHEVY MALIBU. FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL, THE CORRESPONDING TURN INDICATORS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT WORK AS WELL. OFTEN I CAN GET THEM WORKING AGAIN BY TURNING OFF THE CAR, REMOVING THE KEY, STARTING THE CAR AND REPEATING THE PROCESS 2 OR 3 …
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2002 CHEVY MALIBU. FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAIL, THE CORRESPONDING TURN INDICATORS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT WORK AS WELL. OFTEN I CAN GET THEM WORKING AGAIN BY TURNING OFF THE CAR, REMOVING THE KEY, STARTING THE CAR AND REPEATING THE PROCESS 2 OR 3 TIMES. SINCE THIS STARTED I HAVE HAD SOME NEAR MISSES AS THE CAR BEHIND ME DOESN'T KNOW THAT I'M TURNING UNTIL I PRESS THE BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353423
86,428 miles · Aug 29, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
ON 6-24-2008 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, AND I WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL, 100 FEET BEFORE THE TURNING LANE (SO AS TO WARN THE PERSON BEHIND ME, THAT I WAS GOING TO MOVE INTO THE LEFT HAND TURNING LANE), AND I WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT HAND TURN SIGNAL, AND NOT REALIZING THAT IT WASN'T WORKING, I WENT TO MOVE OVER INTO…
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ON 6-24-2008 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, AND I WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL, 100 FEET BEFORE THE TURNING LANE (SO AS TO WARN THE PERSON BEHIND ME, THAT I WAS GOING TO MOVE INTO THE LEFT HAND TURNING LANE), AND I WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT HAND TURN SIGNAL, AND NOT REALIZING THAT IT WASN'T WORKING, I WENT TO MOVE OVER INTO THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE, AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR THAT WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE AS HE SAID "YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY WARNING THAT YOU WANTED TO GO INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHERE I ALREADY WAS. YOU DIDN'T TURN YOUR SIGNAL ON"! THE GUY WAS REALLY PISSED OFF AT ME. I HAD MY TURN SIGNAL ON WAY AHEAD OF TIME. HOWEVER ,AFTER CAREFUL INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE "NO LONGER WORKING AT ALL"! THIS REALLY WORRIED ME, BECAUSE IF THIS GUY HAD GONE TOTALLY CRAZY ON ME, AND HAD A GUN, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE WOULD HAVE USED IT ON US. I NOTICED THAT THESE TURN SIGNALS ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU, ARE SOME HOW INTER CONNECTED TO THE EMERGENCY SIGNAL (I FOUND THIS OUT, AFTER REVIEWING MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU REPAIR BOOK. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, EVERY TIME I GO TO MAKE A TURN. IT'S CAUSED MORE PROBLEM'S THAN MY FAMILY OR I HAVE EVER WANTED. UP UNTIL THIS PROBLEM AROSE, MY FAMILY & I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN CHEVY CAR'S. NOW THOU, I WOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER EVER BUYING A CHEVY. I NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10352641
73,000 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2002 MALIBU THAT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MORE TIMES THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS LOCKED ME OUT MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER CHOOSING TO ACTIVATE ITSELF ON ITS OWN. THE THEFT ENGINE LOCKOUT HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO LEAVE FOR WORK EARLY EVERY DAY CAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO ACTIVAT…
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I HAVE A 2002 MALIBU THAT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MORE TIMES THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM HAS LOCKED ME OUT MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER CHOOSING TO ACTIVATE ITSELF ON ITS OWN. THE THEFT ENGINE LOCKOUT HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO LEAVE FOR WORK EARLY EVERY DAY CAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO ACTIVATE. NOW THE KEY LOCKED UP IN THE CYLINDER AND $450 REPAIR BILL LATER, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF. WHAT A CRAPPY CAR - THE WORST I HAVE EVER OWN. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS TOTALLY UNRELIABLE. THANKS GM - I WONT FORGET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351645
130,000 miles · Aug 22, 2010
Electrical System
TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD DO NOT WORK, WINDOWS OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT GO UP/DOWN, AT TIMES CAN SMELL GASOLINE. THE HORN ( AFTER 10 YEARS) JUST BEGAN BEEPING ONCE WHEN EXITING VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351128
70,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Electrical System
2002 MALIBU IN FOR REPAIR. NOTICE THE LAST 12 MONTHS THAT AT RANDOM TIMES WHETHER OR NOT BLINKER WAS USED, THE CLICKING SOUND OF THE BLINKER STAYS ON WITH NO TURN LIGHTS IN THE DASH ON. COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A STRAIGHT PATH AND THE CLICKING NOISE WITH JUST BEGIN. SOMEDAYS IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND SOMEDAYS IT WONT STOP…
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2002 MALIBU IN FOR REPAIR. NOTICE THE LAST 12 MONTHS THAT AT RANDOM TIMES WHETHER OR NOT BLINKER WAS USED, THE CLICKING SOUND OF THE BLINKER STAYS ON WITH NO TURN LIGHTS IN THE DASH ON. COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A STRAIGHT PATH AND THE CLICKING NOISE WITH JUST BEGIN. SOMEDAYS IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND SOMEDAYS IT WONT STOP. THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS A BAD HAZARD SWITCH AND CHARGE ME 150. DOLLARS. WELL GUESS WHAT, I LEFT THE LOT AND IT IS STILL MAKING NOISE. ALSO ONE OUT OF TEN TIMES PUTTING CAR IN PARK THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF BUT GO BACK ON ONCE PLACED BACK INTO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10350663
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 ↗