2001 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
721 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 445 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 174 of 721 complaints (24.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 116 | 16.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 59 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 57 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 50 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 35 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 1.7% |
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 | 174 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 74 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 47 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 41 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 28 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 28 |
| Steering | 27 |
| Engine | 26 |
Electrical System: 174; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 74; Engine And Engine Cooling: 47; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 41; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 28; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 28; Steering: 27; Engine: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 71 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 118 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 76 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 101 |
| 150,000 and above | 36 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 71; 50,000 to 74,999: 118; 75,000 to 99,999: 76; 100,000 to 149,999: 101; 150,000 and above: 36
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (118). 276 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 53 |
| 2003 | 88 |
| 2004 | 79 |
| 2005 | 61 |
| 2006 | 51 |
| 2007 | 66 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 36 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2001: 30; 2002: 53; 2003: 88; 2004: 79; 2005: 61; 2006: 51; 2007: 66; 2008: 31; 2009: 36; 2010: 31; 2011: 25; 2012: 22; 2013: 15; 2014: 65; 2015: 32; 2016: 12; 2017: 10; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 116 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 59 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 57 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 10000395 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN APRIL 2001 VIN [XXX] AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING WORK/PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRED AT CAPITAL CHEVROLET WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. DATEPROBLEM/REPAIRSMILEAGE NOV 2001ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS 7,754 JAN 2002FRONT SUSPENSION9,080 MAR 2002FRONT SUSPENSION12,000 MAY 2002BRAKE PADS & ROTORS14,555 JULY 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON17,170 OCT 2002BRAKE PADS & HUB21,055 NOV 2002ABS WARNING LIGHT ON, ROTOR, HUB KIT22,005 OCT 2002ROTORS21,310 DEC 2002CALIPER & BRAKE PADS24,066 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006310 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE CALIPERS ON THE VEHICLE FLEXED, THE CASTING BENDED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHICH CAUSED MISALIGNMENT OF THE GUIDE PINS. *JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006991 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON CAUSING STOP LAMP ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BURN. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FUSE BOX. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 39,141 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024243 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
TURNING LIGHT HAS FAILED DUE TO AN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008810 · 2002-05-18 (May 18, 2002)
VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS WEATHER CAUSING PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN TO ALTERNATE BODY SHOPS, BECAUSE ENGINE FAILED TO START. MECHANICS FLUSHED OUT THE CAR AND HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER TO DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. NO FOUND PROBLEMS AND CAR CRANKED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. CAR LAST FAILED ON MAY 3, 2002 AND IS STILL NOT WORKING AS OF TODAY. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762043
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016125 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP THE IT STALLED. THE DEALER CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *NLM WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP THE IT STALLED. THE DEALER CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009570 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, AND IT MADE A NOISE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019806 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ALSO A GRINDING NOISE. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BRAKE SHOES AND PADS 6 TIMES. BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000444 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU BOTH REGISTER FUEL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS EMPTY CAUSING BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THE GAUGES SHOULD WARN DRIVER WHEN TANK IS LOW ON GAS. THIS WAS AND IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND OUT IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG OWNERS. CHEVROLET TSB 01-06-045-008C TS
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006566 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
DEFECTIVE"O" RING AT FUEL LINE/INJECTOR PUMP CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPILL ON ENGINE BLOCK. THE CAR WOULD STILL RUN BUT STEADY STREAM OF GAS POURING ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. GAS FUMES WERE PICKED UP BY AIR/HEATER INTAKE FILLING CABIN WITH GAS VAPOR. ENGINE FIRE OR CABIN FLASH FIRE PROBABLE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. HOPEFULLY, THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU. I REQUESTED THE "O" RING FROM DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE SENT BACK TO GMC. ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THANKS A MAURO LANZISEVE. ********DIMS 11 …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014436 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
AFTER RESEARCHING THE SERVICE BULLETINS SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED/HAD SERVICED ABOUT 85% OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON YOUR DATABASE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, FROM EVERETT CHEVROLET, WA IN 2000. SINCE THE PURCHASE. DATE, I HAD CHEVY DO THE FOLLOWING: NEW BRAKES (ALL THE WAY AROUND - ONCE, FRONT ROTORS/PADS - TWICE), ALL NEW PISTONS, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, MISS ON #1 CYLINDER - REPLACED 1 FAILED SPARK PLUG, LEFT REAR DOOR SQUEAKS WHEN OPEN/SHUT - LUBED (HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW), FRONT LE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089155 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
VEHICLE DEFECTS OF CHEVROLET MALIBU.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089155 at NHTSA ↗