IllustrationFAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS ON 2002 CHEVY MALIBU PROBABLY DUE TO FAULTY HAZARD SWITCH
2002 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
380–25K
8225–50K
10250–75K
7175–100K
73100–150K
25150K+
391 reports with mileage · 176 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 259 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 143 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports1 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
567 reportsDT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AROUND APRIL 15, 2005. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE HAPPENING EVERYDAY INSTEAD OF EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN CONTACTED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WHILE DRIVING…
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DT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AROUND APRIL 15, 2005. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE HAPPENING EVERYDAY INSTEAD OF EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN CONTACTED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *NM
I BOUGHT MY CHEVROLET 2002 MALIBU BRAND NEW AND HAVE OWNED IT FOR THREE YEARS, JUST TWO MONTHS AGO IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRIED LITTLE THINGS LIKE MANUALLY USING TURN SIGNALS AND TURNING THEM OFF PRIOR TO TURN COMPLETION, RESTARTING THE CAR, AND USING MY HAZZARD LIGHTS TO TRIGGER THE TURN SIG…
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I BOUGHT MY CHEVROLET 2002 MALIBU BRAND NEW AND HAVE OWNED IT FOR THREE YEARS, JUST TWO MONTHS AGO IT STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRIED LITTLE THINGS LIKE MANUALLY USING TURN SIGNALS AND TURNING THEM OFF PRIOR TO TURN COMPLETION, RESTARTING THE CAR, AND USING MY HAZZARD LIGHTS TO TRIGGER THE TURN SIGNALS TO WORK. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS WILL WORK MOMENTARILY, OTHER TIMES THEY HAVE NO EFFECT. ALSO I AM NOTICING MY HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL INTERRUPT MY TURN SIGNAL FROM WORKING AND OTHER TIMES MY TURN SIGNAL WILL CAUSE THE HAZARD LIGHTS TO TURN OFF! THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS FOR ME, IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME, MY CAR IS JUST PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THEY WANT TO TEST IT FOR A RATHER LARGE FEE. ALTHOUGH MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM HAS TOLD ME THAT GM HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM IN 2002, BUT POSSIBLY IN 2001, AND 2000 MODELS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED, AND WILL NOT OWN A CHEVY AGAIN.
ON 06-12-2005 MY BLINKERS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTANTLY. THEY MAY NOT WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES OR FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND WITH NO WARNING. THEY DON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY EVEN IF YOU RESTART THE VEHICLE. I'VE SAW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM TO BE OVER LOOKED ESPECIALLY IF WE TRAVEL.…
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ON 06-12-2005 MY BLINKERS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTANTLY. THEY MAY NOT WORK FOR A FEW MINUTES OR FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND WITH NO WARNING. THEY DON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY EVEN IF YOU RESTART THE VEHICLE. I'VE SAW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM TO BE OVER LOOKED ESPECIALLY IF WE TRAVEL. IT IS A DANGER IN HIGH TRAFFIC DRIVING.
DT: FRONT LOADED CALIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. INBOARD PADS ARE WORN AT 100 PERCENT, AND THE OUTBOARD ARE WORN AT 50 PERCENT.TIRES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THEN A CONSTANT SQUEEK WHILE DRIVING. CONTINUED DRIVING MAKES IT WORSE. CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT NOT GETTING A WARNING LIGHT TO TELL HER SHE HAS A …
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DT: FRONT LOADED CALIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. INBOARD PADS ARE WORN AT 100 PERCENT, AND THE OUTBOARD ARE WORN AT 50 PERCENT.TIRES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THEN A CONSTANT SQUEEK WHILE DRIVING. CONTINUED DRIVING MAKES IT WORSE. CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT NOT GETTING A WARNING LIGHT TO TELL HER SHE HAS A PROBLEM. CALLER WAS TOLD A WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON FOR THE BRAKE PADS BEING WORN. IF CALIPER IS NOT FIXED THE PADS WILL BE WORN AT SAME RATE. TIRES PLUS TOLD HER THIS. DEALER TOLD CALLER THEY NEVER HEARD OF CALIPERS CAUSING BRAKE PAD PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
DT: THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISES AND THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. THE DEALER WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE GENERAL STATE INSPECTORS OFFICE. *AK THE NOISE REMAINED THE SAME. THE VEHI…
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DT: THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISES AND THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. THE DEALER WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE GENERAL STATE INSPECTORS OFFICE. *AK THE NOISE REMAINED THE SAME. THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE DURING EXTREME WET WEATHER. *SC *JB
DT: IN AUGUST 2004 CONSUMER HAD RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. NOW THE ABS ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. NOW CONSUMER IS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID THE PART THEY PUT IN LAST A…
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DT: IN AUGUST 2004 CONSUMER HAD RIGHT AND LEFT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. NOW THE ABS ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. NOW CONSUMER IS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID THE PART THEY PUT IN LAST AUGUST WAS UNDER A 12 MONTH OR 12000 MILE WARRANTY AND CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. *TT
STOP AT POSTOFFICE CAR WOULD NOT START, SECOND TIME AT HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN, THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START, THE FIRST TWO TIME I TOOK IT TO DEALER AN WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGINATION PROLBLEM AND IT WAS FIXED AND THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN, HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER SERVICES CENTER FOR 10 DA…
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STOP AT POSTOFFICE CAR WOULD NOT START, SECOND TIME AT HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN, THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START, THE FIRST TWO TIME I TOOK IT TO DEALER AN WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGINATION PROLBLEM AND IT WAS FIXED AND THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN, HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALER SERVICES CENTER FOR 10 DAYS AN WAS TOLD IT WAS FUEL PUMP AND CHARGED 300.00 TO FIX, CAR STALLED WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGE WAS BRING IT OUT TO ME AND WOULD NOT START FOR THEM, KEEP THE THE FOR ANOTHER 8 DAYS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WAS FIXED
DT: CONSUMER STATED: HAD A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, FUEL EVAPORATION HOSE WHICH MELTED CAUSED THE FIRE. CHEVROLET STATED HOSES BROKE. NO FOR WARNING, FOUND OUT WHEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT BAD, AND SENSORS BURNT. ANY THING IN THE STREAM OF THAT WAS BURNT OR MELTED.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THE 2001 MODEL FOR THE SAME ISSUE, HOWEVER SHE OWNS A 2002 MODEL.
Official recalls
214V400000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 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.
02V107000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE05055 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Sep 27, 2005 · Closed Jan 13, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
IN DECEMBER 2004, GM ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY FOR MY 1999-2000 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V327. THE POLICY COVERED TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. GM SENT LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING DECEMBER 30, 2004.IN JANUARY 2006, GM WILL UPDATE THE SPECIAL POLICY TO INCLUDE MY 2002 ALERO, GRAND AM AND MALIBU VEHICLES NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 03V-327.THE POLICY COVERS TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH.GM WILL SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS STARTING LATE APRIL 2006.THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.