Worst 2002 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Headlight/Taillight Failures
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 182 | 3 | — | 88,301 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 62 | — | — | 71,831 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 49 | 1 | — | 74,318 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 40 | 1 | — | 57,028 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch | 36 | 1 | — | 74,662 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 28 | — | — | 64,400 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 22 | — | — | 96,103 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 17 | — | — | 61,234 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 15 | — | — | 23,739 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 13 | — | — | 57,800 mi | |
| Airbags | 12 | 6 | — | 89,833 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 12 | 1 | — | 88,875 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 11 | — | — | 90,303 mi | |
| Brakes | 11 | 2 | — | 83,331 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Flasher Unit | 10 | — | — | 60,644 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 10 | — | — | 33,107 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights | 9 | — | — | 48,408 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 | 1 | — | 29,552 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 9 | — | — | 64,718 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 72,399 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 8 | — | — | 71,667 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 8 | — | — | 33,146 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 | — | — | 54,810 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 | — | — | 59,357 mi | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | — | 133,238 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 5 | — | 70,667 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 5 | — | — | 64,100 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 5 | — | — | 42,833 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | — | 60,536 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~5,877,718 vehicles.
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.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
2002 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
How safe is the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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