Chevrolet · Malibu · 2001
4
Recalls
739
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 recalls and 739 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (224 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy Status
DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 03V327000 (Exterior Lighting) and 14V400000 (Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
THE BLINKERS RANDOMLY WORK; MOST LIKELY NEEDS A NEW HAZARD SWITCH. THE CAR'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD RISE WHEN SITTING IN IDLE; NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT AS OF 11/2020.
WHEN STARTING THE MALIBU THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START THE CAR THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO OR EMPTY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN LEAVING YOU WITH NO STEERING ASSIST AND THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. SO THIS PROBLEM IS BOTH IN A STANDING START AND WHILE OPERATING THE CAR. I HAD INITIALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEVAN LOWE GM DEALER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIRS AND THEY DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION IS STILL PERSISTING. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I WOULD REQUEST THAT GMC HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEVAN LOWE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR TROUBLESHOOTING PURPOSES IN COORDINATION WITH GM TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT AND REACH A RESOLUTION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED CARS.
VEHICLE STARTS AND FULLY OPERATES PROPERLY FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, THEN IT STALLS ABRUPTLY (AND AT VERY EMBARRASSING AND PERILOUS TIMES). WHEN IT DOES, ALL THE GAUGES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL, WITH THE FUEL GAGE READING, EMPTY. VEHICLE WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT RESTART. AFTER A PERIOD (AS LONG AS HALF AN HOUR) THE FUEL GAGE WILL JUMP TO ITS PROPER LEVEL, AND ONLY THEN WILL THE VEHICLE RESTART AND RUN FOR YET ANOTHER INDETERMINATE PERIOD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR MONTHS, BEFORE I WAS MADE AWARE OF POTENTIAL RE-CALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.
TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL WORK OR NOT WORK. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY PLACE, AND TIME. DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. BELOW DATE IS THE MOST RECENT TIME IT HAPPENED. WILL FOR LONG TIME, THEN OUT OF NO WHERE, TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK. THEN WORK AGAIN, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PASS LOCK SYSTEM FAILED AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH JAMES CHEVROLET OF JOHNSTOWN (108 S COMRIE AVE, JOHNSTOWN, NY 12095, 518-762-5555) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM (PASSLOCK) ACTIVATES SHUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF FUEL TO VEHICLE. CONSULTED YOUTUBE FOR HELP, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD HE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER FIXES WITH A NEW INGINITION MODULE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO LIGHT UP COMPLETELY FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE PROCESS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START EVERY TIME THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TAKATA INFLATORS, THE CAR THAT I OWN SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE EVERYDAY AND EACH TIME THAT THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. WHEN I TURN ON THE HEAT OR AIR THE GAS SMELL IS EVEN STRONGER I AM AFRAID THAT THE CAR WILL ONE DAY EXPLODE EVEN WITHOUT ME SMOKING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FRIENDLY CHEVROLET (7501 HWY 65 NE, FRIDLEY, MN 55432, (612) 276-2955), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WHEN I HAD MY RIGHT INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED I LEFT THE SHOP AND I HEARD A CLUNCKING WHEN I WOULD MAKE A TURN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID A SCREW HAD WORKED ITS WAY HALF WAY OUT AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT IN OR OUT BECAUSE IT'S WEDGED UP AGAINST THE RACK AND PINION WITHOUT REPLACING THE RACK.AND WAS TOLD (OFF THE RECORD) WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM STILL DRIVING IT. I ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE AND WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE SCREW BREAKS I WILL FEEL A JERK BUT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR.SO I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOST MY STEERING ALMOST COMPLETELY .MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED HOME. I HAD ANOTHER SHOP REPLACE MY POWER STEERING PUMP AND MY RACK AND PINION.I WAS TOLD THAT THE DECREPIT A HOLE IN THE RACK AND WAS JUST SITTING THERE AND MY RACK AND PINION BRACKET HAD BROKEN AND THE RACK WAS ALSO JUST SITTING THERE.AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE THEFT MODE AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE KEY WOULD SOMETIMES BECOME STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
2001 CHEVY MALIBU WON'T START IN AUGUST, 2013 CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER, BUT WOULD NOT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO DEALER. THEY FOUND PASSLOCK SENSOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY REPLACED CYLINDER KIT (INCLUDED PASSLOCK SENSOR) AND IGNITION SWITCH. PAID $800. IN OCT. 2, 2017, CAR WOULD NOT START IN PARKING LOT. SAME THING HAPPENED. AS BEFORE, BATTERY WAS NOT AN ISSUE. TOWED TO SAME DEALER. THEY SAID SECURITY SYSTEM GOT SET SOME HOW. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM. SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, MAY HAVE TO PUT IN NEW SYSTEM. PAID $125. DEC. 2, 2017 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR WOULD NOT START IN GARAGE. THIS TIME, AFTER FINDING ON-LINE FROM MANY POSTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, FOUND A WAY TO GET THE CAR STARTED (10 MINUTE WAIT FOR THE 'ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM' LIGHT TO GO OUT. -THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE SAME WAY THE DEALER STARTED THE CAR IN OCT.) THIS TIME DEALER SAID NEED PASSLOCK SENSOR REPLACED, AGAIN. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER $500+. SINCE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND AFTER READING WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ISSUE, DECLINED REPAIR AT THE TIME. HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON NUMEROUS BLOGS AND WEBSITES, INCLUDING NTSHA, ON JUST THIS SPECIFIC CAR AND SPECIFIC ISSUE (2001 MALIBU WON'T START). MANY OF THEM SAYING THE PASSLOCK SENSOR DOES NOT LAST VERY LONG (SOMETIMES FAILS IN 2-4 MONTHS). ALSO SAW SAME PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS OTHER YEARS OF MALIBU, AND OTHER GM CARS. WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF AT LEAST THE PASSLOCK SENSOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY INJURIES OR DEATHS. SOMEONE COULD BE FOLLOWED TO THEIR CAR AND/OR ATTACKED LATE AT NIGHT IN A PARKING LOT, OR ALONG A STREET, NOT ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. IT COULD BE VERY SERIOUS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.
I SAW A RECALL ON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND A RECALL ON SOMETHING ABOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE CARS ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. MY CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF AND SHORTING SHOWING THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THEM WHEN I TAP THE GAS PEDAL THR GAS GAGE IS A HALF TANK BUT IT GOES AS IF ITS OUT OF GAS AND THE RPMS ONLY GO UP WHEN I AM NOT DRIVING OR IDLING AND MY ABS LIGHT FOR BRAKES KEEPS TURNING ON BUT NOW DOESNT TURN OFF AND THIS HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING OH AND THR BATTERY LIGHT NOW HAS SHORTED THE STALK STEREO AND IT ONLY TURNS ON EVERY SO OFTEN.
IN NOV 2017 MY 2001 MALIBU WAS STARTING TO OVER HEAT DO I REACHED THE THERMOSTAT I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR GETTING TO HOT I HAVE TO ALWAYS PUT MY HEATER ON DEFROST HOT AND ON AND THE FAN ON WHICH ONLY GOES UP TO NUMBER 3 AND THERE ARE HIGHER SETTINGS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD GASKET . AND I'VE BEEN DURING DEXCOOL COOLANT . IS THERE A RECALL YET? IF NOT WHY? I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS .
2ND CYLINDER IS MISFIRING AND SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, WHICH I SEE IS A LARGE ISSUE IN CHEVY MALIBUS. MY TURN SIGNAL/HAZARDS ALSO DON'T WORK 85% OF THE TIME, WHICH IS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR (CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 2001) BUT NOT MY VIN NUMBER. ANOTHER ISSUE I SEE IS MY LEFT HEADLIGHT SHINES OUT FROM THE SIDE, WHICH I ALSO SAW TO BE AN ISSUE IN SEVERAL OF THE SAME MODELS OF MY CAR. KEEP IN MIND I BOUGHT IT RECENTLY, USED, SO THE DATE I NOTICED THE ISSUES WAS FAIRLY RECENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO HAVE IT PUSHED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FAULTY THEFT SYSTEM WITH THE CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT READ ONLINE TO PLACE THE IGNITION IN THE RUN POSITION FOR TEN MINUTES BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,450.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM DISABLED THE CAR ON THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE, WITH NO PLACE TO STOP AND 18 WHEELERS GOING BY ME AT 60+MPH. I HAD TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE ANTI-THEFT TO DISABLE, SO I COULD TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESET THE ANTI-THEFT AND START THE CAR. TALKING ABOUT SCARED TO DEATH. HAPPY I AM STILL ALIVE TO REPORT THIS. IT WAS IN MOTION 55MPH AND STOPPED RUNNING, ANTI THEFT STARTED TO BLINK
I BACKED UP MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM DISABLED THE MOTOR. I STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND LOST MY PERSPECTIVE. I ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A TELEPHONE POLE CAUSING A HUGE DENT ON MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THANK GOD THE POLE WAS THERE OR I MIGHT NOT HAVE REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. BEHIND ME WAS A ROUT IRON FENCE AND BEYOND THAT WAS A 20 FT DROP (DRIVEWAY HAS A RETAINER WALL THAT IT IS BUILT ON TOP OF. I HAD FILED ANOTHER COMPLAINT. THE CAR HAD DISABLED ITSELF ON A BRIDGE THAT HAS NO SLOW LANE TO STOP IN. I CAN TAKE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE IN THE DAYLIGHT IF NEEDED
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2001 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 739 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu are electrical system (224 reports), engine and engine cooling (108 reports), exterior lighting (76 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.