2002 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
567 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 391 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 182 of 567 complaints (32.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 72 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 61 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 33 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 28 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.1% |
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 | 182 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 62 |
| Exterior Lighting | 49 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 40 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 28 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
Electrical System: 182; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 62; Exterior Lighting: 49; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 40; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling: 28; Engine: 22; Unknown Or Other: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 38 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 82 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 102 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 71 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 38; 25,000 to 49,999: 82; 50,000 to 74,999: 102; 75,000 to 99,999: 71; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (102). 176 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 | 2 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2005 | 67 |
| 2006 | 53 |
| 2007 | 51 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 46 |
| 2010 | 39 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 70 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 17; 2003: 16; 2004: 40; 2005: 67; 2006: 53; 2007: 51; 2008: 51; 2009: 46; 2010: 39; 2011: 13; 2012: 13; 2013: 7; 2014: 70; 2015: 43; 2016: 16; 2017: 11; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 33 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 10000960 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
WHEN IT RAINS THE BRAKES WILL NOT GRAB AND HOLD. LOUD HOWLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERS HARD AS IF IT WILL FALL OFF OF IT'S FRAME. PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR. DEALER WON'T CHECK ANYTHING ELSE AND SAYS GM WON'T AUTHORIZE THE WARRANTY WORK! TS
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018955 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THERE WAS A SEVERE PULSATION EVERY TIME I USED THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR ONLY HAS 20133 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE ROTORS TO BE WARPED AND I KNOW THAT PADS LAST A LOT LONGER THAN 20000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122185 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)
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 PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130008 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)
IN 2002, I BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN GIVING ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE WATER FOUND IN BOTH TAIL LIGHTS; THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THERE WAS WATER COMING IN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, THE BRAKES, AND THE TORQUE NEEDING TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THEN IT WAS THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND I GOT THEM REPLACED AT A WALMART; MIND YOU, SINCE THE 1ST PROBLEM, NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT'S THE AIRBAG GONE BAD, COOLING SYSTEM GONE BAD, AND THE BRAKES AGAIN, ALONG WITH A FUEL PUMP. THE CALIPERS HAVE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075513 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
WHILE DECREASING THE SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIME BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067144 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE CONSUMER FELT THAT FUEL WAS NOT FLOWING TO THE ENGINE PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. EACH TIME DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH THEN MALFUNCTIONED SOON AFTER WARDS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100434 · 2004-11-23 (November 23, 2004)
MY TURN SIGNALS WORK INTERMITTENTLY MY ,FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 38,000 MILES,COOLENTENT SYSTEM ACTS UP OFF AND ON IT OVERHEATS AND THEN IT MIGHT WORK JUST FINE,HEAD GASKET STARTING LEAKING AT 39,000 MILES,MOTOR IS VERY LOUD AND NOISY WHEN IT FIRST STARTS, IT MISSES OUT WHILE RUNNING BUT PARKED, GAS GAGE DOESN'T READ PROPERLY IT BOUNCES ALL OVER THE PLACE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019455 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MADE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083314 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED HARD. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON IT'S THIRD REPAIR FOR BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089784 · 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)
WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE WOULD START. UT WHEN CONSUMER TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY IT WOULD NOT COME OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS CSTUCK IN THE IGNITION CONSUMER COULD SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC MAINTAINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED WITH THE KEY'S FAILURE TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. BUT THE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WAS DUPLICATED AND RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118390 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
IN JANUARY 2004, THE ?LOW COOLANT? LIGHT WENT ON. IT REQUIRED MORE COOLANT TO BE ADDED. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL LEAKING OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE CAP WAS REPLACED. THE LEAK STOPPED. IN FEB. 2005, THE ?LOW COOLANT? LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN AND AGAIN I ADDED COOLANT. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE ?LOW COOLANT? LIGHT WENT ON. THIS TIME I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THIS DEALER THAT MY CAR REQUIRED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GA…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118390 at NHTSA ↗