FaultScore

2001 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems

21 of the 1,005 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu are about the airbag system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 116,750 miles.

F

21

Complaints

16

Crashes

0

Fires

10

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 16 76.2%
Frontal 5 23.8%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Malibu year

1997 25 2.5%
1998 41 4.1%
1999 40 4.0%
2000 32 3.2%
2001 21 2.1%
2002 18 1.8%
2003 27 2.7%
2004 27 2.7%
2005 26 2.6%
2006 33 3.3%
2007 75 7.5%
2008 65 6.5%
2009 62 6.2%
2010 146 14.6%
2011 93 9.3%
2012 101 10.1%
2013 59 5.9%
2014 16 1.6%
2015 49 4.9%
2016 17 1.7%
2017 14 1.4%
2018 14 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 139,000 miles Montclair, CA

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11048780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Chicago, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10969024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Glendale, AZ

AIR BAGS

CAR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DON'T WORK WHEN CAR IS STARTED THEN BEGIN WORKING SOMETIME AFTER THE CAR IS RUNNING 5-15 MINUTES. GAUGES, RADIO, AC, FAN, DO NOT WORK AND I AM WORRIED THE AIRBAGS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/NO-START-DUE-TO-FAILED-PASSLOCK-SENSOR-300). I SEE THE RECALL FOR REPLACING KEYS BUT THIS IS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS FAILING.

NHTSA complaint #10731906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 208,000 miles Cleveland, OH Crash 6 injured

AIR BAGS

A CHURCH VAN WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. WE T-BONED THEM GOING 35MPH. WE HIT THEM INCREDIBLY HARD AND YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! FOUR OF THEIR PASSENGERS WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE AND THE TWO OF US IN THE MALIBU WENT LATER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE CHURCH VAN HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10681623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Huntsville, AL Crash

AIR BAGS

MY DAUGHTER BROADSIDED AN SUV AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SUV'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY!!

NHTSA complaint #10667337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OVER. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED KNEE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10641750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,744 miles Lake Wales, FL Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,744.

NHTSA complaint #10640380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ponchatoula, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10638853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hague, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT WAS BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND BELIEVED THE CRASH WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10638675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Buffalo, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WHILE WAITING IN THE TURNING LANE AT A STOP LIGHT, I SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY AN SUV TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I HIT MY THROAT AND CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE DUE TO THE IMPACT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR WAS I RESTRAINED BY THE SEATBELT.

NHTSA complaint #10621725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pawtucket, RI Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG COVER OPENED AND REMAINED FOLDED WITHIN THE AIR BAG AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND WAS ALSO TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10357161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 166,000 miles NEW Orleans, LA Crash 1 killed

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. THE CAR FLIPPED AND HIT A TREE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10208220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,000 miles Stone Mountain, GA

AIR BAGS

HORN DOES NOT WORK. PROBLEM STARTED OUT INTERMITTENTLY. NOW IT SEEMS TO BE PERMANENT. VERY INCONVENIENT. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE AIR BAGS EVEN WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10102242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,500 miles Louisville, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH THE SPEED LIMIT BEING 55 MPH WHICH I WAS DOING AND HIT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT THE ENTIRE CAR WENT TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT 55 MPH AND THE NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10088102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,900 miles Alice, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10081858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,370 miles Snyder, TX Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10065563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Juan, PR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT.*MR *CB

NHTSA complaint #10053525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Neptune, NJ Crash

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES OF BEEN ON A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Standish, ME Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FOR A SECOND AND MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE SAME TYPE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE IN MY FLEET. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DEALER DIDN'T INDICATE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THIS NEEDS FURTHER ATTENTION BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND THAT IS HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO TO AID IN THIS BUT MY OBLIGATION IS TO MY DRIVERS AND MY COMPANY TO PROVIDE SAFE TRANSPORTATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU MAY GIVE ME IN MEETING THIS OBLIGATION.

NHTSA complaint #766673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND ONE PERSON INJURED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #899242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stone Mountain, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE MALIBU WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH CAUSING A FRONT COLLISION AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #750489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Chevrolet Malibu problems

← Full 2001 Chevrolet Malibu report