2000 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
920 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 457 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 128 of 920 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 238 | 25.9% |
| Steering behavior | 77 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 62 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 58 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 128 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 78 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 74 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 65 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 57 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 56 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 56 |
| Exterior Lighting | 48 |
Electrical System: 128; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 78; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 74; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 65; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 57; Engine And Engine Cooling: 56; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 56; Exterior Lighting: 48
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 37 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 88 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 122 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 83 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 89 |
| 150,000 and above | 38 |
Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 88; 50,000 to 74,999: 122; 75,000 to 99,999: 83; 100,000 to 149,999: 89; 150,000 and above: 38
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (122). 463 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 54 |
| 2001 | 112 |
| 2002 | 99 |
| 2003 | 113 |
| 2004 | 159 |
| 2005 | 76 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 41 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 60 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
2000: 54; 2001: 112; 2002: 99; 2003: 113; 2004: 159; 2005: 76; 2006: 36; 2007: 34; 2008: 41; 2009: 25; 2010: 28; 2011: 13; 2012: 8; 2013: 8; 2014: 60; 2015: 28; 2016: 10; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 238 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 77 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 62 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000172 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
VEHICLE HAS HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS TURNED TWICE AND REPLACED ONCE DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. CONSIDER THE BRAKES SYSTEM UNSAFE. THE AC CONTROL HEAD HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO TRY AND CURE FRONT END NOISE. FRONT WHEEL HUB AND BEARING HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO NOISE. ENGINE IS EXCESSIVELY NOISY ON STARTUP WITH CLICKING AND TAPPING THAT THE DEALER CALLS NORMAL. TURN SIGNALS FAILED. POWER WINDOW IS INTERMITTENT. THREE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAVE FAILED. RADIATOR CAP HAS FAILED. INTAKE MANIFOLD G…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000217 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED IN SEPT, 2002 AND AGAIN IN DEC, 2002. BRAKES STILL SCRUB AND SQUEAL WHEN BRAKING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT GENERAL MOTORS I HAVE BEEN TOLD KNOWS ABOUT. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. THIS MAKES FOR A BAD REPUTATION. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MALIBU AND MAYBE NOT EVEN A CHEVROLET PRODUCT.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006985 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009056 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOUD DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CAM/HORN CONTACT. SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002779 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
1. COLD ENGINE KNOCK CYLINDER/PISTON DEFECT:MANUFATURER HAS SEVERAL BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM YET HAS NO PERMANANT FIX AVAILABLE. COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE SCORING AND OR FAILURE OF ENGINE COMPONENTS. 2.ENGINE STALL UPON DE-ACCELERATION DUE TO COMPUTER OR COMPONENT DEFECT. COULD LEAD TO ENGINE STALL WHEN LEAVING ROAD INTERSECTIONS OR RAIL CROSSING RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AS THOSE FOUND ON THE INTERNET. 3. HEATER FAN SPEED SWITCH ELECTRICALLY FAILS. MANY COMPLAINTS FOUND OF OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME 3 PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHCLE. SHOULD BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003168 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
THE CAR FIRST DEVELOPED A MISS IN THE ENGINE, THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55-65 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEARLY CAUSE SEVERLY ACCIDENTS. I WOULD PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO ONE MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE PLUGS, WIRES, AND IGNITION COIL. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THEYDID A DECARBON TREATMENT ON ENGINE. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT BROKE DOWN THE NEXT DAY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013971 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION-SQUAWKING NOISE -GM WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAZARD LIGHTS - HAVE GONE OUT TWICE. FUEL INTEGRITY - ERRATIC FUEL READING - SHOWS 1/4 TANK - WHEN IN REALITY THERE IS NO GAS. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES - SEVERAL TIMES LATE AT NIGHT. NO CRUISE CONTROL - GM WOULD NOT REPAIR. BRAKES PADS/ROTORS - HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES. MY LOCAL DEALER ROTOLO CHEVROLET AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD DO NOTHING. IT WAS EXPENSIVE. PREMATURE TIRE WEAR - TWO SETS OF TIRES. CARS RUNS HOT - WOULD NEVER GO ON A TRIP - BECAUSE I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008520 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
MY CAR KEPT DYING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO CONSIDER 1/4 TANK EMPTY, BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR GOT DOWN TO EMPTY, ALL THE GAS WAS IN THE LINES AND IT RUINED THE FUEL PUMP. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE I GOT A NEW FUEL PUMP. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002313 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE CAR KEYS. AFTER THE KEY, WAS INSERTED AND TURNED, THE DOOR DIDN'T OPENED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE A PART IN THE DOOR(PART UNKNOWN). CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED IN THE AIR, WHEN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOT CORRECTED. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKES AND DOORS. *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012319 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK THE VEHICLES FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012319 at NHTSA ↗