2001 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Owners have filed 1,005 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 30.1% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 17.1%.
Complaints1,005
Crashes51
Fires1
Injuries43
Deaths4
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 30.1% · 303
Engine and engine cooling 17.1% · 172
Exterior lighting 11.9% · 120
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.5% · 95
Steering 4.1% · 41
Engine 2.6% · 26
Vehicle speed control 2.5% · 25
Fuel system, gasoline 2.5% · 25
Severity
Of those complaints, 51 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire, 43 report an injury and 4 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 27 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu in this data, 2001 sits 17th by complaint volume. 2009 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 11 in the last three years against 40 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 70,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. While attempting to start the vehicle, it made a starting sound, but failed to start. The contact had to make numerous attempts to start the vehicle. On several occasions, the contact had to wait five minutes or more before the vehicle would start. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 213,000. Electrical system · reported at 213,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vin was included in recall nhtsa campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 69,397. Electrical system · reported at 69,397 miles
My wife went shopping after a long trip, so the car should have been fairly warm. After she finished her shopping, the vehicle wouldn't start and the theft light was on. Because she has seen me fix the problem several times, she knew to turn the key to the on position, wait 10 minutes for the theft light to go out, turn the key to the off position, wait a few seconds, and restart the car. No one was injured. Electrical system · reported at 106,902 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…