Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system259
- Exterior lighting143
- Engine and engine cooling63
- Service brakes, hydraulic41
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Engine22
- Unknown or other19
- Air bags18
- Suspension14
- Equipment13
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 19 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 25 2002 Malibu vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 8 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu failed the safety check 3.17% of the time — 58% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 99,238 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 11.3 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu.
| 2014284 3 Jul 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could allow the switch to move out of the "run" position if the key ring is carrying added weight or the ve… |
| 2002069 11 Apr 2002 | Lights And Instruments Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." some of these vehicles were produced with a left… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637253 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE BRAKE ALIGN KIT. *TT |
| 637248 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT A STOP AND / OR TAIL LAMP MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY OR THAT THE LAMP ASSEMBLY HAS WATER IN IT. *TT |
| 636696 | SUBJECT REGARDING FIELD ACTION 02015 REGARDING VEHICLES WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT DUE TO LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLAMP NOT MEETING CERTAIN PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 636684 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A METAL BUMPING OR BANGING TYPE NOISE OVER BUMPS UNDER THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA OF THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 636679 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON REPEAT BRAKE PULSATION AFTER AN INITIAL BRAKE REPAIR. *TT |
| 636570 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE RADIO COMES ON WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AFTER INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRONIC AFTER FLOW FAN MODULE. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 634995 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT A STOP AND / OR TAIL LAMP MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY, OR THAT THE TAIL LAMP HAS WATER IN IT. TO INCLUDE CHEVROLET CLASSIC 2005. *TT |
| 634958 | CONCERNS WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0741 STORED - TCC STUCK OFF. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *TT |
| 634845 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE REGARDING REVISED BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 634825 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WATERLEAK CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 634780 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. WITH STORED CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634661 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 634653 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A DASH RATTLE / ITCHING TYPE NOISE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL / GLOVE BOX AREA WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 634317 | SOME ONWERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MOLDING ALONG THE REAR (TRUNK) COMPARTMENT OPENING AT THE STRIKER IS LOOSE OR BROKEN. *TT |
| 634310 | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY FOB RADIO PERSONALIZATION FEATURE ENABLED (TURNED ON) OR DISABLED (TURNED OFF). *TT |
| 634267 | NON-COMPLIANCE RECALL FOR VEHICLES THAT HAVE LEFT LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS THAT DOES NOT MEET CERTAIN PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 631899 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 631820 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INOPERATIVE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *SLC |
| 631306 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *SLC |
| 631229 | SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION OR SERIAL DATA DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED IN HISTORY. *SLC |
| 629851 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE RADIO KEY FOB PERSONALIZATION TURNED ON OR OFF. *TT |
| 629836 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH STORED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0112, P0113, P1111 OR P1112. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation