So I bought my Malibu about two years ago. I had a Malibu that got totaled in a flood and decided to buy another since I liked the car so much. Well, I'm not so sure I like it anymore!! The problem started in October 2011 and has been a pain in the @$$ since. The first time it happened I didn't think much of it and it didn't do it again for about 2-4 weeks. Then when it happened again it was one of the coldest days of the month and I had an infant in the car! I couldn't get the damn thing to start. My mechanic replaces the ignition switch and the starter. It worked fine for about a week. Then the Anti-Theft System light started coming on while I was driving the car. In most of the reading I have done this should stall the car. Well it doesn't, I can drive long distances with the light on. So off and on for the last six months I have been dealing with the light coming on. Recently the car has been failing to start due to that little red blinking light. I have had to wait in a dark parking lot at night for the thing to start. It has been so bad that I have had to wait for 4-10 minute sessions, that's 40 minutes just to get the damn thing to start. Mind you some days I don't have the time to sit and wait for 10 minutes every time the thing wants to act up.

I have had about as much as I can handle with the Anti-Theft System light. I would like to get rid of the pain in my @$$ but don't want someone else to have to deal with the same problem. I know how frustrating it can be and would not want anyone else to have to deal with it. I am about to the point of clipping the wires and bypassing the theft system just so I can go a day without having to wait 10 minutes.

My mechanic had ordered the Passlock sensor and will be installing it next week. Hopefully this fixes the problem.

I think that GM should have to pay for all the problems I have had due to the Anti-Theft System. They made the cars with it in them, they should be responsible for taking it out. With all the complaints that you can read online about it you would think that they would recall it. Go to: http://www.gm.com/toolbar/contactUs.html and state your complaint also. Maybe if they get enough of them they will do something about the crappy anti theft system they put in the vehicles.

My 2000 Malibu is very well maintained, even with over 160,000 miles. Starting in 2010 Summer, the theft system light would flash when I tried to start. This happened about twice last year, weeks apart. After about 10 minutes the light would go off and the car would start. The same thing has happened about 6 times this year, sometimes twice in a week. I was stranded in a hot parking lot in 90 degree weather this week because of this problem,while running an errand. This is the first time it has happened when parked outside of my yard. I have a funeral to attend in another state this week, and have to follow the procession to the cemetery. Fingers crossed. It is mind-boggling that GM has this problem with 1999 through 2002 models(probably being conservative) and does not see it as a recall item, or did not fix the problem in the first year. I have to take it to the dealer tomorrow, and hope I don't get ripped off. Thanks for this opportunity, and wish me luck.

i bought my pos Malibu ls a while ago. and i can say that unless gm recalls this problem i will never buy a gm car again. i have a child under two and have been stuck in snow storms while waiting for fifteen or twenty mins for the fake anti theft light flashes on and off. been stuck in the heat as well, late for work late coming home from work many many times. go to the store come out try to start the car and it wont start until the damn light stops flashing. i called gm and complained about it but i was told there is no recall on this problem because they say it is not a safety issue. bullshit this is a safety issue. freezing in a car or roasting in the heat, not to mention if there is and emergency that i would need to drive to like take my kid to the dr or something .i want to have this problem fixed for good. but dealers say there is no guarantee it wont happen again if they try to fix it and it isn't cheap to fix, then cutting the wire is not good either because if ur battery dies u run the risk of ur car never starting again. GMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGMGM FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!RECALL i agree with a previous poster if any lawyer out there wants to start a class action law suit to have gm fix/recall this please help. all of us with this problem should really get a lawsuit together!!!!

I just bought my malibu in the beginning of October 2010. About a month later it wouldn't start right away and the Theft System Light kept blinking red. It has happened about one every two weeks since then. I even took it into a mechanic and they had it for two weeks and couldn't get it to Not start. In the last week it has gotten worse, Last night I had to wait in a cold parking lot for two hours! Normally I just wait for the blinking to stop and then I can turn my car on, but I waited six times for the blinking to stop (10-15 minutes each time) before it would start. That got me home, but then it wouldn't start in the morning when I had to get to school. It is really inconvenient and annoying! Not to mention I've only had my car a few months and I bought it with only 64K miles. Any solutions??

I'm trying to add to a forum of this specific topic. Don't know if i'm doing it right - oh well. My 2000 chevy malibu recently developed the problem of not starting. sometimes, randomly, it will not start and i have to wait 15 - 20 minutes for the anti theft light to go off then it will start. People been saying cut the yellow wire to fix. I found a webpage mentioning putting graphite in the ignition keyhole to solve the problem. After two "treatments" i've been driving my car for a few months so far with zero recurrence. (bought powered graphite at hardware store and puffed it into the ignition keyhole)

Ive been driving a 2000 Chevy Malibu the past 2 years. When I bought it, it had 112,000 miles. 1 month later my fuel pump went out. I was just driving and my car decided to cut off. So got that replaced and 6 months later, power steering went out as im driving.Like seriously my car is literally trying to get me in a wreck as im driving. Anyways 12 months later my car decides it doesn't wanna crank. My thief system light comes on and off whenever it feels like it. And when it's on I know my car wont crank up. Its really embarrassing sitting in a car for 10-15 minutes trying to crank it back up if im at the gas station or wherever in public...Oh and when I'm driving up hills, even a little ity bity one, my car acts like its not getting enough gas...like its not going to make it. UGH its very frustrating. Other than that the car hasn't given me anymore problems. But I am getting close to 200,000 miles so Im sure to be expecting bigger ones soon.

I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu........and at first you would turn the key on and it would turn over but not start wait about ten minutes and then it would start and run with no problems.........well now the piece of sh*t just done something new it set for a week for i was using my fathers car, so i started it up let it run for about 2 minutes and then shut it off and then waited a few seconds and then tried to start it and all the buzzers are on but when you turn the key over nothing it won't even turn over or nothing

So today was actually the first day that I've had this problem in the time that I've owned the car- which is not even a year. Aside from routine maintenance (brakes, fuel filter, etc..) , I've really not had to do much to the car; at this point I've replace my alternator and my belt tensioner assembly (and the belt which I had to have done at a shop because GM thought it would be smart to put a motor mount in the way). Getting back to the issue at hand, my theft system light was flashing this morning and the car wouldn't crank and I was 30 min late for work. Finally the car started and I got to work; then I left for lunch and it started just fine. As I was leaving to go back to work the light came on again and my car wouldn't start. Since then I've gotten home from work and tried to start my car and it starts just fine every time I try and start it. I have no idea what the cause of this is but I'd hope that GM would issue some sort of recall on it soon!

Well please welcome me to the world of crappy Malipoo's. I purchased this vehicle from a private party on August 20th and I was elated that I had a seemingly great car that was free from payments and the like. Boy, was I ever in for a rude awakening! The next day we were heading out of town, on the way out on the freeway the car seemed to operate well. Again, the operative word there is seems. It got onto the freeway and then I noticed when I started approaching inclines the car would seem to "chug" along and it never seemed like the fuel system and the acceleration were in communication with each other. Well I figured that this could be easily remedied.

We did manage to get back home without further incident. The beginning of the work week I was heading in to work and the car would crank but not turn over, I wasn't quite sure what was going on, so I tried again. The car still didn't work so then I was stuck out there with my children with me waiting to take them to school. I called my husband and he told me to wait 10 minutes till the 'theft deterrent light' went out and then proceed to restart it. Well, an hour later the car finally started after I attempted to disconnect the negative battery cable in hopes of resetting the system. I had to pump the gas while attempting to start the car at the same time and finally it starts. I am in a frenzy trying to get my kids to school and they are over 1 1/2 hours late due to this stupid car and it's theft deterrent system. Then I come back home afraid to turn this car off, for fear that being tempermental it won't restart. I come out and it starts right up like nothing was ever wrong with it. Okkkkaaayyy! Then the next day, in sweltering weather over 100 degrees I leave work and get in my car, it won't start. So I am sitting out baking in the hot sun. Finally the system starts. I had to make a few stops and the car died on me both times the same day.

I haven't had this vehicle for very long and I am at the point of no return already. I have invested too much time, energy and money into something that obviously isn't worth it. I think that GM knows that they have a defective product on their hands, evidenced by the myriad of complaints lodged on this web site and countless others that we may not be aware of. I think it is time for them to step up and take care of their consumers and do right by the people that keeps them in business. When will you issue a recall GM, when you receive so much negative publicity and attention that you are forced to rectify the problem. Step up, man up and fix the damn problem. All the millions and billons that you make, this shouldn't even make a dent in your finances or your bonuses!!

I've also had the issues with the theft light coming on. You guys are lucky if your car starts after 10 minutes! I have to wait 30 minutes!! This first happened a couple of years ago. I paid the dealer 470.00 to replace a sensor. I was told that there are 2 sensors and they only replaced 1. I was told then that we could have problems with the other one. We've been fine for 2 yrs but is now happeneing again. Other than this, my car has been a good one. I haven't had any other problems with my Mailbu except for a fuel pump that was pretty inexpensive. However I am on a tight budget and it does suck to have to pay 400+ to get these sensors replaced just to have them go bad again!! Frustrated this morning because my husband just called screaming at me because he's stranded and late for work!

HI there, I have Chevi Malibu as well and I was just leaving to go to class and as I put the key in the ignition, my engine just died as if it took its last breath. The anti-theft light came on and the alarm went off that I haven't even used in the past two years. What the heck?

This problem doesn't happen everyday but too often. It has made me late to work or anywhere else that I have to go. I normally have to wait a good 15-20 minutes for the engine to start back up again. I have had numerous issues with this car and have replaced a bunch of stuff already on this car and there always seems to be one problem after the other. I just finish replacing the tie-rods about two months ago. I think I just need a new car.

I now know that i am not alone in the world of the sh*tty Malibu. The pathetic part is that i grew up in a family that loves and would only own a Chevy...it was almost embarrassing for anything other than a Chevy to be in the drive way. This Malibu is a disgrace to the Chevrolet name!!! This car should be pulled from every lot and never sold again.

I just picked one of the many problems that my car has encountered just in the 2 short years i have owned it and posted under it....here are just a few of the problems i have had....see if u can relate: the car starts when it wants to ex. the theft system light in the dash lights up and shuts off my fuel pump stopping my car from starting! My blinkers don't work, hardly ever...my car sporadically overheats for no reason that anyone can figure out...the oil pressure drops due to lack of oil when i cant find a leak and without any warning from the check oil light.

i have replaced the:

alternator battery (twice) 6 tires front passenger hub assembly idle tensioner pulley power steering pulley (twice in 2 months) sway bars (2) intake gaskets( wasn't cheap! $500+) thermostat antifreeze jug both radiator hoses fuel pump ($300+) starter (already needs another one!)

This is just what i can remember right now...its sad that i have spent more fixing this car in the 2 years i have owned it than i did to originally purchase the damn thing. I may be a 25 year old female but i know a thing or two about cars....and this one is a piece of sh*t! I am now embarrassed to say that i still own this clunker and depend on it every day to transport my daughter and i through 3 counties! I mean seriously Chevrolet, WTF are you selling to hard working American citizens? We buy American made for a reason....but as soon as i have the chance to off this car....ITS GONE! And i wont miss my sh*tty bubu!

Hi everyone with those sh*tty Malibus. I think we should all get together and sue Chevrolet for all the bullshit we've had to put up with because our Malibus won't start when the theft system light comes on. Their blatant disregard for this problem has caused us all more problems than we should have to put up with and cost us all more money than we should ever have to pay for there stupidity. It's obvious to me that they knew this problem was going to exist when they manufactured and started selling these pieces of sh*t cars.

If we don't stand together and address this problem together, Chevrolet wins and we're screwed again just like we always are when dealing with greedy, self serving, rich and mean assholes. If anyone is interested in filing a lawsuit against these obnoxious creeps, contact me at cobb.1@lycos.com and I'll get the ball rolling. Couldn't hurt right. Good luck and never buy another Chevy.

I've had my 2000 Malibu for 10 years and I've had this anti-theft problem for the last 5 years at least. I had a dealership look at it and they wanted a minimum of $300 to fix it. I could not afford that so I said no. It doesn't go off all the time sometimes I'll have weeks or months where I don't have this problem but then out of nowhere it will go off and I can't start my car for 20min or more. This happen to me today when I went to start my car for work. I was a half hour late for work this morning and almost had frost bite on my fingers from sitting in my dam car with no heat trying to get it started. I've been at my current job for almost two years and have been late several times do to this defect. I'm pretty sure my boss thinks I'm making it up because of how random it is and if I lose my job over it I'm suing GM big time for not issuing a recall on this. After reading the other complaints I'm glad I didn't pay the dealership anything because it sounds like that didn't fix the problem anyway. I'm going to try the air spray thing first and if I still have a problem I will see if I can get someone to help me cut the yellow wire. Stay tuned I'll let you know what worked for me.

I've had other small electrical issues like my driverside front door doesn't lock I have to lock it manually. The rear passenger window will roll down from the drivers controls but not up so if I accidentally hit it I have to crawl in the back seat to get it to roll back up. My 1-3 doesn't work for my heat. These are all minor issues but they started happening within the first year I owned this vehicle. The coolant issue that others have mentioned was also a problem, I had to have the intake manifold replaced it was a $700 job through my mechanic. That should have been a recall as well from what I hear. Does anyone know how we can get an official complaint started or bring all of our comments to someones attention that might actually do something about it?

It dont make any sense in how technology can help us, but also hinder us when I first got the car I had told the dealer that I needed a reliable car because I have a job that I have to get to on time and two kids that also ride in the car, only a week later it happen in front of the store in 100 degree wheather with my kids in the car the theft light went flashing and we had to wait 10mins until it started I had a 87 oldsmobile and never had any problems as far as it starting, and what makes it so bad they make cars now where you have to take the to the shop because the engine is in cased and everthing so close together,just like with the transmission fluid you have to get the car jaked up on a rake just to check that I just want some help in getting this car fixed without costing a arm and leg and by the way what yellow wire?

I too have the problem of getting in the car and what I think "starting" the car. Only to have the anti-theft light to flash. Of course like everyone else, I have to wait about 10 minutes. Although, sometimes I find if I push my car a little that it will crank. This is an extreme pain! I have been stuck in the heat, late for work, etc because of this problem. Is it possible that the fuel pump is going bad though? After reading all the other complaints, I'm beginning to hesistate on having the pump replaced that it ISN'T the fuel pump. In addition, I have had twice where I fill my gas tank up, but the gas gauge registers as EMPTY. Lastly, the AC is a joke! My original system jumped from actual a/c to the recycle setting. My boyfriend replaced it with the one from the junk yard. I haven't had that problem since but the air still doesn't get cold. I will be so happy when I can replace this junk car with something better!

i too have been stuck with this light on... blinking, with the kids in car, in the middle of winter, missed work, i have been late for work, car restarts more recently with in 5-10 mins. of continually trying and mother fu@&ing it. i was told by a mechanic to try turning the ignition all the way over to start and letting it sit there for 11 seconds and than turn it off and do this procedure again and then try it again.... this has helped for the last 4 months but the damn light JUST STARTED TO COME ON AGAIN!!! im afraid that if i am out and about with my kids i am going to get stranded with them... im noticing that a few people have said something about cutting a wire and blowing air into it and it helps? i will take any advice and hope that this doesn't happen again. but wtf i think Chevy should have a recall about this and GET IT FIXED! WE DON'T SPEND OUR HARD earned money to FIX FIX FIX FIX these damn cars we expect that they will RUN for MORE than 10 years... i also own a 1987 dodge Dakota........... RUNS GREAT! (22 years old) does that say anything?! dodge a better product? or is it just shabbier and shabbier work has been done since the late 90's vehicles? not to mention that the older vehicles didn't have all this computer sh*t to them so less time at a "licensed mechanic" and more time people where ABLE to work on them ourselves! = cheaper cost to us! we shouldn't HAVE to replace cars that are less than 10 years old! not everyone makes the kind of money to KEEP making PAYMENTS CONSTANTLY! yes, i have 165,000 miles on the car BUT i have had it regularly maintained. this shouldn't be happening!

ok I'm 17 and was had been out shopping with my all night. our final stop was target. i shut the car off, lock the doors and go inside. about an hour later i went to get my car and when i turned the key over lights, radio, ect came on but when i turned the key all the way over to start the car absolutely nothing happened. no sound nothing. keep in mind this is my first car and i bought it all by myself. i was a mess. i ended up having it towed which ended up costing a fortune and they haven't told me exactly what happened.whatever it is im pissed and broke.

Every so often, car will not start. If the car sits for awhile it will start right up, and the problem may not happen again for weeks or months. A friend of mine told me it was a problem with theft deterrent system. He said if the car doesn't start, turn the key to the on position so that the instrument lights come on, wait about five minutes and the car will start.My daughter got stuck today, I recommended to her to try the above . she did and the car started right up I don't know if that is the answer or she was just lucky. I've had the car to my mechanic who can't find any problem

My husband has a 2000 Chevy Malibu and along with many others on here have had the problem with the anti theft light coming on and not being able to start the car for 10 minutes. my father in law also has the same car, same year, and same goddamn problem. we took ours to the local Chevy dealer to have it fixed, $1300.00 later and a new ignition switch, and fuel pump system and the problem is still here 2 years later. We had it towed in 2 times after they "fixed" it. Now his ignition wont even turn!!!! He works in construction doing underground cable work and when hes ready to come home hes ready to go and this anti theft crap has become a huge problem with me having to drop what i am doing and getting both of our kids ready and to go pick him up and then having to take him back to work in the morning. never know whether the car will start after turning it off is horrible!!!! he gets stranded for over 30 minutes, weve had the keys checked, switched from his key which was used all the time to the spare key, and it hasn't made a difference. and the cooling system so many others complain about do the same thing in both my husbands and father in laws cars. it switched from the actual a/c to the recycle type setting. the air doesn't even get cold and we've recharged the a/c before and its just turned into a nightmare. luckily the car is paid off and we may be junking it after this. its not worth the unreliability anymore. My HONDA has been a better car by far. the fact so many people have the same problems and yet i haven't seen a recall for them to fix it. Come on, this is a HUGE problem many many many people have, jobs are at risk if they cant get to work on time, single moms and dads have kids to pick up, the elderly have doctor appointments to make it to and Chevy doesn't seem to care at all. this is craziness. im starting to think ill take a ford over a Chevy any day now.

My 2000 Malibu upon purchase my autotheft light would come on and i would have to wait 10min to reset the other day it happened and i was stuck for an hour got to my next destination took care of business turned the switch sure enough another hour stuck and pissed off looked on the internet while i waited for light to reset and also called dealership which offered a ridiculous suggestion as well as amount of money just to look at it. I found that the ignition switch gets dusty and dirty and registers the key as a foreign key and shuts the car down so I read that a can of airspray that is used to clean keyboards blew all the dust out of ignition got a new key from dealer 11bucks and have not had the problem since.

This car has the same problem as everyone else's but I have called the manufacturer and complained to them not only about the Theft Security Light but also about the cooling system. The damn air conditioner is a joke, it flips back and forth to the fresh air mode and in that mode it does not cool at all. The chevy dealer nor the manufacturer gives a damn about any of the problems once it leaves the building. I did cut the yellow wire for the problem with the theft security light and it was a wonderful solution its fine now but I was wondering if anyone may may know of a solution for the air cooling system, I will try anything at this point and in this heat in Tennessee...Thanks Everybody

I've been late to work twice in the last two weeks because of this problem. I'm afraid to shut off the car when I get gas for fear of it not starting at the pump when I'm done. From the other comments the problem will only get worse. Thinking of cutting the yellow wire tonight!

Update from May 26, 2009: My car did this same thing. I was late to work and school several times! I finally disconnected the battery and let it sit for a good 3 hours. It worked the light on the dash went out and I quit having the problem. Every now and then the "Theft light " will come on, I am extremely careful to make sure the cars starts otherwise I'll be sitting my 10 minutes!

Ive had this Malibu "theft system" light flashing for 10 minute before reset/to start engine problem off and on for a year and a half. The Chevrolet dealer replaced the ignition switch but COULD NOT fix this problem. I was lucky that the problem would go away for months at a time during the cold/winter months, but come back again in the warmer summer months. The problem is definately temperature related, most likely a circuit board and/or solder joint problem or short. But Im happy to say that Kevin Ls solution of "cutting the yellow wire" seems to have cured the problem! I was having one out of every 2 engine starts giving me the problem. Now, after cutting the yellow wire, my car has started flawlessly, and almost quicker than ever, for over 3 days now! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CURE! It cost me $0.00! Just a little time and patience. Who cares if the "theft system" light remains "on" permanently now, its worth it to start every time! My Malibu has been a great car overall. Ive had the fuel pump and intake gasket jobs done, but for all the years ive had it, Ive got more than my moneys worth out of it. I put a lot of miles on it with my job. Ive got over 180,000 miles on it and its still running strong. Oil changes every 3k. The engine still idles smooth and quiet like when I got it.

SOLUTION!!!

Malibu "anti theft" light. here's your solution: Take a flat screwdriver and pop off the trim that surrounds the radio and heater controls. Oh yeah... the trim around the key hole has to come off also. Don't unhook the wires from the radio or the heater controls. You will need a small socket set or a good pair of pliers to take out 4 small bolts. One on each side of the radio and the heater controls. Be sure the car is running when you cut the yellow wire. There are 3 wires (black, white and yellow) wrapped in black cloth tape that you will have to "fish out" from under the ignition switch with your finger. You'll find the wires just about even with where the radio was. Again be sure the car is running then cut the yellow wire and leave the ends where you can find them in case you ever have to hook them up and cut them again! Theft light will come on and remain on forever. Radio is aggravating to put back in! Good luck!

Same problem as everyone else. Security light came on and would not start. 3 weeks ago it started and became more frequent recently (like every time I went to start the car). I did some research on the internet and decided I should replace my ignition switch. I purchased a Chevy Malibu Haynes Repair Manual + Ignition switch at Autozone for a total of $116.00. It took about 2 hours to complete the job. So far after 2 days and about 14 starts no problems. Hope it keeps up.

Not too difficult to change the switch.

PS - if the security light comes on you don't have to do any "steps" to get the light to reset. Just wait 10 minutes, light goes out and car starts.

Also, I think the installation of an aftermarket radio may cause this problem. Not sure, but just a hunch.

To begin with, I have one freind who had the same problem as this last year.

I have had this Malibu at the dealer multiple times and they look at me like I am not telling the truth. This piece of S?:T car will not start about three to four times a week, the horn will blow on its own while driving, the doors will lock and unlock on their own and now the pile of dog poo is sitting in the driveway waiting for a wrecker to take it to yet another worthless trip to the dealer. For nothing to be wrong with this car, it has a strange appeal to want to ride a wrecker to the dealer when it goes. This problem has been going on for about four years and now it decides to just lay down and die. I wonder if the dealer will tell me that there is still nothing wrong this time as it pulls into the lot on a WRECKER.

Key words in this paragraph; not running, will not start, $500.00 for somthing that the dealer says is not a problem, wrecker, poo, and we can not forget MALIBU.

Talking to other people has shown me that this is an ongoing problem with this poo car. The latest wrecker that i called to pick up my Malipoo asked what type of car he will be picking up and i told him it was a Malipoo. His next words were that the anti theft had the poo mobile locked down. He was right..

I hope that no one ever buys a Malipoo and that if you own one , get rid of it. thanks