Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Owners filed 596 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA between Nov 2001 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (274).

Complaints
596
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system274
  2. Exterior lighting148
  3. Engine and engine cooling65
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic43
  5. Engine24
  6. Fuel system, gasoline23
  7. Air bags20
  8. Equipment18
  9. Steering15
  10. Suspension14
  11. Structure12
  12. Service brakes11
  13. Visibility11
  14. Tires10

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20012
200218
200317
200440
200573
200654
200753
200851
200946
201041
201113
201213
20137
201479
201546
201617
201712
20187
20193
20202
20211
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

274 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who reported the mileage at 105,000. The key was stuck in the ignition, but was replaced. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The seller provided the VIN from the title and a Carfax report that the vehicle had only two previous owners. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 49,500. Upon research, the Good Car report indicated that there were several owners of the vehicle. The contact stated the seller was possibly deceiving buyers. A Carfax report was not provided. There were no other agencies contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2026Electrical systemODI 11750609

Exterior lighting

148 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“THE TURN SIGNALS WORK SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEAMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MAKE. IF THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS THERE SHOULD BE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE SON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11354759

Engine and engine cooling

65 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EGR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO GILDNER DODGE-CHRYSLER-JEEP INC (1451 N 10TH ST, ARKADELPHIA, AR 71923 (870) 246-6800), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CALL BACK. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,378.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2017Engine and engine coolingODI 11046619

Service brakes, hydraulic

43 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, Exterior lightingODI 10254757

Engine

24 reports
“The anti-theft/ passlock system fault in this generation of GM vehicles is very widespread and effects a large percentage of vehicles in this generation. I am sure there have been hundreds if not thousands of complaints about same issue and GM refuses to fix the problem. The problem causes the car to randomly shut off due to anti theft fault and can happen on interstate, highway or in town driving. This is a very dangerous fault and very expensive for owners especially when dealerships themselves don't even know what they are dealing with. They will throw parts at the problem with no real knowledge. GM needs to be held accountable. Currently the ignition the BCM have been replaced and now the car will not start at all and I have no lights or gauges on my cluster.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2021Electrical system, EngineODI 11429635

Fuel system, gasoline

23 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASS LOCK SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10888771
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.