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Problems with 2002 Chevrolet Malibu EQUIPMENT

On average, the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu starts to “feel” problems with the EQUIPMENT and its various aspects after 51 550 miles.

Components Affected by EQUIPMENT Issues

We have classified the 4 complaints from 2002 Chevrolet Malibu about EQUIPMENT into the following categories.

ELECTRICAL 2 MECHANICAL 1

Recently reported EQUIPMENT problems on 2002 Chevrolet Malibu

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that intermittently, the turn signal lights would not illuminate. in addition, the air bag warning light would intermittently illuminate on the instrument panel and the air conditioner blower motor would only function when set on high. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 60,000. the vin was unavailable.

I own a 2002 chevy malibu that won't start about every third time. the car will not start due to gm's defective passlock anti theft system. the passlock sensor has been replaced twice since i purchased the car in august of 2006. the sensor is now acting up again and it seems like this system needs to be repaired almost every year. thousands of other malibu owners are experiencing this issue. *tr

2002 chevy malibu, 80,000 miles brakes always noisy even when new..brakes and calipers have to be replaced every 2-3 months with minimal use......hazard light and turn signal failure...works intermittently.....ignition lock-out....could not start car or remove key from the ignition....lower intake manifold gasket failure......left headlamp field of vision narrow and short. *tr

2002 chevy malibu won't start occasionally passlode problem diag at local dealer ignition replaced and keys reprogrammed cost $398.60 .still have problem that we took car to dealer in first place for. dealer can not fix problem what do we do this is unsafe for wife and young child to become stranded on a daily bases. i have done some research and have come to find out that this is an ongoing problem with the passlock systems from gm. we have also had to replace the intake manifold gasket and have sense learned about the ongoing problems with the dexcool coolant causing gasket failure .we need help. *tr

I am the owner of a 2002 chevy malibu which i have owned since 2003. for the last two years (starting around approximately 90,000 miles) i've have been having problems with the turn signal and hazard light indicators. the malfunction leads to total failure or flickering of the turn signal lights, the hazard lights and the indicators on the instrument panel. the malfunction will occur at any time - sunny, rainy, dry, humid, snowy, hot or cold weather; daytime or nighttime; whether the engine is hot or cold. occasionally the indicators will work for a couple of days but then the malfunction will occur again. i have no idea what caused the malfunction to begin. the original malfunctioning parts are available as they are currently still installed in my vehicle. i have also been having problems with the heater switch in my car. a rattle type noise in the heater fan assembly was the first indication that i noticed at around 70,000 miles. that stopped when the car was repaired after i ran over a truck tire tread that was in the middle of the highway. the switch worked for a while then i lost the number one and two speeds. eventually the number three speed went out. i currently can run the heater on speeds number four and five; however, the output is less that what it should be for the two highest fan speeds. the replacement part is currently still installed in my vehicle. *tr

Component: air conditioner details: i am basically having the same trouble with my air conditioning. it will kick off. the air recirculation will also kick off and change to fresh air. it is driving me up a wall. i live in georgia and not having an air conditioner is awful, but to have one that will work sometimes, is awful. i had this same problem in 2005. my car was still under an extended warranty. the dealer wrote: c/s ac will switch from recirculation to fresh air by itself. also said at time it feels like the a/c is on when it's not. heater control head has internal short causing it to switch by itself. inspect and replace heater/ac control head. parts $157.48, labor $142.50, tax $11.02. total $311.80. this time i only had to pay $100 deductible. this was done on 7/28/05, invoice cvcs51146 at cartersville chevrolet in cartersville, ga. is this something that fails every 3 years!! it is a 2002 and failed the first time in 2005 and again now in 2008!!! will chevrolet pay for this??? they should. *tr

When the weather is wet or snowy, and there is possible slick spots on the road, the abs is engaged even when you are pulling up slowly to the stop sign, or slowing down to arrive home, or even coming out of the driveway... what happens, is when doing those things in weather as described above, if you attempt to put the breaks on it makes an awful grinding sound and pushed back on you so you cant break... this has happened to me numerous times just backing out of my driveway... i pulled up to a stop sign behind someone this is right on my residential street so i was not speeding at all, it was a rainy day but the rain was light, i have brand new tires on my car too. as i pulled up behind my neighbors car to the stop sign, i was barely pushing down my break peddle when it pushed back at me and made t his deep sound i couldn't stop and i almost hit my neighbor. i went to my long time mechanic and he took it for a drive on a clear day.... he took it on some gravel and stopped hard well the breaks did the same thing. he said it was the abs even though he didn't look at them. i think it is the wheel bearings. i have had many other vehicles in my life and non of them did that to me on wet or snowy days! i know it isn't normal and i do not feel safe driving the vehicle. i have 2 young children and if the abs are going to be that stingy then my chances of crashing will be 99% higher! *tr

2002 chevrolet malibu anti-theft system frequently prevents me from starting the car.*ak

I am basically having the same trouble with my blower. speeds 1, 2 and 3 do not work, but my air conditioning will kick off. the air recirculation will also kick off and change to fresh air. it is driving me up a wall. i live in texas and not having an air conditioner is awful, but to have one that will work sometimes, is awful. *nm

I purchased 2002 malibu new nov 2001. turn signals quit working once in 2002. reoccurred 3-4 times in 2003. 2004 occurred 6-8 times. 2005 occurred at least once a month until oct-dec when signals malfunction weekly. jan 2006, signals malfunction 1-3 time a day sometimes. vehicle has approx 32,000 miles. cycling the hazard switch usually once or twice cures the problem. called dealer nov 2005, but no recall on 2002 malibu for this problem. *nm

I first purchased this malibu 2002 in feb 2002. nov 02 ( 9 mos later) i had to have my ignition switch replaced which was under warranty. around the same time my turn/hazard signal went out and i haven't had it replaced yet after 4yrs of having this car. if i want to use it i have to keep pressing the hazard button to make it come on. nov 2005 i tried to start my car, but it kept cutting off. my dad stated it was the fuel pump. i had the fuel pump,crank sensor and module replaced. my car still didn't start. finally my dad went under the steering wheel and pressed this black button (cut off switch) and that was the only way it would start. i have to travel 25 miles to work so i was tired of worrying about the car. i thought it was the theft system. i took my car to the dealer 11/29/2005 they had the car until 12/15/2005. i was told that it was my ignition switch, crank sensor and my alarm/automatic starter. i was out of $366.73 to the dealer and taking a cab to work at 5:30am for x7dy coasted$210.00. i was also out of money for a rental car for the last 7ys they had my car plus gas on both because they used all gas in my car. i have had x2 ignition switches put on my car, i have to change my tail/park/brake bulb seemingly every 6mos. i am only getting my hazard/turn signal replaced when nhtsa reviews it as being an defect. i am having a hard time with the speed of my car also on the e way. i have to put my foot to the floor in order to make it take off at 60mph. i have to put gas in my car every 3dys. i last changed my fuel filter 1yr ago and again having it replaced 1/1/06. my check engine light came on 1wk after i got my car out of the shop on 12/22 and it has been on since. my coolant light comes and goes off every now and then. i have had my coolant/fuel flushed. i had it winterized what's the problem. if we ...

I bought a 2002 chevrolet malibu on august 10, 2004. the mileage was 45,281. since that time i have had 2 problems with my vehicle. 1.gm dex-cool/intake manifold gasket. 2.anti-theft light comes on. after car has been stopped, the car will not restart again. with regard to item number 1 above, i understand there is a class action lawsuit pending. with regard to item number 2 above, these are the circumstances concerning my problems associated with the anti theft system. from august to october 2006 i had to tow my vehicle to the chevrolet dealership to address the problem of my car not starting. it was towed 4 times, the first 3 times and all the dealership said was that the battery needed to be charged. on the last time, october 13, 2006 the dealership said their ?educated guess? was the need to change the starter switch and ignition lock cylinder for which they charged me for a starter switch - $96.15, an ignition lock cylinder - $154.79, recode the lock cylinder - $15.00, and $46.00 to correct the pass lock sensor data, plus a $10.00 environmental disposal fee. my son looked on the internet to see if anyone else has had similar problems with their same model car. it appears quite a few owners have had similar problems. the anti-theft problem fix was to allow the car to sit for 10 minutes, and then try to start the vehicle again, and it worked, sometimes after 2-3 attempts. the dealership had also said to try the same fix procedure, it might work. it appears that general motors knows about this two problem, and is only addressing the gm dex cool intake manifold gasket. general motors should recall to fix both problems at no charge to the owner. it's only a matter of time before either of these two items becomes a safety issue and causes a loss of life or limb. the current mileage is 55,340. *tr

When the brakes were applied, the brake pedal pulsated, which caused the consumer to experience extended stopping distance. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and the mechanic determined that the brake caliper failed. *ak the radio was inoperative. *sc *jb

This is not a safety hazard, but the bushings on the front struts of the 2002 chevy malibu rattle and squeak starting around 30k miles and get progressively worse. also the air conditioning control unit tends to go bad. both are rather costly to fix problems didn't surface till after the 3/36 warranty was up. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet malibu. from the date the vehicle was purchased, the contact has experienced failures with the turn signals failing intermittently and the anti-theft device used to start the vehicle. the failures were noticed while driving 34 mph. the current mileage is 57,000 and failure mileage was 56,000.

At 15,000 miles i had a piston knock develop. pistons were replaced and was told this was a common problem with this engine. gas cap seal bad at same time. deck lid not properly adjusted at time of purchase. at 25,000 the rear left speaker was replaced due not working and the torque clutch converter was coming apart and stuck in the off position. first problem was noted in 2002.*jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet malibu. while idling at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled without warning. the contact made several attempts to restart the vehicle, and finally the engine turned over. the vehicle was driven to his residence and towed to an authorized dealer. the dealer replaced the air condition compressor. previously, the engine gasket was replaced. recently, the vehicle began riding roughly and was taken to the authorized dealer. the service technician stated that the failure was related to the fuel injector, which needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was unknown.

When it rains the brakes will not grab and hold. loud howling noise from the front brakes. the whole car shudders hard as if it will fall off of it's frame. pads and rotors have been replaced four times in a year. dealer won't check anything else and says gm won't authorize the warranty work! ts

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