2002 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

ENGINE

The anti-theft/ passlock system fault in this generation of GM vehicles is very widespread and effects a large percentage of vehicles in this generation. I am sure there have been hundreds if not thousands of complaints about same issue and GM refuses to fix the problem. The problem causes the car to randomly shut off due to anti theft fault and can happen on interstate, highway or in town driving. This is a very dangerous fault and very expensive for owners especially when dealerships themselves don't even know what they are dealing with. They will throw parts at the problem with no real knowledge. GM needs to be held accountable. Currently the ignition the BCM have been replaced and now the car will not start at all and I have no lights or gauges on my cluster.

NHTSA complaint #11429635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HESITATED WHEN STARTED. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING BECAME VERY DIM AND THE DATA ON THE SCREEN WAS NOT VISIBLE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT JUMPED THE BATTERY AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. LATER, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MECHANIC WAS CURRENTLY PERFORMING A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,786.

NHTSA complaint #11221215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY VEHICLE IS MESSING UP ON ME AND IT WAS SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE IS MESSING UP ON ME IT WILL SHUT OFF WELL DRIVING ILL PULL OVER AND WAIT A COUPLE MINS AND I WILL PULL OUT THE FUEL FUSE AND WAIT A COUPLE MINS AND WILL PUT IT BACK AND IT WILL START AGAIN AFTER A WEEK IT SHUT OFF ON ME AND WOULD NOT START HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AND MARJORAM WORKED FOR 5DAYS THEN THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN CHANGED THE SENSORS WORKED OK FOR 2DAYS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN SO I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS FUEL FILTER ALL FUSES STILL NOTHING ITS BEEN SITTING FOR 3 TO 4 MONTHS NOW I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM I CHANGED EVERYTHING U CAN THING OF NOW THE CHECK ENGINE AND TEST SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA complaint #11111379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY CAR CUTS OFF AND GOES INTO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WHILE I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY CAR HAS TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THEN I HAVE TO SIT WITH MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN AND MY KEY TURNED ON FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL IT RESETS ITSELF THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT SCARED ME BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 150 IN DANVILLE KENTUCKY. PLUSMY HEATING SYSTEM IS MESSED UP I CAN'T GET IT TO BLEED OUT THE AIR IN THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #11090133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE OURISMAN CHEVROLET DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,333.

NHTSA complaint #10992730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. OVER HEATING ISSUES BEGAN WITHIN 3 MONTHS. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED. ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE TO BE ADDING WATER AS THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW OR THE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. 18 MONTHS LATER OVER HEATING ISSUES RETURNED WHILE DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY. WHEN VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER RUN, WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. HAVE NOW REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. ISSUE REMAINS, BUT WORSE. LOW WATER AND NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. ALL INDICATIONS SUGGEST HEAD GASKET ISSUES WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. AS SUCH, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN AND REMAINS PARKED. NO SUCH ISSUES WERE DISCLOSED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ONLY LEARNED EXTENT OF PROBLEM AFTER RESEARCHING ISSUE ONLINE TO FIND MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. CHEVROLET SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN WHEN CONTACTED. REPRESENTATIVE APOLOGIZED, BUT AS THERE IS NO RECALL WOULD ONLY SUGGEST TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. OWNER IS A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME. CHEVROLET'S SUGGESTION IS SIMPLY NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND LEAVES THE OWNER WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS. HE CANNOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. FURTHERMORE, ONLINE REPORTS ALSO SUGGEST THE PROBLEM REMAINS OR RETURNS EVEN AFTER LENGTHY AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS ARE MADE. ONCE AGAIN, CREATING CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP TO THIS OWNER WHO NOW FEELS AS THOUGH HE WAS ROBBED FIRST BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR THEIR NONDISCLOSURE AND NOW BY CHEVROLET FOR THEIR NEGLIGENT DESIGN, QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP AS WELL AS THEIR COMPLETE LACK OF DESIRE TO REMEDY THIS YEARS OLD DEFECT. INSTEAD SHIFTING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM ONE UNSUSPECTING OWNER TO THE NEXT AND THE NEXT AFTER THAT.

NHTSA complaint #10872461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. PARKED CAR FOR 1 HOUR WENT TO START CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES AND FUEL PUMP I WAS ADVISED IT COULD BE AN ANTI THEFT MALFUNCTION. I FOLLOWED A PROCEDURE TO RELEARN THE SYSTEM AND THE CAR STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND I FEAR THE CAR WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED OR MALFUNCTION WHILE OPERATING WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY

NHTSA complaint #10850938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN, OF THE UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLDS, CAUSED BY THE DEX COOLANT, AND POOR ENGINE DESIGN. COOLANT GOT INTO MY ENGINE, AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE REPLACED. SENDING A PICTURE OF THE OIL CAP WITH FOAM ON IT, AND ITS LIKE THIS INSIDE THE ENGINE AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10788396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY A DEALER (DIMMITT CHEVROLET, CLEARWATER, FL) BECAUSE MY KEY WAS STUCK IN IT. THE SAME DEALER ALSO REPLACED MY KEY AND KEY CASING BECAUSE OF A RECALL. AFTER THAT I STARTING NOTICING THAT MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CUT OFF FORCING ME TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER AND HAD THAT REPLACED. THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS AND IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO ME AND MY FAMILY NOT KNOWING WHEN MY CAR WILL JUST STOP RUNNING, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I CHECKED AND DO NOT SEE A GM RECALL ON MY MODEL FOR SOME REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10731943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM START WITH THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM GOING OFF AND HAVING TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR LIGHT TO GO OUT AND START VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10717120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE JUST WOULD NOT START. *SMD THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10667989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING.* LD THE CONSUMER STATED GM USED DEX-COOL ENGINE COOLANT WHICH CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP FLUSHED OUT THE DEX-COOL AND REPLACED THE COOLANT, WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COOLANT. ALSO, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $477.31.

NHTSA complaint #10648091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40-80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE JERKING BECAME MORE FREQUENT. DUE TO THE JERKING GAS MILEAGE IS EXTREMELY POOR. UPDATED 7/27/2015

NHTSA complaint #10638064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AS I WAS GETTING OFF AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHUT OFF AND STEERING BECAME HARD. I LET THE CAR ROLL INTO THE RIGHT LANE WHERE I COULD STOP AND TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED IMMEDIATELY, STEERING WAS VERY HARD. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THE FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE RACK N PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I DROVE THE CAR TO GO TO THE BEACH WITH MY DAD AND AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SEEMED FINE. WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN I DROVE TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND WHEN HE PUT THE COMPUTER TO THE CAR IT SHOWED THAT THE #4 COIL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THANKFUL THAT I AM CAREFUL AND DEFENSIVE DRIVER. THIS SITUATIONS ARE QUITE SCARY. I OWNED A KIA SEPHIA FOR SINCE 2005 AND NEVER DID I EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH THIS MALIBU.

NHTSA complaint #10629620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES OF WAIT WAS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10628878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT MAY STALL,(AND IT HAS MANY TIMES) WHICH CAUSES FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CAR ALSO WON'T ALWAYS START. YOU CAN TURN THE KEY BUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DON'T COME ON,IF THEY DON'T THE CAR WILL NOT START. ALSO THE BATTERY WON'T KEEP A CHARGE, UNLESS YOU START THE CAR AND LET IT RUN AT LEAST EVERY 2 DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10628338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MAY 2013: CAR HARD TO START; MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BEFORE ENGINE STARTED MAY 2013: HAD NEW KEY MADE AT LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER DECEMBER 2013: CONTINUED PROBLEMS STARTING CAR; REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH JULY 1, 2014: GM ANNOUNCES EXPANDED RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002 MALIBU; CALLED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER; THEY SAID WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LETTER FROM GM; DEALER DID NOT KNOW ABOUT EXPANDED RECALL JULY 14, 2014: CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING JULY 15, 2014: CALLED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AGAIN; STILL KNEW NOTHING ABOUT EXPANDED RECALL; COULDN'T ADVISE AS TO WHETHER CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10610707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,801.

NHTSA complaint #10599103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY HANDICAPPED MOTHER HAS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT IGNITION RELATED ISSUES AS THOSE IN THE CURRENT MASSIVE GM RECALL. ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO SIGNIFICANT REPEAT REPAIRS, ONE IN 2010 AND ONE THIS WEEK. IN BOTH CASES THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP DESCRIBES THE ISSUE AS AN IGNITION PASS LOCK SENSOR THAT FAILS DUE TO KEY POSITIONING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. LUCKILY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN INJURY BUT EASILY COULD HAVE IN THE VERY CONGESTED METRO DC AREA THAT SHE LIVES IN. WHY IS THE MALIBU NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND RECALLS?

NHTSA complaint #10569015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. DID ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND SAME INCIDENTS. NO RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH/THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT. GM KNOWS OF AN ISSUE AND WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10566423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT 35 MPH WHEN I WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE ON FATHER HURLEY BLVD. MY RIGHT KNEE SMASHED AGAINST MY KEY RING ON THE FRONT DASH AREA. THEE CAR LOST IMMEDIATE POWER. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR STEER MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO SLOWLY COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLES AROUND ME HAD A DIFFICULT TIME AVOIDING ME SINCE THIS EVENT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING A LANE MERGING WITH MINE AS THEY EXITED A MAJOR FREEWAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT IT IN PARK. I NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT FULLY ENGAGED IN THE IGNITION SO I PUSHED IT ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE KEY OVER. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SAFELY. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME AN EVENT LIKE THIS (WHERE MY KNEE HAS BUMPED UP AGAINST THE KEY RING AND THE CAR LOST POWER) HAS HAPPENED IN MY HISTORY OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10566566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE, BUT THEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND REVERSE THINGS SEEM TO BE NORMAL. AT THE POINT THE CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FUEL IN THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR WILL EITHER STALL OUT, WHILE DRIVING OR WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IF WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THE CAR REPEATEDLY SHUTS OFF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, ALL GAUGES ARE MAXED OUT AND SPEED SAYS 60MPH. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY THE WHOLE TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, BUT THE CAR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL AND STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IF THE CAR SYSTEM COMES BACK ON, THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS EMPTY AND EVEN THE TRUNK POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR MANY REASONS. IF THIS HAPPENS AT NIGHT, THERE ARE NO HEADLIGHTS OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS OR THEY'RE FLICKERING ON AND OFF THE WHOLE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10563570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

1.CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING. PUT ANTIFREEZE IT AND RUN FOR A WHILE AND IT WILL OVERHEAT AGAIN. NO ANTIFREEZE ON GROUND BUT KEEPS LOSING THE ANTIFREEZE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS MIXING WITH THE OIL THAT IT HAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD GASKET. RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACE ENGINE. 2.TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER CHIP THING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BUT NO RECALL IS IN PLACE AS OF YET. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER 1300.00.

NHTSA complaint #10492205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST STARTED SMOKING.

NHTSA complaint #10477099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I SIGNALED FOR A LEFT TURN. WHEN I SIGNALED THE TURN, THERE WAS A BUZZING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES. LUCKILY, I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, ALBEIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. THE CAR RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I DROVE IT 1/2 BLOCK TO A PARKING SPACE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO FH DAILEY, THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) THAT HAD CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. THEY ARE REPLACING THE BCM. THEY DID NOT SEEM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND MY IMPRESSION IS IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO ENCOUNTER IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT, HAD I BEEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ON THE HIGHWAY, OR ON A CURVING ROAD, THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR FATALITY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS.

NHTSA complaint #10458631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10454074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS. I STOPPED THE CAR TO GO INTO THE STORE, GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD, HAD TO GET A TOW TO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, COST ME $347.00. ON 12/29/11 SAME ISSUE, CAR WOULD NOT START THIS TIME LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME. I HAD TO GET A TOW TO THE REPAIR ANOTHER $51.00 AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST HAVE HAD A DEFAULT AND I RECEIVED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, AT NO CHARGE. TWO DAYS AGO, ALMOST 2 WEEKS AFTER LAST REPAIR, IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME IN THE PARKING LOT 12 DEGREES OUTSIDE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER CALLED A TOW TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD ALL THIS TIME IT WAS THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM WAS BAD AND CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START AND ALSO WAS THE CAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO NOT START THE CAR. I WAS CHARGED 388.00, PLUS A TOW FEE, FOR THE REPAIR OF A NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER( THE PART USED A THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM). BASICALLY , THIS AUTO THEFT SYSTEM HAS CAUSED ME OVER 700 IN A MONTH TIME AND LEFT ME IN DANGEROUS AREAS WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. THIS NEEDS TO REIMBURSED BY GM BECAUSE IF THIS AUTO THEFT SYSTEM WAS PLACED ON THE CAR AS A BENEFIT AND PROTECTION TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR TO STOP THEFT IT IS NOT HELPING THE OWNER AT ALL ONLY PUTTING THE OWNER IN MORE HARM BECAUSE IT IS CAUSING THE OWNER TO NOT BE ABLE TO START THE CAR WITH THE KEY. HOW MUCH SINCE DOES THAT MAKE? THIS IS SOMETHING EXTRA ADDED TO THE CAR THAT IS NOT NEEDED; THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CAR ALARMS. I DON'T NEED THEM TO ADD AN AUTO THEFT SYSTEM TO MY CAR AND IT STOPS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR AND DRIVE. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH, I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOME. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WOULDN'T START IT WAS ONLY 12 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND FREEZING COLD. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET A PETITION OF A RECALL FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS UNSAFE!

NHTSA complaint #10444794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DRIVING 2002 CHEVY MALIBU. VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF EVERYTHING. ENGINE, HEAD LIGHTS, TAILS LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, CAR JUST GOES DARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. SO FAR CAR RESETS AND RESTARTS BEFORE ROLLING TO A STOP, BUT THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10393095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HAVING COOLANT LEAK, DID NOT SEE ANY COOLANT LEAKING ON THE GROUND. CHANGED WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND RADIATOR; STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT INTAKE GASKET WAS CRACKED AND HAD IT FIXED. COOLANT STILL LEAKING, HAVING TO ADD COOLANT EVERY DAY TO EVERY OTHER DAY. WAS TOLD RESERVOIR CAP DID NOT FIT WELL. REPLACED RESERVOIR AND CAP AND HAD VEHICLE BLED. RAN FINE FOR 3 DAYS, THEN COOLANT STARTING LEAKING OUT AGAIN. CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. FOR A 2002 THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE BAD MILEAGE, ONLY 84,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. I HAVE READ SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET. SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. CHEVROLET SOLD LEMONS WHEN THEY SOLD THESE CARS, THAT'S FOR SURE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10381664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE ECM WAS REPAIRED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASS LOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10349602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.